The Pakistani Spectator

Islamabad bloggers offline meet-up held, on December 29th, 2008 (the Monday) evening from 1700 ~ 2000 Hours, in IEEE building Bahria University Islamabad. Event was organized by CIO and Google Pakistan & some volunteers from the University. Wateen provided the wireless connectivity and Red Bull was Official Drink.

It was the first ever opportunity in which TPS presented itself offline. Mr Badar Khushnood from Google Pakistan & Mr Uzair were the hosts of that session, which started around 1700 hours with an introduction to blogging (for the beginners) that how to setup a blog. Then Mr Badar presented some success stories of Pakistan.

The audience present comprised of some medical students from DOW Medical college, students of Electronics Engineering, bloggers from Lahore & Islamabad and some students of Bahria University. One hundred and twenty plus heads may be counted roughly.

Starting session was a bit boring but of worth for blogging infants. Then after the presentation of success stories, there was a Google give-away session, based on replies to certain question asked related to blogging. Some participants won Google calendar for 2009 and ‘T’-Shirt including TPS for having a higher unique visitors rate/ day.

After the give-away session a panel was constituted to answer the questions from the audience regarding various issues in blogging & earning through blogging, how to increase visitors, ways to improve readership, how to analyse in-coming traffic, how to increase retention time of visitors etc, the panel included:
1) Atif from Brightspyre
2) Shehzad from bytesforall
3) Nadir from Naqsha.net
4) Faheem from paperpk.com
5) Saad from Sizlopedia.com
6) Talha Masood Islamabad Metblogs

Mr Atif Mumtaz from BrightSpyre.com (a renowned Pakistan job portal) presented his story of earning, using HR as a SAAS(Software AS A Service), they probably be the first in the globe to be doing that. He was of the opinion that Paksitani Blogs should do well to confront media war against Pakistan. TPS presented a complimentary printed copy of its article <a href=’http://www.pakspectator.com/the-squadron-that-never-took-off’> The Squadron That Never Took-off </a>. Mr Atif Mumtaz was very delighted to have it and promised to visit and comment on TPS when he was told about TPS articles about current Indo-Pak ROW

The House also pointed their fingers towards recently approved law in Pakistan to curb cyber crimes. Generally, people were of the view that such laws should not be there if we are committed for independence of media and right of open speech as the things are surfaced for correction and improvement.

There was also a chat about ‘Morality’. Moral values should be taken into account while blogging. As the discussion got long and hot, it was interrupted with a resolution that meet-up shall be held again including ample time to discuss the issue of morality.

During the session audience showed keen interest in TPS and some of them took web address of TPS (thought TPS is search engine optimized blog and can the searched with the keyword ‘The Pakistani Spectator’).

The session closed at 2020 hours and there was a tea session in IEEE Building Cafeteria meat for chatting of house with each other. This was a big opportunity availed by TPS and introduced the philosophy of ‘Candid Blog’ an open media for all readers and commenter, where comments are not deleted. During the tea session TPS also introduced its team of all writers by giving away more than thirty complimentary printout of some of the articles along with comments, TPS introduced its Aalyst/Critic Mr Ali Yar Khan, Poet & Writer Mr Asim, Voice of women and Cultural Issues Raiser Ms Amna Gilani, Young writer Ms Fatima Tassaduq, Patriotic Writer Dr. Hassan Isfahani, Strategic Situation Observer / Defense Analyst Brig (Retd) Junaid Zaman, Head Department of International Affairs University of Pittsburgh Prof. Michael Brenner, Political Analyst & Travelogue Writer Mr Waqas (MPA), Brainy Writer Mr Dan Tow, writer of Express & The Nation / Contemporary Affairs Mr Naeem Sidhu, needing no Introduction Daughter of the Land Dr. Shireen M Mazari, Laywer / Activist of Lawyers Movement Mr Talal Hussain Malik, experienced Politician / Writer Mr M Mirza, Mr. A Khokar,  Freelance / Writer Ms Ghazala Khan etc.

TPS told the house that all writers on TPS are burning their mid-night oil writing for the betterment of the society and the country. TPS further added that its team remained writing round the clock on 2008 Election days covering the situation. TPS predictions during 2007 and before and after the Elections proved to be right with the passage of time. Authorities adopted some of the policies later-on, which were described in various articles of TPS during Election Days. All credit goes to TPS Team.

Being amongst those who are readers of TPS was a delightful experience. A silent reader Mr Talha told TPS that he visits the blog almost daily and try to read as much as be can. TPS invited Talha to comment also as you perceive posts because TPS know people feel threatened to speak out. Its TPS vision that everyone must speak / criticize for the betterment. We may do mistake while learning to speak but like a child with the passage of time we become fluent.

TPS shared that due to traffic load TPS has to move from Blogspot to DotCom and then it has to shift twice to a speedy service to give its readers un-interrupted blog posts, lead stories, features, article on politics, entertainment etc.

In brief, TPS had a very good time to be amongst co-bloggers & readers, This opportunity gave TPS some time to improve image of its ‘Theme of Blog’ and to educate the audience about what TPS actually is doing. TPS remains thankful for admiration it got & to visitors / commenter of this blog.