The Pakistani Spectator

Could you tell us what made you decide to blog?
I wanted to do something for Pakistan and decided to write about Pakistanis in Urdu. I blog here.

What do you think sets Your blog apart from other blogs?
My blog talks about Pakistan in Urdu and almost in all of my posts first I discuss problems and then provide best solutions as per my knowledge and experience.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success, what would it be?
Continuous struggle (without any break)

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?
There are more than one moment but not happiest and gloomiest yet. Whenever after hardwork, I get results as of my expectations, I become happy. I will be happy and gloomy, when Pakistan will be ruled by honest and loyal ruler.

Urdu Blogs have got huge potential, when do you think they will really take on the online horizon in Pakistan?
It seems to me little difficult that Urdu Blogs will ever become popular as English Blogs are. In Pakistan English language is growing at much faster pace than Urdu. Government is also sponsoring English language everywhere. Internet has more material in English because of its global status. Nowadays Urdu language is a symbol of illiteracy and Internet surfers & programmers are not paying more attention on Urdu. Urdu Blogs will be popular when general Pakistanis will be able to surf on internet but it’s a long and difficult journey for Urdu Blogs.

If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?
I will visit American Congress library and try to find the names of those Muslims who betrayed their nations. I will visit Bangladesh and live with Bangladeshis for few days to find clues why they were separated. I will visit our Northern Areas and would like to see why they are fighting with their own army.

What is your favorite book and why?
I like Allama Iqbal’s Poetry because he always talks about his nation and provide advice in Islamic way. His poetry is a complete translation of our holy book. e.g. Khuda nain aaj tak us qoam ki halat nahin badli

Naan ho jis ko khial aap apni halat key badalney ka

This is an exact translation of a Quranic verse.
He feels more pain for his nation than anybody else.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?
His dress and style because his outlook will explain what is he hiding inside.

Do you think Pakistani politicians could benefit from the social networks and things like twitter?
Near future I don’t think so but I am expecting more from my next generation who is raising themselves with lot of information and awareness.

Whose Future is brighter in Pakistan; English blogs or Urdu Blogs?
English, because whole world’s media and even Pakistan government is promoting English. I am less hopeful about Urdu Blogs because Urdu is phasing out very fast. Even Pakistanis prefer English over Urdu to show that they are educated.

How Pakistani bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?
So far they can’t because less than 0.1 percent Pakistanis have access to internet. We will have to wait may be five to ten years to get financial benefits.

Do you think Pakistani bloggers tend to remain somewhat self-centered and really don’t go out of their shells? Is it the oriental style of blogging, or they are still unsure about it?
I think all Bloggers remain self-centered except those who are blogging for business purposes. I think we should be self-centered because we shouldn’t lose our identity.

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?
Yes or no. When you have knowledge, then you need less time but without knowledge you need lot of time to collect material for your postings.

What are your thoughts on corporate blogs and what do you think the biggest advantages and disadvantages are?
Corporate blogs are only for their business purposes. The biggest advantage is having input from general public and uses it to run business successfully and disadvantage is using them for business purposes.

Does it pain you or proud you that we have made a history by electing a uniform general as our president?
It was pain for me and I always want army to be separated from politics. George Washington made some rules for US army. First Army personnel will never get married with politician, Second will never have relationship with businessmen. If they are then they will have to pick one option, Army or their relationship. We should have same rules in Pakistan.

Do you think this whole emphasis on blogs and whatever online is a significant indicator to show that the web, the social web, is becoming a very important social force?
Yes, Web has changed our lives. Now computer is a necessity as other electronics are. If internet is down, we think we are living in dark. One day internet will be very unavoidable social force and will have major impact on Pakistanis too. I am seeing internet as a major tool, which we will be using for our personal lives.

What do you think where the Pakistani blogosphere is right now?
It is just a beginning and we will have to have a long journey before we will bring it up to world level. It is better but limited and will be more popular when more Pakistanis will have internet access.

Our President is on the European Tour, do you think he would be successful in improving Pakistan’s image abroad?
He is not improving Pakistan’s image, he is trying to improve his own image. In his whole tour he tried to satisfy Europe that he is the only best choice for Pakistan. He lied about human rights and democracy in Pakistan in his every address. He is a European puppet who is serving for his masters not for Pakistan. But the bad thing is we don’t have any other choice. That’s why I am wishing having honest and loyal ruler, which I am not seeing in near future because at this moment Pakistanis are not willing to make changes in their lives.

Who are your top five favorite bloggers in Pakistan?
www.pakistaniat.com
http://noumaan.sabza.org/
http://www.chapatimystery.com/
http://iftikharajmal.urdutech.com/
http://www.dhartipakistan.com/

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger in Pakistani blogosphere?
Chapatimystery is unique and full of knowledge.

What is the future of blogging in Pakistan?
Future of blogging in Pakistan is bright but we will have to wait until all Pakistanis have access to internet.

In political respect, can we say blogging a ‘democracy of message’?
Yes, blogging is to share your thoughts with general public

Can Pakistani blogosphere play any notable role in the forthcoming elections, if they happen at all?
Yes but it is limited now because most of Pakistanis don’t have access to internet.

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?
I am scarifying my personal and professional time for sake of my nation’s better future. I might use same time to earn more and spend time with my family.

What are your future plans?
I will continue taking care of my family and helping others to achieve their goals.

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?
We should never quit and keep trying for best.