Picture of the day

Mobilink SUCH JAZBA - Logo "COPIED"

SUCH TRUTH. SUCH PASSION. SUCH JAZBA

These are the words from a cellular company Mobilink’s recent promotional campaign of its “Youth Package” to capture youth market of Pakistan.

Launched few days back massively through hoardings and other media tools, the company claimed that “Such Jazba” was derived from values of our society with particular focus on youth. Have a look at “values” it describes:

Fresh. Vibrant. Spirited. Honest.
Such Jazba™ is a tribute to your values.
Values that are as personal as they are universal.
Values that will make more out of who you really are.
Values that have a way of adding up to you.
The time has come to be yourself, in your world.
A world where everything and everybody will
remind you everyday that you are the best thing to
ever happen to You.
So, join us when you say:
Such Apnao, Jazba Jagao!

These captivating and beautifully written slogans were used by the cellular company to invite youth after a “detailed thinking process”. Only the related people could tell better about it; however the disgraceful thing is that “the campaign has everything except the TRUTH.”

According to my research, the logo adopted for the campaign was actually designed by a Brazilian designer Fabio Sasso from Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2005 for its client “Zagora” and was uploaded on his website on Jan 24, 2008.
http://abduzeedo.com/creating-crazy-cool-logo

Web page view of Original Logo used by Mobilink for its Youth Package
“Copy and Paste” is common nowadays. But at least it is done intelligently. But it seems Mobilink feels “Mauja’n hi Mauja’n” by utilizing the same design theme after just adding an additional color and using different characters.
Mobilink, it’s time to think again. Stop the campaign based on an untruthful thing and shift it to the real values to reach the youth of Pakistan.

Source:
http://blogap.bloggers.pk/

Reference:
http://abduzeedo.com/creating-crazy-cool-logo

Picture of the day: Rehan 'Jumping' Butt

3 years, issues unsolved - Review on the performance of current PPP government

Benazir Bhutto’s assassination in 2007 provided Pakistan Peoples Party heavy mandate that brought their government after Musharraf regime. The government that raised the slogan of ‘roti, kapra aur makaan’ failed to solve public issues. Although initiated notable steps and policies on national and international but practically failed to focus over issues related to a common man. The government may have benefited individuals or few institutions but a common man turned worst day by day.

Present Pakistan Peoples Party government has many achievements on its credit but these accomplishments couldn’t improve the economic, law & order and socio-political situation. The party successfully adopted the reconciliation policy with the allies and opposition parties. PPP took along parties like Mutthida Qaumi Movement, Pakistan Muslim League (Functional), Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulmae-Islam and others in various situations but again at many stages (as RGST) the reconciliation policy failed.

PPP opened their success book by resuming Chief Justice to his seat. It was the stage when PML (N) launched the long march with lawyers, here PPP took a wise decision.

The 18th amendment is another milestone in PPP’s tenure. The party described the amendment as the best constitutional thing happened since 1973 constitution and some called it ‘a historic development’. The 18th amendment included 95 amendments in the 1973 constitution; one of the prominent amendments was provincial autonomy.




The 7th National Finance Commission Award (NFC award) is also another feather in PPP’s cap. President Asif Ali Zardari signed the historic NFC award document in March 2010. The award successfully distributed financial resources among the provinces.

Development programs like Benazir Bhutto Income Support Fund and Benazir Youth Development Program emerged as great development ideas to bring positive change in the society. Benazir Bhutto Income Support Fund is one of the biggest poverty reduction programs ever initiated in the country while Benazir Youth Development Program trained more than 80,000 youths in different trades. Later on, both of the programs failed due to huge corruption.

The war of terrorism has put Pakistan into the state of war. The heavily armed militants have become active to destabilize Pakistan in different areas of the country. In PPP’s regime, Pakistan Army launched operations like Operation Raah-e-Rast and Operation Raah-e-Nijaat against the militants and killed/arrested many. As a result, 2.5 million people of the affected areas had to leave their homes. Government effectively managed the IDPs and sent them back to their homes after the operation ended.

The budget 2010-11 presented by PPP government brought good news of increment in the budget of Health, Education and Police.

But on the other hand, the condition of a common man turned worst despite of all the mentioned achievements of the present government.

The continuous price hike killed the common man. Daily raise in prices of Sugar, Milk, Petroleum, Pulses, utilities and other goods caused great pain to the public of Pakistan. In this government’s 3 years, the prices of many goods raised up to more than 100-200%.

The economic crisis is the worst face of Pakistan Peoples Party’s government. The government took excessive loans from global organizations which caused great damage to Pakistan’s economy. Pakistan right now is heavily in debt of World Bank and International Monetary Fund who are imposing their policies on Pakistan. The price hike and the rising taxes are result of IMF and World Bank’s policies.

Corruption is PPP’s gift to Pakistani public. According to Transparency International’s report, Pakistan has climbed from number 43 to number 34 in terms of corruption, Health, Education, Police, Ministries and even matters like Hajj became corrupted. Corruption of billions has been exposed in Benazir Income Support Program, Rental power plants project, Earthquake and Flood relief programs, land distribution etc.

Energy crisis has defamed the present government more than anything. In present government’s tenure, electricity load-shedding increased to a painful extent. Rural areas are facing load-shedding of 10-20 hours a day. On the other hand, the metropolitan and the financial hub of Pakistan has to suffer hours of load shedding everyday that is apparently causing severe damage to the economy.

Both the achievements and weaknesses of PPP government have been mentioned above. One reaches to the conclusion that PPP has failed to solve public issues and to provide relief to Pakistanis. The government has done nothing more than renaming Airports, roads and towns on the name of Benazir Bhutto, the REAL issues remain unsolved, public suffers.

Students to make Inter board's policies

Karachi: For the first time in history, an educational board had added student representatives in it's educational policy-making. Intermediate Board of Karachi has announced to form "Students-Educationists Syndicate" where the position holder students will participate in the policy-making of the board. Speaking to Common Room, Chairman Intermediate Board of Karachi Professor Anwar Ahmed Zai said that the syndicate comprises of 36 position holders of this year from all groups, 12 teachers and 12 educationists. Working together, they'll formulate the best policy and patterns". The position holder students were present at the ceremony. "Throughout our history, students were never asked what do they want. We have added the students in policy-making to get their direct feedback. Their participation will help us out in improving standards.", Chairman IBK added. He said that the current syndicate will remain functional till 31st October 2011, then the next year's position holder students will replace the current ones.

Rage against the social evils – Pakistani music fights back

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow defines music as the universal language of mankind. What expressed through music is the musician’s inside or around. Love, betray, patriotism and joy are emotions that are usually expressed through tunes. Hate, corruption, prejudice, war, riots, conflict, extremism and terrorism are the bad sides of society and unfortunately we, the Pakistanis, have witnessed them badly since our country’s inception. This is the time when one is concerned about his/her society and this is where the music depicts it too. Pakistan has witnessed some great music on social issues.

As music is simply human emotion, social issues music’s history is old too. Rage against the machine (An American band of 1990s) presented fiercely polemical music with heavy metal instrumentation. One of the greatest names of western music Michael Jackson also raised voice against prejudice.

In Pakistan, Junoon was the first band that dared to raise voice on social issues. In 1994-95, Junoon were courted for their controversial video and song “Ehtisaab” sung with Najam Sheraz from album Kashmakash. “Kitni aankhen dekhengee aadhi sadi purana khwab, ehtisab ehtisab… Kitni bar pukarengay zindabad aur murdabad!” The video of Ehtisab depicted the corrupt Pakistani elite. The PPP’s democratic government immediately banned the song and video. In their last album Deewar, Junoon again pointed out the social evils in the song “Dharti ke khuda”. Throughout their career, Junoon has been a socially-concerned band.

Talking about Najam Sheraz, his song “Yeh baat kisay maloom nahin”(1996) is a curious song. The song highlights the deprived part of the society and how the “sarmaye ke bhookay sher” (capitalists / politicians) exploit them. This song was censored on national TV and the reason was its being against establishment. “Sona chahta hoon” (1

995) is a song where Najam sheraz wildly cried for Kashmiris. The one-of-its-kind screaming song was banned on national radio (reason: the lyrics and vocal performance was too wild for the youth).

Jazba, a band appeared in early 90s, were also one of the few musicians who raised voice against Indian aggression in Kashmir. Heavy vocals, gloomy composition and revolutionary lyrics made it something never made before.

Another band likely to be mentioned here is Strings who have just came back with Atif Aslam in “Ab khud kuch karma parega”. It is a messag

e to Pakistanis to standup against terrorism and fear. Earlier, they’ve also done “Berut”, a song for Gaaza.

Karavan, the rock band of masters, also set a benchmark in social issues. ‘Rakh aas’ and ‘Yeh zindagi hai’ are the band’s social thoughts.

How can one forget the lahori band Entity Paradigm (EP) here? Kahan hai tu and Humain aazma represent youth and motivation while the aggressive song “Fitrat” questions the elite for exploiting people “Bol qabeel tu chahta hai

kya, uska haq ya ke uski dua?”… the lyrics are amazing specially at a place where he says “Kaghaz k tukray (money) to dikha jinhain jor ke tu bana khuda”. Tremendous stuff!!!

In 2007, when Pakistan faced the collision between Government and Lawyers, the socialist approach raised among common men. This is where a young band ‘Laal’ raised up and followed revolutionary poems of Habib Jalib and Faiz Ahmad Faiz. ‘Meine us se yeh kaha’ and ‘Umeed-e-Seher’ are inspiring enough.

Money is everything, says the band Azal in song ‘Aisi Taisi’. The song with excellent music arrangement and strong lyrics depicts society running after money. It is voice of a rebel.

Socio-political satire can’t be unnoticed when talking about social issues. Shehzad Roy tops the list with ‘Laga reh’ and ‘Qismat apne hath main’. His lyrics are always strong and thought-provoking and through satire, he has successfully delivered his wakeup call. As a social activist, Roy has wide eyes on society and surroundings. Awaz boy Haroon Rashid also presented social satire in his pop / rap style with ‘Corporation man’ and ‘Paisa’.

A lot of other musicians have also attempted music on social issues but the ones mentioned above were the milestones in the industry. Music surely reflects what’s around in our society and Pakistani music does it well.

- Jibran

Dedicated to Air Blue crashed flight passengers

The plane i'm on is going slow
I look and stare down below

Something is wrong people are crying
I wondered if anyone was dying

I never saw anyone steering the plane
I wonder if the captain has gone insane

The plane is moving downward from the sky
I prayed to God and begged Him not to let me die

Everyones out of their seats yelling and screaming
I wonder if anyone here is a demon

I looked out the window,
we're close to being dead

I wish this was a dream and I could wakeup in my bed
But it wasn't a dream it was real life
I wish I had my really sharp knife

Then I could put this all to an end,
and I wouldn't have to take the time to mend

Soon enough we crash on hill
After that I couldn't hear a single sound

Everyone was dead, and so was I
I never wanted it to end like this, "I never wanted to die"