Profile: Nasreen Tahir Wafai

Life as we know it.

Profile: Nasreen Tahir Wafai.

By Ambia Bhurt

It’s hard to survive as a woman in a society we live in but it’s even harder to

survive as a widow. People do not accept you, it is hard dealing with the people around a widow. Their advice, insensitive comments and pointless conversations. 

Being a widow is like a woman has lost a right to laugh, dress up and look beautiful. But here is a woman who fought all the evils in the society she protected her 3 children and survived.She is now a language teacher and Scouts and Girl Guides mistress at St.bonaventures High School Qasimabad, also a writer of six books in Sindhi language, social activist and an amazing artist who makes handmade stuff. She calls sewing machine her best friend. 

She was the only female who managed to come to Hyderabad from her small village JindoDero district Shikarpur for further studies. She completed her B.Edfrom Sindh University Old Campus Hyderabad.

 She is the woman with the most beautiful and smiling eyes. Her eyes will tell you everything about her life. Her soft hands will tell you how generous and kind she has been all her life. Her calm and steady personality will tell you about her act of humanity. Her simplicity and captivating grace will never let you take your eyes off her. She believes in giving to those who are needy. Being rich in not what you have in your bank account but what’s in your heart she says. She never celebrates any occasion alone. She distributes Eidi, cloths , toys and many other stuff made by her own hands to poor kids of different schools and orphanage houses. She has a non-paid, volunteer organization named after her late husband “Tahir Wafai welfare organization” which helps the poor and the needy. 

This organization has recently distributed used stuff to ILM JO SOJHORO primary school and eidi gifts to SOS Village Jamshoro including toys. Bags, shoes, cushions. She also arranges exhibitions. She has an official website nasreenwafai.wordpress.com, here you can find all the information about her exhibitions and photos along with description about her work including handmade bags, cushions, bedsheets, pillows, Sindhi embroidedGajj, baby quilts, pouches and also descriptions of delicious recipes. 

She suggests reading Shah joRisalo and Khuwab Nagar, columns by Mahmood Mughal. She also wrote a book of poems for primary level children “NandhraSuhnraBaarPyara”. She says “Managing time makes your life much easier. Wasting time is like wasting your life”. One should stop complaining and starts appreciating to what he/she has,Never be the reason behind someone’s cry that’s the secret ingredient of a peaceful life she says.

She is an inspiration to me and many other women who are having a hard time in their lives. Well if she can do it we all can. All we need is a little courage, patience and a lot of hard work and soon the world will start recognizing and appreciating you. 

Ambia roll # 12 Practical work carried under supervision of Sir Sohail Sangi

Interview: Komal Altaf By Ambia Bhurt

CSS only requires effort and time: Komal Altaf


Interview: By Ambia Bhurt


Komal Altaf is Assistant Commissioner Inland Revenue Services is maters in Engineering but preferred to join CSS. Komal was born on 27th April. She did her B.E in 2010 and M.E in 2014. She initiated her career as a trainee in software house. Later joined teaching and served as lecturer.


Q: What made you think of doing CSS after engineering? Was there any inspiration?

A: The foremost reason was, I believe that I have ability to deal with the challenging tasks that would enable me to do something worthwhile for the betterment of my country. I believe by joining Civil services I will be able to deliver services more efficiently and manage things more effectively through my skills.


Q: Why do students fear from CSS? Is it really that hard?

A: The fear is more psychological than the actual exam. So far second part of your question is concerned, I say, No, nothing is difficult in this world if you are determined. CSS only requires effort and time.


Q: Is smart work or hard work necessary for qualifying the exam?

A: CSS is a competitive exam and a candidate must be competent enough to get through CSS. A candidate needs to do smart work with consistency and dedication so CSS is definitely both hard work plus smart work. You need to pass 12 subjects with reasonable marks so that you can get allocation. In CE-2014 almost 22,000 candidates applied, 14,000 took exams and only 233 got allocation.


Q:  How did you prepare for the exam? Is it worth paying academies for preparation?

A: Well, self-reliance is a virtue. I did self-preparation. Everything is available on internet and books. A candidate may join some academy to have some guidance. However, academy cannot get a candidate passed


Q: Some students are very good at writing but in speaking they're not that good? What do you suggest to such students?

A: Civil servants are bureaucrats. They must possess both the written and oral communication skills. I would suggest listening to news and talk shows, having group discussions and watching good documentaries.


Q: How much subject selection matters in passing the CSS exam? Any tips.

A: There are many candidates who choose subjects considering the markings. I make it clear that marking trend changes every year. It is good to choose subjects of your interest. Both the compulsory and optional subjects must be given attention.


Q: What is your key to success in qualifying the exam? What kept you motivated?

A: It is the faith in Allah and self-motivation which has enabled me to be part of prestigious Civil Service of Pakistan. I would advise candidate never to lose hope. This is the key to accomplish insurmountable.


Q: Is it a good field for girls?

A: Yes, definitely. We are living in an era where both men and women are playing significant role for the uplift of their society. By joining Civil Service woman can bring unprecedented glory to our country.



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  Un edited Original


Interview: Komal Altaf (Assistant Commissioner Inland Revenue Services)


 By Ambia Bhurt


Born on 27th April. She did her B.E in 2010 and M.E in 2014. She initiated her career as a trainee in software house.


1. What made you think of doing CSS after Engineering? Is there any inspiration?


The foremost reason is that, I believe I have the ability to deal with the challenging tasks that would enable me to do something worthwhile for the betterment of my country. We are living in a digital age in which technology is required in every field of life. I believe by joining Civil services I will be able to deliver services more efficiently and manage things more effectively through my technology skills. I am a calm person and excelled in information technology that makes me a good manager. Moreover, civil services offer a bright opportunity to attain intellectual and personality grooming.


2. Why do students fear CSS? Is it really that hard?


The fear is more psychological than the actual exam. The answer to your second question is NO.  Nothing is difficult in this world if you are determined. CSS requires effort and time. It takes time for preparation and announcement of result which is definitely a lengthy process.


3. Is smart work or hard work necessary for qualifying the exam?


CSS is a competitive exam and a candidate must be competent enough to get through CSS. A candidate needs to do smart work with consistency and dedication so CSS is definitely both hard work plus smart work. You need to pass 12 subjects with reasonable marks so that you can get allocation. In CE-2014 almost 22,000 candidates applied, 14,000 took exams and only 233 got allocation.


 4. Is it worth paying academies for preparation? How did you prepare for the exam?


Well self-reliance is a virtue. I did self-preparation. Everything is available on internet. A candidate may join some academy to have some guidance. However, academy cannot get a candidate passed. It is the personal effort and determination that produce the fruitful results.


5. Some students are very good at writing but when it comes to speaking they're not that good? What do you suggest such students for improving their communication skills


Civil servants are bureaucrats. They must possess both the written and oral communication skills. I would suggest to listen to news, and talk shows, have group discussions and watch good documentaries.


6. Is extensive reading necessary for the exam?


It depends on how much time you have before taking exam. Reading results in increase of knowledge. It is beneficial to do, at least a reasonable amount of reading.


7. Does subject selection matters in passing the CSS exam? Any tips


There are many candidates who choose subjects considering the markings. I make it clear that marking trend changes every year. It is good to choose subjects of your interests. Both the compulsory and optional subjects must be given attention, since it is necessary to get passing marks in all subjects. In order to get group of your choice it is necessary to have sufficient marks in all subjects. In CE-2014 I have got highest marks in English precise and composition in whole Pakistan. In addition my marks in other subjects are also satisfactory which has ensured my allocation in group of my choice.


8. Share your experience during preparation? Was there a time you were exhausted and felt like giving up?


I did my B.E in 2010 and M.E in 2014. I initiated my career as a trainee in software house. I have been doing lecturer ship since 2011. I decided to do CSS in mid of 2013 and appeared in CE-2014.  By the grace of Almighty Allah I have been allocated as Assistant Commissioner IRS. I did not join any academy and did self -preparation. Some would not believe me but yes its self-reliance that produce the most desirable outcomes. I took help from internet and books.


 9. What is your key to success in qualifying the exam? What kept you motivated?


It is the faith in Allah and self-motivation which has enabled me to be part of prestigious Civil Service of Pakistan. I would advise candidate never to lose hope. This is the key to accomplish those tasks in your life that seem insurmountable.


10. Is it a good field for girls?


Yes, definitely. We are living in era where both men and women are playing significant role for the uplift of their society. Civil service is the highest management cadre of Pakistan that also offers policy making opportunity in the long run. By joining Civil Service woman can bring unprecedented glory to our beloved country Pakistan.


11. Now that you have qualified CSS how do you feel about it?


I am thankful to my lord who has graced me with such a respectable position in society, and my family and friends whose prayers have been with me through thick and thin. I am determined to give the best of me for the advancement of my country.


Ambia 2k13/MC/12


Second Semester August 2015

This practical work was carried out under supervision of Sir Sohail Sangi

Let’s post everything on Facebook

Article.

Let’s post everything on Facebook.

 Ambia Bhurt

Remember the time when life was simple? Where happiness meant playing kho kho, baraf pani, chupan chupai , You had to wait for weekends to go out with family to have fun at your favorite amusement park. Where raining meant not posting on Facebook but actually going outside with the friends and enjoying. Where 14^th August meant to paint faces with Pakistani flag, decorating streets, houses with flags and celebrating it with friends, family and teachers. Now 14^th August means making your profile pictures green, posting patriotic stuff and sleeping on a holiday. Our life styles have changed a lot since then, now our happiness lies in posting food we eat, the places we visit, the brands we wear, posting pictures taken specially from DSRL cameras with fake smiles, posting how happy we are and  how perfect and luxurious our lives are.

Deep down we all know that we are faking it because we want to win the race on Facebook of “being the happiest and successful person in our friend list”. This has led to nothing but inferiority complex, depression, jealousy, anxiety and ingratitude among us. We lack in communicating with each other. We lack in celebrating our happiness and sadness together. We are less interested in caring others and more interested in ourselves, we try to leave an impression on others by looking smart, witty, interesting by hiding our true selves. Our only motive in life is to be cooler than our friends. This is leading us to more destruction, we are becoming less confident, depressed and losing our self-esteem because we are always comparing our lives to our friends who are more successful, who are spending their holidays at better places than we are, who are studying in a top university, who are happy in a new relationship, who have more number of friends on Facebook than we have, who are prettier/handsome than us. But the question is are their lives really that perfect? Are they really that successful and flawless? Well the answer is NO. Nobody is perfect nobody is living a perfect life, everyone has flaws everyone has ups and downs in life but people chose to post the good things about their lives not the bad things. The concept of social comparison is very old. The gist is, human nature can make us jealous or depressed by the perceived successes and happiness of those closest to us. So if Facebook is making you sad, depressed you don’t need to stop using it altogether. Just be mindful of how you're spending your time on the site. Stop comparing and complaining. So what if you didn’t get to study in a top university, you can still work hard and get a better job. So what if you don’t have a lot of friends at least you’ve the real ones. So what if you didn’t get to visit an exotic place on holidays you still had some quality time with your family. Stop complaining and start appreciating your life. Be thankful to what you’ve and start utilizing your inner abilities in something good and positive.

Ambia 2k13/MC/12 

Second Semester August 2015 
This practical work was carried out under supervision of Sir Sohail Sangi