The Pakistani Spectator

Would you please tell us something about you and your site?
It’s just a normal blog, which I started writing when I was 15. I live in the Uk, in a community which is pretty much full of Pakistani and Indian muslims, but I mix with all kinds of people. The site is www.khia.wordpress.com and it’s just generally about my thoughts and my life.

Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you?
well, some day I hope to look back on it and realise how much I’ve grown, which is important to me because I hope to end up a well-rounded person, with all my memories which have made me who I am. Writing is not something that I look too much into, I just write whatever comes into my head.

I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?
Umm, I’m not really sure about this one, the blogging world is just fun all round, most memorable has to be just generally getting to know people.

What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?
I just log onto the blogroll at www.toseef.com, most of the blogs on there are the ones I read, why do the hard work when the jobs already done? lol
Also facebook keeps me in touch with bloggers.

What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?
I don’t really know much about technology, but politicians use the internet to get their points across e.g youtube and facebook and even blogging!

Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?
well, I guess so, the internet is worldwide and there are millions of web surfers to join in, everyone can give their 2 cents.

What do you think sets Your site apart from others?
Honestly, I don’t think it sets me apart, apart from the fact that there is only one of me in the world

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?
I’m nice to everyone I meet, I’ve never said a mean thing to anyone (outside of siblings, of  course). well I try not to anyway. I have inshallah still a long life ahead of me.

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?
I really don’t know about this… I’m generally a happy person. and gloomy stuff just comes with life.

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?
oooh top three, this is quite hard (not including hajj)

1) I’ve always wanted to go to New Zealand,I don’t really know why, but in high school I used to have this Amazing geography teacher who traveled everywhere, he said New Zealand was his favourite so far, so I just have to go.
2) Egypt- I watched The mummy film yesterday with my little sister so I’d love to go there, Brendan Fraser is quite hot!
3)Australia- mainly because my dads sister lives there, and I’ve never been, but have met quite a few australian people over the years, plus I just love the accent.

What is your favorite book and why?
The green rider series by Kristen Britain, I’m a bit of a fantasy freak, love Lord of the rings, Harry Potter etc. Plus I love the fiery main character.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?
It has to be their dress sense, I’m not really bothered about that but I do take notice of it. This is quite funny coming from me because I don’t wear the latest fashion, maybe it’s cleanliness of a person I look at.

Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?
My sister always used to say this, she still does but I’m not that interested in the different aspects of writing, I just like to be myself.

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?
I don’t know, have adverts put on their blog, so they get money from them??

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?
NOO, you just need a few minutes a day to update, and if you do have a successful blog it’s because people either love you as a character or they love the way you write. It should just come naturally.

What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?
I guess by reading blogs, you tend to understand different cultures and different ways in which people think, so bloggers just have to play the role of being themselves.

Who are your top five favourite bloggers?
This one is quite hard..
-miss specs- because she is one of the first people whose blog I read and got to know.
-sometimessobia- I guess she is really important because she was the first person whose blog I read.  I was there through the designing of her brilliant forums, I must have been the 3rd or 4th person to join in and make an account.
After these I guess I don’t have favourites, just generally like reading blogs.

Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?
Well, not on my blog but I remember on www.toseef.com the harry potter posts got loads of comments and views, I tend not to read too serious topics.

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?
I’ve been to Pakistan only a few times, but I have lots of relatives there. On my last visit I noticed the vast difference between the rich and poor people, in Pakistan my family doesn’t really live in too rich or poor area, just near the town centre in the City. The people are generally nice. Life is really different, it somehow seems more busy and longer and very very hot.

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?
Honestly, I can’t say I have. I’m a pretty open-minded person, and everyones blog is unique anyway.

What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?
I have to say the living conditions , cleanliness seems to be quite a big issue, not the people but just generally the streets, if you have money-good for you, but if you don’t then life can seem hard. Here, life is quite easy because the government provides, but I really believe Pakistan could change with a lot of hard work.

What is the future of blogging?
I really don’t know, it will probably advance in some way, maybe bring people together.
You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?
Not much really, I don’t really have a professional life but personal- it’s good just to get my view across, vent as much as I like.

What are your future plans?
I hope to just live life to the full, in the next year I’ll be starting college, I’m not sure what the equivalent to that in Pakistan is.

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?
Just that thankyou for taking the time out to read this, this might seem a bit boring but I hope I have given you something interesting to read in a few minutes of your life:)