So basically I am going to explain the procedure here for the non-automatic conversion of Pakistani Driving License to Malaysian Driving License. As there are two main categories for the conversion of Driving License – Automatic and Non Automatic so there are two separate lists (Category A and B) for this purpose and the name of Pakistan is in the list of non-automatic conversion (Category B). I don’t understand the reason for putting the name of Pakistan in category B. If you look at the requirements for the both categories, you will find that there is only one document – Letter from Pakistan High Commission, which is an extra requirement for category B, otherwise the rest of the requirements are almost the same.

So if you have valid and computerized driving license from Pakistan you can apply for the conversion of your Driving License to Malaysian Driving License. However, this facility is only provided to those Pakistanis who are Malaysia Citizen / Permanent Resident, Employment Pass Holders (Professional Only), Student Pass Holders(PhD only) and Participants of Malaysia My Second Home Programme (MM2H). They will give you a full Malaysian Driving License, if your previous (Pakistani) Driving License has been issued more than two years earlier, otherwise you will get a Probationary License. The following documents are required at the time of application

1. MyKad or Passport
2. Visa document – Validity should not less than 1 year
3. Valid Domestic Foreign (Pakistani) Driving License
4. Translation of Foreign Domestic driving License from embassy/ High Commission in Malaysia (if not in English)
5. Completed Lampiran B2 form

You will find detailed instructions here in this document.

Pakistan has very good bilateral relations with Malaysian. Pakistan also has strong brotherly relations with Malaysia. Both are members of Organization of Islamic Conference (O.I.C) and the Commonwealth of Nations. I think the Pakistani High Commission in Kuala Lumpur should play its role and negotiate with the Malaysian authorizes to put the name of Pakistan in category A and allow the automatic driving license conversion to all the people from Pakistan or at least to those who are Malaysia Citizen / Permanent Resident, Employment Pass Holders (Professional Only), Student Pass Holders(PhD only) and Participants of Malaysia My Second Home Programme (MM2H).

As I discussed earlier that the only difference of requirements, for conversion of driving license in category A and B (for Pakistanis), is getting a Driving License Attestation Letter from Pakistani High Commission (although this requirement is not listed on the website of the Road Transport Department). So if the High Commission of Pakistan in Kuala Lumpur negotiates with the concerned Road Transport Department in Malaysia and cooperates with them to validate the Pakistani Driving Licenses of those who apply for this purpose, then it should be no problem for them (Malaysian) to allow the automatic conversion of the driving license to Pakistanis. This will help the people from Pakistan, who are here in different parts of Malaysia, to save their time, money and energy. Because now they have to travel to Kuala Lumpur to get this Driving License Letter first from Pakistan High Commission, before applying for the non-automatic conversion of their driving license.

I have written a blog before on the Impact of Indian and other channels on Pakistani society, and the recent controversy concerning the vulgar behaviour and appearance of Pakistani film actress Veena Malik on an Indian Reality Show, demands more attention to this issue, which is badly  affecting our society and culture.

The general consensus which is found among the masses of Pakistan is of anger, shame and disappointment against this lady, who seems to be having no regrets of whatever she did over there. However, the reaction of the masses shows that we are still Pakistanis and no matter how much influence and impact Indian and other channels have on our society, we still feel from inside that we are Pakistanis and this (what is shown on Indian and other channels) is not truly our culture. Although one can argue that we have diverse cultures in our country but the reaction and condemnation of people shows that that they truly believe that it’s not our culture.

I don’t want to discuss or judge the actions of Veena Malik in Big Boss because whatever she did over there is due to the lack of certain rules and policies on Pakistani broadcasting media especially Film and TV industry. Whatever she did over there is quite common even in Pakistan Film and TV Industry.

There is no argument against the fact that the Indian culture and specially the culture, which is represented or shown on Indian channels is quite different from our own and even theirs. “The customs, culture and traditions of the people of a country are representative of the history, faith, language and environment of that country. Likewise, the cultural patterns of Pakistan speak of our rich cultural heritage and traditions. The culture of Pakistan seeks its influence from the cultures of India, Central Asia and the Middle East. Pakistani culture varies widely from Punjab and Sindh to Baluchistan and Khyber………” [1] It shows that although the culture of Pakistan has some Indian influence due to heritage but still there are a lot of differences when it comes to language, vulgarity and most of all the religion.

Just like any other country it’s the major responsibility of Ministry/ Department of Culture and Heritage to work according to the policy of its Government for the protection and promotion of its culture and heritage. Now let’s have a look at the list of the responsibilities of culture division of Ministry of Culture in Pakistan. “The main responsibility of this Division relates to the promotion of education in arts and culture including all matters pertaining to the privately sponsored dancing and cultural troupes going abroad on commercial basis; development of arts council, institutions and galleries; financial assistance to arts organizations, artists and journalists and their bereaved families; Pride of Performance Awards in the field of arts; preservation and conservation of national museums and historical monuments declared to be of national importance; cultural pacts and protocols with other countries and their implementation; development and control of film industry; administration of Censorship of Films Act, 1963; establishment of cultural centers.”[2]

In some advance countries like UK the Broadcasting industry is watched and controlled by the Ministry/Department of Culture according to the policy of its Government for the Culture and Heritage, as the social impacts of broadcasting industry are much faster and influential as compared to others in a society. The above excerpt from the website of Ministry of Culture Pakistan shows that the control of the Broadcasting industry in Pakistan is not the major responsibility of this ministry. As the two important factors relating to Broadcasting industry are on the bottom in the list of the responsibilities/priorities of this ministry, so there is not much attention being paid to them. The broadcasting industry in general is not the responsibility of Ministry of Culture in Pakistan which is very much necessary these days, especially when we have allowed the broadcast of so many Indian channels in Pakistan.

I was looking for the Cultural Policy of Pakistan and luckily I found its draft version on the website of its ministry. However, I also found that the last Cultural Policy of Pakistan was formulated in 1995. The revision started in 2005 and is still in progress, which is regrettable.  The ministry has invited comments and views from general public for the revision of this policy and I think they are not getting enough feedback on this important issue. Neither do I see any discussions and debates on the media on this serious issue, which is going to cause us a great deal of trouble, if left unattended like this.

I think we should all come forward and discuss and come up with suggestions for the promotion of our own culture and demotion of foreign and especially Indian culture in our own society.

1. http://202.83.164.26/wps/portal/Mocul/!ut/p/c1/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os_hQN68AZ3dnIwML82BTAyNXTz9jE0NfQwNDE_1wkA6zeAMcwNFA388jPzdVvyA7rxwAicV1Mg!!/dl2/d1/L2dJQSEvUUt3QS9ZQnB3LzZfT0ZMTzlGSDIwT1JMMDAyVEYyUk5POTFJTzU!/
2. http://www.culture.gov.pk/

With an increasing number of TV channels and programs coming into our homes each day, it can be hard for parents to monitor what their children are watching. Many parents are concerned about their young children watching programs with content that’s more suitable for older children or adults. Even in countries like USA and UK parents are highly concerned about what their children are watching but they have mechanism and systems, through which they can control it.

Unfortunately in Pakistan, we don’t have systems like TV RATINGS (system to give parents more information about the content and age-appropriateness of TV programs) and THE V-CHIP AND PARENTAL CONTROLS (a device built into most television sets since 2000 — to allow parents to block out programs they don’t want their children to see. The V-Chip electronically reads television program ratings and allows parents to block programs they believe are unsuitable for their children. Parental control technology in cable and satellite set-top boxes can also be used with the TV Parental Guidelines to block programs based on their rating).

So I think instead of merely banning the channels we should introduce the systems like V-CHIP AND PARENTAL CONTROLS and TV RATINGS and should have a TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board in Pakistan. The board should comprise the experts from the television industry and public interest advocates. The Board should also review complaints about specific program ratings to help ensure accuracy.

What do you think about this report and how much do you agree with it? If you don’t then why? Please share your comments about this as its a very important discussion.

“ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting today asked cable operators not to show Indian TV channels and dramas.

The committee met today in Islamabad with Senator Ghulam Ali in the chair. Member committee Senator Tariq Azeem said that he had twice adopted resolutions recommending ban on Indian television channels. However, the resolutions were not yet implemented.

The committee said there were approximately 1500 cable operators in the country. Every operator was paying only Rs200, 000 per annum but was earning million of rupees through advertisements.

The committee urged the government to take notice of the situation. Ali ruled that if the issue of ban on Indian channels was not solved through the committee then the matter be raised at the upper house.”

Source: The Daily News

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Arab traders accustomed sugar candy in Sindh and took horns of rhinoceros from here to sell in China . Al-Mehlib (the Arabian tribe) transported Hens and Buffaloes of Sindh toward Iraq and China , Arabs also carried prey dogs from Sindhi soldiers as a tribute. These people furthermore carried betel leaf from here and harvested in Oman whereas they brought seeds of taramid tree from Basra . People of Sindh learned honey making process, agriculture of dot tree and making of sweet meal with dot palms from Arabs. The Persians brought perfume, olive and water lily from Khurasan, pomegranate is also Persian gift and they in addition gave us seeds of bringal. Grapes have been planted here during the era of Abbasid dynasty, British carried kernel of orange from here
In divine book “Touret” is written that “Suleman brought Peacock, musk, gold and rhinoceros from Sindh”. In 808 AD a doctor named Manik has been called upon for treatment of incurable disease of Abbasi Caliph Haroon Rasheed, after completing successful treatment, Sultan appointed him chief supervisor of the royal hospital at Baghdad .

During the era of Yehya Bermki a Sindhi physician named Ibn-e-Dhanna had been appointed an administrative officer at the hospital of Baghdad, this man introduced there Sindhi method of treatment. During invasion of Alexander the great on Sindh the king of Alor gifted him medicine of snake bite whereas a pair of yellow pigeons was presented him by a monarch.
During this era Greek learned the treatment of poisons and herbal knowledge from Sindhi doctors. They also carried Sindhi cotton (cloth) from here of which they praised in their books as “Sindhin”, whereas method of teaching and art left by Greeks is part of Sindhi culture even today.
In this way due to exchange (which extracted through the ages) of different customs, traditions, things, assets, national and religious values of guest companies Sindh became lodging of complex civilization and ideologies. Though such happenings smashed up the original characteristics of Sindhi culture but also became beneficial with the exchange of rich cultural heritages of the different nations of the world.
Such changes and exchanges were not bound only with overseas or distant populations but were usual with bordering nations, among such other civilizing interactions a beautiful piece of cultural art is Sindhi Cap which was introduced among Sindhi natives from neighboring Baloch people.
A reason regarding the convey of Balochi cap among Sindhi people was that northern areas of Sindh is bordered with Baluchistan, for that basis the replacement of every aspect of life was order of the day.
That time Balochi people used to wear turban upon the cap, copying them Sindhi people also patronized the method, though this has been ended now but in few remote regions of the both provinces same style is still prevailing, whereas in some areas cap has been taken away from turban and on some vicinities load of turban has been suspended. Unfortunately by and large both nations has now thrown away turban and cap from the head thinking these unreasonable weight or out of fashion thing what were once sign of respect, personality and pride.

During the eighteen and nineteenth century AD, covering head with turban, cap or cloth was considered as a sigh of soberness among the people of Sindh and Balochistan, while uncovered head was measured as social indulgence, therefore according to their status people always keep their heads covered. In most few areas of both provinces the men with uncovered skull had been prosecuted, fined or socially boycotted, even today in many regions around Pakistan the concept of head covering is respectfully accustomed.
During its early phase two type of caps has been used to cover heads, one made by sewing two folds of white cloth, its four sides had been circular with which complete forehead could be covered, pious and religious people like to wear that. Second kind of cap was prepared by silk and golden fibers (threads), curved with beautiful embellishment and ornamented with pieces of glasses to extend its sober attire. This cap has been incised from forehead in the way (like half moon) that both curving corners touches right and left mandible.
By the time many changes has been commenced into style plus crafts of cap, hardness and softness of cloth etc:, keeping the seasons of the year in view numerous alterations has also been brought in, like some times increasing pearls with glasses and some times decreasing those.
Transaction of cap from Baloch to Sindhi people also seen several innovations seemingly correlated with Sindhi culture and the time came this cap has merged with particular Sindhi dress, sober structure, walking style etc: and called “Sindhi Cap. In any part of the Pakistan if you see some one worn Sindhi cap he must be thought Sindhi or resident of Sindh.
Making of Sindhi cap is like constructing a building where there is base, walls, floor, roof, color, plaster etc: plus the periods of polish and shining also. There are five styles of cap, round (circular), four cornered, fancy, betel leaf shaped and the cap having different designs. Prevailing style of cap has been passed from three different phases of its evaluation.

Silky Era

Before the partition of sub-continent best kind of silk had been imported from Kashmir with which Sindhi cap makers designs the cap and decorated ornamentation of different things as pieces of plastic, pearls, glasses etc: to create fine-looking caps. Such caps have been mostly worn under the turban in such style that cap peeps out of the turban like hump of bullock or camel. That was not similar to the rounded cap prevailed today but was cut from forehead like half moon, this kind of cap has almost been outdated.

Phase of Collyrium

The cap of this period was different than that of silky one because collyrium has been used instead of glittering golden threads or pieces of glasses. Cap producers create such beautiful lines, decoration and flowering designs with collyrium on cloth (mostly silk) of different color that having seen their art heart filled in high spirits. Lines of collyrium glittered in the light of sun as strips of phosphorus written behind the vehicles, reflects back the beams when head light of other vehicles thrown on those during dark. Top (roof) of the cap had been decorated with interesting geometrical figures like, half, circular, rectangular, four-cornered, oblique, moon, sun, and stars etc.
These caps were not very durable because after became dirty if washed, the grayish color and shining went away, in this way after three or four time cleaning no where to found its beauty.

Phase of Golden threads

Two or three folds of cloth have been used in this kind of cap which was made inflexible by using hard cloth between the folds. The cap had been incised in orchid shape at its opening, in a way that complete head covered whereas the forehead remained open.
With the passage of time keeping in view the disposition of wearer plus needs of modern world, new styles and designs has been introduced, as some times striking with national movements designing the map of Sindh, national slogans plus flag, figures of national heroes, axes, mosques, tombs, old and new geometrical shapes, Ajrak (Sindhi shawl) etc: has been designed. Though many changes have been introduced in the industry of cap making but not much difference can be found between old and new Sindhi cap.

like other cultural heritages of Sindh nothing has been done for the development and maturity of Sindhi cap or its makers, neither any step has been taken by government missionaries nor private institutions or social organizations did anything, rather they has been denied and distorted by the authorities.
Forgetting the cultured character of our cap in sociology, history and literature we bounded its use only on special occasions or gatherings like marriage. In spite of this state of rejection regarding this art, cottage industry of Sindhi cap making is with us winning all interferences in the travel of times, present life and conservation of this skill goes to the genuine struggle of Sindhi and Baloch women whose are more effective and active than male artists. Nonetheless, due to introduction of modern technology manual work has effected on great scale even though a class among new generation of cap lovers mostly like to wear the cap made of hand.
Wherever is education around the globe, the nations of world are busy to save their national and cultural heritages, whether it is in form of archaeology, history, dress, language, literature, land etc: but among us where rays of education reached, our cultural and traditional heritages has been ignored and destroyed there. Thus the tradition of cap wearing has mostly remained only in less educated and northern districts of Sindh like Larkana, Jacobabad, Dadu, Shikarpur and Nawabshah, but the percentage of its use has been decreasing day by day.
Though the past of Sindhi nation is excellent but present is alarmingly worse, its current generation has became prey of Europe like other nations of the Pakistan . Due to infiltration of borrowed schooling syllabus and conquest of foreign media and being victim of downfall against foreign civilizations we are destroying our national heritages and cultural legacies with our own hands Sindhi cap is also among those.
In this connection we should have to be grateful the poor and amateurish section of our society who has protected this cultural heritage because they think it sin to uncover their heads, in this state of affairs the cultured legacy of Sindhi cap can be claimed by this group because they are not only makers of the cap but also protectors of expertise and exercise.

Source: Dr.N.A Baloch Institute for Heritage Research

Source: Daily Jang

These quacks are able to operate without any fear because people have adopted the behavior of ignoring them for unknown reasons, in spite of the fact they are endangering the lives of innocent people and kids. No one bothers to check if the doctor one is visiting is displaying the license of the PMDC in the clinic or not and whether the license is genuine or fake? PM&DC is a statutory regulatory authority established under Pakistan Medical & Dental Council Ordinance 1962 as a body corporate which apart from its various functions and duties, maintains the Register of Medical & Dental Practitioners.

The report published in daily DAWN also suggests many measures to government to nab these quacks who are operating in Government and Private Hospitals or running their own clinics. It also reads that “Not many people perhaps know that the PMDC’s website allows the general public to check if their doctors are registered with the council and are thus licensed to practice medicine. The PMDC and the health authorities should encourage the general public, through advertisements and posters, to be involved in exposing fake doctors in this manner”

I think all of us should not just sit and watch like spectators and let these bogus doctors play with the lives of innocent, as no one is safe from these bogus doctors and sooner or later they might hurt us or our beloved ones, so we should also get ourselves involved in this struggle by trying to find out which bogus doctors and nurses are operating in our areas and should report this to police and other authorities such as PMDC. The easiest way to do it is using the following facility, which is available on the website of PMDC.

http://dev.plexushosting.com/PMDC/SearchPractitioner/tabid/153/Default.aspx

The website of the PMDC is available on the following URL:

http://www.pmdc.org.pk/

Point to Ponder:

ظالم ہیں مظلوم بھی ہم ،ہر شر سے منسوب ہیں ہم

ایسا حال ہوا کیوں اپنا، میں بھی سوچوں تُو بھی سوچ

Source: http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/sep2009-daily/24-09-2009/col8.htm

As Pakistanis we don’t seem to love our land or take pride in it. We don’t value or cherish it; not for us the motto ‘this land is my land; this land is your land’. Warts and all, this is the only piece of land we will ever get to call our own.

Ask the Palestinians what it means to have land you can call your own. Or the thousands of Asian immigrants who fled the tyranny in Idi Amin’s Uganda to settle in the west. Sixty-two years hence, we remain a lost generation, wandering like a lost tribe perusing a mirage, having watched our chieftains’ loot, pillage and plunder.

Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Bret Stephens questioned whether, ‘Pakistan is a country or merely a space’, contrasting it with Henry Kissinger’s quote on Iran ‘whether the Islamic Republic was a country or a cause’.

Stephens likened Pakistan to Somalia, which too, he claimed, is a space providing a sanctuary for pirates, destitution and Islamic jihadists. Before we become the subject of international and national debate on whether we are a ‘space’ or a ‘cause’, we need to extricate ourselves from this seditious swamp and address the conditions that create the physical and ideological chaos.

It does not take genius to prescribe the time-tested formula of good governance. Good governance means redressing the problems both social and economic. It means revising skewed budgets in favour of education, healthcare and social welfare. We have the very rich or the very miserable, and very little in between. An economic model that redresses the balance cannot be postponed.

Nobody has articulated the precepts of good governance better than Hazrat Ali (RA) in his historic treatise in the form of a letter to Malik Ashtar, governor of Egypt. It is worth paraphrasing selected portions from the letter:

‘Be it known to you, O Malik, that people speak well only of those who do good. It is they who furnish the proof of your actions. Hence the richest treasure you may covet must be the treasure of good deeds. Keep your desires under control and deny yourself that which you have been prohibited. Develop in your heart the feelings of love for your people and let it be the source of kindliness and blessing to them.’

‘Bear in mind that you are placed over them, even as I am placed over you. And then there is God even above him who has given you the position of a governor in order that you may look after those under you and to be sufficient unto them.’

‘Maintain justice in administration and impose it on your own self and seek the consent of the people, for the discontent of the masses sterilises the contentment of the privileged few and the discontent of the few loses itself in the contentment of the many.’

‘Remember, the privileged few will not rally around you in moments of difficulty: they will try to sidetrack justice, they will ask for more than what they deserve and will show no gratitude for favours done to them. They will feel restive in the face of trials and will offer no regret for their shortcomings. It is the common man who is the strength of the state and of religion. It is he who fights the enemy. So live in close contact with the masses and be mindful of their welfare.’

‘Do not take counsel of the one who is greedy, for he will instil greed in you and turn you into a tyrant. The worst of counsellors is he who has served as a counsellor to unjust rulers and shared their crimes. So never let men who have been companions of tyrants or shared their crimes be your counsellors.’

‘Keep near to you the upright and the God-fearing, and make clear to them that they are never to flatter you and never to give you credit for anything that you may not have done. For the tolerance of flattery and unhealthy praise stimulates pride in man and makes him arrogant.’

‘Do not treat the good and the bad alike. That will deter the good from doing good, and encourage the bad in their pursuits. Give credit where it is due.’

‘Select for your chief judge the one who is by far the best among the people, one who cannot be intimidated; one who does not turn back from the right path; one who is not self-centred and avaricious; one whom flattery cannot mislead or one who does not exult over his position.’

‘Never select men for responsible posts either out of any regard for personal connections or under any influence, for that will lead to injustice and corruption. Select for higher posts men of experience, firm in faith and belonging to good families. Such men will not fall an easy prey to temptations.’

‘Great care is to be exercised in revenue administration, to ensure the prosperity of those who pay the revenue to the state, for it is on their prosperity that the prosperity of others depends; particularly the prosperity of the masses. Indeed, the state exists on its revenue.’

‘You should regard the proper upkeep of the land in cultivation for revenue cannot be derived except by making the land productive. He who demands revenue without helping the cultivator to improve his land, inflicts unmerited hardships on the cultivator and ruins the state. The rule of such a person does not long last.’

‘Adopt useful schemes for those engaged in trade and industry and help them with wise counsels. Visit every part of the country and establish personal contact with this class, and inquire into their conditions. But bear in mind that a good many of them are intensely greedy. They hoard grain and try to sell it at a high price; and this is most harmful to the public.’

‘Beware! Fear God when dealing with the problems of the poor who have none to patronise, who are forlorn, indigent and helpless. Among them are some who do not question their lot in life and who, notwithstanding their misery, do not go about begging. For God’s sake, safeguard their rights.’

‘Meet the oppressed and the lowly periodically in open conferences, and be conscious of the divine presence there. Never for any length of time keep yourself aloof from the people. The ruler is after all human, and he cannot form a correct view of anything which is out of sight.’

‘It is imperative on you to study carefully the principles which have inspired just and good rulers who have gone before you’.

Need more be said?

Source: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/03-a-formula-for-governance-qs-02

By Tariq Islam
Monday, 24 Aug, 2009 | 10:11 AM PST |