Enthralling experiences at Golra Railway Station

By Zara Waqas

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A visit to the Golra Railway Station was very much in our plans prior to reaching Islamabad for the recent trip with my family. Because, if you are in Islamabad and desire to explore some place which is historic and provides you with great experience, you should definitely visit the Golra Railway Station. 

The station is also called Golra Sharif as it is named after a historic village on the outskirts of Islamabad by the name of Golra Sharif. As you know, the village is very famous and known for the shrine of a Sufi saint which attracts many visitors throughout the year. 

Many people think of Islamabad as a modern city, having been developed not very long ago. But places like Golra Sharif are much older than Islamabad itself and reminds us that the area where the new city has evolved has many rich historical roots. 

 In the start, I kind of had some conflicting thoughts. My head was filled with questions what if it's not a good experience or what would be my reaction if I don't enjoy it? 

Should I skip it and just go back to the hotel? Well, let me just say that I felt glad for not having listened to such notions and opted to visit the railway station. 

We reached the station in the morning, around 10:30 am. There were many galleries. We got the tickets and our guide met us at the first gallery. The first gallery was basically a museum full of information everywhere. 

There were many things which were shown again and again, each time they were updated and had newer structures such as kerosene lamps. There were many people around as well, one man was pulling a cart, one was sitting down next to a table, there were many old vintage types of furniture pieces as well, there were many tables and timelines showing the advancements of stations and railway trains. 

This gallery wasn’t particularly historic if you see it with my point of view, though it was very nicely presented. Honestly speaking, I felt like this one just bored me because there were many writings and things which we could only see. Are you getting me? 

Next, we went outside and saw the guide opening a part of the train on the tracks, we went inside. The guide told us that these cabins dated way back to when important people like Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and many others used it for transportation. They boarded this exact train. 

The guide informed us that everything is from the past and that they only added some curtains and painted it with the same shade. Now, this was way more interesting. I couldn’t believe actually standing in the place where so many eminent politicians, leaders and important people had also stood in the past. 

There were very narrow rows, leading us from one room to another. There were whole sofas, a separate bedroom, a bathroom with all the actual things, the tiles were rusted and looked very old, that piqued my interest. There was also a meeting room, where actual people stayed and talked about important matters. That is so mind blowing, isn’t it? 

Next, we walked next to real railway tracks and got information from the guide that there was a train arriving at 11:20 am and that usually all trains were exactly on time. We thought that maybe we could wait until the train arrives to see it. 

We went to the other gallery, next to it, and found a small snacks and drinks shop from where we purchased some chilled water bottles since the heat rays were piercing our skin harshly. We walked across these huge trees. 

The guide then briefed us that these were the giant Banyan trees which are older than Pakistan itself! They are more than a hundred years old. It felt like this tree knew everything. It experienced such historic times which we read about and learn in school today! Isn’t that crazy? 

We reached the next gallery. It was a bit smaller but packed with crazy facts which had many historical instruments regarded as very important during the period of British rule. 

The two things which I liked more, were a siren and an instrument which was used when there was a need for workers on the train to assist them immediately. It was very loud and the sound was so cool! The siren was used when there was a medical emergency or any other kind of urgency, the train master would ring the siren so that everyone would get news that there is something wrong. It looked so intriguing! 

These things were used because at that time, there were no radios or phones. So, the station masters used different instruments to coordinate trains. 

One detail I noticed, if you stand under the banyan trees very quietly while a train comes zooming past, it feels like you have teleported into the early 1900’s. 

Like you are seeing the past while standing under a very historic tree who has seen it all. We waited for the train. It was a few minutes above arrival time when we felt the ground rumbling as the train came to a stop. Passengers got on and off swiftly. Then the train started moving again. It was beautiful experience to see it in action myself. 

As I overheard, most people come here during the golden hour. The atmosphere becomes ethereal. The gold painted into the sky, the stone buildings, rusty tracks all add up together to create a masterpiece of a landscape. 

I loved this experience and I felt ecstatic having had the chance to see it with my own eyes. If you ever come to Islamabad, please do squeeze time to visit Golra Sharif Railway Station and see history with your own eyes!!

Raisa Adil’s well-deserved appointment as Principal Information Officer

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The well-deserved appointment of Raisa Adil, a versatile bureaucrat, as the Principal Information Officer (PIO) at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to the Government of Pakistan has been hailed by the knowledgeable circles. 

It’s not often when the government moves are so warmly greeted but Raisa’s selection for the coveted post has been welcomed because of her proven track record as well as her eagerness to work proactively. 

Throughout her career, she has been regarded as a capable and energetic officer. She is likely to rise to the occasion again while discharging duties in the new challenging role. 

Her appointment as the PIO at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting also sends positive signals and reflects the government's commitment to strengthening communication between the state and the media. 

A firm believer of letter her work to do the talking, the soft-spoken Raisa is all set to deliver once more. Her extensive professional experience, administrative competence and deep understanding of media affairs is expected to further strengthen relations between the Government of Pakistan and the country's media fraternity.

Revisiting Islamabad for sightseeing, learning

By Zara Waqas

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Our federal capital, Islamabad, has now become a most picturesque metropolis. It has transformed into one of the most breathtaking urban centres, packed with natural beauties. 

A resident of the historic city of Lahore by birth, I have been fortunate enough to visit different places of our astonishing country regularly since my childhood. 

Although the hilly terrains of Northern areas, for obvious reasons, generally occupy the top slot when it comes to selecting the destination for enjoying our summer vacations but, by consensus, this time we chose Islamabad and the surrounding areas for a change. 

The decision turned out be a masterstroke as we got another opportunity to explore the various aspects of our capital city. As you all know, Islamabad, like our other major cities, Karachi and Lahore, has also expanded phenomenally over the years. 

Unlike the past, lots of noise could now be heard in Islamabad too. Gone are the days when it was a quiet town where the life seemed to have gone to standstill after office hours.

 

There was a time when it looked like a haunted place during weekends and holidays because many of its occupants used to return to their respective homes. 

In the past, only a handful visitors were known to be coming to Islamabad and that too purely for work purposes. Either they were thought to be reaching here to take care of their appointments in the diplomatic enclave or they had some work at the secretariat. 

These were believed to be the major reasons for setting feet in the federal capital. Islamabad has grown, developed and improved very rapidly to turn into a high-density metropolis. 

The city's built-up area has expanded phenomenally from 2,693 hectares in 1990 to over 18,400 hectares in a matter of just a few decades. 

During the latest trip to Islamabad, I visited the Pakistan Monument Museum upon the advice of my parents. They reckoned that it would be a great idea to go there and I agreed promptly mainly because it is such an important landmark. 

It became the highlight of my tour and let me tell you about it. The sun was scorching hot as we reached there. We first climbed up the stairs to see the Pakistan Monument Museum and now I will like to share with you about my experiences which might be of some interest to you. 

Being a writer by heart, I love the idea of narrating the stories which could prove informative for the readers. 

In the same spirit, let me try to pass on some information about the various aspects of my visit to the museum. I hope that many of you will be encouraged to go there and see it all yourself. 

The Pakistan Monument, called Yadgar-e-Pakistan in Urdu, is located on the Shakarparian Hills. It overlooks the whole of Islamabad and it presents legit a wonderful view. It is also regarded as Pakistan’s most recognizable landmark. 

The monument is shaped like a blooming flower, having four main petals. These four main petals symbolize the four main provinces of Pakistan (Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and KPK). 

From my point of view, I think the petals tell us that everyone should be united irrespective of their own cultural traditions. It symbolizes unity and harmony. 

There are carvings on the petal. The carvings showed many other recognizable landmarks, historical pictures, culture, achievements, Khyber Pass, Minar-e-Pakistan, Badshahi Mosque and many others as well.

Since the weather was sizzling hot outside, we quickly returned downstairs and made our way to the Pakistan Monument Museum. 

When we went inside the museum, we were instantly met with many galleries, structures, an overlook, pictures, monuments of all the old civilizations such as the Ghandara Civilization. 

There were many structures made also depicting the medieval Europe period, Quaid-e-Azam as a lawyer, many pictures of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Allama Iqbal, Fatima Jinnah, and many other important people. 

Then we saw a whole separate two rooms showing ‘Allama Iqbal Relics’ and ‘Quaid-e-Azam Relics’ which were well and truly great. You must try to visit this segment to gather further details. 

The museum is spread over two floors. The second floor even had two cars which were supposedly used at that time period. Though they looked so new, amazingly. 

It is a kind of spot all of you must try to visit to enhance your knowledge about our beloved country. In fact, you can come again even if had come here earlier, for refreshing and reviving your memory.

Overall, I must say that Islamabad is a fantastic place and we were able to enjoy every minute of our stay in the federal capital.

It was time well spent there as we roamed around various locations and created new memories. I will like to go there again and again. 

Ziauddin University, KEC jointly organize workshop on mental health, well-being of media professionals

By Dr Beenish Khalid 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Ziauddin University and the Karachi Editors Club (KEC) jointly organized a workshop on the mental health and well-being of media professionals, particularly journalists who regularly face stress, trauma, and challenging field conditions, titled “Protecting the Mind Behind the News: Building Psychological Resilience in Journalism” on July 7. 

The workshop was conducted by Prof Dr Jamshed Ahmed, Psychologist at Ziauddin University. It turned out be an enlightening session as the resource person shared practical techniques for stress management, building emotional resilience, and maintaining psychological well-being in high-pressure environments. 

The workshop aimed to raise awareness about the psychological challenges faced by reporters and journalists, promote healthy coping strategies, and encourage resilience while covering demanding assignments.

“Our journalists dedicate themselves to informing society, often at great personal cost. We believe that protecting their mental well-being is just as important as strengthening their professional skills. Through such initiatives, we hope to promote awareness and foster a culture that values psychological health within the media fraternity,” Amir Shahzad, Head of Public Relations & Communications, Ziauddin University, remarked while highlighting the importance of the initiative of their institution. 

Mubashir Mir, President, KEC, was appreciative of the joint project, observing that the journalists frequently worked under immense pressure and that discussions on mental health were indeed essential for building a healthier and more resilient media community. 

Bringing to light the importance of continued support for media professionals, Manzar Naqvi, General Secretary of the KEC emphasized the need for regular awareness session that equipped journalists with practical tools to manage workplace stress and emotional challenges. 

Syed Khalid Mahmood and Iqbal Jamil were prominent among the senior journalists on the occasion and they praised the collaboration of the KEC and Ziauddin University in producing such a wonderful programme, aimed at providing the much-needed guidance to the media professionals about their health.

The session concluded with an engaging question-and-answer session, allowing the participants an opportunity to share their experiences and interact with the expert. Certificates were also distributed among the participants by Prof Dr Jamshed Ahmed and Amir Shahzad on behalf of the hosts.

HR fraternity mourns demise of Zafar Aziz Osmani

By Syed Khalid Mahmood 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The community of the professionals in the field of Human Resources (HR) in Pakistan has lost one of its gurus as Zafar Aziz Osmani breathed his last on the morning of June 26 at Karachi where he was also laid to rest later in the day. 

Innumerable condolence messages have kept pouring in on the various social media forums, describing it as a huge loss for the HR in Pakistan. He has been hailed for having stood as a towering figure in Pakistan’s corporate ecosystem. 

He was also been credited for redefining the strategic value of HR, showing businesses that human capital is the ultimate competitive advantage. He indeed fulfilled the definition of an HR icon and was greatly revered for his insights, warmth, and dedication to enhance capacity-building. 

His enviable abilities of steering major national transformations, with class, wisdom, and unmatched brilliance are also being acknowledged. 

As one of his former colleagues pointed out that some people leave behind more than memories, they leave behind a legacy. 

Zafar Aziz Osmani was a man of remarkable wisdom, positivity and an inspiring spirit. A true mentor, guide whose encouragement and leadership touched countless lives. He was very rightly also acclaimed as one of the institution builders. 

His legacy will indeed endure through the institutions he helped transform and the countless professionals whose lives and careers he inspired. His contributions to Pakistan's corporate sector and the HR profession will remain a lasting source of inspiration for generations to come.

Zafar Aziz Osmani was also an ardent lover of sports and he made telling contributions while heading sports divisions of Habib Bank Limited (HBL) and K-Electric. He was invited as the chief guest in the launching ceremony of Ehsan Qureshi's book on World Cup 1999 during which he impressed everyone with his knowledge about cricket. Little Master Hanif Muhammad alongwith celebrated journalists, Gul Hameed Bhatti and Munir Hussain, were also present at the stage in that memorable event at the Karachi Club.

Immortality could be a curse rather than a gift

By Zara Waqas

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Close your eyes for a while, give yourself a couple of minutes to think, if you had an ability or a supernatural power, that you are immortal, what would be your first thought? “This is great! I get to live my life without the fear of leaving anything behind” or maybe you would think “this is so bad! I won't live a normal life with the fear that I might die, or that I won't be able to leave my life for the afterlife”. This is your choice, because they are both pros and cons of being immortal. 

What is immortality? Immortality is living forever. You cannot escape life. Neither, you can have access to the afterlife which you go to after death. If you ponder that, one day you wake up. You glance around in your surroundings, everything is exactly the same as yesterday, the day before yesterday, the year before, centuries pass, you see the same thing every day. 

There is a fear that you might not find your purpose in life, or even better explained, how would you cure your boredom? The same life every single day for centuries. You would get bored of it wouldn't you? Passing by the woods for like the hundredth time, "I have seen these paths so much”. 

There is another perspective, travel across the world, but for that you need to work all life to collect money. Your whole life, all your affirmations, all your dreams, all the things you want to accomplish, like travelling the world, trying new food every day, going to every restaurant in the world, making sure you don't miss anything and you keep on going through these lists, you keep working all your life, silently drowning in the growing expenses, grocery bills, electricity bills, medical bills, you are all alone with all the expenses because no one else is immortal around you, you are the only one with this curse that some will call a gift.

This is like a coin toss, yet the coin flips again and again for eternity, you get me? One moment, you're living your life, eating something new, getting a new car, a yacht, and you're happy. The next moment, you're drowning in a sea which is endless. 

There are many sharks in this sea, you stretch your neck up, trying to shout for help. Your eyes dart around, no one is there, you're all alone, drowning in things no one else knows, no one else cares, no one wants to be with a freak who is immortal and cannot even die. 

They think you will survive drowning, they don’t understand that this isn't just a sea, this is an endless sea, every time you drown, you give up, you revive and do something nice, then you drown again, trying to grasp the feelings of happiness, but you can't. 

And you know that, you want this all to be over, you want to live a normal life. But you can't. This is irreversible, you are immortal and there is nothing out of this. It's endless, reversing, happening again and again. You're living the same life forever. And there is nothing you can do about it. You get older, a thousand, two thousand, new health problems, new issues, you try to live your life like you had planned on doing thousands of years ago. But now you cannot do anything but desiccate. Immortality is a curse. Not a gift. It should never be mistaken as a gift.

Greenwich University officials discuss academic cooperation with Azerbaijan

By Iqbal Jamil 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A delegation from the Greenwich University, led by its Chancellor, Dr Seema Mughal, and accompanied by Director Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC), Dr Rab Nawaz, met with the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Pakistan, His Excellency Khazar Farhadov, in Islamabad to explore avenues for academic collaboration and educational partnership between the two countries. 

During the meeting, both sides discussed opportunities to strengthen educational ties between Pakistan and Azerbaijan through institutional cooperation and academic exchange programmes. 

Ambassador Khazar Farhadov assured the delegation of his full support and facilitation in establishing partnerships between the Greenwich University and leading universities in Azerbaijan. 

He emphasized the importance of fostering academic linkages through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), joint academic programmes, collaborative research initiatives, student and faculty exchange programs, language promotion activities, internships, and socio-cultural and educational visits. 

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Seema Mughal highlighted several areas for future collaboration. She proposed the development of 2+2 academic pathway programmes, the introduction of Greenwich University’s Pre-University Foundation Programme, educational development and capacity-building initiatives, and enhanced access to international qualifications. 

She further identified teacher training, curriculum development, quality assurance, and quality enhancement as key areas where educational institutions in Pakistan and Azerbaijan could work together for mutual benefit. 

The meeting concluded on a positive note with both sides expressing a strong commitment to promoting academic cooperation and strengthening educational partnerships between the two countries. Upon the conclusion of the meeting, Dr Seema Mughal presented a commemorative memento of Greenwich University to Ambassador Khazar Farhadov as a gesture of goodwill and appreciation.