Light aur Lijiye!

One of the good happening in Pakistan in last decade, is return of cricket. Though, it does not reconcile the years of youth damned by horrendous plague of extremism and terrorism. May the light be shed, everywhere...

The gentle breeze from the rechargeable cooler, increase the entropy of sweat soaked shalwar kameez, while, the fresh and floating ice in its water tank, begins to melt and starts to sink.

Light nahi hai.

I am sitting on the dinner table, placed at the western corner of my dining room, which has the additional charge of launch room, due to its size and grandeur. 

Two days back, in retrospective, I heard a federal minister claiming that load shedding has been ‘finished’ since May 1. What a biased ‘bayan’. May the odds be in favour of the country that has always stayed in the constant scenario of ‘nazuk surat-e-haal’.

About 10-11 years from now, when I started my blog. Much of the outcry and sulking was about the frictions of youth. After a decade, I have realized the loss which resulted from them. Similarly, Generation Y aka Millennials, seem to be cursed to the Wall, and still feels like frozen assets. 

The land of the pure has always been in political turmoil, both in historical and current perspective. Zeal about the sense of control to change the fate of its existence among the commoners is, nothing but a façade, may soon become a folly.

The legit distraction for the young and the old are, games and movies. The coat of arms of entertainment. The poor and helpless’s poppy. The escape from the gridding of our toxically gruelling work spaces. 

Pi lijiye, but you can’t afford, morally and materialistically, so, keep watching the show under the smog.

Einstein said that time is relative.

Here, there change is relative.

Political turmoil is relative.

Economy is relative.

Future planning is relative.

Just, the relatives are not relative!

“and how can man die better than facing fearful odds, for the ashes of his fathers, and the temples of his Gods?’ – lays of Ancient Rome

Well as men, we love our mothers and as for the temples and its sanctity, ahem. #slogans #importedProductsAreAwesomeToo. So, no. The better ways to die are also relative.

While, I am ending this blog… Light nahi ayi.

p.s. Just thinking, we need a leader whose name is Daulat, so when we chant “Daulat tere jan-nisar, beshumar, beshumar!” we truly, deeply, realistically, mean it!

Pakistan's Millennial aur Ghar kharidne ki khwahish!

If you are a millennial in Pakistan, you might feel more of an existing history-log of world’s transformation. From the Sega Mega or Nitendo, in 90s, to getting excited about the upcoming Play Station 5, you have had the experienced the ecstasy of virtual gameplay. In political spectrum you have seen the worst political turmoil prior to a seemingly less harmful enlightened dictatorship followed by the wishful era of recycled democracy since last one decade. From the one shop in city centre for buying Eid clothes to Mega malls with air conditioning, it feels like, you have really gained the increased level of quality of life.

My dear fellow inhabitants, from land of the pure, aging 26 to 40 years of age. Most of you must have been married by now or simply, taking the route of living your life with your own terms. Yet, when it will come to having a roof over your head, it would most probably be that you are living with your parents (which is the traditional way of living in subcontinent) or having your ‘own’ place with help of your parent’s fortune or blessing. Don’t take me wrong, but, our parents have done most of the work for us. Some planned investments and some luck, could have landed them a good piece of land.
Unfortunately, for us the chances are slimming down, to have one’s own house in a formidable locality in coming of age, by ourselves. Much is to be blamed on the governments for not subsidizing enough on low cost housing projects and curbing on development of luxury based housing societies. Though, not all blame goes to them, as globally the trend is, in creating high profits out of real estate sector with an angle of providing better ‘living conditions’, whereas, low cost apartments and housing are left to become ghettos due to negligence defended in name of less profitability. As a result of such a change, it’s speculated that millennial might not be able to afford buying houses in future. It is indeed alarming and worrisome for us, even more after two recession within a decade. With money losing its worth and inflation going haywire, the income seems to go on a snail’s pace and opportunities seems to getting scarcer. Hence, many millennials, risk everything, prefer to go abroad, work hard and gain prosperity.
When you go on the road, you see numerous advertisements of this city, that city, this town, that town, this housing society, that housing society. It’s like they are everywhere, and like, the moths to the flame, when you zoom around for details, get estranged. Either the ready-to-build-on plots or ready-to-live-in apartments are too costly to buy or the instalment plans of new or ongoing projects by even big brands are too good to rely upon (in such situation you might expect a 10-20 years or more of a delay in getting your property handed over to you or worse…. Never!). In the end you develop acceptance of your current state of living and have your aspirations burn down to dust.
Can we change this predicament? In short, NO!
In over economic system, much of the money in ‘economy’ comes from real estate and the richest people in land of the pure, are real estate Mongols or have conglomerates which have part of their empire invested in real estate sector. Inspite of what you want, their profits comes from selling lands bought with pennies, sold in gold to costumers, with a touch of polishing and patronization. While, we the working class, instead of being proud of our sweat, tears and blood… regrettably, are all divided on desire of achieving that social status which comes from a having a piece of these high end places. No law, no court, no religion, stops ‘them’ from squeezing out our life’s saving and pouring them into their cauldrons of profits.
In past, I did write about, suggesting construction of housing schemes for 3-5 marla plots – or houses plus limitation on the cost to 15-30 lacs (including construction). These housings must be met to be inhabited by working class which would help reduce the strain of their ever-so-dropping buying power. Whereas, subsidy and laxation should be given in zoning of 3 storey flats apartments, with range falling in 5 – 15 lacs. But when the governments announce such projects or approve such projects, which they seldom do, the ‘will’ behind carrying them out is weaker than hopes of cure for superstitions. I wish they could have built them quickly and efficiently, like motorways in our country, magar dost, hazaron khwahishen aisi ki har khwahish pe daam nikle. Least, I hope if the government subsidizes the graveyards and improve their maintenance, kiun kay jab ab, daam nikal hi jaye to kahi qabar kay paisay bhi na kaam niklay.

Clinical Pharmacist aur chirag dekhana!

Mana humari maadari zabaan urdu hai, par exam kay paper say lay kar visa apply karnay tak, har jaga angrazi hi istamal hoti hai... tou bahi angraiz nahi hai, bus angraizi istamal kar rahay hai....

The follow piece is especially written for my pharmacist brothers and sisters. Rest of you can just enjoy the ride and in best case scenario, be an inspired Pakistani.

More than a decade ago, when I enrolled in pharmacy program, least did I know what will my future be like. For most part, the goal was to keep up, in the line of study and further education, aka, degree after degree. The reason being that in the land of the pure, the more degrees you have, is considered proportional to the security of your future and development of your career. As most of us students land into pharmacy after spilling over from the cup of MBBS, most of us are just hungover the dreams of becoming doctor, in some capacity.

Down the road, I came across the option of landing in Healthcare, more specifically hospital based, clinical pharmacy. At the time of my graduation, a career in clinical pharmacy, was supposedly and ironically, not in the hospital, where all the action was suppose to be but in academics, which would rather involve me having a masters and then a PhD degree, in clinical pharmacy, and succeeding in getting a post for lecturer at some university. So, one would end up teaching something you don’t have in practice. Though, if one were enthusiastic, you be starting from the scratch, and unfortunately, against all odds. Luckily, now, as you read this piece, realities have changed for good, a number of hospitals across the country have clinical pharmacy departments in them.

To the layman, a clinical pharmacist is someone who helps in resolving issues in patient therapy, such as dose adjustment, drug interactions, adverse effects of drugs, etc., and is an active member of the medical team looking after the patient. As for you, the pharmacist fraternity…. ahem! Clinical pharmacist!? Naam tou suna hoga! Ab suraj ko kiya chirag dekhana…

America has been a major influence, in the making of our perception, of what a clinical pharmacist is. And when we think about it, I wish to direct your attention to the part many of us, especially me, were not aware about, regarding the clinical pharmacy. In America, ever since, the development of clinical pharmacy, the focus had been towards enhancing the role and capacity of the pharmacist. In name of developing advance patient care, in 1976, a body was formed by American Pharmaceutical Association, Board of Pharmacy Specialties, which tested the skills of clinical pharmacists and hence, helped in differentiating the cream in the field, from the rest. Therefore, giving them credibility and confidence.
In matter of facts, as of today, board specialties are offered in, Ambulatory Care Pharmacy, Cardiology Pharmacy, Compounded Sterile Preparations Pharmacy, Critical Care Pharmacy, Geriatric Pharmacy, Infectious Diseases Pharmacy, Nuclear Pharmacy, Nutrition Support Pharmacy, Oncology Pharmacy, Pediatric Pharmacy, Pharmacotherapy, Psychiatric Pharmacy and Solid Organ Transplantation Pharmacy. Up till 2019 there are 46000 board certified pharmacist across the world. The interesting bit that I like to share is that there are 3 incredible pharmacists, who have 5 board specialties credentials individially (which are the highest recorded up till now) are, Elsayed Murad Younis, Donald E. Shamblin II and Moh'Dnour Mahmoud Bani Younes. When we want to talk about Pakistan, yes! The land of the pure too have its share of board certified Pharmacists. Amjad Khan, a gulf based Pakistani has passed 3 board specialties. While many other Pakistanis who have passed board exam are mainly settled in Gulf or America. Currently, Pakistan has 11 board specialty-credentials-holding-qualified-clinical-pharmacists working in country, 7 in Pharmacotherapy, 1 each in, Infectious diseases, Geriatric Pharmacy, Nutrition Support Pharmacy, and Oncology Pharmacy. The current Board Specialty qualified clinical pharmacists include, Awaisullah Babar, Ghulam Mujtaba, Gul Ambreen, Muhammad Rehan Khan, Nida Ayoub, Saba Mazhar, Sidrah Andleeb, Shahzad Akram and Zafar Iqbal. Well do you know, what the best part is, patriotically speaking, India has no Board Specialty qualified pharmacist. So…
Pakistan: 11, India: 0
Pakistan’s achievement does not end here, Shaukat Khanum Cancer Memorial Hospital and Research Centre is now running the only, American Society of Health-system Pharmacist (ASHP)’s accredited, International Pharmacy Practice Residency(IPPR) program in Asia, under the leadership of Mr. Omar Akhlaq Bhutta, Associate Director Pharmacy. This is a structured training program that trains resident pharmacist in-line with the PGY – 1 program(run in America under ASHP), in accordance with the needs of the healthcare system in JCI-accredited hospital in Pakistan. Metaphorically speaking, this seems like a spark that is going to set fire to the rain, as such high quality structure training program, in future, will be run at more number of hospitals in the country. As a result, we will witness high quality clinical pharmacy departments across Pakistan.
So if you are a Pharmacy student thinking about future and career, or a hospital pharmacist in pursuit of better prospects and a great learning opportunity…. Plan your Board!
You can attempt your board exam in Pakistan and gain the credentials. Each board exam has its own requirements. For instance in case of Pharmacotherapy exam (BCPS), if you have completed 1 year IPPR at SKMCH&RC or you have 3 years of pharmacotherapy based clinical experience in Pakistan, you are eligible. The exam costs around $600 and it’s taken biannually.

So, what are you waiting for, Pakistan ka naam roshan karo!! Your country needs you.

p.s. wo yaad hai na 3 idiots ki line… Baba ranchoddas sahi kehte the... Baccha kabil bano kabil.. Kamyabi to sali jhak maar ke peeche ayegi

Corona COVID 19 aur Qalandar vaccine!

Yar contagion film dekhi hai?

Yes, people, we are living in the times of corona virus. What we have witnessed in the last 6 months, is nothing short of a sci-fi thriller. The whole world is affected by this highly contagious virus, that is spreading like wild fire. It becomes the leading cause of deaths in many corners of the world. The government is trying to control its spread and the spread of panic. Fake news and conspiracy theorists take the lime light. The fabric of society starts to tear apart. Economy crumble under its own weight. The masses begin to look for a messiah who can put an end to their ordeal, a.k.a. the vaccine. 

If you scroll down the news feed of your social media handle, you will read about, either the corona stories or corona tragedies. Many of you in last few months would have had worldometers with your breakfast to see where is the COVID 19 death toll is headed. Sticking to statistics from United States to COVID 19 India lockdown. Listening to science, begging to you to stay home and self-isolate, with international agency like WHO and local institutes like Robert Koch Institute, briefing about the telly. Every time, you only wished to see the falling numbers on this pandemic.  So, whether it was raised from Wuhan or John Hopkins, your salvation will only be the vaccine.

Lahore ended its last good memory with the Pakistan super league(PSL) where Lahore Qalandars cricket team, for the first time seemed to get to the finals. Unfortunately, Lahore did rise to the peak, 3 months down the road, but it was in the numbers of corona patients. About 1.5 to 20 million people are estimated to be infected with corona virus in Lahore, which means 1 to 5 in 5 people in this metropolitan city. 9th class result of BISE students and end of ramazan eid shopping, both had high emotions. Matric and metrics of economy, what a combination. 

The worst picture does not end here, the panic for shortage of treatment has resulted in shortage of Azithromycin, Hydroxychloroquine, Ivermetin, Actrema (banned for local sale) as well as price hike of herbal remedies, like senna makki, and the demand of corona survivor plasma upto 0.5 million rupees, and that’s a donation. Whereas, you can’t find oxygen cylinders or even oximeters (costing upto 10k).

The movie is reaching its climax…. But one thing is for sure:

The world will be changed after this pandemic. 

p.s.

Ghabrana nahi hai, picture abhi baki hai meray dost!

Government aur Ghabrana!

Congratulations my fellow country-people

so between the aurat march and corona virus, which is a danger to our existence?
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ofcourse, corona kills!!!
- mic drop -
so be it the government working for you or against you. you are going to be dead anyways. so... when the water in our taps runs out, the air entering in our nostrils is a death song, the neighbor becomes your mortal enemy, the fabric of this very society is torn to bits, .... lets first make sure you know, you have been eating dabba roti not double roti!!
while the tabdeeli has arrived and in full throttle, with sharifs abroad and zardari in jail! public under the burden of taxes, dollar hike, rising petrol prices and depression of qalandars! and someone from heaven says, abhi tou ibtada-e-ishq hai rotta hai kiya, agay agay dekh hota hai kiya!!!
well for a better tomorrow for your kids, iss zindagi ko sacrifice kar deta houn,... bhai hazir hai!!! bring on you taxes, faxes, waxes ... whatever you have to throw at, big brother.
look at error of comedies! - umer akmal style-
the generation of a-thousand-selfies-strong-narcissism, filled with self entitlement, and egoistic dispositions, is enforced with 'sacrifice of the century'... with a simple: ghabrana nahi hai! and bonus.. sakoon sirf qabar mein hai!
in this pickle that we have got ourselves in, least we can do is, to our self-centered country-women and country-men, to stop being pretentious and begin a journey of brute honest bluntness, to hold trust of this generation. this is because, whatever government comes, things wont change, but yet, if its a consolation, start by telling the governments and future governments too: how terrible they are!!! even if it kills you! because sakoon sirf qabar mein hai!
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p.s. use their medicine, against, them!