VIBRANT FORIEGN POLICY NEEDS BACKING OF STRONG ECONOMY: FORMER ADVISER TO TRUMP, SAJID TARAR

Mahtab Bashir
0333 53 63 248
mahtabbashir@gmail.com
Islamabad

Sajid Tarar delivering lecture

Policies are ethereal. Instead of a specific set of instructions, it is a general sense of being and a spatial sense of direction as to where we might be heading as a country, an institution, a society and an individual. Foreign policy sits at the heart of the art of statecraft. Its evolution is non-linear. Foreign Policy deals both with the vernacular and the elite and everything that falls in between. Foreign policy of a country could not be independent sans strong economic policy. Policy making in Pakistan needs to be more pro-active in reducing income inequality. Denial of the existence of the problem or hoping that somehow it will take care of itself is not a good strategy. Any discussion of ways and means of reducing inequality has to start from the premise that political leadership acknowledges the existence of the problem and the importance of addressing it. Assuming that this will dawn on policy makers at some point, the next question would be where we stand and what can be done.

Former Advisor for Muslims to US President Donald Trump, and a Pakistani American entrepreneur, Sajid Tarar has said that President Trump’s foreign policy was as much as unpredictable that it could well be manage to avert Russia-Ukraine War. He said there is Pak-US antagonism over CPEC, while USA is trying to contain China, Pakistan’s close and seemingly unconditional ties to China have been contentious in United States.

Dr. Munawar giving introductory speech

Raising question over the Pakistani Diaspora in USA, Tarar claimed that it was lack of interest of Pakistanis that they could not avail the opportunities of being a part of US Elections/Congress as compare to Indians. He also questioned Nationalism which is no more a part of Pakistanis either from top-notch Politicians or from the masses. “Pakistan is too much internally divided, nationalism and unity among Pakistanis would solve all the problems which she is facing right now”, he maintained.

Moreover, he said, Indian lobby in United States is the second strongest lobby in the US after the Jewish- that limits the relations between the two countries. Tarar spoke about his conversation with President Trump who agreed to arbitrate between Pakistan and India on the issue of Kashmir.

Sajid Tarar being warmly received at ASC QAU

Tarar while hitting hard on Islamabad policies stated that Washington is demoralized right after the Biden held the office. “United States has been conservative since birth and will stay conservative. Its main goal is to contain China and Pakistan has an opportunity here. However, India is economically bigger and more stable; therefore, America prefers India and aims to use it against China,” he claimed.

The Pakistani entrepreneur from Baltimore and a Pro-Trump Republican Party leader, Sajid Tarar was invited by Area Study Centre (ASC), Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) faculty, to deliver a lecture on “Pak-US Relations: Future and Challenges”.

Upon his arrival, Tarar was warmly received by senior faculty member ASC Dr. Munawar Hussain along with M.Phil Students.

Keen listening students

In a packed auditorium of ASC, Sajid Tarar said that Pakistan is in dire need of a quality leadership-a leader whose property, children and interests and all stakes are intact to or for Pakistan. He said that bringing dollars into Pakistan is not a difficult task but stopping and pouring out dollars from Pakistan is indeed a huge challenge. “It could not be possible that those (countries) who are giving us aid is our friend and those who don’t- is our foe,” he said.

Fatima Hassan (M.Phil-I) ASC, QAU, contributes: Known for his support for President Donald Trump and Islamic prayer at 2016 Republican National Convention, Sajid Tarar said the menace of corruption was making Pakistan more fragile, economically. “Pakistan should establish relations on the basis of interest. Proximity to China and anti-US rhetoric has damaged Pakistan-US relations, in a great deal,” he observed. Tarar said that even before the Abbottabad incident and Pak-Afghan relations, it was time to work hard to restore that confidence.

Tarar said there is a trust deficit between Islamabad and Washington that Pakistan has failed to address. He highlighted his Pro-Kashmir and Pro-Palestine position within the Republican Party despite the backlash. His lectured contained his observations as an insider of a ruling Republican Party, reporting the sentiments felt within the White House. 

Group photograph with the distinguished guest at Campus

He said Pakistan’s internal situation and political turmoil has weakened its image among powerful nations. “Pakistan is facing huge challenges- corruption, instable political system, dwindling economy, education and health issues and overpowering establishment,” he said adding Pakistan must act strongly to fix its economy and then to work on an independent foreign policy.

Sajid Tarar concluded with the solution that Pakistan must focus on creating a stable economy couple with steady political and social system.

UNOPS and KOICA to enhance Government’s Water Testing Capacity

Under this project, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) will help the Government of Pakistan make progress on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG’s) 6: “clean water and sanitation for all”, providing people with safe drinking water and improving overall public health.

 

In partnership with KOICA, UNOPS Pakistan will also help the Ministry of Climate Change to strengthen the technical and coordination capacity of its WASH Cell to monitor drinking water quality in close collaboration with provincial governments.

Funded by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), UNOPS is working with the Ministry of Climate Change, PCRWR and Public Health Engineering Departments (PHEDs) to help enhance the technical capacities of the Government of Pakistan to provide men, women, boys and girls with access to safe drinking water. 

In partnership with KOICA, UNOPS will utilize $4.4 million funding to address the lack of clean water by procuring essential water-quality testing equipment and upgrading the water-quality testing laboratories in Islamabad, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. The rollout of a Management Information Software will strengthen the water-quality data management at provincial level and enable the Ministry of Climate Change to coordinate and monitor the drinking water quality in close collaboration with provincial governments in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

 

The project is supporting the Sustainable Development Goals: 3 Good health and wellbeing; and 6: Clean water and sanitation, and it is aligned with the Pakistan Government’s Vision 2025 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Framework for Pakistan 2018-2022 specifically Outcome 3: Health and WASH. 

 

Mr. Seok Woong Yang, Country Director of KOICA Pakistan said: 

“The Korean Government will continue to support the Government of Pakistan in different sectors, especially in the water sector. I hope that this project will improve people’s quality of life by enhancing water quality and will help in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.”

 

Miss Marysia Zapasnik, UNOPS Country Manager for Pakistan, said: “Access to adequate and safe drinking water is a human right and monitoring the quality of drinking water is a first step towards its management. In Pakistan, around 22 million people still live without access to clean and safe water.  With generous support from KOICA, we are delighted to support the Government of Pakistan and specifically the Ministry of Climate Change in providing the people of Pakistan with increased access to safe drinking water and improving their quality of life.”

ENCOURAGING BOOK-READING FOR PLEASURE: KHALID MASOOD

An avid booklover, a fervent Urdu literature critique, a dedicated publisher and an owner of ‘Kitaab Ghar’, Khalid Masood says, “Kitaab Ghar (established 1948) has, recently, given incentive to book-readers to avail 50% rebate on purchase of books for a year time and that too for unlimited buying on a meagre membership fee of Rs: 500- that will instantly consumed on 50% discount of customers’ first visit at both outlets of Kitaab Ghar- at Committee Chowk, Rawalpindi and Jinnah Super Market (F-7 Markaz), Islamabad”- a first of its kind from a private entity.

 

MAHTAB BASHIR

0333-53 63 248

mahtabbashir@gmail.com

ISLAMABAD

"An hour spent reading is one stolen from Paradise."

The dedication and hard work of pioneering publishers, scholars, and book lovers have not come to fruition yet in Pakistan. Publishers have been demanding for decades for book publishing to be recognized as an industry. Despite repeated promises, the government has not taken any steps to materialize this demand.

 

Sitting in his bookstore named ‘Kitaab Ghar’ at Jinnah Super Market (F-7 Markaz), Khalid Masood says it is very unfortunate to see book-reading culture is on the decline in Pakistan. 

 

“It gives me pain to see that the habit of reading has been declining among our younger generation. While technology is steadily taking control over individual lives, we must find a way to encourage our children to read. Books are also costly, which is a contributing factor to the situation. Some parents discourage children from reading for pleasure and force them to read textbooks only,” Khalid says adding book reading is a contagious habit- if parents are away from books- their children are least bother to read books.

 

Also, the publisher opines, “The overuse of technology should be discouraged. The government should set up at least one library in every sector of Islamabad. Students should be encouraged to read books besides textbooks by teachers at school, college and university levels and by parents,” Khalid suggests.

 

Khalid Masood- Owner Kitaab Ghar

He said for the first time ever in the history of Pakistan, ‘Kitaab Ghar’ has taken this initiative to entice book-lovers through its ‘Readers Club Scheme’- under which we are providing 50% rebate on purchase of books of all genre annually without limit with the membership fee of Rs.500/=   

Khalid Masood maintains that membership card is valid on both outlets of ‘Kitaab Ghar’ of F-7 Markaz (Jinnah Super Market) and Committee Chowk, Rawalpindi.   

 

Khalid Masood, the CEO of ‘Kitaab Ghar’ narrates that, “Of course, interest is a matter of concern. Your disinterest might work to deter the child from the books. A good practice here is to mix and match varieties of stories, including topics you like. Reading and creating conversation about a book is a key skill which you can easily impart to your child.”

 

You wonder at times about the state of reading in the world you are part of. There is the sense that it is dying, that indeed these increasing levels of sophistication coming into technology are in essence putting holes into our old habits of reading. Not many people read today, which is a pity. Worse is the knowledge that bookstores are being downsized because business is not good. And what you have in place of these truncated, eventually murdered bookstores is storehouses of all those things that reflect the decline of intellect in our times.

 

Khalid Masood with his father Malik Ghulam Muhammad

Khalid describes that one of the positive changes brought about by the pandemic is the culture of online activities. “Not only did social media communities on Instagram and Facebook burst open with possibilities, seeing increasingly more book reviews, giveaways, and nation-wide book exchanges organised by readers themselves, but publishers and booksellers, too, adapted a regular practice of holding virtual book launches and discussions with authors.

On the other hand, question remains the same: “How many programmes are there on that ubiquity of television channels that cater to books, to reading? There are nations that are privy to book discussions on television, to authors talking about their works. Surely similar discussions for an hour or so every week can be injected into the television schedules in Pakistan.

 

There are newspapers, Urdu as well as English, which come up with weekly reviews of books. It would not be a bad idea calling in reviewers and bringing them in touch with readers through the medium of television and radio. There are rivers that nourish the land. And books nurture the soul, he keeps talking.

 

Telling a tale of his laborious father, Malik Ghulam Muhammad, Khalid Masood narrates: his father established ‘Kitaab Ghar’ in 1948 at Committee Chowk, Rawalpindi for the promotion of book and book-reading. After awhile, he started publishing books. He started publishing ‘novels’ of prominent Urdu and English writers. In 1964, he took the initiative for publication of a digest with the name of ‘Kamran Series’ with similar features of ‘Imran Series’- after publicity of Imran Digest, a mushroom growth of such publications took place in Lahore and Karachi.

Since then, Khalid says, he was head over heal in love with book-reading and publishing and indulged in this profession with his father- who died in 2012 at the age of 94. “Now is the time to think about qualitative development. We need to ensure excellence in book writing and publishing. And to do so, readership has to be developed in every part, in every institution of our society,” he says adding to keep publishing sector alive, we really need to bring in meritorious young entrepreneurs in this sector and for doing so, the government should recognize it as an industry.

With his kids Ali Masood & Hassan Masood

He requested National Book Foundation (NBF) high-up’s to to take effective measures to in promotion of book-reading through ‘Shehar-e-Kitaab’ situated in F-7 Markaz and to use its own property more efficiently.    

 

The World Culture Score Index conducted a global study to measure the amount of time that people around the world spend reading on a weekly basis. The results of this study do not specify what type of material is being read, which could be anything from online news to work e-mails and magazines to books in print. Additionally, the study does not report specific information about the people surveyed (like age, educational level, or sex) or how many people were surveyed.

 

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-countries-that-read-the-most.html

 

India topped the list with its citizens reporting an average of 10 hours and 42 minutes a week spent reading. Achieving the number 1 position on the list is quite an accomplishment for this country, which has a literacy rate that is lower than the global average (only 74%). This rate has, however, increased by more than 6 times since the country gained its independence in 1947, which could be an indicator of an increasing interest in reading. This time spent reading does not necessarily reflect the amount of time reading printed books, however, and may include time spent reading online or in electronic format.*

HIGHER EDUCATION TURMOIL: DR. ATTA-UR-RAHMAN VERSION

In 2018, the appointment as chairman HEC of someone who was a lecturer at a low-ranking university in the US at the time of his appointment, raised many eyebrows. He had only four publications in international journals, which would have made him ineligible for consideration as an associate professor in a public-sector university in Pakistan which requires 10 publications in recognised journals.

What followed in the higher education sector over the subsequent two-and-a-half years was absolute devastation. This became evident at a major conference in Bhurban, in November 2021, where 180 vice-chancellors of the public- and private-sector universities participated and almost unanimously condemned his policies.

The VCs complained against the unreasonable undergraduate and postgraduate policies developed and imposed by the HEC, without stakeholder consultation; the attempts made to destroy PhD programmes in Pakistan by abandoning the need for a Master’s degree and offering direct admission into a PhD programme on the basis of BSc degree, risking the derecognition of the country’s PhD programmes due to non-conformity with the requirements of the internationally accepted Bologna protocol; the decay of the salary structure under the cherished contractual tenure track system; lack of coordination with the regulatory bodies such as the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), the National Business Education Accreditation Council (NBEAC), the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) that provide accreditations and no consultation with the Association of Private Sector Universities of Pakistan (APSUP) that also rejected those new policies outright; massive financial and administrative irregularities that led to NAB inquiries; and the National Research Programme of Universities (NRPU) budget cuts from over a thousand grants annually to less than 100 annually, destroying the research environment in universities as the programme used to provide research funding to young faculty members.

They were also irked at the growth of some 50 new universities during the tenure of the chairman without faculty or funding, resulting in a sharp decline in education quality as these universities poached teachers working at other public- and private-sector universities for their faculty needs – the HEC remained a silent bystander as the destruction took place; the attempts made to destroy existing research centers in universities by proposing to merge their budgets with university budgets and imposing an unwise funding formula; foreign scholarship cuts – from about 1,000 foreign scholarships annually to around 300 per year; and the non-absorption of the returning PhDs, who were forced to hold demonstrations outside the PM residence due to frustration.

These and a host of other complaints piled up in the PM Office, as the prime minister is the controlling authority of the HEC. Finally, after much thought, the Ministry of Education recommended that it would be in the fitness of things if the tenure of the HEC chairperson was two years (extendable) instead of four years as a huge amount of irreparable damage could be done in a four-year-long period by an incompetent individual. The HEC ordinance was accordingly changed.

Immediately after this, the HEC chairman held a number of press conferences falsely claiming that he was removed from office because he dared to audit the accounts of some research centres. After the careful analysis of the available documentary evidence, the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the very organisation that he chairs, stated in its press release that this was completely wrong, and it gave out the following statement:

“There have been incorrect statements made to the press by chairman HEC that he was removed from office because he tried to have the accounts of some research centres in Karachi University audited that he claimed are supervised by Dr Atta-ur-Rahman. The facts are as follows: a) Prof Atta-ur-Rahman has held no administrative position in any research centre or university for the last 20 years. No centres have been operating under his administrative or financial control since the year 2002.

“b) HEC had requested for academic and financial audit of [the] International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences. The requests were strongly welcomed by the centre in writing. The only requirement of the centre was in connection with the academic audit – that it should be carried out by experts in the relevant fields of chemistry and biology, which was reasonable.

“An academic audit of the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences was conducted by 11 international experts in 2018. It was commissioned by the Ministry of Science and Technology and in their report all the 11 foreign experts were unanimous in their praise of the high quality of research work being conducted in the centre, and had recommended additional financial support for it.

“c) The Ministry of Education objected to the funding formula proposed by HEC for all university research centres and pointed out that it was not suitable, without precedence and that it would badly damage research. The issue therefore was never about the auditing of accounts or transparency, as has been wrongly portrayed by Chairman HEC in statements to the press.

“d) HEC had proposed to take away the autonomy and merge the budget of the International Center of Chemical and Biological Sciences with that of the University of Karachi. This was not possible as the government has a formal agreement with UNESCO that its financial autonomy will be maintained. This was pointed out by the Ministry of Education to HEC in writing.

“This centre is the UNESCO Center of Excellence, the TWAS Center of Excellence, OIC Center of Excellence and the WHO Collaborating Center. Its faculty members have won more civil awards and international prizes than any other academic Center in Pakistan, including one Nishan-e-Imtiaz, four Hilal-e-Imtiaz, 13 Sitara-e-Imtiaz and eight Tamgha-e-Imtiaz and many honorary doctorate degrees from foreign universities including the University of Cambridge UK. The work of the Center has been praised by many Nobel Laureates. The accounts of ICCBS are regularly audited by the government and are well maintained. The Center is headed by Prof Iqbal Choudhary, a leading scientist of Pakistan, since 2003”.

The above statements exposed the HEC chairperson’s incorrect statements. The powers of the commission given to the chairperson were withdrawn after he tried to illegally appoint an executive director. These powers are now vested with the HEC executive director.

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) needs a new visionary chairperson who strictly abides with the law and who can restore the respect and admiration that it enjoyed in the first decade of its existence.

The writer is chairman PM National Task Force on Science and Technology, former minister, and former founding chairman of the HEC.

Courtesy: The News

VESTED INTERESTS TAKE TOLL ON HEC?

* Chairman HEC warns present crisis to only harm higher education sector
* Says PHDs produced in Pakistan are far below the required levels of competency,
* Academic journals are the biggest scam in higher education
* I am here to rectify the anomalies focusing on autonomy, quality and accountability
* My policy of equal distribution of funding to Centre of Excellence & HEI’s troubles few close to PM

Mahtab Bashir
0333 53 63 248
mahtabbashir@gmail.com
Islamabad

Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr. Tariq Javed Banuri has said that since its inception (in 2002), HEC has been working with rudderless policy, I step-in the premises of HEC with a clear cut vision of autonomy, quality and accountability (of/to HEI’s) in the country, however, some beneficiaries of the old policies, including some HEC staff members, did not like these reforms and started to reverse them as soon as I was removed.

Dr. Banuri, who was appointed as the chief of the commission in 2018 by then Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for a protected tenure of 4 years (till May 2022), said that for the last two decades, PHDs produced in Pakistan are far below the required levels of competency, whereas academic journals are the biggest dodge in higher education that the world laughs on us.

He further opined that the measures he took as chairman of HEC to rectify these issues, including, life-long training programs for PHDs, teaching as a requirement for promotions (along with research) and introducing a method of providing funds on the basis of output and research produced by research centres.

In an informal rendezvous at HEC Secretariat, with this scribe, Dr. Banuri quoted, “Every honest man is alone, while a crooked has a battalion with him,” adding he felt immense contentment out of this crisis as people around the world kept on contacting me on daily basis, praising me the way I am standing on principals.

Dr. Banuri, whose’ name, photograph and message has already been removed from HEC official website (www.hec.gov.pk) while the case is sub-judice, said that he has taken firm steps to strengthen senate/ bodies of Universities/ HEI’s, focused on the Scholarships.

“I ensure that all projects pertaining to education were properly scrutinized on the basis of merit. As a result, none of the projects were able to get the approval of the Planning Commission in two years. As soon as I was removed, the same projects were miraculously approved,” he explained.

In a reply to a question, Dr. Banuri said my working relationship with Dr. Attaur Rehman was deteriorated when I talked about funding under a specified formula and said that funding would be given on the basis of performance.

He said the knowledge economy concept became famous in 2000 when China adopted it as a state policy. The idea is that today knowledge (not IT or technology) plays a key role in the production process, far more than natural resources or industrial structure. “Knowledge” covers many areas, including technology, quality enhancement, higher value products, branding, advertisement, and so on. This means we need to educate our children at all levels, primary, secondary, and higher levels, to be able to produce high quality goods and services.

However, the government’s task force on this subject took a bizarre turn. Instead of supporting higher investment in education, it focused exclusively on getting a funding of Rs30 billion per year for unspecified projects. This amount was more than all the money allocated to all the higher education projects proposed by the HEC. “I made sure that any projects pertaining to education were properly scrutinized on the basis of merit. The result was none of the projects were able to get the approval of the Planning Commission in two years. As soon as I was removed, the same projects were miraculously approved.

He said, "in reply to my strict stance on equal distribution of HEI's funds, he said there are number of Nobel Laureates met me on daily basis. And I simply reply, please keep them in touch and ask funds from them."

Dr. Banuri disclosed that there are 30 Centre of Excellence working in the country- who are receiving Rs.3billion per annum. “When I asked about the distribution of funds, I came to know that out of 3billion, 1billion has been distributed to HIJ (a centre working under Dr. Atta) while Rs.2billion were distributed among the 29 other Centres,” he explained saying for the last two decades a centre is has drawn Rs.20billion in addition to development funds but the outcome is nil.

Dr. Tariq Bauri we need to make headway (for future). “Let me tell you, I remained abroad for 11 months, and I was shocked to know how the employees of HEC made conspiracies against me (for no reasons). I have (seen) their texts messages. But I am a man with positive mind, and I believe, if a person is successful here (in this world) by doing wrong, he must be answerable there (in the second world).  

MR. LAHORE URGES PROMOTION OF BODYBUILDING, QUALIFIED NUTRITIONISTS IN PAKISTAN

In bodybuilding, a significant aspect is one's character. No one can sustain growth without a disciplined life. A healthy diet, enough sleep, and proper utilisation of time are important. We need qualified nutritionists in bulk, physical education must be a part of our education system while this sport (of bodybuilding) must be recognized and promoted like Cricket in Pakistan, says Rana Shahid Advocate who has dedicated his life to inspiring the youngsters to stay fit and shape a healthy society.

MAHTAB BASHIR
0333 53 63 248
mahtabbashir@gmail.com
ISLAMABAD

Mr. Lahore with one of his young fan.

He is a practicing lawyer, a hafiz (a memorizer of the Holy Quran) and a passionate bodybuilder- who believes becoming a professional bodybuilder is a labor of love - and a very expensive hobby. I felt so proud! Not only by earning this honor of clinching a title of “Mr. Lahore 2021” followed by “Mr. Overall Lahore 2021” but also proud of the journey and the process along the way, he starts.

Talking to this scribe, Rana Shahid Advocate says “bodybuilding has helped me gain self-confidence - not in physical looks, but in trusting myself”. He owns what he experiences and maintains that this profession has taught him, discipline, resilience, grit, and determination.

Rana Shahid, 33, a Lahorite by birth narrates “For the first time in the history of Pakistan, this unusual thing happens as I’ve won back to back coveted titles of “Mr. Lahore” and “Mr. Overall Lahore”. One of the significance of winning these titles is- it encourages me a great deal to an extant that this profession of bodybuilding will make its root in lawyers’ fraternity and this sport will be widely supported by men in black coats as well.

Talking about entering into this profession, a natural bodybuilder Rana Shahid says in his teenage he was very frail and feeble and people often ridicule him for his skinny physique. “I remember, one of my fellows advised me to join gym to improve the health. Within few days, I went to a nearby gym, looked around the guys inside but my mind didn’t accept it (to do the hard work). Later, I made up my mind and started with the light weight exercises,” he adds.

A practicing lawyer of LHC, Rana Shahid says “I won my first ever title of ‘Mr.Gym” and later competed for different Lahore’s contest. During that phase, I continued my studies at Madrassah. Months later, I went for “Muscle Mania” contest- where I performed outstandingly, but unfortunately, because of biased judgment of a referee- I lost that contest that left me frustrated. I kept myself away from gym for a while. Later, in 2016, I tied the knot and started going LHC as a practicing lawyer. With the passage of time, my physique starts lumbering,” Rana continues.

Meanwhile, I found myself lucky enough to have Aamir Gujjar (at Asif Gym) - who is still my coach. “Whatever, I am, it’s because of Aamir Gujjar. “He is my mentor who motivated and encouraged me to participate in the next competition. In the beginning, he (Gujjar) handed my nutrition but at this point, he is more for accountability and guidance. I typically run my ideas by him and he provides me feedback. Having a coach (like Gujjar) is huge, especially in the beginning. You need to have those extra sets of eyes to look at you and provide guidance. Having a quality coach gives you the ability to learn as you go along. I highly recommend a coach for everyone,” Rana says.

A 6 feet tall, macho, believes bodybuilding is a tough sport that requires a strict routine. "I think the diet for bodybuilding is more challenging than the fitness regime,” adding "Self-control is the key to success in this field." I rejoined the gym and made continuous efforts for eight months to clinch the title of “Mr. Lahore” in November, 2021 followed by securing “Mr.Overall Lahore” title in December, 2021. Means, I am, probably, the first one to have these two titles within a time of less than a month. And I owe this success to my coach Aamir Gujjar,” the advocate-cum-bodybuilder elaborates.

Rana Shahid recounts that his coach used to make him run from Batti Chowk (Ring Road) to Gulshan Ravi at the wee hours of the day. His diet includes eggs, boiled vegetables, chicken, fish, mutton, rice, bran bread, fresh fruits among other things.

The passionate
bodybuilder further shared some tips for beginners at the gym. "There is no age of bodybuilding to kick start. Even, if you are at young age, you can start it. I totally, disagree with this (myth) that lifting weight and exercise stunts one’s growth. No study has shown this. However, the criteria and standards of weightlifting and exercise might be followed,” he says.

Rana Shahid says, “Bodybuilding is an expensive hobby. For this, proper diet and use of supplements are essential. It takes Rs.2000 to Rs. 2500/ day to spend on quality diet here. I am against use of steroids because every professional bodybuilder has a Dispersed Oil Particulate (DOP) test before the competition- so if one’s DOP is positive, he is out of the contest. Youngsters always look for overnight success. But there is no shortcut in this profession because one has to go through various stages. If someone wants to progress in short time, he might use supplements- because it covers up your diet, boost your energy and not prohibited” he keeps on talking.

Talking about his lifestyle, Rana says “the lifestyle of a bodybuilder is calculated and precise, but, even with kids and work, it can be done. Sometimes it takes having a partner who understands the schedule and sometimes it takes friends or other family members cheering you on. Either way, the key to success as a competitive bodybuilder is a support system and a sense of humor no matter what division you compete in”, he says smilingly.

“Usually, for going into a mega contest, I start working out eight months ago; however, if I am into training, it will take me two excessive months of workout. As for as my future competitions are concerned, I will definitely go for “Mr. Punjab” and “Mr. Pakistan”. But my coach Aamir Gujjar will decide this all,” he maintains.

Sharing information about the poses and judgment criterion, Rana Shahid says there are 4-5 poses of various angels (of body) counts in bodybuilding contests. “Total marks are 100. Out of which thigh muscles marks are the maximum (of 60) while 40 marks are reserved for upper body (biceps, triceps, abs and wings),” he elaborates adding soon he will launch his own YouTube Channel.

Rana Shahid Advocate says “for me a true natural bodybuilder is someone who has build his physique through effective training and a targeted nutrition without ever having used performance enhancing drugs or supplements that differ from the nutrients that naturally occur in our daily diet such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, creatine, etc.

He feels this sport (bodybuilding) needs to be promoted on wider scale. “Bodybuilding is hard on pockets. Unfortunately, there is no private sponsorship available in our country. No private sponsor is ready to spend on a bodybuilder. The Pakistan Bodybuilding Federation in collaboration with the PSB must work hard to promote this game in Pakistan. Passionate and talented bodybuilders deserve a chance to represent the country on an international forum,” Rana pleads.

APMA CHAIR APPEALS TO ALL FAITHS TO UNITE FOR RULE OF LAW, JUSTICE AND INTERFAITH HARMONY

Dr. Paul Jacob Bhatti, on International Human Rights Day (December 10), has appealed all faiths to unite together for the assurance of rule of law, justice, and writ of the state in order to promote Jinnah’s Pakistan with his basic principles of faith, unity, and discipline.

Mahtab Bashir
Islamabad
03335363248
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

Former federal minister National Harmony and Minorities Affairs and Chairman of All Pakistan

Minorities Alliance (APMA), Dr. Paul Jacob Bhatti has said that at present the whole world and especially Pakistan is in the dire need of peace- which is the only way to prosperity and development of any country. He maintained all religious factions in the country should get together and come forward to shun the religious extremism and violence, which is on the rise in recent years.

Dr Bhatti said every religion conveys the message of love, tolerance, peace and brotherhood but unfortunately nothing is visible in our society because of rapidly spreading tentacles of extremism.

A surgeon by profession, Dr. Paul Bhatti said unless writ of state, law and order, quality education system and religious rights are not prevailed in its true spirits, a peaceful society cannot be formed.

Referring to founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Dr. Bhatti said it was the vision of Quaid who kept religion and state affairs separately. In current turmoil, all segments of society must come forward to raise the voice against intolerance and extremism.

In an exclusive talk to this scribe, Dr. Paul Jacob Bhatti elaborated that the Sialkot incident could have been averted if it occurred in any other Islamic country including Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey and the reason is simple- they have strict laws and on spot implementation. But here, unfortunately, how someone’s life could be saved when the police are scared and mob is violent.

A politician and a philanthropist, Dr. Bhatti further said that using religion for vested interests and targeting anyone in the name of blasphemy is not part of the teachings of any religion. “Even our courts have remarked, that in majority of cases that revolves around blasphemy, have been misused,” he maintained. He said we need to understand these religious teachings things and also to teach youngsters to promote interfaith harmony and peace in the country.

He urged parliamentarians, media, religious scholars to highlight the factors that promote negative trends in the state and take remedial steps. “Much work has been done on interfaith harmony and diversity, seminars and conferences have been organized nationally and internationally, but the problem is simple- we Pakistanis are not united. We must follow the religious teachings with its true spirit,” he added.

Dr. Paul Bhatti, an Italian national said “No one has the rights to impose his will to other person. We, also, urgently need to highlight the teachings of all religions. If I am a Christian and in some trouble, no matter what religion you belong to, the teaching of that religion is to help me mitigating this problem, it’s a universal religion,” he maintained.

"Why is this intolerance prevalent so violent? why does the state bow down? What should be the immediate course of action, it needs to be discussed, and for this the ulema (clerics) of all religions have to play their role.

He added that if a person does not adopt moral values, means he is not aware of the fundamental teachings of his religion.

Remembering his slain brother, Shahbaz Bhatti, Dr. Paul Bhatti said that Shahbaz Bhatti was an iconic person. He was proactive in promoting inter-religious harmony nd relationship among people of diverse faiths. “He always wanted for peaceful and co-existence society- but he had to paid the price from extremists- his assassination,” he said.

Dr. Paul Bhatti, also a politician, said that after the death of Shahbaz Bhatti, the 18th amendment was approved, then the Ministry of Minority Affairs was abolished, after which he made efforts for the approval of Ministry of Interfaith Harmony.

Talking about the formation of interfaith society, Dr. Bhatti said people of all religion must think, analyse and prepare themselves to play role in the society. “My aim is to unite people, regardless which religion, caste, creed, one belongs to. I am doing it all over the world. Basically, I want peace all over the world, and this is my only goal (of life),” he concluded.