Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Date of Birth: February 13th, 1911

Place: Sialkot (Punjab), Pakistan

Faiz's mother was Sultan Fatima. Faiz's father died in Sialkot in 1913. Faiz's father was a learned man and enjoyed the company of well-known literary persons. Wrote the biography of Amir Abdur Rehman. Faiz was therefore, born in a respectable and literary environment and was a very promising student with a religious background.Primary Education: Started memorizing the Holy Quran at the age of four and in 1916 started his formal education in the famous school of Moulvi Ibrahim Sialkoti, and learnt Urdu, Persian and Arabic. Was admitted to the Scotch Mission High School in 1921 in Class IV. Passed his Matriculation Examination in the 1st Division from Murray College, Sialkot and during this period learnt Persian and Arabic from Allama Iqbal's teacher, Shamsul Ullama Moulvi Syed Meer Hasan.

College Education: Passed his B.A. (Honours) in Arabic from the Government College, Lahore and then M.A. in English from the same College in 1932. Passed his M.A. in Arabic in the 1st Division, from Oriental College, Lahore.

Employment: Lecturer in English at M. A. O. College, Amritsar in 1935 and then at Hailey College of Commerce, Lahore. Joined the Army as Captain in 1942 and worked in the department of Public Relations in Delhi. Was promoted to the rank of Major in 1943, and Lieut. Colonel in 1944. Resigned from The Army in 1947 and returned to Lahore, where, in 1959 appointed as Secretary, Pakistan Arts Council and worked in that capacity till 1962. Returning from London in 1964 he settled down in Karachi and was appointed as Principal, Abdullah Haroon College , Karachi. Editorship of the monthly magazine Adabe-Latif from 1947 to 1958. Worked as Editor under the Progressive Papers Ltd, of the Pakistan Times, the Urdu newspaper Imroze and the weekly Lailo-Nihar. In the 1965 war between India & Pakistan he worked in an honorary capacity in the Department of Information. Acted as Editor of the magazine Lotus in Moscow, London and Beirut.

Marriage & Children: In March 9th, arrested under Safety Act and charged in the Rawalpindi Conspiracy case, and having borne the hardships of imprisonment for four years and one month in the jails of Sargodha, Montgomery (now Sahiwal) Hyderabad and Karachi, was released on April 2nd, 1955.

S.M. Zafar

Mr. S.M. Zafar is a human rights activist, noted lawyer, politician and member of the Senate of Pakistan. He has served as a judge of the high court and as Pakistan’s minister for law and parliamentary affairs. He is chancellor of Hamdard University and Chairman of Human Rights Society of Pakistan. His efforts for recognition and promotion of human rights and fair practices have attained him acclaim and acknowledgment on national and international levels. In his capacity as an attorney, Mr. Zafar has been involved in some of the most important cases of country’s legal history. He is considered an authority on legal and constitutional issues and his opinions are quoted in national and international press. He is also the chairman of Cultural Association of Pakistan.

Samreen Soomro

Samreen Soomro is an SEO expert and a search engine marketing strategist based in Karachi, Pakistan. She provides SEO Services and Internet Marketing Consultancy for companies looking to maximize their return on investment by having their websites optimized. She can also manage all aspects of PPC campaigns. Samreen holds a Master\'s degree in Computer Science and is currently pursuing an MBA degree with concentrations in Management Information Systems and Marketing. 

Farhan Jaffry

Farhan Jaffry graduated from Premier College and currently pursuing his MBA in Marketing, Farhan has a remarkable career in the field of Search Engine Optimization. Farhan truly exemplifies the “big picture” thinker, always having the foresight to see the long-term implications of a plan. Farhan Jaffry has helped his numerous clients to get good rankings on the serps , he has strong hands on both on-page and off-page optimization. He’s a strong link builder and web marketing strategist and currently working with a US based organization and teaming up with Zafar Ahmed on various SEO projects.

Supna Zaidi

Supna Zaidi is assistant director of Islamist Watch at the Middle East Forum. She is also editor-in-chief of Muslim World Today, which was the first American Muslim newspaper to fight against Islamism's encroachment in America. Ms. Zaidi received a B.A. in political theory and a B.A. in history of the Near East and Religion from the University of California, San Diego (1999) and a J.D. from New York Law School (2003). After graduation from law school, Ms. Zaidi practiced family, deportation and asylum immigration law in New York and New Jersey for three years before transitioning into policy and national security issues.

Ms. Zaidi is the daughter of Tashbih Sayyed, a renowned reformer in the Muslim world, close friend and supporter of the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, founder of the Muslim World Today as well as the Council for Democracy and Tolerance. Sayyed was also a liberal journalist and general manager of Pakistan Television in Pakistan in the 70s. Ms. Zaidi's family was forced to leave Pakistan after the Islamification policies of Zia ul-Haq.

While living in California, Ms. Zaidi and her family experienced marginalization and death threats from Islamists for publicly expressing pro-Israeli, pro-secular views and for being critical of the anti-democratic politics in Pakistan.

Ms. Zaidi considers herself a very middle-of-the-road American Muslim. She is liberal in terms of abortion, gay rights, etc., but believes that moderates and liberals have got the "war on terror" completely wrong as they have allowed themselves to be swayed by Islamist manipulation of notions of multiculturalism and cultural relativism, while further pushing their agenda in Muslim and American communities.

Ms. Zaidi has been published in the American Spectator, the Middle East Quarterly, Pajamas Media, and Frontpage Magazine and has a weekly column in Muslim World Today.

Tashbih Sayyed

Tashbih Sayyed 1942-2007 (Tashbih ul Hassan Zaidi) son of Shabih ul Hassan Zaidi belonged to the Zaidi family of Saadaat-e-Baarah. He worked for Radio Pakistan and Pakistan Television as General Manager before moving to the United States of America in 1981. Through his writings, speeches and television interviews, he tried to educate muslims and non-muslims about the liberal and humane principles and values in Islam. For the past ten years, Tashbih Sayyed was editor-in-chief of the weekly newspapers "Pakistan Today" and "Muslim World Today." He is survived by his wife, two sons, daughter and daughter-in-law.

Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari

Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari was re-elected as Member of Sindh Assembly from the constituency of PS - 126 Karachi - XXXVIII on February 8, 2008 and appointed to the Cabinet, as Minister of Youth Affairs. He had also served as Member of the Sindh Assembly from 2002 to 2007, having been elected at an age of 27.

Having done his Masters in Economics from Karachi University besides doing BBA (Finance) from PIMSAT, he excelled in academics and extra-curricular activities throughout his student life. He has been recognized as one of the most brilliant orators. He has also been an active cricketer. He has also headed APMSO (Student Wing) of MQM as Chairman.

Dr. Farooq Sattar

Dr. Farooq Sattar Pirwani is the Deputy Convener and Parliamentary leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), a mainstream & third largest political party in Pakistan.

He belongs to Memon, Muhajir family and lives in PIB Colony of Karachi, a modest and lower-middle income class area. A former mayor of Karachi, he was the youngest mayor in its history when he was elected at age 28.

He has also served as Provincial Minister in the Sindh Cabinet for Local Bodies and is one of the senior Members of the MQM Co-Ordination Committee. Dr Farooq Sattar is also heading Foreign Relations Committee in the Senate.

Born in Karachi, Sindh, on April 09, 1959, Muhammad Farooq Sattar has been elected MNA as an MQM Candidate. He was returned to the National assembly in the by-elections following the death of the former MNA from the constituency. He is presently serving as the Leader of his parliamentary party in the National assembly.

A medical doctor by profession, he received his M.B.B.S degree from Sindh Medical College in 1986. He was previously elected as MNA for the terms of 1988-1990 and 1990-1992; and as MPA Sindh assembly for 1993-1996, and 1997-1998. He has also served as Mayor Karachi from 1987 to 1992.

Married, he is the father of two daughters. His interests include reading books and public welfare.

On 16th March 2008 he was nominated as Prime Minister of Pakistan candidate by the opposition parties in Pakistan.

Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi

Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi was born in February 2nd, 1969 in Karachi. He has been elected for his Second term as MNA. He is politically Afiliated with MQM. He completed his M.S.C Degree in Applied Chemistry in 1992 from the University of Karachi and M.Sc. Chemical Engineering in 1998 from University of Detroit, USA. He is Engineering Management Consultant by profession. He is also qualified as a lead auditor for ISO 9000, Lead auditor for ISO 14000 and has attended a wide range of mangement and training courses. Married with a son and daugthers, he has travelled to the UK, USA, Kenya, Germany, Tanzania and Canada. His interests include reading Urdu Literature, writing urdu poetry, playing cricket and Chess.He is a Member of young parliamentarians Forums (YPF) Pakistan. He is a Deputy Parliamentry Leader.

KhushBakht Shujat

Mrs. KhushBakht Shujat was born on November 01, 1948 in Bhopal, India. Ms. KhushBakht Shujat received a Masters degree in Journalism from Karachi University in 1975.

She has been elected as a MNA from constituency No 250 Karachi-XII in General Election held on February 18, 2008 on the ticket of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM). She is also serving as the President of Cultural and Literacy Forum in her party MQM.

Mrs. KhushBakht Shujat is married and mother of two daughters and two sons. She has had an illustrious career as a television compare and teaching. She is a well-known for her debating skills. Her areas of legislative interests include foreign affairs, education, women development and health. She enjoys reading, music and gardening in her leisure time.

Abdul Rauf Siddiqui

Mr. Muhammad Abdul Rauf Siddiqui was born in Nawabshah on 15 April 1961. Got secondary level education from Nawabshah and B.A. from University of Karachi.

After completing education, he shifted to middle east, where he engaged himself in numerous socio welfare organization; one being “Monhibban-e-Pakistan. He headed this Middle East based organization for about ten years. One of the main objects of this was to focus & solve the issues/difficulties being faced by Pakistani residents in middle east countries, which he has been doing successfully.

Interesting being Engineer by education he is poet, writer and columnist also, and well known in the circle. His poetry book in urdu “Guftar-pe-Taazeerain” has recently been published.

In 1988, Mr. Rauf Siddiqui joined MQM and was nominated to contest in general election for National Assembly constituency No: NA 242 and Provincial Assembly from constituency No :PS 115. By his 24 hours canvassing and by the grace of Almighty, he was elected from both the constituencies. Later, as party policy, he resigned from National Assembly. Again in general election of 2008, he contested and was elected from Provincial constituency No: PS 115

In appreciation of his honest, sincere and devoted services, he was given the position of Minister of Excise and Taxation where he served from Jan 01 2003 to March 2008

Main facility extended during this tenure was the waiver of property tax on house upto 120 sq. yds. He was upgraded to hold charge as Minister, Internal Affairs (Home Ministry) where he served from July 01 2004 to August 2006. There he was famous in upgrading the police status in matter of schooling their children and reasonably raising the salaries. He had still more planes for the police with a view to minimizing the financial corruption. And then he served September 2006 to November 2007 as Minister Culture, Tourism & Social Welfare. Another landmark to his credit is the launching of official awards to be presented to the Naat Khwans on their extra ordinary performances. This ceremony takes place in the last Ashra of the holy month of Ramazan. The same awards have never been announced earlier in the world’s history.

Presently he is serving as Minister for Industries & Trade in present set up of coalition Government.

Ambreen Asim

Ambreen Asim, editor of English weekly magazine “Mag”. She was working as an executive editor before.

Ambreen Asim has done her Masters in Physics from Karachi University but afterwards she changed her profession to journalism.

She started her carrier as a journalist in 2004 as a sub-editor in an English newspaper “Daily News” and also did reporting for the paper. She got related with Mag in 2009.

Dr. Khalid A Mufti

Dr. Khalid A Mufti, M.B.B.S., DPM (UK), MRC Psych. (London), FRC Psych (London)

Medical Director Ibadat Hospital Peshawar, Member Federal Mental Health Authority Pakistan. He is ex-Principal Khyber Medical College Peshawar, former Professor and Head Department of Psychiatry, Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar. He has more than 30 years of experience in academics, research and clinical practice. Main areas of interest are psychiatric problems and drug abuse prevention.

Prof. Javaid Haider Rizvi

Prof. Rizvi is a graduate from Dow Medical College Karachi. After postgraduate training in the medical schools of Oxford, Cambridge and St. Mary’s Hospital, London he obtained the Fellowships of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the American College of Surgeons. He was the first Pakistani to hold a consultant Gynaecologist post in UK. Prof. Rizvi has had a distinguished academic and clinical career for which he has received national and international recognition. He has 64 scientific papers in peer reviewed journals and has contributed 16 chapters in text books of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. During this time he has received many honors including the Academic Fellowship of the Common Wealth Universities, FIGO Professorship, visiting Professorships in the Universities of Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, East Africa, and UK. He has the singular honor of being a Teaching Fellow of the Imperial College of Science, Medicine and Technology. Recently he was awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz by the President of Pakistan.

Prof. Rizvi has served as the founding Professor and Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Aga Khan University. His clinical expertise lies in Urogynaecology particularly fistulae surgery, Infertility and Assisted Reproduction, Gynaecological Oncology and general Gynaecology including reconstructive surgery.

At present he is the Medical Director of Australian Concept Infertility Centre, a Director and a Board member at the South City Hospital. He brings with him a wealth of clinical and administrative experience and continues to provide the services in which he excels. We are happy and proud to have him with us.

Prof. Muhammad Umar

Prof. Muhammad Umar graduated from King Edward Medical College Lahore in 1968. He completed his orthopaedic training at Albert Einstein College of medicine in New York. He received fellowship training in joint replacement surgery at Hospital for special surgery, University of Cornell, New York. He was appointed consultant at University of Rochester affiliated hospital in 1975. 

He established a four-man orthopaedic group practice as a senior partner. As a member of the clinical faculty at the University of Rochester, he took active part in undergraduate education and postgraduate orthopaedic training. In 1990 he came back to Pakistan and joined Aga Khan University Hospital (Karachi) as a full time academic faculty member. Here he pioneered the development of arthroscopic surgery and joint replacement work. He is the founding faculty member of orthopaedic residency training program at the Aga Khan University and its director from 1995-2000. he is also a founding member of Pakistan Society for surgery of the hand and has served as its general secretary and president from 1995 – 1998. 

He also had the honor to serve as secretary general and president of Pakistan Orthopaedic Association from 1996 – 1999. Prof. Muhammad Umar M.D. is the founder and surgeon-in-chief of Institute of Orthopaedics and Surgery and head of orthopaedic service of South City Hospital. He is recognized for his expertise in total joint replacement and revision surgery.

Dr. Saadia Virk

Dr. Saadia Virk, CEO at South City Hospital Karachi is a graduate of Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore. After completing her postgraduate training at the Aga Khan University she went for further training to UK and obtained Membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. In the UK she worked in institutions of excellence and obtained special training in general Gynaecology, Urogynaecolgoy, Oncology, Assisted Reproduction and high risk Obstetrics.

On return to Pakistan, with her leadership skills, she established departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Mid East Hospital and a centre of Assisted Reproduction at Australian Concept Infertility Centre in Karachi.

In 2008 she took the lead in establishing and inaugurating South City Hospital which is a state-of-the-art facility for surgical specialties. At present she is the Chief Executive Officer and the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of this Hospital.

Clinical work is her second area of excellence. Her expertise lies in management of high risk pregnancies, infertility, assisted reproduction, oncology and laparoscopic surgery including LAVH, ovarian cystectomies, myomectomies, ectopics and endometriosis. She is also well versed with conventional general gynaecology. In recognition of her clinical work and leadership skills she has recently been awarded the Fellowship of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Under Dr. Saadia Virk’s supervision, South City Hospital is now an established and recognized centre for laparoscopic surgeries in gynaecology and general surgery.

Havaldaar Lalak Jan Shaheed

Hav. Lalak Jan of the Northern Light Infantry (NLI) was one of those many who as a junior leader fought from the forefront to thwart heavy Indian attacks. He volunteered himself to be deployed on the front positions located at the jagged peak in May 1999.

Hav. Lalak driven back many aggressive ventures by the enemy and imposed colossal losses on them. On July 7, Hav. Lalak sustained serious injuries as enemies pounded the area with heavy mortar shelling.

But despite being injured, he retained his position and frustrated the Indian assault. He, however, succumbed to his injuries at the same post he was defending. Hav.

Lalak was awarded with the Nishan-i-Haider for his dauntless courage and devotion.

Sara Taseer Shoaib

Sara Taseer Shoaib is a trained gemologist qualified from the Gemological Institute of America GIA. She graduated at the top of her class and completed the jewellery design segment of her training with outstanding honors. She is also a graduate from the London School of Economics and has a sound background in finance. She has worked internationally at Citibank, and ABN Amro Hong Kong. Sara has spent 10 years in the diamond industry in New York and Hong Kong and established a reputation for her design and flair. Her last exhibition in Hong Kong was at the renowned Harvey Nichols store.

Sara has opened her flag ship store in Lahore, in February 2009. Despite hailing from Pakistan’s premier business and political families, Sara has always charted her own course and become an internationally recognized name in elegant jewellery design. Sara has chosen to open in Pakistan, during one of the most trying periods in the history of Pakistan. This is a reflection of her ever strong love for her country and a belief in its viability and potential.

Sara manufactures in Hong Kong where she resides with her husband and three children. Her focus is keenly on quality. Unable to detach herself from her subcontinental roots, and a staunch patriot Sara is committed to the marriage of western modern straight line design with eastern color and motif. Sara produces pieces of insurmountable quality and presents them within the relevance of Pakistani culture. Sara shows through exhibitions in New York, Hong Kong, London, Singapore and Tokyo.

Sara is a true grass roots designer of our time and her passion and creativity brings a new standard of jewellery to Pakistan .

Captain "Karnal" Sher Khan

Captain "Karnal (meaning a Colonel)" Sher Khan was commissioned in Pakistan Army in 1990 and later joined the Northern Light Infantry somewhere in 1998. Right from his childhood, he displayed feats of courage and was nicknamed "Kernal" by hisa fellows, which ultimately became a part of his name. Captain Karnal Sher Khan rose to the heights of glory when he emerged as the symbol of mettle and courage during the Kargil conflict on the Line of Control. He set personal examples of bravery and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. He defended the five strategic posts, which he established with his jawans at the height of some 17,000 feet at Gultari, and repulsed many Indian attacks. After many abortive attempts, on July 5 1998, enemy's two battalion ringed the post of Kernal Sher Khan with the help and unleashed heavy mortar firing and managed to capture some part of the post. Despite facing all odds, he lead a counter-attack and re- captured the lost parts. But during the course he was hit by the machine-gun fire and embraced Shahadat at the same post. For his courage and bravery, he was awarded with Nishan-e-Haider.

Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfooz Shaheed

Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfooz was born in 1944 at Pind Malikan (District of Rawalpindi) and was enlisted in the 15th Punjab Regiment as a sepoy in 1962. In 971 Indo Pak war, he was serving in the 'A' Company and his unit was deployed on the Wagah-Attari Sector near Lahore. The enemy advancing elements pinned down his company positions by unceasing frontal and cross fire from automatic weapons. In the process, his machine gun was destroyed by an enemy shell, but it did not dishearten the spirited Lance Naik, who advanced bare handed towards an enemy bunker whose automatic fire had inflicted heavy casualties. Even though wounded in both legs by shell splinters, when he reached the bunker he stood up and pounced on the enemy, but was hit. Although unarmed and amidst the enemy, he got hold of one of the enemy and was strangling him when another bayoneted him to death during the night of 17th December 1971. Living true to the traditions of the Punjab Regiment, whose three officers had already won Nishan-e-Haider, Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfooz also showed no less courage and gallantry in winning the fourth medal for the Punjab Regiment. Pin Malikan has now been renamed as Mahfoozabad.

Sawar Muhammad Hussain

Sawar (the basic rank in the Armoured Corps equivalent to a sepoy) Muhammad Hussain was born in 1949 in Dhok Pir Bakhsh and joined the 20 th Lancers (Armoured Corps) as a driver in 1966. Sowar Hussain was always eager to perform jobs that were not normally meant for drivers and was always in fore fronts to help the others. During the 1971 war, he spotted the enemy digging along a minefield near the village of Harar Khurd. Daring as he was, he on his own initiative called and directed accurate fire at the enemy resulting in the destruction of sixteen of their tanks. However, strange are the ways for the gallant and brave men chosen for them by the Almighty. While he was still directing fire from a recoilless rifles, he was hit in the chest by a burst of machine gun fire and embraced shahadat on 10th December 1971. While he was awarded with the Nishan-e-Haider for his courage and bravery, his village elders as a tribute to his bravery renamed their village as Dhok Muhammad Hussain Janjua.

Major Shabir Sharif Shaheed

Major Shabir Sharif was born in 1943 in village Kunjah (Gujrat) and was commissioned in 1964 in the Frontier Force Regiment. During the 1965 Indo-Pak war, Major Shabir Sharif was awarded with Sitara-e-Jurrat (the third highest gallantry military award) for his courage and bravery. In 971, Major Shabir's 6 FF Regiment, was ordered in December 1971 to capture high ground near Sulemanki Headwork defended by more than a company of the Indian Assam Regiment supported by a squadron of tanks. Major Shabir and his men after crossing a minefield and massive obstacles and killing forty three soldiers and destroying four tanks, Major Sharif and his men held two enemy battalions at bay for days. However, on 6 december, the Indians mounted a fierce attack supported by tanks. Assessing the situation to be critical and not taking any chances with the enemy, Major Shabir himself took over an anti-tank gun from his gunner and fired on the enemy tanks. While doing so, the enemy tank fired its main gun on Major Shabir's location, killing him in the afternoon of 6th December. Brave as he always was, he proved his mettle once again and was awarded with the coveted Nishan-e-Haider.

Major Muhammad Akram

Major Akram was born in 1938 in village Dingha (Gujrat) and was commissioned in the Frontier Force Regiment in 1963. During 1971 Indo - Pak war, Major Akram was commanding a rifle company of the 4th FF Regiment in the forward localities of the Hilli district. The position held by Major Akram and his company was very vital and had blocked enemy's route of advance. Therefore it came under continuous and heavy air, artillery and tank attacks. But for almost two weeks, despite enemy superiority in both numbers and fire power, Major Akram and his men remained entrenched and repulsed every attack, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. The Indians many a time asked him to surrender but Major Akram refused. Finally, overpowered and fatigued, Major Akram embraced shahadat fighting at close quarter battle in the famous "Battle of Hilli" and was awarded with the fifth Nishan-e-Hiader.

Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed

Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas was born on 17th February 1951 and during 1971, he was under training in the Pakistan Air Force. In August 1971, when the Indians had put lot of pressure in the eastern wing, Rashid Minhas was busy in his routine training at PAF Base Masroor. On that fateful day of 20 August 1971, while he was taxiing his aircraft towards to runway, a Bengali dissident Instructor Pilot (IP) forced his way into the rear cockpit of the two-seat jet trainer and in the process hurt Rashid Minhas. The IP seized control of the aircraft and headed toward India. When Minhas regained consciousness, he realized that the absconding pilot was heading towards India, so he tried to regain control of the plane. But being injured, he was not able to take power on the controls, so he forced the aircraft to crash some thirty two miles short of the border. By losaing his own life, he not only saved the aircraft from getting in to the hands of the Indians, but also jeopardized the malafide intentions of his IP. He became the first PAF officer to receive Nishan-e-Haider.

Major Raja Aziz Bhatti

Major Raja Aziz Bhatti was born in 1928 in Hong Kong and joined the 1st PMA Long Course and was commissioned in 1950 in the Punjab Regiment. He was a very well read officer, having passed out with the coveted Sword of Honour and knew many foreign languages. During the 1965 Indo-Pak war, he was commanding a company in general area Burki of the Lahore Sector. Major Bhatti's defences on the famous BRB (Banmban Wali Ravian Bedian) Link Canal was subjected to heavy Indian repeated attacks coupled with incessant artillery and tank fire for five days and nights. But Major Bhatti and his men stood like a rock. In order to have a clear view of the assaulting enemy, Major Bhatti would often come out of his bunker and stand clear of the canal bank. On 10 September 1965, while he was directing the artillery fire, he was hit by an enemy tank shell. Major Bhatti embraced shahadat and was awarded with the third and the only Nishan-e-Hiader of 1965 war.

Major Tufail Muhammad

Major Tufail Muhammad was born in 1914 and was commissioned in the 16th Punjab Regiment in 1943. Upon creation of Pakistan, he joined Pakistan Army. During 1958, with border skirmishes with India in the erstwhile East Pakistan, Major Tufail Muhammad was commanding a company of the East Pakistan Rifles near the town of Lakshmipur. The company encircled an illegal Indian post, which was erected by the Indians in violation of the internationally recognized boundary between the two countries. During the enemy action, Major Tufail was mortally wounded, but did not stop fighting even at close quarters. In the hand-to-hand encounter that followed, Major Tufail continued to lead his troops till the Indians were driven out, leaving four dead and three prisoners. However, Major Tufail himself succumbed to his wounds and embraced shahadat on the 7th August 1958. He was awarded with the second Nishan-e-Haider for his gallantry.

Captain Muhammad Sarwar Shaheed

Captain Muhammad Sarwar was born in village Singhori (Rawalpindi) in 1910, and joined the British Army (infantry -Punjab Regiment) in 1944. Upon creation of Pakistan he joined Pakistan Army. In July 1948 with war in Kashmir with India, Captain Sarwar launched an attack causing heavy casualties against a strongly fortified enemy position in the Uri Sector under heavy machine gun, grenade and mortar fire. On 27th July 1948, he volunteered to cut the enemy's barbed wire barrier to pave way for the move forward of his follow up comrades. However, while doing so he received a direct burst of enemy's heavy machine gun fire, and embraced shahadat at the spot. For his courage, selflessness and bravery, he was awarded with the first Nishan-e-Haider. Call it a coincidence, that the recipients of next two Nishan-e-Haiders were also from the Punjab Regiment.

Jimmy Engineer

Jimmy Engineer was born in 1954 in Balochistan (Loralai), Pakistan. His Parsi family could not have known then that he would grow up to break all barriers of caste and creed and truly define multi-ethnicity through his art and altruism.

Jimmy completed his schooling from St. Anthony’s High school, Lahore, and after a brief interlude at the Forman Christian College, he spent the next three years at the National College of Arts (NCA), expanding his creative prowess. It was in 1976 that he turned into a professional painter but his achievements went much beyond his artist’s creativity when he discovered a deep love for all his fellow beings, specially for the downtrodden. His art pieces soon became expressions of truth and his images began to speak of his compassion for the people he saw.

Although an artist by profession, Jimmy Engineer’s life has revolved around supporting troubled individuals as well as social work institutions, though he himself prefers to remain undocumented and unsung. His artistic performance has been acclaimed internationally particularly his series on canvas which depicts the Muslim toil in the wake of Pakistan’s Independence in 1947. The minute details, the layered imagery and the fine lines illustrating the transition of humans into tragic victims equal the skill applied by the Great Masters. His works have never failed to captivate successive generations of art lovers in Pakistan and abroad. Jimmy’s speaking impressions which have the power to move young minds and imbue them with a renewed sense of dedication for the country, have been exhibited extensively in Pakistan as well as abroad. The fortu! ! nes that he has earned have been generously spent on charitable work, which is what gives him satisfaction and he is content in leading a simple life.

A peace-loving man, he is widely known as Pakistan’s indefatigable crusader for the oppressed, disabled, mentally handicapped, impoverished and generally for all who need him as he has the ability to communicate with people from all walks of life. Jimmy’s many ‘walk-a-cause’ have earned him a special standing amongst Pakistan’s philanthropists as he has undertaken long, arduous journeys on foot to create awareness for many human rights issues.

As for his paintings, he has mastered many mediums and from realism (landscape, still life, abstract et all) to calligraphy, in water, oil, pastels etc, be it on canvas, wood or ceramics, he has explored and introduced numerous textures in his works and the amazing versatility is more than evident in his creations. His collection also includes miniatures and self-portraits, many of which are in private collections in Italy, France, Switzerland, Russia, India, China, England, USA in fact almost in every part of the world, validating his status as an International artist. But for Jimmy Engineer, Pakistan is the only identity he wishes for as he continues to work towards merging all cultures for the common good of his soil. Though he already has over 2000 paintings and more than 1000 calligraphies to his name besides the 20,000 or so prints in! ! private collection, selling his work is not why he paints. Like his art he simply aspires to spread his love for people wherever he goes and is ceaselessly pursuing the course of charity as his heart is sold to humanity for the rest of his life

Prof Anna Molka Ahmed

Prof Anna Molka Ahmed (1917 - 1994) was a famous Pakistani artist and pioneer of fine arts in the newly born Pakistan in 1947. She was a professor of fine arts at the University of the Punjab in Lahore. She was among the pioneers of women artists in Pakistan and had been a long-time director and moving spirit behind the Fine Arts Department of the Punjab University, Lahore - the first institution that was opened to the women artists in Pakistan. "In fact she has been the facilitator of a movement that made the proactive role of women artists a possibility". writes Nilofur Farrukh (president of International Art Critics Association, Pakistan Section). It is because of trendsetters like her that the feminist art in Pakistan is gaining strength away from traditional gender discriminatory dominance. In fact these days we are witnessing a gradual dismantling of social and gender classifications. Well this has not been easy, since a lot of women had to struggle hard to bring women atop many a prestigious positions - above men, Ana Molka Ahmed is one such women. She started evening art classes at Lahore Arts Council (Alhamra) and later in a village near Lahore. Her untiring efforts gradually upgraded art education beyond B.A to M.A. in fine art at the Punjab University. She was Head of fine art department from 1940-1978. Her contribution to art education and its promotion heas been most influential. Her paintings and sculpture are found in many public and private collections in Pakistan and abroad.

She was born to Jewish parents, in London, UK in 1917. Her mother was Polish and father was a Russian. She studied painting, sculpture and design at St. Martin School of Arts, London. She converted to Islam at the age of 18 in 1935, before marrying Sheikh Ahmed, a would be Pakistani in October 1939. The couple moved to the Indian subcontinent in 1940-41 and settled in Lahore. Although, her marriage was over in 1951, but yet she lived in Pakistan with her two daughters. She was awarded Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, for her services in the field of fine arts education in the country. Professor Emeritus Anna Molka Ahmed set up a department, which has now become a center of excellence for Fine Arts in Pakistan. At the time of independence, there were only five or six Muslim students in the art department, and Anna Molka Ahmed went from one college to another seeking students for the arts department and thus was able to introduce art courses in the Punjab University. Her students became famous artists in the country and many of them are playing their role globally.

Beside painting, she was an avid gardener. She would wear her trade mark while tending the garden, cutting hedges in new and artistic pattern, and went on painting and gardening till the very last time until she was ordered by the doctors to stop because it was straining her health badly. Anna Molka also took to writing poetry in later part of her life. She breathed her last in 1994.

Huma Mulji

Huma Mulji's work has moved more and more towards looking at the absurdities of a post-colonial society in transition, taking on board the visual and cultural overlaps of language, image and taste, that create the most fantastic collisions. She describes the time we live in as moving at a remarkable speed and in regard to Pakistan Mulji refers to the experience of 'living 200 years in the past and 30 years in the future all at once'. She is interested in looking at this phenomenon with humor, to recognize the irony of it, formally and conceptually. Rather than dwell on and follow existing theoretical issues of living and working in a post-colonial nation, and applying those stagnant studies to a lived existence she examines the pace of cultural change through her art work.

Mulji's sculptural works respond to the possibilities of making things in Pakistan, and embrace low-tech methods of “making”, together with materials and forms that come from another time, and that are “imported”, “newly discovered” or “re-appropriated”. For example the work Arabian Delight is a low-tech taxidermy camel, stuffed in a suitcase. It plays with ideas of travel, transition, and of mental and physical movement, combined with an old world symbol of the camel, forced into the suitcase, looking formally uncomfortable, but nonetheless happy. This particular work also examines the relationship between Pakistan and the Gulf States and the manipulation of the Governments of Pakistan, the “Arabisation” of the country, for years, towards all but wiping out a “south Asian” identity, to replace it with a “Muslim” identity. For Mulji, this in itself, is forced, unnatural, and disagreeable. However, she also approaches this problem from the angle of someone living within it: therefore looking at it with humor, and recognizing the absurd results of the situation, in daily life, and through interactions with each other, and the world.

The photographic series Sirf Tum (only you) from 2004 and from 2008, similarly address such absurd collisions. Sirf Tum deals with issues related to intimacy in public spaces. Surveying the frame through the lens, the camera zooms in, becoming the voyeur, awkwardly, confidently, watching and disapproving at once. The protagonists are second hand dolls bought from piles of toys sold around Lunda Bazaar in Lahore, incidentally brought into Pakistan with salvation army clothing from another world, leftover from some child’s summer holiday. Already on the Periphery of society, the naked couple is placed in locales that challenge and are challenged by their scale, creating a hyper-real space, a hyper-real narrative, a “plastic” story, convincing and disturbing at the same time. In the 2008 series, the two seemingly interactive narratives engage with each other visually, but don’t really converse. Which of the narratives is real? This also brings into question contemporary media images, and the phenomenon of “photoshop”, where the fine line between truth and untruth becomes a matter of belief.

The newer work, with the taxidermic buffaloes, and the photographs of buffaloes in the landscape, continue to be informed by the absurd and incongruous visual confrontations in a country desiring to be at once the most forward-looking, and unable and unwilling to negotiate its traditional values with this idea of progress.

Heavenly Heights and Her Suburban Dream both attempt to juxtapose these colliding metaphors, to envision this surreal reality. The work avoids easy taking of sides, or didactics, in imagining a future urban landscape of Pakistan. Sculpturally too, the work underscores the conflict. The suspension of volume and weight, and the pushing of anatomical possibilities to emphasize the tension.

Zubeida Agha

Zubeida Agha was born in Faisalabad in 1922. She introduced non-traditional pictorial imagery in Pakistan and initiated a new era in painting. She completed a degree in political science at Kinnaird College, Lahore. Her introverted disposition and concentrated study of philosophy formed the background against which her abstract ‘idea’ paintings emerged. At the Lahore School of Fine Art (1945), Agha began a study of Western art. In addition to copying Old Masters, she came into contact with contemporary Indian painting and folk art. She was the first artist in Pakistan to have an exhibition of modern paintings. Trained in both Pakistan and Europe, she developed an approach to painting that reflected her education and experience. Her images of landscapes and people are simplified forms made with a variety of vibrant colors reminiscent of both Fauvism and Rajput miniatures. She died in 1997.

A woman with the courage of her convictions, Zubeida lived her life for art, creating paintings that will enable future generations to share her extraordinary vision.

Zubeida Agha graduated in Philosophy from Kinniard College and cast about for explanations for her wildly coloured dreams about painting. She began her study of art with Sanyal in Lahore.

In her early work, she attempted to explore the theme in the medium of sculpture, and also surrealistic paintings, done in somber colours with titles 'Wisdom', 'Beethoven's Fifth Symphony', and 'Deserted Street'.

Offered an art scholarship in 1950, Zubeida enrolled at St. Martin's School of Arts, London, but six months later transferred to the Ecole des Beau Arts, Paris, and there she began her serious study of art.

Her opinions on modern art developments were definite. "What is the point of painting problems, does it solve anything?" "Galleries are more interested in sales than standards and the artists are complicit in this." "Without sincerity there is no true art."

In 1965, Zubeida Agha was Awarded the President's Award for the Pride of Performance.

This series of Pakistani commemorative postage stamps is a posthumous tribute to Ten Great Painters who helped to raise an awareness of art in Pakistan and established their names in the universal art world.

Jamal Shah

Jamal Shah is an actor, a director, a painter, and a social worker. He was born in 1956 in Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan and is a Pashtun.

Education and career:

In 1984 he established the Fine Arts Department at the University of Balochistan and headed the department for three years. in 1985 he formed the Artists Association of Balochistan and became the first Chairman of Artists Association of Pakistan.

Jamal Shah obtained a Master's in English literature from Balochistan University, Quetta, Balochistan in 1978 and in 1983 an NDA, National College of Arts, Lahore. He later obtained a Masters in Fine Arts from the Slade School of Art in London.

He is currently the director of HunerKada art academy in Islamabad which he founded in 1992 and Telenor Brand Ambassador doing Television Productions (Hunerkada Productions) his latest upcoming Drama is "Girdaab".

Being an actor, he performed in TV serials as well as a renowned mini series titled Traffik produced by Britain's Channel 4 about illegal drugs and the role of Pakistan, Germany and Britain in its production, transportation and usage. Traffik was nominated for six BAFTA Awards, winning three. It also won an International Emmy Award for best drama

He has also starred in the film K2 from 1992, directed by Franc Roddam.

In 2005 Jamal Shah was responsible for the Pavilion in the Pakistan section of the World exposition in Aichi Japan.

In 2007 He became the Executive Director of Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA).

Family:

After getting divorced from his 1st wife, Faryal Gohar, he is now married to Amna Shah, a former student and now teacher of Hunerkada College of Visual and Performing Arts, they are loving parents of 2 children,daughter Mina Shah and a son Mayyan Mohummed Shah

Jamal Shah is the paternal uncle of the promising young Balochistan based artist Mubarak Shah

Shazia Sikander

Shahzia Sikander (b. 1969, Lahore, Pakistan) is a painter, living in New York City. She earned a BFA in 1992 at the National College of Arts in Lahore, Pakistan; and an MFA in 1995 at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island.

She has had solo exhibitions at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (1999/2000) and at the Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago (1998). Her work has been shown in group exhibitions at the Whitney Museum (1999/2000 and 1999), at the Third Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, Brisbane, Australia (1999), and at the Ludwig Museum, Cologne, Germany (1999).

Sikander has been schooled in the miniature painting tradition of Pakistan, and combines the historic iconography and technique with her own aesthetics resulting in a hybrid of traditional and contemporary styles. The imagery in her work references the tensions that exist in Islam, Hinduism and Christianity as well as her personal history, politics, and sexuality. Religion is a significant element in her art as well as her personal life, as she is a practicing Muslim. Sikander explores in particular, the role of Muslim women and challenges the view Westerners have of associating Islam only with terrorism and oppression of women.

She has been granted the "genius grant" for 2006 by the MacArthur Foundation.

Mushtaq Chhapra

Mushtaq Chhapra is the Chairman and a founding Director of The Citizens Foundation (TCF), a non-profit educational organisation in Pakistan. Born and based in Karachi, he is a well-known personality in the country’s business circles. While he has manufacturing concerns in Pakistan, he is a philanthropist at heart and is involved with many charities in the areas of health, food security and art. He also serves as the honorary Consul General for the Nepalese Embassy in Karachi.

The Citizens Foundation (TCF) is one of the largest non-profit organisations in Pakistan in the field of education. Since it was founded in 1995, it has run a professionally managed network of 660 purpose-built schools in the poorest rural areas and most neglected urban slums of Pakistan. TCF’s mission is to promote mass-scale quality education at the primary and secondary levels in an environment that encourages intellectual, moral and spiritual growth. TCF’s long-term goal is to build 1,000 schools in Pakistan.

He was selected as one of the six WISE Awards 2010 Laureates for the achievements of The Citizens Foundation.

Pir Aftab Hussain Shah Jilani

Pir Aftab Hussain Shah Jilani, Federal Minister for Culture was born on November 15, 1946 in Mirpurkhas, Sindh and is politically affiliated with the PPPP. Previously he has served as MPA Sindh Assembly, and MNA from 1993 to 1996 and 1997 to 1999.

He did his Masters of Science in Agriculture in the year 1972 and works as an agriculturist. Married, with 2 sons and 2 daughters, he has traveled to U.S.A, U.K, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Kenya, Dubai, Srilanka and Thailand. Reading books is his favorite past time.

Ch. Imtiaz Safder Warraich

Choudhry Imtiaz Safder Warraich, Minister of State for Communications is a seasoned politician and remained a prominent practicing lawyer. Mr. Imtiaz remained MPA from Punjab during 1993-1996,MNA during 2002-2007 and presently is also a Member of the National Assembly since 2008 and with the portfolio of Minister of State for Communications. Her emained Joint Secretary and then General Secretary of the Gujranwala Bar during 1977 and 1983 respectively. Mr. Warraich was elected twice as Member Zilla Council, Guranwala while as elected for four terms as Director, Punjab Provincial Cooperative Bank, Gujranwala. In 1996, he remained as Advisor to the Chief Minister Punjab. Mr. Warraich enjoys huge popularity among the masses and is still the Vice President of the PPPP Punjab and Divisional President of the PPPP Gujranwala Division.

Mr.Warraich has a Masters degree and LLB from Punjab University.

Mr. Imtiaz Safdar Warraich was born on 15thof November, 1952 in Gujranwala, He has traveled widely to many countries and his hobbies include Reading and Trekking.

Dr. Arbab Alamgir Khan

Dr. Arbab Alamgir Khan, Federal Minister for Communications was born in Peshawar on 1st July 1961. He did his MBBS from Khyber Medical College Peshawar in 1987. Later he earned a diploma in Internal Medicines from the University of Edinburgh UK.

Dr.Arbab Alamgir Khan belongs to the most well known family of the NWFP "The Arbab family of Tehkal Bala, Peshawar". He is the grandson of late Nawabzada Arbab Sher Ali Khan and son of the late Arbab Muhammad Jehangir Khan who remained Chief Minister of NWFP (1985-88). Arbab Jehangir Khan had never lost any election and remained member of the Federal Assembly and the Provincial Assembly of NWFP. He remained Federal Minister under Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Mr. Muhammad Khan Junejo and Balkh Sher Mazari as well as Provincial Minister and Leader of the Opposition in the NWFP Assembly.

Other members of his family i.e. Arbab Niaz Muhammad Federal Minister/Mayor of Peshawar, Arbab Sikandar Khan Khalil Governor NWFP and Arbab Saif-ur-Rehman, Speaker Provincial Assembly have also played an important role in public life in NWFP.

Dr. Arbab Alamgir Khan is young and energetic public figure. He is affiliated with the Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarian.

Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan

Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan Federal Minister for population welfare, first elected woman parliamentarian in National Assembly from Sialkot by defeating ex Speaker of national assembly Ch.Amir Husain

Second term as a medical parliamentarian in national assembly of Pakistan

Served as parliamentary sec in assembly of the cabinet from 2003 to 2006

Represented Pakistan in more than 102 countries and participated

Headed medical parliamentarian forum during 2002-2005 and served in Iraq along with medical relief mission for the war affected people of Iraq since 2010. This was the first medical relief mission from any Muslim country. All medical support and assistance was provided by Non Government Resource..

Worked as volunteer during earthquake in AJK for months and provided medical assistance by establishing mobile hospital for women and children.

Contributed a lot for rehabilitation of IDPs of malakand and swatt by mobilizing government and non-government resources. She visited the relief camps of affected areas and ensured the reproductive health

Support the relief mission of earth quake areas of Baluchistan

Fauzia Shamshad

Fauzia Shamshad CEO at Media Axis, started her career at the age of 17 years as a Medical rep for Wyeth lab, Pakistan for RawalPindi /Islamabad. Later got the opportunity to work as a Media Executive for a leading advertising agency of UAE. A business school graduate , experience includes at national and international level marketing of print and electronic media , head of Dept in Data communication company. Life took turns and Fauzia landed the position of Account Director at the prestigious firm, Manhattan Leo Burnett where she made landmark qualitative contributions through her exposure and diverse knowledge

Made affiliation with Starcom and set up the operation and headed the company for 3 years.

Set up Media Axis and built repute as an upcoming professional outfit by getting on board clients MNC's and Local Clients.

Pioneer in Pakistan of initiating and setting up Media Planning and Buying concept making use of media optimizing tools and research focused planning.

 She gained experience overtime in Marketing Sales, Customer Services, Media. Setting up operations from scratch for Customer Services, Client relations, PR and setting up new operations has become her forte. Her insight and experience makes her an amazing leader and she leads by example and influences her entire team to work with dedication and honesty.

Her firm belief in empowering employees and encouraging them to take mature decisions ripples a positive effect through the entire organization.

Muhammad Ali Khan

Muhammad Ali Khan is an applied sociolinguist working as a senior instructor at the Centre of English Language, Institute for Educational Development, Aga Khan University. He works at the interface of language policy, textbook research, critical discourse analysis, globalisation and English language teaching in Pakistan. Besides this he is a member of a multilingual research group run by Professor Ingrid Piller and Dr Kimie Takahashi of Australia; a Language, Ideology and Power research group run by Professor Norman Fairclough and Professor Ruth Wodak at Lancaster University, UK; National Council of Academics; Irtiqa Institute for Social Sciences, Pakistan; and South Place Ethical Society, UK.

Tahmena Bokhari

Tahmena Bokhari is a feminist Muslim beauty queen, sounds an oxymoron? She is Canadian, Pakistani, woman, college professor and social worker, all in one. Above all, she has dedicated her life to creating positive change.

She is particularly passionate in working to end violence against women, the fight against cancer, supporting the Pakistani, Muslim, South Asian and diverse communities locally and abroad, and she is a staunch advocate for inclusivity. Her ultimate goal is to 'mutually inspire' to live happier and healthier lives.

Do check out her websites for more information.

Tahmena has various personal interests and hobbies including fashion-designing, photography, poetry and other arts. She states, "I believe that everything I do supports my personal vision in life to continously strive to better oneself and create positive impacts on our environments."

Some of the quotes she has been inspired by are listed below.

"We don't see things as they are; we see things as we are." - Anaïs Nin

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."- Marcel Proust

"There are two powers in the world; one is the sword and the other is the pen....There is a third power stronger than both, that of the women."

-Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Founder of Pakistan, from Speech at Islamia College for women, March 25, 1940.

"You may belong to any religion or caste or creed --- that has nothing to do with the business of the state." Jinnah

"Man is born free, yet everwhere in chains" - Rousseau

"Let me say, at the risk of seeming ridiculous, that the true revolutionary is guided by great feelings of love."

Ernesto 'Che' Guevara

"Many will call me an adventurer - and that I am, only one of a different sort: one of those who risks his skin to prove his platitude."

Ernesto 'Che' Guevara

"The best and noblest gifts of humanity cannot be the monopoly of a particular race or country."

- Rabindranath Tagore

"The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely”.

-Carl Gustav Jung

Quotes from Tahmena Bokhari

- "With all this wonderful diversity of what to wear on my head...the hijab, niqab, the burqa, along with other precriptions on women's headdress such the dupatta, the bindi, the bridal juumar, and even the brimmed hat and on and on....I have been thinking that personally, when I have a choice, I would much rather wear the crown."

Tahmena's motto: "Know yourself, love yourself."

"Live until you die."

Ekhlaq Ahmed

Mr. Ekhlaq Ahmed, EVP is the Company Secretary of National Bank of Pakistan and also the Secretary of Credit & Operations Committees. He is M.A. (Economics) from Rajshahi University, Bangladesh (former East Pakistan). He is a Diplomaed Associate Institute of Bankers, Pakistan (DAIBP) and secured overall 1 st position in order of merit and won Muslim Commercial Bank Prize in the subject of “Foreign Trade & Foreign Exchange”. He is an Associate of Institute of Corporate Secretaries of Pakistan (ACIS). He is also a “Certified Director” on the panel of Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance (PICG) since November, 2007. Mr. Ekhlaq Ahmed is the first senior executive of the Bank who has achieved the status of “Certified Director”.

He participated in Company Secretaries Conferences – 2006 & 2007 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He has attended various other training programs / seminars on management and Internal Audit at domestic and international locations.

He started his career as a SBP Trainee and possesses 38 years domestic and International banking experience including 14 years as internal auditor. He has conducted audit of Bank's 20 overseas branches / Regional Offices. He has 3 years experience as Company Secretary.