Talk Shows

Till a few months/years back, I was of the opinion that the host of Talk Shows being telecasted on the multitude of TV channels is something which is creating more confusion and having no results. But I feel that I was wrong in that. Talk Shows are playing two very important roles at this point in time. First of all they are creating awareness of the issues that we are faced with today and what impact they are having on our future.

Secondly and mostly importantly they are resulting in refinement of thought and ideologies. e.g. a person with a view of some issue takes it to a talk show, where is he is bombarded with issues and problems on his view and ideology. This results in him refining his view and creating a spark in his mind that what must he be doing in order to make his view and ideology more acceptable to the masses.

But there are still some talk shows around which are happy to see people fight amongst themselves. I think rather then that they must try to discuss ideas with each other and try to refine those ideas.

Life and various moments in life, sometimes results in the changing of our point of view. I feel that this is just one of those moments.

Bringing the Family to Kuwait

Shields and Iron clothes are out. Bracing up for the occassion. Motivating myself to go on whatever the conditions might be, to stand up once I fall, praying immensely that May Allah give the courage for me to go on, and May HE give me success.

Ha Ha. Don't worry dear blog, I am not talking about war, but I am preparing for initiating the processing of my Family's Akaama. Every country has its own policies and procedures which look alien to us, and as is human nature we are weary of everything alien. To further complicate the already complicated is the issue of language. I understand very little arabic and the ministry officials understand very little english.

Kuwait's process of giving family visa is

1. Get a temporary visa from the ministry.
2. Have the visa stamped in the Kuwaiti embassy in Pakistan.
3. On arrival here, apply for Akama and have it stamped on the passport of the family.
4. Get the Civil ID.

Getting a Temporary Visa

This is the most important and critical step, since in this step it is determined by the ministry whether the family is really of the applicant or not. All documents are studied, checked and verified in detail by the various officials.

Before applying for this, documents should be prepared. It is highly recommended that the documents are made under the supervision of someone who knows what documents are required by the ministry. This can be done through various Photocopy shops as well. One such shop is in Farwaniya as well and the person there is Pakistan and is very helpful. His name is Irshad and his number is 6048413. The documents that I had prepared initially were.

1. English Translation of Nikah Nama, attested by Foreign Office Pakistan.
2. Photocopy of Wife Passport.
3. Photocopy of Child's Passport.
4. Birth Certificate of child.
5. Photocopy of Urdu Nikah Nama.

From here in Kuwait.

6. Photocopy of letter from company in English and Urdu both.
7. Photocopy of my 'Amal' something document which is also known as green paper.
8. Photocopy of my Civil ID.

Incidentally no photographs were required.

Once I got these documents, I went to Pakistani Embassy in Kuwait and submitted by Nikah Nama there. Over there they made a document in Arabic verifying that the Nikah Nama is original. And they also attested it. I submitted the papers in the morning and they called me in the afternoon to collect it. They took 5 dinaars for the whole process.

Next I took that document and took to Kuwait Foreign Affairs, there I had to buy a 3 dinaars (8 Dinaars Total) stamp and they attested the same document for me. After that I took all the documents to the ministry. The location of the ministry was in Jahra for me since on Civil ID the address is Sulaibiya. Below the ministry was a photocopy and typing shop, where they created an application for my wife and child. They also arranged my documents. I think they took no more than 2 dinaars (10 Dinaars Total) for the whole process. Then I went and applied for the visa. I had to run around a little since the documents have to be verified from the various offices. At that time I kept on praying that wherever I went, they don't put something in red, since if they do, then it means that something is wrong.

Finally my papers were accepted, some comical scenes occured as well because of the language gap and I had to run up and down for the various authentications and sometimes to find the right office as well. Finally they took my papers and called me on the next working day to get the visa.

In the next working day I had to run around a little bit more, since my documents were stuck somewhere and nobody knew where they were. Finally they found the documents and I had to run once again for some more verifications. In the end they said 'Bukra Bukra' and 'finish'. And I was like what Bukra what finish. Anyways the person was able to explain to me that Bukra means tomorrow and that the visa work is finished, and you will get it tomorrow.

Next day I went there early in the morning and I had to put 3 dinaars stamps on both the visas (16 dinaars). The ministry is filled with women in Black sometimes veiled and sometimes not. I think this is an ideal example that wearing Abaya and even Veil does not stop a woman from earning.

Finally the visa was in my hands and I took a big sigh of relief and braced for the challenges ahead. The family visa is valid till 2 months from arrival, so once the family is here I started their Akama Process immediately.

Having the Visa Stamped From The Kuwait Embassy in Pakistan

Once I got the visa I was happy that within a week my family will be here but that was not to be, since Kuwait Embassy in Pakistan has its own procedures to stamp the visa.

They required medical, character certificate from the police station and a valid airline ticket to do that. Once it was ready, they informed us that the visa has not arrived from Kuwait and they required that to stamp. So they called us a week later.

For all this process I had to send 10,000 rupees, which is around 50 dinaars (66 dinaars total), since the embassy charges around 3,000 for stamping each visa and some cost is incurred on Medical as well.

Finally it was all done there and the family arrived here.

Applying For Akama

Once the family arrives here, then one has to apply for Akama or in other words Resideny Permit. Since the insurance fees was a little bit high so therefore I decided to have the Akama for a year only.

The first step for getting the Akama is the medical test, which I had done from Mustashfa Naeem. Before going there a medical card is required to be made. I had that done from the Pakistani Photocopy wala, who made the card for both wife and child. He charged 1 dinaar for it (67 dinaars)

I went to Mustashfa Naeem and bought 1 one 10 dinaar (77 dinaars total) stamp for my wife, for the child it is not required. They took blood test for the wife and x-ray as well. For the child I went to the doctor and he wrote that medical test for the child is not required. So I got his medical report there and then. They called us after 10 days to come and collect the report.

We went there after 10 days and collected the report. Then we went for Insurance. The Insurance office was within the vicinity of Mustashfa. We went there and he required the Civil ID numbers of Wife and Child. The Civil ID number can be found online by dialing 889988 and then pressing 2 and then pressing 4. Once that is done, the service asks you for entering the a number which is mentioned in the visa. Once you do that, the service tells you the Civil ID number.

All that is taken to the counter. 41 dinaars (118 dinaars) is required for the adult and 31 (149 dinaars) for the child. They give the insurance cards and a receipt there and then.

After that I took all the papers to the Ministry from where I initially got the Temporary Family Visa from. I had made the application for Akama from a photocopy centre in Farwaneya, but I still went in the photocopy centre there, to get my documents arranged.

Then I went into the ministry where my papers were checked only in one office this time, since verification and authentication had already been done. Then they asked me do deposit 200 dinaars (349 dinaars) for the akama of both the wife and child. I did that and then I brought the receipt back to the same counter. Once I deposited that, they asked me to wait for a few minutes and they gave me the passports with the Akama printed on it.

So now I have the Akama done for the family and its a relief.

In the end a few little tips.

1. For this kind of work, always go as early as possible. The ministry usually open at 7, so make sure that you are there by that time.

2. Also the language barrier might not be that difficult to cross. Just try to understand and concentrate and if you don't understand then just tell them Ma Arif, meaning I don't understand. Or say in English that I don't understand.

3. Also I didn't find long and huge lines anywhere, since in Pakistan we are used to do that, therefore this was a welcome thing.

4. Have lots of stamina and don't be lazy be prepared to run around a little and try to complete as much work in one go as possible.

5. Have your documents in order and have them arranged, since arranging them on the counter might be too much for the officials in the ministry.

6. Always carry your original Civil ID and the Green paper with you, even to places where you think that its not required.

I was a bit scared before going to the ministry but in the end, I didn't find it that difficult. It is just that they have a particular process to follow and one must respect that.

Desert Picnic.

For picnics I have been to many places. Sea Sides (usually go there), Mountains, parks etc. As far as I can remember, there are two places where I haven't been. Forests and Deserts.

Just went to a desert picnic arranged by my company, Agility Logistics. It was fun for both bachelors and family. Huge tents were erected and coolers and Air Conditioning was used to keep the temperature at acceptable levels. A tent was also there which contained stalls from various restaurants. Some cabins were there for toilets. And one cabin was there for showers as well. yes showers !

Then smaller tents were also there where family and friends can collect for their chit chat and relaxation, in typical Arabic style, with carpets and cushions put in the corner.

An Arabic Round table was also there. By Arabic Round Table I mean a round table without the table. With arrangements for fire in the centre and cushions in the corner. This round table is used for everything from discussions to musical entertainments.

For Games and fun, there were arrangements for volley ball, basketball, football, table football (urf patteee), billiards, dominoes, cards and some arabic board games were there as well.

Arrangements were made for Magic Shows, Circus, songs and party.

We had a few games of Billiard and then came out for a game of Volleyball and it was GREAT fun.

The only uselessness was the desert storm. But it gave us a feel of how people used to live in these places and go about their day to day lives some 100 or more years back.

But in the end it was a nice experience.

The season of camel wrestling is back

Aisa Bhee Hota hay...




By Malik Tahseen Raza

MUZAFFARGARH, Feb 12: Tens of thousands of camel wrestling fans were standing breathlessly around a ring where two camels were trying their skills to down each other at a fair held in the suburban area of the town on Sunday.

The annual camel fighting fair, also called Patwari Wala Dangal, attracted thousands of the fans wherein over a dozen brightly adorned camels with bells on their humps, mirrored blankets covering their backs and colourful pompoms woven into their tails, took part in the event. The participanting camels came from Bahawalpur, Kashmor, Rajanpur, Nawabshah (Sindh) and Deepalpur. The most interesting fight was held between Patwari Wala and Tehsildar Wala camels that continued for 40 minutes and ended when Patwari Wala kicked and trampled the Tehsildar Wala. Soon the defeated camel growled and ran out of the ring to avoid the wrath of his opponent, the roaring supporters of the Patwari Wala ran towards the winner to celebrate the win.

This was the second camel fighting fair in Muzaffargarh this year. Before it, a camel fair was held at the shrine of Muhammad Musa near the thermal power station. Two more fairs will follow the Jaalwala fair to be held at Khanpur Bagga Sher and Basti Barian.

Besides Muzaffargarh, such fairs are held in Bahawalpur, Rajanpur, Layyah, Jalalpur Pirwala, Okara, Nawabshah and Kashmor.

In the cold winter months, which is also the mating season, there is jealousy as well as anger among camels. Rival males who are trying to engage the attention of a female begin to quarrel. This is when people take advantage of the seasonal changes and encourage them to fight each other.

It seems that camel, once called the ship of desert and bred for its skin, meat and milk and for transportation, has become a wrestling and money-making object.

“Now, my camel is strong and will charge Rs200,000 for a fight,” said Ibrahim Patwari, the master of the winner camel.

Mostly, in camel sport, the owner of a well-known camel charges Rs150,000 to Rs300,000 for a fight. This money is not subject to victory but a defeat costs a well-known camel costly as the animal loses its reputation and participatory charges.

A fight between two camels continues till the time a camel roars helplessly or runs away from the ring. A trained camel knows a number of moves such as how to trip his opponent, how to force his submission, how to throw him to the ground by pushing his head between his legs, how to force him to his knees by means of head and neck power.

A referee who is also called ‘assessor’ oversees the fight. The masters of fighting camels are not allowed to step into the ring.

“In camel fighting, the masters of the camels are kept away, because it is against the game rules,” said Malik Mureed Hussain Numberdar, an expert on camel fighting. He said mostly the camel masters did not even watch their ‘pets’ fighting because a defeat would cause them a heart attack.

Zawar Kazim from Budh Basti rears a wrestler camel called Mawali. He has dedicated the income of his buffalo farm to the camel.

“Rearing a fighter camel is very costly because you have to feed it properly,” said Kazim. The diet of fighting camels is very special and a huge amount is spent on that.

“I feed my camel on one kg dates, fresh greens, five litres milk, two kg desi ghee and one dozen eggs every day,” he said.

“Although it is expensive to bring up wrestling camels, I still do it because I feel indebted to this creature as it has given me recognition all over the country. Wherever Mawali goes, people come to see it,” he says proudly. Kazim has engaged two attendants to take care of the camel who feed it, take it for a five-kilometre jogging every day.

Wrestling camels arrive at the venue of a fair one month ago.

“This is an advertisement stunt as the news of the arrival of a fighting camel runs like a fire in the jungle and more and more people come to the fair,” said Makdoom Qalandar, whose camel fair will be held on Feb 17.

During their stay, the diet and expenditure of the wrestler and its coach are borne by the organiser.

Patwari said that the cost of hosting of camel’s owners was shared by other local people.

“People very proudly offer to host the camels and their masters,” he said.

Besides Mawali, other famous fighter camels are Wanwairri of Malik Baggi, Sohna of Makhdoom Qalander Sheikh, Patwariwala of Ibrahim Patwari and Rohi ka Raja of Faiz Kurai.

http://www.dawn.com

Friends Walking in Groups

Seeing a group of friends walk together can tell you a few things about their personalities.

Bossies. These guys try to walk in the front in a very serious mood, dictate where to go and what to do. Depending upon their nature they might seek advice but want to stay ahead of the pack and hence be the first one to be noticed.

Joyriders. Are happy to walk in the back. Hand in hand or hand in pocket, going wherever the group is going, have no problems whatsoever, wants to enjoy the time together with friends. Usually more bent on having fun and making the most out of their time. Also a bit relaxed in their approach and not very serious.

The Pushers. They walk with the joyriders, but when they are not satisfied with the progress or have to show the group the way forward, or take the group out of confusion, would come ahead and assume responsibility. Then after sometime when the confusion is over and things are or normal course, then these guys would just go to the back and resume from where they left off.

This applies to groups with at least 4 guys. What do you think ?

Using Laptops

Using a laptop with a wireless connection to internet. Kya baat hay. Having fun. Writing blogs, chatting, surfing internet. Really cool. Me and my friends sit in the drawing room with their laptops and surf the internet passing on things to each other.

Corporate Culture

Just recently I got a chance to see and work in a big organization, and hence witnessed the culture very closely. Everything is multipled by 100 when compared by smaller organizations.



If you relax you are gone, if you don't have a team and senior people in upper hierarchy then you are gone. Since continuously you have to prove ourselves with the work you do and also report it somehow to the upper management, so that they are aware that you have done something. Otherwise, according to them, we are just wasting our time and organizational resource. This is in complete contrast to the small organizations, you might have been working in before. Over there, you get work and you get a time frame and you have to deliver. Over here you have to create work for yourself continuously set your deadlines, go after the management for approval. You are known by the number of projects or sub projects or sub tasks that you have recently completed. It takes sometime getting used to.