Post bin Laden Pakistan

How do you feel about Bin Laden issue? Asked a friend in the US and my response was: EXTREMELY EMBARRASED. I want to join my American friends in celebration but very little has left for us to celebrate after Bin Laden was found and killed in Pakistan.

We claimed to be innocent, not hosting terrorist, suffered and we mention of fighting, dying for global peace and security. But all those now counts nothing but just a big lie, as the biggest threat to the world peace has been killed on our soil-Abbottabad.  The city of Abbottabad hosts our premier military academy (like West Point in the US), country’s renowned and premier educational institutions and is a gateway to beautiful valleys and tourism attractions like Nathiagali, Naran and Northern Areas.

Regarding Bin Laden's killing, numbers of concerns are raised with regard to our capabilities and the consequences which might lies ahead.  The foremost question raised in common circles is that how did Bin Laden Manage to live in a military city? A place which remained the only and most liberal and safest place in Khyber Paktunkwa? Secondly what the future will this bring to us? Are there still other safe heavens, which the world will follow and hit in Pakistan?

It’s extremely important and yet to determine that if we did our part with the American. Our role (if any) in this operation might bring strength to the deteriorating PAK-US relation, while otherwise it potentially presents an insecure future for Pakistan.

Common public is clearly expressing their concern over Pakistani establishment inability to track and bring Bin Laden to justice, meaningless silence of our government on the issue and burial of OBL by US in the sea.

General perception is that it’s almost impossible for a person like Bin Laden to hide from Pakistani security agencies, especially in a place like Abottabad. Second is that the operation is a result of the deal arrived between Pak and US government and that through this the Obama administration wants to restore their declining popularity. Third common opinion is that the US knew the hide outs of Bin laden but has now strategically chosen the timing to regain its hold on Pakistani security establishment which recently faced hug loses after the Raymond Davis issue.

Regardless of which of the theory is true or false, Pakistan has entered into another challenging era with loosing trust, cooperation and respect globally.  And this is what actually concerns a common citizen like me and those Pakistanis who live outside the country and faces embarrassment every other moment and with every other person they interact.

Nevertheless, this should hopefully leave us more responsible and accountable to ourselves and to the humanity.

Possibilities amidst dismay

For the last few years, Khyber Puktunkwa province (former NWFP) has been the front line in war against terrorism. This part of the world has seen the worst turmoil in its history. On December 8, 2010, KP Information Minister Iftikhar Hussain disclosed that 647 citizens and 298 Police personnel, and 157 terrorists were killed through 2010. He noted, further, that about 3,600 people had been killed and 1,200 had been injured, since 2007 (South Asia Terrorism Portal, (www.stap.org).

I have been asking this question that why should I be living and working here? Does it really make sense to be here?. What keeps me optimistic is the resilience that has built in people over time by the turmoil itself. I am meeting people, senior and young professionals, academicians, students and non-for-profit leaders, who stood to the recent hard times here. Though most of them are disappointed, I still find people who are super positive and passionate. Interesting part of the observation is that the youngsters and youth are doing breakthroughs. I left the city in September 09, when there was no youth or youth focused organization or movement in the city, but now I see number of successful youth lead initiative in the city.

Last week I met Nauman Ammar, a business graduate who along with a group of friend is running Organization for Youth and Development (OYD) in Peshawar. (OYD) is a platform for the volunteers to serve their communities. The Organization works with objective to serve community through capacity building and attitude & behavior change of communities. They run ‘Save and Rebuild KPK, ‘Empower Youth’, ‘Train the Trainer’ and ‘Relief and Recovery’ programs. All the founding and facilitating members are volunteers. They do not run for donations and fund raising as it might divert their focus. They reach out to educational institutions to deliver free youth empowerment trainings, collect used books throughout the country and distribute them to needy students and provide all possible relief services to war and flood affected communities on pure self help basis. Their network of volunteers is spreading day by day.

I just met Nadeh Ali,   a Life Coach, Motivational Speaker and a trainer with the aim to highlight the importance of human potential. He believes that everyone is capable of determining their own destiny. Nadeh is a certified trainer from School Of Leadership has participated in 4th Indo-Pak Student Peace Camp held in Chandigarh (India). Nadeh along with his other friends has recently launch Peshawar Youth Organization (PYO), that promotes awareness among students and young professionals in relation to ethical implications of the society and help them in defining their role in the society. Nadeh has generated a tremendous spirit amongst youth and has been conducting training programs, awareness campaigns and fun fairs in Peshawar.

With big dreams in eyes, these youth carry tremendous energy and passion for change and this is what has revitalized my belief and my hope for the good that follows. I am so happy to find the aspiration. We all are jointly moving towards creating ‘Leaders for Pakistan’ a leadership program that will facilitate taking such like ideas, services and talent to a level next. 

Reflections on Acumen Fund Fellowship

As I look back to my year in the fellowship, it seem like have had such a long time. Perhaps it is just because of the amount of learning and interaction that we had during this time. Since this space was entirely new for me, everything I saw, heard and learned was new for me.

The initial eight weeks last year in New York provided me very good insights into the business skills, leadership skills and the skill to build a network around me. It no doubt provided me with the opportunity to be part of such a humble though dynamic and diverse group of friends. I learned to listen, speak out and question more authentically.

Both the retreats upstate in New York and Berkshire were the highlights of my time last year in New York. We learned so much about each other through structured exercises and fun gatherings.

I liked the second part of my field placement in terms of learning and actually doing something practical. Stepped into a new geography, culture and environment I had the opportunity to learn from the customers, their perspective and their perception of the product being offered to them. It was so rewarding to understand the dynamics of a market based solution working out through a community based distribution model. Assessing and designing the communication strategy for the product in Northern Areas of Pakistan was something I have always been wanted to do!

And now back in New York, listening to my fellow fellows stories and framing mine own is such a fulfilling experience to get through! All of us coming back from different geographies, companies and sectors have so much in common to share!

Generosity of thoughts, knowledge and emotions that people at acumen offers to each other and the world has moved my conceptions of this part of the world. Strength of the cohort and team building left me more convince that doing it together always makes it doing it conveniently and cheerfully.

Above all there are few of the things which really affected my own perception of the world, the sector and my own self in so many ways. I learned how important is the human connection for this world that relates all of us to each other regardless of our belief, our nationality, race and cultures.

I feel so confident and independent about myself and the potential that I could utilize to bring a meaningful change in the world around me.

Now looking ahead seems so easy and so optimistic!!! That is the change I could have been thought of and wished off. I am very much optimistic about myself at personal and professional level. Facing and being part of the change has never been so easy. 

A dream.........

On a mild winter afternoon, in Peshawar, Magrib Gul, the security guard at the guest house sitting beside me started a story……..

“Yesterday, on my way home I met a guy with a bunch of papers. I asked what those papers were for; he replied these are loan papers. An organization in Islamabad gives loans to needy people without any guarantee. I asked so many related questions and requested for help to get access to the loan but I don’t remember the name, I could not note the address even.

You should have noted the name and address I stressed him! But I can’t read or write Sir, Gul informed me and I feel so sorry for myself so many times a day. 

Magrib Gul, a husband and a father of six, lives in somebody’s house in a rural village of Mardan District. His wife does domestic labor at the owner’s and takes care of her own family as well. The only income this family has is Gul’s monthly salary of Rs: 8000 (equal to USD 90). Gul is happy as all his children go to school and the motivation he gives to them is his own example-the hardship and limited choices they have.

I asked Magrib, why he needs to lend money?

“Sir, I have a dream…. to own a house, Gul continues; with my earning as labor for fifteen years, I have purchased a small piece of land and my brother in law has offered me wooden pillars and……….what I need is Rs: 20,000 to bear hard stones and labor cost. If I get the loan, I can pay it off in ten equal installments from my salary”

The story is not rare, nor is my exposure to such situations! …..What left me think is that is there any way we can serve this unsecured but needy market? Can we innovate in the risk coping mechanism? Let’s think………..

After the Acumen Fund Fellowship I feel myself extremely confident and interactive and has used both very productively during the pas two post fellowship months. Let me admit that I could hardly exhibit both these attributes during the fellowship year and before but now find them proving best assets for me- I am so much thankful to AF for this..... 

I yesterday resigned from a well paid job with a UK based Charity which at the outset has very ambitious goals about leadership development and portray 'Dignity, Equality and Justice' as their core values. I joined them as I shared both their goal and their values, especially after the year spent at Acumen Fund. But during my stay at BHR I found the organization going totally in an opposite direction. I have been successful in my role, as I brought the first ever institutional partnership to the organization and so many others are in pipeline. But what I find difficult to compromise on are the core values of Respect and Dignity. I am not sure if my reaction was well thought, informed and right but I feel satisfied being out of the suffocation and dishonest environment. 

My time with the organization taught me some very good lesson, that how blurry vision leads to blurry, mission, mandate and values leads to blurry results and relationships. I found adherence to and demonstration of values as implicit to lead an organization. I realized it of paramount importance to believe in what we do and do what we believe in ...It has reinforced my belief on systems, procedures and accountability as key ingredients for efficiency and productively. 

Escaping the Flood: A Story from Pakistan

Escaping the Flood: A Story from Pakistan

Escaping the Flood: A Story from Pakistan

August 30th, 2010 by Muhammad Zahoor ⋅ 2 Responses

Villagers try to catch trees floating in the flooded Nelum river in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir on Friday, July 30, 2010. (AP Photo/Aftab Ahmed)

It was July 25^th, and I was on my way back home to Lower Dir in the Swat valley. Lush green rice fields and shiny clean newly constructed restaurants and huts along the right bank of River Swat were an enriching and peaceful sight. After a challenging five years period of terrorism, militancy, and consequent displacement of a massive number of villagers, I was pleasantly surprised to see reconstruction almost completed.

It’s hard to imagine now that was only three weeks ago.

It rained for the next three days continuously and heavily. The beautiful dense forests and high mountains and countless streams of my hometown could not stand it – the streams and rivers overflowed, flooded, and by day three we started seeing dead bodies, vehicles, shelters, broken trees, home appliances and so many other things floating downstream. The Swat River had washed out the major bridge connecting Lower Dir, Upper Dir and Chitral with rest of the country and – as I later found out – twenty four other such bridges in its path till the River Kabul at Nowshera. Flood water had caused the river to double in size, burst its banks and wash away everything in its path. With very little food, fuel and amenities in stock, and I was one of three million people of three districts remained stranded for next five days.

I cannot forget a crowd of what must have been tens of thousands of people on both side of the river all standing in long queues, children crying, veiled women struggling with their ‘parda’ in the middle of so many men and the elderly being pushed hard, waiting for hours in the scorching heat. I can’t forget a baby unconscious in the hands of its mother running madly for help in the crowd. It was chaos all the way- and those people are still isolated from the rest of the country.

A boy walks through flood destroyed homes on August 4, 2010 in Pabbi, near Nowshera, Pakistan. (Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

Fortunately enough, day six I received help from my brother who had arranged a special escort by the Pakistan Army. What initially felt like a relief and a privilege very soon became guilt – which only started increasing as I moved across the river, and climaxed at the moment I made it to the other side. Instead of relief, I felt awful for the unfortunate people left on the other side. However, my journey had not yet ended – I was stuck for the next two days, and eventually managed to reach Nowshera. Nowshera used to be a small city which stood cheerily on both side of River Kabul, and was now completely and totally flooded. The M-1 the motorway that runs between Islamabad and Peshawar had hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had made it to this relatively high ground. Nothing was left on both side of the river and water had even entered into the city filling streets, houses and markets with water and mud all over. Conditions of the survivors were very poor, lying under open sky, empty handed with almost nothing to eat and drink.

Flooding is still occurring across the country, starting from in the northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where my home lies, and spreading down to Punjab, Sindh and now Baluchistan – all have been badly hit. Every day brings new reports of more villages inundated. Millions of people are affected, displaced and countless stranded. A third wave of flooding has started in the north and is expected to reach downstream in next few days. The scale of devastation is too enormous for my mind to imagine.

No doubt the situation is a test of our strength, our individual and collective faith, morality and humanity. However, in the words of someone else, what doesn’t kill us can only make us stronger. Though it is hard to hold optimism in this hour of dismay however, I feel some aspect of the catastrophe could be viewed positively as well. The aftermath of the flood is teaching us lesson to devise systems and strategies which could prevent and mitigate such catastrophes in future. Public opinion has now changed dramatically on construction of dams which were previously denied as being too controversial. And most of all, despite of all the differences that seem to divide us, we as a nation are united for a single cause now, working hand in hand to rebuild the lives of the millions who have lost everything in the face of the flood.

Pakistan for Acumen, Spurring New Debate on Social Enterprise

Pakistan for Acumen (PfA) did something different…the leaders of this newly-formed volunteer Chapter sought out an inspiring venue, T2F – The Second Floor in Karachi, PK – to host its event earlier this month. As a result, a group of curious and energetic students and professionals came together to learn about how PfA can spur conversation and debate about social entrepreneurship.

PfA arranged this event with the intentions of:

• Furthering dialogue/debate around social entrepreneurship by asking the questions: What does it mean? What does it mean from Acumen’s lens? What is the role of sustainability, social impact and scale? How can we find balance for the greatest success?
• Creating an opportunity to energize young professionals, students and entrepreneurs about social entrepreneurship as a career choice, and discussing the value this creates for the development of Pakistan.
• Getting more young professionals involved with PfA Chapter activities.

The event kicked off with a screening of Jacqueline’s video as featured on PSB NewsHour. The short clip provided good fodder for discussions about Acumen Fund’s work. Following the video, PfA shared a powerful presentation highlighting issues like ‘who are our social change agents?’ and ‘social business that serves the poor’. These topics resonated with me because they clearly articulate Acumen’s values of acknowledging entrepreneurs who, despite a variety of challenges, are still striving to create businesses/markets to serve the poor. The interconnectedness perceived by the participants was evident in the discussions that followed the session.

Sarah Dimson, an Acumen Fellow working with  AMC in Pakistan, deliberated on how affordable housing has proved the potential for scaling the social enterprise sector. She talked about her personal experience of working with AMC, an emerging housing company that not only builds houses, but also communities! Her enthusiasm and the commitment with which she has accepted the challenge to work in the sector and this country strengthen the need for the chapter to come forward and start taking action.

“In my presentation, I highlighted how microinsurance as social enterprise is assisting low income families to get out of a poverty trap and augmenting the microfinance sector to expand and develop a new market. I shared my excitement that the enormous exposure to forums and opportunities, networking with the world’s top-most leaders, and invaluable source of knowledge about the sector, has helped me broaden my thinking. Excited about sharing my vision of creating future leaders for Pakistan, I concluded the presentation with an invitation to act by saying ‘Do you have any dream or plan to be, yourself, a change agent or be a part of the change? If not, join the Acumen Community; you will have one very soon!’”