ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 1

CONTENTS
Ilmians
2022
Executive Editor
Khalid Naqi 06 Interview with
Dr Asif Raza
khalid.naqi@umt.edu.pk Rector
University of Management and Technology
Editor
Sajid Ur Rehman
sajid.rehman@umt.edu.pk

Deputy Editor
Rubina Shurjeel
12 Interview with
Sohail Yousaf
CEO
rubina.shurjeel@umt.edu.pk Hardees
Director
Super Asia Group of Industries
Office of Communications
and Media

Graphic Designer
Shoaib Iqbal 16 Interview with
Hassan Masood Khawaja
Director
shoaib-iqbal@umt.edu.pk Forward Sports Pvt Ltd

Editorial Review by
Nashmia Habib
nashmia.habib@umt.edu.pk

25 Recognizing
UMT Legacy
Families

46 Success Story
Dr Ayesha Saleem
Lecturer
University of Education - Lahore

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Executive Editor’s Note
The learnings from Pandemic opened up new
frontiers by unleashing human imagination,
pushing the limits with survival instinct. The
fabric of new emergence is digital, morphing
into virtual and augmented realities creating
solutions for humanity to survive and thrive in the
ever-changing times. Transition and evolution are
envisioned to be new paradigms in Covid zero
life hence declared as new normal. The transition
to new realities may create hardships but the
approach to life is destined to change.
In these complex times, UMT is pleased to support
its beloved Alumni by reskilling and upskilling
as per their requirements while looking at them
to mentor and support the current participants,
enabling them to graduate with the right mind
and skillset to launch their dream careers in
the new normal. So, lets gear up and remodel
our minds to embrace the new normal with a
welcoming smile.
Khalid Naqi
Director Corporate Linkages and Placements
Cheif Transformation Officer Innovation
Capital Development Forum (ICDF), Think Tank
Head Alumni Relation
Head Participant Affairs
University of Management and Technology
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 4
Message
It gives me immense pleasure to address an invaluable asset of University
of Management & Technology (also known as ILM) - its alumni. An
institution of higher education is a partnership of students and alumni,
faculty and administrators, donors and trustees, neighborhoods
and more; who together make way for a unique community
and culture.
For 32 years, UMT has successfully provided quality higher
education to more than 24,000 alumni, and the family
continues to grow. While welcoming new students each
year, we also celebrate our outstanding alumni who
continue the mission of projecting UMT around the world.
Alumni are UMT’s most prized ambassadors, as their
professionalism and willingness to serve humanity
underscore UMT’s continued efforts for the uplift of
individuals and communities.
So to further strengthen the bonds between the alma
mater and alumni, we want to develop a comprehensive
strategy through:
• Your initiatives, proposals or ideas, identification of loop
holes/issues, and suggestions for improvement
• Your participation in events organized by the
Alumni Office
• Enhanced interaction with new students
• Initiation of student mentoring
programs
• Participation in UMT career fares and
corporate events
• Voluntary contribution in student
advisory boards and alumni chapters
• Support for needy students through
internships, job placements, short/
long term projects and meritorious
assignments
I encourage you to explore all that we
have to offer, stay connected and make
yourself and UMT stronger.
Let me conclude by reiterating that we
take pride in each of you, for each of
you is a star that collectively light up
the UMT universe.
I pray to Allah to keep you always
under His blessing.
Prof Abid H K Sherwani
Director General
University of Management and Technology
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 5
 H
Dr Asif Raza
Profile
onorable Dr Asif Raza took charge
as the third Rector of University
of Management and Technology
Welcome to the UMT family, how was your
(UMT) in October 2021
first day at UMT?
Dr Asif Raza has served Pakistan
October 04, 2021, is a significant milestone
Air Force and retired as Air Vice
in my life as it brought me to the prestigious
Marshal. During his service, he has overseen
position of Rector UMT. It started at 0900 hours
various projects of national importance, which
with a brief and cordial meeting with the
included Avionics Project JF-17 as its director.
outgoing Rector, Dr Muhammad Aslam who
He has also served as Pro-Rector in NUST for 12
warmly welcomed me. We had a short but
years.
very pleasant chat in the rector’s office after
He had been a faculty member at College of
which both of us were escorted by officials
Aeronautical Engineering, now a constituent
of the Rector Secretariat to the venue of the
institution of NUST and headed the Research
investiture ceremony, where the taking over
Centre for Modelling and Simulation (RCMS).
was planned to be held at 0930 hours.
He is a member of IEEE (The Institution of
I must acknowledge that the investiture
Electrical & Electronics Engineers, USA),
ceremony was a unique and grand event,
Member Institute of Engineers Pakistan (MIE
where all the Deans, CODs, Heads of the
Pak) and Member Pakistan Engineering Council
university management offices, and senior
(Professional Engineer).
leadership including President Ibrahim Hassan
In recognition of his services he was awarded
Murad were present. The Registrar Mr Saleem
the with Hilal-e-Imtiaz (M) and Tamgha-i-Imtiaz
Atta introduced me graciously to the members
(M).
of the UMT family present on the occasion.
I also had the opportunity to listen to the
outgoing Rector and the President and to know
about the accomplishments of the university.
The ceremony also provided me with the
opportunity to give a road map for the next
four years and to thank the President and BoG
for reposing their confidence in me to head one
of the leading and respected universities of the

Dr Asif Raza country. Overall, it was a great privilege and

occasion to exchange ideas and pleasantries
with the university leadership.
Rector - University of Management and Technology, Lahore.
Here it may also be necessary to mention
that my wife and I reached Lahore two days
ahead of the joining date on October 2021 to
allow time for settling down. We were warmly
received by Head OCMS Col Irfan Naziri (R)
and PS to rector Irfan Bajwa at the university
guest house. I must acknowledge the warm
reception, the presentation of boutiques to me

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and my wife, and the all-out efforts to make us
comfortable.
With armed forces background how much
it is challenging to head an academic
institution?
The PAF afforded me the opportunities to
acquire higher degrees of MS and PhD and
to be a faculty member at the PAF College
of Aeronautical Engineering. The PAF also
afforded me the opportunities of managing
large teams and enabled me to work in an
organized and disciplined manner with well-
defined targets. As such the experience of
PAF and the extended tenure of over 12 years
as Pro-Rector (Academics) at the National
University of Sciences and Technology places
me in a strong position to lead UMT effectively.
Having the Sword of Honor (Pakistan Air
Force Academy Risalpur, KP) and then later
conferred the most prestigious medals of
Hilal-e-Imtiaz (M) and Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (M),
how was the journey and how does it feel?
I served Pakistan Air Force as a commissioned
officer in the Engineering Branch for nearly
34 years after graduating with BE (Avionics)
degree from the most prestigious institution
of the country, the PAF College of Aeronautical
Engineering (CAE), Korangi Creek, Karachi,
in 1979. I secured the top position in my
course and won the Sword of Honor. I must
admit that it was with extraordinary passion
and sincerity of purpose that I was able to
apply myself to the limits and win this most
cherished and coveted award.
The 34 years of commissioned service in
PAF provided me with the opportunity to
work on the most modern and sophisticated
equipment and weapon systems at various
bases and units of the Air Force in the most
demanding and challenging conditions. It
is immensely satisfying now to look back
and recall the numerous accomplishments
related to standards of maintenance and
safety that contributed significantly towards
the operations of the PAF. I received the TI
(M) as a Squadron Leader in recognition of
my exceptional performance as a Squadron
Engineering Officer of an aircraft squadron in
PAF Base Peshawar. My squadron outperformed
all other squadrons of the PAF with reference
to maintenance, operations, and flight safety
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 8
standards. It was a rare accomplishment that
motivated me to work towards an even higher
degree of excellence. The PAF conferred the
highest award of HI (M) upon me in 2012 that
any officer of the rank of Air Vice-Marshal
can aspire for. This award was recognition of
my work at various positions of maintenance
management, project management as
part of the JF 17 Project, staff work at Air
Headquarters, contribution towards national-
level projects at NESCOM, and development of
NUST to acquire the stature of a top-ranking
university.
What makes you excited about the future?
The challenge to further improve the stature
of UMT and make it one of the leading Global
universities excites me. I plan to bring a major
change in the way we think and then get
prepared to achieve excellence through an
organized and disciplined approach. I am sure
collectively the UMT team will achieve higher
goals.
Share a goal that you are passionate about
working towards?
My major goal is to exploit the true potential
of UMT faculty through necessary corrective
measures planned to be executed in a phased
manner.
In your opinion, how should we give more
practical knowledge to students so that
they can start working in their field of
study during their time at the university or
immediately after graduating?
At UMT we will continuously strive to improve
the quality of our graduates. Effective exposure
of the students to practical work is a major
factor towards this end. The requirements of
practical work have to be embedded in the
curriculum and the availability of essential
facilities ensured. We also have to establish
strong linkages with the industry to create
opportunities for internships, placements, and
industry-specific projects for our students.
Faculty members are expected to impart high-
quality work in the available laboratories and
enable students to undertake meaningful
internships and industry projects.
What are your suggestions, to integrate
quality at all levels of education?
The current university enrolment in Pakistan
is around 12% that is very low in comparison
to other countries of the region. Moreover,
the quality of university education is strongly
dependent on the quality of school and
college education. The access and quality
of school and college education in Pakistan
needs major attention to improve the overall
percentage and quality of students entering
the universities. The GOP needs to significantly
increase the budgetary allocation for all tiers
of education and organize the education
sector on strong footings. The overall respect
and dignity of school, college, and university
teachers also need a major upgrade through
significant improvement in their working
conditions and benefits.
What are your hobbies and interests? What
do you enjoy outside of the office?
I do not pursue any specific hobby, however,
by virtue of being exposed to village life, I have
a strong liking for gardening and agriculture.
I wish we could protect our environment and
the precious agriculture and cultivable land
from conversion into housing colonies.
What is your personal advice to fresh
graduates when looking for and also starting
their first job?
I urge the fresh graduates of UMT to work with
a positive attitude by applying themselves to
their limits and earning credibility through
performance and avoiding exclusive self-praise.
Who influenced you more in your career?
The selfless and upright teachers who taught
me during various phases of my education
influenced me the most. Few of them are role
models and had devoted their lives to the
noble profession. I, therefore, urge all faculty
members of UMT to ensure high caliber
teaching with a high degree of devotion and
integrity so that they get respected by their
students.
Message for UMT alumni community.
UMT is proud of its alumni for their
contributions in Pakistan and globally. We
eagerly await news about their achievements
and accomplishments. Let me emphasize that
the role of alumni is pivotal towards university
development. I, therefore, consider UMT alumni
to be our major stakeholders and expect them
to be active members of the UMT family. I plan
to regularly meet the alumni to seek their
input and support toward achieving higher
goals from UMT. I am sure our alumni can
play a pivotal role in helping us create more
opportunities for our students. Alumni forums
at the school and university level will be made
more active and collectively we will define
a mechanism to recognize the support and
services of our alumni. I have my good wishes
for them and am very confident that they will
add honor and prestige to the UMT brand.
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 9

COVID Zero! The
Thought!
The POST - COVID
resurrection needs
reconstruction of thoughts.
We woke up to new realities
and were forced to reimagine
the workscape. The emerging
horizon necessitates
following all the SDGs for
humanity to survive and
thrive in the new normal. The
silver lining is the rainbow of
innovation and creativity on
the top which is mandatory
to reboot our paths to glory.
Brief Note:
Humanity is still struggling
with the vagaries of
pandemic. The pandemic
scare has created “Green
Innovation and Care” as the
new currency. The horizons
of the new normal have
reshaped and morphed
our lifestyles and working
culture into a new space
whose boundaries and
parameters are anybody’s
guess! The emerging
workscape is challenging
human imagination! We
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 10
saw the emergence of
digital fabric to weave the
world in all its spectrums
leading to the creation of
digital headquarters in the
virtual metaverse, where
imagination is being dared!
We need to reimagine the
world and reboot to survive
in the new normal by
preparing for new emerging
technologies, as per “World
Economic Forum (WEF)” the
top emerging technologies
are decarbonization, self-
fertilizing crops, breath
sensors diagnostics,
on demand drug
manufacturing, energy from
wireless signals, engineering
better ageing, houses
build with local material,
and space connects with
globe. Therefore, we have
entered the realm where
risk meets opportunities,
and we need to visualize the
unimaginable.
The pandemic has escalated
mental stress and burnout
resulting in an era of great
resignation. Around the
obsolescence to stay from the environment. boundaries and the survival
relevant in the emerging These stimuli could be in lies in being proactive, open
world consequently we raw data form or semi or with freedom of choice
may hit quagmire of fully developed knowledge. and having capacity to
uncertainties coupled It primarily becomes quickly accept and adapt to
by socio economic input for the human brain them. This is the emerging
challenges. This is the which through iterative challenge stakeholders and
COVID ZERO workscape process illuminates and especially policy makers
demanding us to emanates new knowledge and regulators should be
reimagine, rethink and by realigning the mental cognizant of. In connection
reboot to survive and networks. These new with the same National
progress. mental configurations can Policy frameworks may be
potentially incubate new revisited. Impediments to
breakthroughs resulting innovation be removed and
in globally com petitive space be created to support
world people are thinking
and green solutions and reward the radicals,
about work and life.
Organizations are under
transcending humanity because disruption is on the
beyond the ordinary. rise!
pressure to fuel retention.
The outcome of the In this new saga the
The emerging era is of
transformation process is challenge being faced due
tech and tech companies
the generation Innovative to disruptive innovation
demand extra hours of
UMT is committed to Human Resource which combined with new
work (proverbial 996). This
meet the challenges can disrupt conventional millennials who are from
is a big dilemma. Due
of the COVID ZERO value chain of expectations the digital age with new
to the above scenario a
workscape enabled by and delivery and replace it attitudes and aptitudes
potential field has been
creation of Innovation with emerging trends. towards life and work needs
created to handover a
Capital Development new thinking to hire, inspire,
lot of strenuous work to
Forum (ICDF) – A Think The focus on developing, and retain them. May be
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Tank - An Advisory and capitalizing, and conventional practices need
resulting in redundancies
Advocacy platform. acknowledging human to be revisited.
of human resource. The
ICDF Logo signifies capabilities takes on new Taking cognizance of these
thinning demographic
streaming into dimensions of importance, new emerging realities
profile of the West
reinvention and thought urgency, and agility in this UMT has taken the initiative
pushes towards AI
mutation of human kind era of disruptive innovation of developing a platform
solutions; whereas the
to envision disruptive where the technology and to collect, collate, and
East with a so called
innovation transforming its attributes are being disseminate the data from
huge demographic
into globally competitive contested and resulting people of significance. The
dividend will have to
all-inclusive green evolution is getting us into data insights will be shared
compete against AI or
solutions to serve the new realms whereby, with the industry; whereby
become subservient
humanity. the holy grail of paradigms new trends and challenges
to AI unless we go for
is facing tectonic shift. shall be highlighted and
a multidisciplinary
The ICDF Way: This rapidly changing new recommendations
approach to educate
It signifies the technological world has shall be issued for effective
and train our future
acquisition and its repercussions on Socio, management of their
generations.
application of learning Economic, Technological, challenges and to emerge
and knowledge. The Political, and Educational as winners in the emerging
Our leaders and
human brain receives systems. disruptive world.
policy makers need
stimuli The new realities are
to think hard to fight
forcing the conventional
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 11
 A
Profile
highly visionary entrepreneur
who led Super Asia Group to
diversify into different business
avenues. His vision to build
Super Asia Group as the leading
business group in Pakistan led
him to venture into the food industry and thus
MDS Foods Private Limited came into existence.
Within three years, the Pakistani food industry
witnessed MDS bring Hardee’s, a world-
renowned US fast-food chain. After having
more than 25 QSRs all over Pakistan, it was the
right time to step into the world of tech which
was the next major step in the growth of Super
Asia Group.
He is an active part of the American Business
Forum, Restaurants Associations and has served
as vice president of the Gujranwala Chamber of
Commerce.
Sohail Yousaf
BBA(H) – Year 2003
CEO - Hardees
Director - Super Asia Group of Industries.
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 12
Please share, how you started your business
and how much has Hardee’s expanded under
MDS Foods?
12 Years. We started in 2009, we now have 21
restaurants. Under MDS, we just have Hardee’s.
What challenges did you face when you
planned to launch Hardee’s in Pakistan?
Bringing Hardee’s into Pakistan itself was a
challenge! Dating back to 2001, it took me
8-10 years to convince CKE (Mother Company),
then bringing all stakeholders on one page
was again a huge challenge. This wouldn’t
have been possible without hard work and
continuous effort.
According to you, what is the key to
developing a good team?
I believe that a team is everything. Hardee’s is
one of the biggest brands in the country due to
the team’s commitment and hard work. Your
intentions and aim are what bring good people
towards you and help you in making a good,
hard-working team. But you have to look after
them as well! When a team member benefits
the company, then the company would look
after the team member as well.
Please share three main factors to be
successful in business.
The three main factors I believe that are vital
for the success of any business are: Intent, hard
work, and vision.
Due to COVID-19, the restaurant industry has
seen more challenges. What major practices
are adapted by Hardees to combat these
challenges?
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In 2019, our world changed completely! With doing business. Things are now getting better leave the office early to spend time with family. What advice would you give for students
the arrival of Covid-19, there was a massive and the situation will improve further in the In fact, I would like to tell everyone this, always preparing to enter professional life?
fear around the world due to this disease that coming time. We took several initiatives like give time to family. It is the most important I will just say one thing to all of them, do
no one knew anything about. This brought supporting students who can’t pay their fees. thing. whatever you want but do it nicely! Whatever
countless challenges within the company as Usman from Ferozsons Laboratories, along with you want to be, be the best form of it. You have
well. When I came to the office for the first time the other team members, gave funds in the What is the best way to achieve long-term the power to turn yourself into a gem, it’s all
in Covid-19, I got to know that the salaries were floods and then ventilators during Covid-19. success according to you? about having a good mindset.
reduced. I instantly reversed the decision and ABF and Punjab Government and American You need to be calm and collected for this.
said that this isn’t the time to reduce salary, this Embassy work closely to resolve the daily issues The short term is not that good. A long-term Message for UMT alumni community.
is the time to give back. Such Challenges are and we have made sure to go to every forum to strategy is where you’re standing in 5-10 years. UMT is doing well. Hassan Sohaib Murad’s
always the right time to give back. We didn’t raise these issues. There are always going to be challenges but vision should be taken forward! UMT’s name
kick anyone out. There was a massive outcry in they are very important as they help you grow. should be taken forward to professional life. It
the industry where countless employees from How do you manage your personal and The challenges here include money, team, should be taken forward and take the industry
huge brands were let go due to Covid-19, but professional life? intentions, etc. But you should just get your in their catalog. There are so many amazing
we didn’t fire anyone. My routine is to go to the gym for an hour every head down and keep working. The team you students graduating from UMT. Go into the
Along with that we also distributed ration morning; I believe that fitness of the mind and know will be standing by your side, just take professional sector and see what UMT can do
during these tough times without the body is necessary as there is no survival without them forward to achieve success. Hard work for an organization. Use their resources, like
expectation of getting something back. My it. I’ve made this a habit of mine that I try to will always be rewarded in a grand way. You their Alumni. If they need any help! I’m here to
intention was just to help the community! just need to keep moving forward. help out.
But, if your intentions are good, you are always
rewarded and Allah gave us back in terms of
sales and growth. I think that because of that
the south region is now also with MDS foods.
Allah has the power to give and take, we’re just
here to play our part.
Secondly, when the going gets tough the tough
get going! Tough times compel you to think;
now you can either think about how to move
forward or think about the situation you’re in
and get upset.
During the tough times, two students came to
me with an idea and we opened an in-house
IT company. With the help of that, we reached
new heights! Our delivery numbers were 20,000
sales back then and now, we’ve reached 4.5 lac
based on delivery sales with the introduction of
our website and app. I firmly believe that Allah
will help you, but you have to take a step.

Where you find Hardees in the next 10 years?

Insha’Allah, I want to make this brand no.1
in Pakistan in terms of presence, sales, and
services. There is a lot of room for improvement,
like Karachi for example. So, by 2022, we will be
expanding.

You are a member of the “Board of

Governors” – American Business Forum, what
initiatives have been taken under this forum?
See, the challenges in ABF companies are the
5% royalties that need to be paid along with
the approvals from State bank or FBR; there
was a lot of back and forth and no ease of

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 F
orward Group is a consumer
driven, design oriented and an
innovative company, aiming to
work with coherence of renowned
global brands, organizations and
entrepreneurs, translating marketing
and business goals into design strategy,
novelty and to attain a new product success.
Twenty years of innovation - the past, the
present and the future Forward Sports
private limited is one of the few companies
in Sialkot industry that can trace its history
back in 20 years. Forward is a family owned
manufacturing and exporting business
concern of footballs, volley balls, rugby balls,
beech balls, sala balls, medicine balls, bags
etc.
Please share the history of Forwards Sports
The third generation of the family has entered pvt ltd and what technology advancements
the field of international trade bringing and innovations has the company made to
together the established business and family remain on top around the globe?
values, experience and skills coupled with Forward Sports is a family base company
pertinent business education, knowledge and started in 1991 by my father, Khawaja Masood
expertise. Akhtar with a paid up capital of PKR 5 million.
It was a football production factory producing
Clientage hand stitched balls. We started our business
Adidas, Diadora, Samba, Admiral, with Adidas in 1994.
Star Sports, Champion Sports, Kika, Hand stitching process of football is a cottage
Sportime, Best Buy Soccer and Lotto. industry where panels of balls along with
Products thread and bladder are sent to designated
stitching centers located in rural areas around
Soccer Balls, Volley Balls, Handballs, Sala Balls, Sialkot. In 1996, a very strong campaign on
Beach Balls, Indoor Balls, Sports Bags, Shin use of child labor in stitching centers emerged
Guard, Goal-keeping Gloves and Medicine Balls. that damaged not only the reputation of
this industry but also restricted growth of
the stitching people. In this scarce situation,

Hassan Masood Khawaja

price per ball went high. To tackle that, in
2003 we designed custom machines to
transfer skill set of hand stitched production
BBA(H) – Year 2003 and introduced lean manufacturing systems.
However, market demand for a “Hand Stitch
Free” ball was growing and for that purpose,
Director - Forward Sports Pvt Ltd Pride of Pakistan Forward Sports was the official we introduced “Thermo Bonded Ball” where all
manufacturer of the 2014 FIFA world cup match ball “BRAZUCA” and the official supplier panels are bonded with one another with Glue
of Adidas Telstar 18, the official match ball of FIFA 2018 (not stitching). Then later in 2011 we started
“Machine Stitch Ball” where 1 person can do 40
balls instead of 4 hand stitched.
Later in 2017, we introduced “Airless Mini Ball”

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as leakage of air is a problem that every ball
manufacturer has to face. Lastly, we introduce
“Laminated Football Technology” in 2020
where again ball panels are glued together but
here newly developed machines were used to
introduce an economical version of Thermally
Bonded ball.
Our Motive of every development is the
demand of a new product based on:
1- Tackle global price increases due to increase
in minimum wage/logistics price and raw
materials
2- Maturity of product life cycle
3- Induction of sustainable materials
Forward Sports is a leading football
manufacturer, please share how you won the
FIFA world cup deal in 2014 and again you
were the major manufacturer in 2018 FIFA
world cup?
Based on our technological strength and
competitiveness, Adidas reached us in 2013
when there was an unplanned demand coming
from the market of World Cup balls. We had
to compete Chinese suppliers on the basis of
rapid development of World Cup ball, price and
quality. Our team worked literally day and night
and we were able to present a quality product
in 1-month time. Based on our efficiency,
customer awarded us with the contract and it
is on-going since then.
How you were able to do in it Pakistan, when
even China failed to impress internationally?
China has an edge on technology but their
weakness is skilled labor. What we did
was to train our labor at par with Chinese
efficiency and developed a large team that is
continuously working on different technologies
and robotics to gain technological edge at an
economical price.
In 2016, Forward Sports Achieved Best
Performance Award in Sports Category and
you were winning this award for the last nine
consecutive years. How you maintained the
winning quality standards?
We have been getting National Best
Performance Award from Govt of Pakistan
since 2009. How we do that is by sustaining
our quality and growth. We did this by training
our resources with emerging manufacturing
techniques like Lean Manufacturing,
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 18
Manufacturing Excellence, Six Sigma, TQM etc,
building confidence on our customer for being
reliable in quality and new technologies.
I have a list of awards and achievements
of Forwards Sports. I request you to please
share your major achievements with us.
Honestly, I am not into awards. I have never
been to any award ceremony. I always ask my
father to go and visit them. I am not someone
who looks for success when it is being served
on a stage. Forwards Sports has received
following awards:
• National Best Performance Award since 2009
• National Innovation Award
• Speed, Quality, Lean Manufacturing Awards by
Adidas
• FIFA Partner Awards
Generally, Sialkot-based businesses and many
other SMEs in Pakistan are known for their
good production and craftsmanship but
branding is somewhat wanting. What have
been your own efforts from marketing and
branding point of view?
We have started our own brand with the
name of Forward and HMK in middle eastern
markets. We are doing good in the region but
struggling to penetrate in the western markets
as for that we require huge funds to sponsor
clubs, associations and federations and invest
in others areas like soccer kits, gym suits, shin
guards etc.
What are other major products you are
manufacturing other than Football?
We started bag manufacturing facility in 2008
and we are producing about 400,000 sports
bags, gym bags, team bags, backpacks with
Adidas and Armani. These two major brands
we are producing here and other than bags we
are producing goal keeper gloves. Goal keeper
gloves is a very small market because in one
match there are only two pairs of goal keeper
gloves. There are like 22 t-shirts and shorts, 22
pairs of shoes and 6 balls in one match but only
two pairs of gloves, so gloves are a very small
company of ours. Then we are doing surgical
instruments and recently we have started to
look into apparel business.
What would you say are the top skills needed
to be a successful entrepreneur?
Honestly, what I have learned in the past, for
being a successful entrepreneur you need to
be focused, you need to know what you want
to do. You need to have only one very clear
target. If you have a hierarchy of targets in front
of you or there are multiple targets in front
of you then you are not able to do that. Once
you have one clear target then you need to
focus energies on that and once you do that
there is no way you would fail. I will advise the
following main points to be successful in your
career:
• Clear vision and target
• Respective skill set
• Risk taking attitude
• Nothing is impossible attitude
• Good in small talk
What does the company do to contribute to its
employees’ professional development?
Yes, we have different segments in our
management system. We use different
techniques to improve our team like:
• Training programs based on emerging
manufacturing trends
• Induction of technologies
• Clear growth and incentive plans
• Building an institution model based on team
development
Any advice to the young students?
• Focus on developing skill set. If you have good
marks in IT but don’t know how to make an
impressive presentation or write a corporate
email, your marks are no good
• Market doesn’t only need a bright student.
We need clear minded, confident and focused
resource who is not afraid to open up for what
he believes is right
What is your message to the alumni
community?
I would suggest regular meet ups. I am in
contact with my batch mates, most of them
I am still in contact and the thing is that the
people you study with, the people you spend
your time with, they are the oldest colleagues
and friends of yours so you need to be closer in
today’s world. Everybody needs a helping hand,
everybody needs a shoulder, everybody needs
someone to advise, so alumni can help each
other in giving confidence, in giving motivation
by sharing their experiences.
Your suggestions for the alumni office?
Build case study of respective ex-students of
UMT/ILM and teach students what people
sitting on the same tables have done in
surrounding markets. Organize events where
alumni would share real life experiences and
the effect of UMT/ILM on their lives.
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 19
 I
Brief Profile
currently work as the Director Data
Science at Elsevier. I manage teams
of Data Scientists supporting many of
our flagship products such as Scopus
and ScienceDirect. Before moving
to Elsevier, I worked at Fraunhofer
Gesellschaft Germany, TU Eindhoven,
Philips Healthcare, and for a large part
as a Scientific Researcher at Erasmus
Medical Center in the Netherlands. I have
one US/World patent and have more
than 40 publications in high-impact
international journals and conferences.
In 2012, I won the prestigious Stanley
A. Edlavitch award by the International
How did your data science journey begin?
Society for Pharmacoepidemiology and I Back in 2001, data science, data mining,
was the runner-up for the Bob Wielinga machine learning (ML), and natural language
Best Paper Award at EKAW 2016. I have processing (NLP) were not common words and
participated in several international there were not many universities that were
machine learning / NLP challenges and offering specializations in the field. Luckily
won the CLEF eHealth challenge twice in when I was about to start my Master’s thesis
2015 and 2016. in RWTH Germany, the university opened a
new Data Mining chair within the computer
I have a BSCS (H) degree from ILM (UMT), science department and I was fortunate to
a Master’s degree in Software Systems find a related thesis at Fraunhofer Gesselschaft
Engineering with a specialization in Germany, which is the biggest organization for
Information Systems, Data Mining and applied research and development in Europe.
Exploration from Aachen University My first exposure to data mining was my thesis
of Technology (RWTH) Germany, a project which was about fuzzy syllable search
in audio transcripts.
Professional Doctorate in Engineering
(PDEng) from the Eindhoven University
What were the initial challenges and how did
of Technology, and a PhD in Clinical Text you address them?
Mining from Erasmus University in the My main challenge when I started my first data
Netherlands. science project was that I lacked theoretical
background since, at the time, there were no
relevant courses I could take at the university or

Dr Zubair Afzal
elsewhere. So I had to learn, implement, and
finish all within a short period. Luckily, I had the
wonderful support of my supervisor who was
BSCS – Year 2000 from Carnegie Mellon. She helped me through
the initial challenges and mentored me to
become successful.
Director Data Science
Elsevier Amsterdam - Netherlands Please share your experience at ELSEVIER
and how it helped in your professional
growth?
Elsevier was founded in 1880 and it is a truly
global company with offices in 26 countries
and more than 8000 people. Elsevier is a

ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 20 ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 21

global leader in information and analytics
for customers across the global research and
health ecosystems. We, as a company, pride
ourselves in our mission to help researchers
and healthcare professionals advance science
and improve health outcomes for the benefit of
society.t
Before joining Elsevier, I was a Scientific
Researcher at Erasmus Medical Center,
using ML and NLP techniques to support
epidemiologists conducting large-scale
population studies from vaccine safety to
adverse side effects of drugs. Like many
researchers, I too was using Elsevier products
like Scopus and ScienceDirect regularly to keep
myself updated with the latest research and
to get inspiration. At Elsevier, I got to work on
these products behind the scenes to support
millions of researchers in their day-to-day jobs
and make a real difference. Leading teams
of brilliant scientists in a truly multicultural
environment taught me to be humble and
appreciate the differences to accomplish
common goals. Technically, it allowed me to
apply state-of-the-art Deep Learning and NLP
techniques on really large data sets to extract
information and knowledge that is valuable
to our customers. At Elsevier, I got to learn
firsthand from world-class visionary leaders
that helped me a lot in my professional growth.
In your opinion, what have been the most
relevant breakthroughs in data science
impacting our world in the last 1-2 years,
and what trends do you see emerging going
forward?
Data Science, or more specifically, machine
learning is not a new concept; it has been
around for decades. However, recent
advancements in (affordable) computational
resources allowed us to use these
methodologies on a large scale. Applications
of AI, ML, and NLP are all around us, such as in
healthcare, automobiles, banking and finance,
power and energy sector, army, and of course
in IT. Almost all recent breakthroughs were
possible due to the recent developments in
deep neural networks (commonly known as
deep learning) and the use of GPUs. The GPUs
which are historically used by the gaming
industry (and more recently by crypto miners)
have been a critical breakthrough in machine
learning model training. With the increasing
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 22
GPUs memory, it is now possible to train
heavier models and even split model training
across multiple GPUs.
If I have to pick a recent breakthrough example,
it would be the development of AlphaFold, an
AI system by DeepMind. It solved a 50-year-
old computational biology problem of how
proteins fold up. It demonstrates the impact
of artificial intelligence on dramatically
accelerating progress in some of the
fundamental fields that explain and shape our
world. In the natural language processing field,
which is what I work on most, the launch of
two deep learning models, GPT (Generative
Pre-Training) and BERT (Bidirectional Encoder
Representation from Transformers) provided a
breakthrough in language understanding. It has
changed how we used to do natural language
inferencing, classifications, named entities
extractions, and question answering. However,
these models and techniques are advanced,
they are still far from perfect and further
development will continue in the future.
A topic that is gaining a lot of attraction is
Responsible AI. In short, Responsible AI is
a governance framework aimed at creating
accountability for AI systems. Two of the major
themes in Responsible AI are interpretability
and fairness. Deep learning systems are great
but they are not easily interpretable. An AI
system can diagnose someone with cancer
and one would like to know how exactly the
algorithm predicted that. Fairness is about
ensuring that the AI systems when predicting
(or making decisions) are not discriminating
against certain groups of people.
There is a lot of hype around AI and ML.
Which domain of AI, do you think, will come
out on top in the next 10 years?
The keywords artificial intelligence, machine
learning, deep learning, and neural networks
are used a lot in different contexts; but they are
not different fields. Think of it as Matryoshka
dolls (Russian nesting dolls), where one is a
part of the other. Machine learning is a subfield
of AI, deep learning is a subfield of machine
learning, and neural networks are the core
components of deep learning algorithms.
With the pace AI is progressing, looking
ahead 10 years is very difficult. We are
seeing new trends coming every year. In just
the recent past, we saw the emergence of
language models, deep knowledge graphs,
active, passive, contrastive, zero, and few-shot
learning; and that is just in the NLP domain.
A lot of businesses are adopting the idea of
hyper-automation i.e. any process within an
organization that can be automated, should
be automated. The recent Covid-19 pandemic
has accelerated the adoption of this idea and
AI is going to be central to automation. Self-
learning or self-improving models are also
going to be a major focus. We have barely
scratched the surface when it comes to natural
language understanding and natural language
generation. There is still a lot to learn.
Could you please elaborate on the different
career paths in Data Science?
Data Science is a multi-disciplinary field
that brings together computer science,
mathematics, statistics, information science,
and business knowledge to extract actionable
insights from large and ever-increasing data. At
the core, it’s the ability to understand, analyze,
extract knowledge, visualize, and communicate
efficiently and effectively. The term Data
Scientist is used loosely these days to cover
different job types such as data analyst, data
engineer, and data scientist (or machine
learning engineer/scientist). Each of these
requires a different skill set.
Data analysts sit somewhere between core
data scientists (ML) and business analysts.
Their job is to help organizations find answers
to business questions by analyzing the data.
The output is typically used by organizations
to set future strategies. A data analyst has to
be skilled in some programming languages
(e.g. Python, R, and SAS), statistics and
mathematics, data processing, visualizations
(including tools such as Tableau or Power BI),
business acumen, and presentations.
Data engineers are responsible for creating
and managing an organization’s data
infrastructure and data pipelines. Their
primary focus is on making the data easily
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 23

and efficiently accessible to the whole
organization in general and data scientists and
data analysts in particular. They need to be
skilled in programming languages (e.g. Python,
Scala, and R), databases, ETLs, big data tools
(e.g. Hadoop, Spark, and Kafka), and cloud
computing (e.g. AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
Data Scientist (or Machine Learning Scientist/
Engineer) is one of the most sought-after
positions these days. It is such a broad
field that it is difficult to be a master of all.
Typically one would choose a subfield for
specialization, such as natural language
processing, machine learning, or image
recognition. They focus on implementing
algorithms and statistical models that learn
from the existing data to predict (future data),
find patterns, detect anomalies, and visualize.
Apart from programming, data scientists need
to have machine learning, data modeling,
mathematics, statistics, critical and analytical
skills.
According to you, what are the traits that
make a good leader? In this technology era,
how do you synchronize yourself with your
team to excel in technology innovations?
Change in the technology landscape (especially
in data science) is rapid and constant. A
leader in technology sees beyond the day-to-
day challenges and has the vision to improve
processes and workflows. It is important as a
Data Science leader that you are on top of the
latest developments in the field and you can
identify early what new trends can help you
achieve your vision.
As a leader, you need to have a positive
mindset, which is the key to motivating your
team members. Instead of micro-managing,
you need to find ways to inspire people,
empower them to solve problems and trust
them to deliver.
It is your job as a leader to optimize the
talents you have in your team. You need to be
seen as someone honest and always act with
integrity. I have a firm belief in ‘we succeed
or fail together’ so I do regular catch-ups with
my teams to ensure they have everything they
need to succeed.
What books and other resources have you
used in your journey? Few words for the
aspirants as well.
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 24
Recognizing
We live in a world now where there is no
shortage of resources if you have the will to
learn. There are plenty of great data science
courses and specializations on online platforms
UMT Legacy
like coursera and udemy. Sure, some are
not free, but it is a great investment in your
career. You can find blogs, YouTube videos,
and tutorials on almost any data science topic.
As I mentioned earlier, GPUs are essential to
Families
training deep learning models and they are not
cheap. Luckily there are platforms like Google
Colab, Kaggle, and Gradient that provide free
GPUs. So there is no excuse really if you want
to learn. I have access to many such resources
both internally and externally and I take full
advantage of them whenever possible. If you
are new to data science (or even an expert),
Kaggle is a great platform to learn and test
your skills against some of the experts in the
industry. Imaan Shurjeel (Daughter) Rubina Shurjeel (Mother)
BS- Accounting & Finance MBA(P) – 1999
How important are grades/GPA for obtaining UMT Student Deputy Manager Alumni Relations
a job in this field and what would you like to Dean’s Merit Award Holder University of Management
advise to upcoming graduates? Fall 2020 & Spring 2021 and Technology
Grades are probably more important for
fresh graduates since they can help you
get a job interview faster. But you need to
back your grades/GPA with knowledge. A
high GPA without knowledge will not get
you a job. Improve your data science skills
by participating in open challenges (e.g. on
Kaggle), showcase your skills by putting your
solution/code online on GitHub. On top of your
GPA, these can set you apart from your peers
and help you significantly in landing your first
great job.
Who was your role model at ILM/UMT?
Many seniors and teachers inspired me during
my time in ILM. A big shout out to all of them
and the management of UMT.
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 25
 M
Brief Profile
ore than 17 years
of broad-based and
progressively responsible
experience in Human
Resources Management
Services in Corporate and
Public sector . Proven ability to work with
senior management team to integrate
the human resource functions within
the overall business operating strategy.
Experience in department start-ups, high-
growth operations and restructuring.
His areas of expertise are:
Psychometric Assessment
• Employee Relations
• Organization Development
• Compensation and Benefits design
• Training and Development
• HR Policy Design, Administration
and Implementation
• Recruitment and Selection
• Employment
• Operations Management
• Performance Management
• Team Building
• Employee and Labor Laws
• HR Budgeting
• HR Audit
Mian Muhammad Waqas Arshad
BS (CS) – Year 2003
General Manager Support Services
Punjab Mineral Company (PMC) (Govt of the Punjab)
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 26
As GM Support Services at Punjab Mineral
Company, what are your major roles and
responsibilities? And please also give us
knowledge about Punjab Mineral Company.
Punjab Mineral Company is the subsidiary of
Govt of Punjab Mines and Minerals Department.
We are actually working on the flagship
project of Iron Ore (inaudible) in Chiniot. It’s an
exploration company and we have the mandate
to explore all over Punjab. The thing is that
currently we are doing a project at Chiniot. This
is a game changer for not only Punjab but for
the economy of Pakistan. Second part, what’s
my major responsibility, being a GM Support
Services, I am looking over Human Resource
of the company. Administration, information
technology, and somehow the procurement.
Actually other than business development,
finance and technical, I am looking after all of
these responsibilities as a GM.
Please share your major projects with PMC.
Currently, I am working on Chiniot Iron Ore
Project and PMC initiated this project in 2014.
We completed our first phase in 2016 with
150 million ton resources. Pakistan Steel Mills
give out 1 million ton of production annually.
If we establish a similar steel mill in Punjab
then in next 33 years, as per our feasibility
report which showed iron ore production from
Chiniot, we can go longer than 33 years from
1-million-ton production in Punjab as well.
Means Punjab will become independent in
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 27
terms of production. Secondly, the economic
impact; overall we import iron raw materials in
Pakistan for different steel products. Looking at
our manufacturing side, since the production
will be ours; the import bill will reduce. Since it
was 150 million tons in the first phase, now we
are approaching 250 million plus in the second
phase i.e. after 2016 to date. In 2021, we are
actually working on the second phase. In the
second part of this we discovered copper. This
is a metallic mineral. Ideally, copper is $6000
per ton in international market. Currently Iron
Ore is $65 per ton. If our reserve is converted
into copper, then this will be awesome! At
one side you have $65 and on the other you
have $6000. Economically its very feasible
for Pakistan considering the economic crisis
we are facing. Our current government has a
great vision that we are gaining from resources
above the Earth like agriculture and other
sectors. We have great potential under the
Earth. We have KPK, Baluchistan even Sindh
and Punjab. Very less work was done on this
during last 70 years but in the previous 8 to 10
years, the Mines and Minerals department did
a great exploration job in KPK. As I told you
earlier that Punjab Mineral Company is actually
doing exploration on metallic minerals, and
this is the only company in Punjab/ Pakistan
which is conducting the exploration work with
great focus as per international standard. I
am associated with this company since last 6
years and I don’t think that we have heard that
someone else is working as per international
standards.
How PMC identifies mineral resources in
Pakistan? Are we getting the true benefits
from these resources?
PMC was established back in 2009. From
2009 to 2014 the most important hurdle
the organization faced was human resource.
Our business, metallic mineral exploration’s
resources are not available in Pakistan. Main
experts are unavailable. The geologists of
Pakistan mostly go to Gulf or Africa. You will
find people especially from metallic minerals
on job in Africa, Australia or Canada. But we
have very limited people in Pakistan. Mainly
because such work never took place. So for five
years from 2009 to 2014, we were struggling
for human resource. Initially because we
couldn’t find employees who were fit for the
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 28
job. Later on in 2014, the company started
the recruitment process with an aggressive
approach. They hired professionals. I was also
recruited in this phase. When I joined this
company, I was initially responsible for only HR
and Admin. Later on, with the responsibility
of HR we still had nothing. Then we started
searching for good resources around the world.
In PMC, we hired a Pakistani national working
in Canada; we convinced him to come to
Pakistan for the job. This was a big deal for us.
It was honestly a hefty task to bring someone
from there. We hired professionals on merit. We
hired CFO for accounts and finance from top
organizations. As per expertise, after exploration
we wanted to run a business as well. We had
to bring in investors from the market as well.
So we hired top tier well professional people
from different organizations. The exploration
equipment was not available in Pakistan, then
we contacted foreign organizations. One of
them is our German consultant their name is in
Fortune 500 companies. Then we have Chinese,
a German firm and we engaged all these
people for the development and exploration.
Since metallic minerals have four stages: first to
assess like in all over Punjab, we identify them,
then we have to go through exploration and
the mining process.
You have a good experience of working
in public and private sector. What major
differences have you found in both sectors?
We see a huge difference between public
and private sector. The implementation and
execution of plans is always done better in
private sector due to their distribution of short
and long term plans. They know what they
want to achieve in the short run and long
run. The biggest issue with public sector is
that you are developing a synergy with the
current government. First we have to consult
the government or the chief executive of the
province. We have to align with their vision. I
had built a very strong mindset since day one
in this company and it is rightful for me to take
this credit here; we believed not to fix a man
from public or private sector over here. They
tend to make the process slower, the reason
being that they too are handicap. We recruited
all people from the corporate sector. We did
not hire from the public or government sector.
Due to this a pace was maintained. Since in
the government sector you have to align your
policies towards the government, the change
brought by this in the management tends to
have a negative impact on pace. When the
management is not effective, we start facing
delays. I can tell you honestly when we started
this project in 2017 actually, it was planned
for 3 years. When the government changed
in 2018 it took us time to understand and
ensure that this is a very important project.
This project was not only for Punjab but for
Pakistan on the whole. This was a project of
national interest. We took one year to align
things and get back on track. So the short and
long term plans in the government sector if
face any sorts of delay in execution then the
short term plan turns into a long term plan
and long term transforms into a very long
plan. Which meant that this could have been
a ten-year program but we had used more
than 70% of the time and achieved the 50%
target meaning achievement was 50% while
utilization was 70%. I believe that if people
like us will not come in the public sector then
we don’t have rights to criticize it. Our board
member and all employees have contributed
really well to the company. We have some
really competent bureaucrats as a part of our
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 29
team.
What do you like most about your present
position?
When I first came here I had to face many
challenges. As I previously mentioned, a major
problem was the hiring of human resource.
Now we don’t feel like it. Now we enjoy these
things because our name is established. We are
known by our name in our mines and minerals
sector. Initially we faced many challenges. To
recognize the importance of our work, even
today in gatherings people ask us about our
work and we brief them. They laugh it out by
saying it’s a place where you dig gold. To make
them understand how the gold was discovered;
It’s not like you break a brick wall and find gold.
Its way more than that. Once again I will quote
here that we follow international standards
which the world acclaims. To achieve that goal,
we faced challenges. Foreign companies were
unwilling to come to us, we brought them here.
Being General Manager Support Services, I was
initially manager HR and Admin. Later on when
the company started growing, they appreciated
me and my work and promoted me to this
position. I really enjoy at this position when
people admire my work.
What are your greatest strengths?
When it comes to strengths and weakness,
every man tries to tell good things. Over the
time period I can say that one of my strengths
is communication. It is a very difficult task to
make someone understand your point. There
was a time when I was unable to communicate
properly. After coming here, I learnt how to
tell people and come to the point, ways to
convince someone to get your point. I learnt a
lot from this job.
As an experienced HR professional and
worked as Head HR, what best practices
you initiated. (Rewards/ Acknowledgments/
Awards)
I always believe that HR is the profession
of prophets. The prophets used to manage
human beings. If you review the journey of
Hazrat Adam (AS) and come to Holy Prophet’s
time, they have done one thing everywhere;
the core competency developed in them and
the work for which they were sent was people
management. And people management is
the most difficult stuff in this world. If you
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 30
buy a phone or a microwave, it comes with a high hopes. All this indicates towards a better
booklet which states remedies for errors. But future. Once we complete this then one day In What advice would you give to students who
human being himself is a complete product Shaa Allah we will be able to export that. have some interest to join this industry?
and his nature is different from every other If metal is for $65 while it will cost us $30 to Every place has open opportunities. Let me
$35 per ton then why would we need to buy share with you that previously this sector
being. If I talk about my best practices in it from others. There is no need for me to buy was not established enough since the last 70
previous organizations, then it will be Berger finished product when I could give you a 1000 years. The reason being this is a difficult field.
paints Pakistan. Their manual for human times better product. If we get it for 30 and To explore under the Earth is difficult and at
resource policies was based on old concepts sell it for $65 then we’ll save $35 and make times impossible. But in the coming era when
of about 10 to 15 years ago. I turned them as something else from the money we saved, we talk about Pakistan, especially exploration.
per current market scenario. If I talk about then the worth of that ton will be thousands In Pakistan, we have observed oil and gas
myself then I was the guy who initiated CSR of dollars. So this totally depends on it. In have great boom here, so the students who
(Corporate Social Responsibility) in Berger, Pakistan we are unable to mine as compared to are listening to me they may think that any
brought it to social responsibility. Meaning available resources. No such mining of iron ore oil and gas company has good employment
that if someone develops an organization or an has started yet in Pakistan. Whatever happened opportunities. In the coming time this sector
industry for us then they have a social right over in Rikodeq, Baluchistan as I previously told will boom.
us. We introduced the concept and wanted that the mining had started over there but
people to benefit from it even if they were not it became very controversial and the process Any suggestion for alumni office.
working but were part of our surroundings. was halted. If it would have been successful, It is a great honor for me to be here as an
Their prosperity should be evident from then maybe today we would have been Alumni. To talk to UMT. It is a great feeling.
their presence. So, I worked on this. When I exporting these things. Other than the metallic Now we are in thousands. Our alumni would be
professionally joined this organization, I told minerals, the mines and minerals department more than hundred thousand since this process
you that I faced many challenges. Like the is exporting products in an exceptional was started back in 1990s. Like someone is on a
first challenge was that they had no system manner. Even our demand is all over the world good post or has a good job, we have created a
developed. They had no manual of company especially in Gulf. Other than this, we are network. Like I am still in touch with my fellows
SOPs. I established all of those things in initial involved in the mining of coal, limestone etc. In of 17 batch.
years and then implemented it. Then as I terms of limestone, cement is being exported.
previously discussed change of management.
Development of synergy with the government
sector. From the place we work, we never
claim that we are a public or private sector; we
always believe we are corporate sector. Come
to us. See us. You will feel the difference and
acknowledge the examples we are setting in
the government sector.
Back to PMC (Punjab Mineral Company),
please share what minerals we are exporting
and which countries are our major buyers.
To be very honest, our exports are very
marginal. Initially when we worked on Rekodiq
we had a great opportunity to export gold and
copper but it became a controversial contract
so we couldn’t pursue it. Currently I am talking
with reference to metallic minerals. Pakistan is
exporting nothing in metallic minerals. We get
it imported from abroad. Up till now whatever
we discussed regarding the PMC project, if we
execute it successfully, meaning the process
of identification, exploration then mining and
milling. Currently we are at the exploration
phase. We have a lot of good resources. First I
told you 150 million tons then 250, so we have
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 31
 B
Brief Profile
oundary-pushing tech-
leader having 18+ years of
global experience in digital
transformations. Innovative
and Disruptive mindset that
can draft business technology
agenda, by providing sustainable and
leading-edge digital technology solutions,
which convert into profitable IT strategies.
Highly effective in consensus building,
partnering with senior business
leadership, and working collaboratively
at all levels to plan workable IT solutions
by maintaining outcome-oriented
culture. History of excelling in introducing
organizational change, accelerating
customer service levels, and leveraging Please share your experience as head of
existing technology and knowledge base information technology operations at ICI
to facilitate business excellence. Pakistan Ltd
- Overall responsible of technology department
Worked with multidisciplinary team CAPEX and OPEX budgets.
members to deliver project objectives - Project Lead in SAP S4 HANA upgrade project
through linking business strategy to in multiple businesses of ICI.
technology capabilities, structured - Managed SAP S4 HANA Implementation
planning, leveraging best practice delivery Project at Nutrico Morinaga (JV with Morinaga
methods (Agile, Lean) to determine the Japan).
right fit. Highly motivated individual with - Provided one stop shop to effectively manage
excellent problem-solving skills and has HR operations with the help of SAP Success
the ability to prioritize shifting workloads Factors complete suite which includes core
in a rapidly changing industry. HR, talent management modules and people
analytics.
SAP implementations experience in
- Successfully implemented SAP analytics
Consulting Services, Oil and Gas, Media,
tools which has enabled business teams to get
Telecommunication, Banking, Healthcare
Sector, Manufacturing, Management instant information for quick decision making
Consulting and IT, FMCGs, Public Sector, and also empowered them to build
Real Estate, Education, Insurance, dashboards themselves against critical
Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals, Polyester, business KPIs.
Soda Ash Industries. - Led the ISO 27001 implementation and
achieved the target to benchmark ICI
information security practices with industry

Hafeez Ul Hassan Shah

best practices and standards.
What do you find most challenging about
SAP implementation?
BCS – Year 2002 One of the biggest challenges in SAP
Implementation is Change Management, we
don’t understand that organization does not
Head of Information Technology Operations – SAP change but the people do. When organizations
ICI Pakistan Limited. undertake projects or initiatives to improve
performance, seize opportunities or address key
issues, they often require changes to processes,
job roles, organizational structures, and types

ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 32 ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 33

and uses of technology. And this is the most
challenging part that someone has to face
while implementing SAP at any organization.
Please share your major projects that you
have overseen at ICI.
• SAP S4 HANA Implementation
• SAP Success Factors Implementation
• ISO 27001 Implementation (Information
System Management System)
• IT Audit and Framework Implementation
• SAP Business Intelligence and Business
Objects (Analytics)
If you progress in your professional career as
you like, what would be the next step in your
career?
Strong believe in myself and risk-taking
abilities helped me to achieve my career and
life goals that I aspire during my educational
life. One thing that I always believed in was to
set short term and long-term objectives, this
proved to keep me motivated and moving well
in the direction of reaching my goals. My next
career move that I am looking forward is to
become the Chief Information Officer (CIO).
Who admired you most in your professional
career?
Humility, generosity, gratitude, and honesty
are some of the qualities that helped me to
standout throughout my career and become
the first choice to be the leader even across
cross functional teams. I strongly believe in
empowerment and enablement, this not
only help us getting things done but it helps
to keep your teams/colleagues engaged and
results oriented environment at your company.
Are there incentives or disincentives for
staying in the same job?
Job switching is very common in early stages
of someone’s career since it can only be
situational or sometimes takes time to get the
right fit or job that we are passionate about.
But too many lateral moves put a question
mark on someone’s CV. Working longer with
one employer makes you dependable and
you can build strong relationships within
the organization which opens up growth
opportunities especially when you are
looking for some leadership roles. In the very
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 34
beginning join some start up or mid-level
companies at max because you will have good
chances to learn about how to build something
from a very base level and you will understand
all the challenges you are required to face to
build up something solid and then you learn
how to scale up companies and businesses.
Share a time when you willingly took on
additional responsibilities or challenges. How
did you successfully meet all of the demands
of these responsibilities?
In 2015, Aljazeera Media Networks was looking
forward to centralizing its payroll system
worldwide. Usually, external implementation
partners are supposed to execute such level
projects but none of them were comfortable
with this challenging and complex task.
Apart from supporting running technology
operations I took this bold step and offered my
management that we will not only design the
viable solution but roll it out to 53 countries.
We worked for 1.5 years on this project and
successfully centralized the payroll system
which was not only acknowledged among our
company stakeholders but also among SAP
industry experts.
What is your interpretation of “success”?
To me success means satisfaction, to achieve
something that exposed me to new challenges
that can help me to grow and develop myself
professionally and spiritually. Getting involved
into something that not only adds value to
someone’s life but also helps them grow in
their lives.
When you joined ILM, what were your
expectations for your future?
I joined ILM back in 1999 with an aim to
do something big in the technology world.
I wanted to develop my reputation among
the top companies of Pakistan industry and
become a brand. My advice to all students
of UMT will be to not compromise on your
dreams and always aim higher in life, trust
in yourself and be consistent, then there will
be nothing stopping you to achieve what you
want in life.
What IT certifications would you advise to
students with their degree programs?
a. Certified Information System Auditor (CISA)
b. Certified Information Security Manager
(CISM)
c. Certified Information Systems Security
Professional (CISSP)
d. SAP S4 HANA Certifications
e. Project Management Professional (PMP)
f. AWS Certified Solutions Architect –
Professional
g. Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect
Message for UMT Alumni Community
Always aim higher in life and think thoroughly
before deciding something and once decided
don’t look back and be consistent. Create
your own environment. Put yourself in a
place that will help you grow, not suppress
your growth. Surround yourself with people
who understand, or at least make the effort
to understand you. There are always options.
Develop positive habits, avoid procrastination
as much as possible and lastly taking good
care of your body and mind is essential for
every day of your life and to keep yourself
moving forward to achieve your life goals.
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 35

By
Hassan Qureshi
BCS – Yr. 2000
Director, Logistics
Zoro US - Chicago,Illinois, United States
E-Commerce sales are constantly growing where
consumer behavior is changing rapidly and shifting
away from traditional buying behavior. In the US
alone, e-commerce sales have increased 39%
between the first quarter of 2020 and
first quarter of 2021 (U.S. Census
Bureau). Global pandemic is a
big reason for this sudden spike
in e-commerce sales and it is
anticipated that this growth
will stay and even grow in
the post-pandemic era.
This continuous growth
has challenged
companies on many
facets. Global pandemic
has brought it to
another level. Increase
in inflation rate,
supply shortage, long
lead times, port and
distribution center
closures, labor
shortage are to name
few. These issues
have challenged
the practitioners to
look for new and
innovative ways to
do business. The
companies who
adapt quickly
to cope with
these challenges
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 36
VIRTUAL SUPPLY
CHAIN AND
ECOMMERCE
have gained a lot from it. As an example, the
traditional food chains got hit by the pandemic
the most. Many smaller restaurants were
unable to survive and got closed permanently.
Contrary to it, some food chains, like Chipotle
and Dominos, had resources to build their
online presence and they flourished more
compared to the pre-pandemic.
The more flexibility companies have in their
early adoption to technology and also find
ways to provide efficient Supply Chain, the
more competitive advantage those companies
would have on others. There are different
business models e-commerce companies are
using to sell their products. The most efficient
but relatively costly model is to carry enough
inventory to meet the demand. This model
would work for well established companies
who already have a good customer base and
they understand their demand signals very
well. The challenge with this approach is the
upfront investment in terms of carrying cost,
warehouse expenses, excess and obsolescence
cost to name a few.
Dropship is another popular model many
e-commerce companies are using. With very
little investments, companies can create a
marketplace and once customers place the
orders, which are passed to the distributors
or suppliers. They then fulfill the order on the
company’s behalf. The advantage of this model
is that companies can run with low upfront
investment in buying and holding inventory
and they can expand to more products and
more suppliers in a relatively short period
of time. Though this is a scalable solution,
some of the areas to watch out for with this
approach are order receipt, real-time inventory
availability, on-time delivery, standardization,
consistent customer experience, and less hassle
returns. We can cover these areas one by one:
Order Receipt: Most of the orders pass
through to the suppliers using Electronic
Data Interchange (EDI) which is an old but
well recognized medium in the industry.
Suppliers also use a web portal to receive
the order details. Although these EDIs are in
the market for a while, companies want to
ensure that they have good processes available
that trigger when EDI documents don’t flow
through properly. This would cause the orders
to go unfulfilled due to the document failure
which will lead to order cancellations and
customer dissatisfaction. APIs are another way
to communicate with the suppliers but not all
the suppliers have infrastructure to connect
through customized APIs.
Real-time Inventory Availability: As
e-commerce companies are dependent on
suppliers to fulfill the orders on your behalf,
sometimes the on-hand inventory they share
is not accurate which leads to delays and
possibility of cancellation from the suppliers’
days or weeks after order is submitted. This is
especially true when the product is Make-to-
order and relatively longer lead-time.
On-time Delivery: It is also important to
make sure when suppliers are shipping the
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 37

product and if the product is delivered as it
was committed. Many e-commerce companies
are currently promising 2 day or next day
delivery. Some are also exploring the same day
Recognizing
charges are depending on the shipping zone.
Zone 1 would be when source and destination
addresses are in the same city and larger zone
would be when they are not. Now, how would

delivery model. Freight service level and cost
is another factor to meet the on-time delivery
commitment with the customer.
Standardization: Next thing companies need
UMT Legacy
we embed freight cost in product pricing? Will
we add them in the product price or keep them
separate? If you are putting them all together
but your competitor is not, they might have

Families
to ensure is the packing list and shipping the advantage of attracting more customers
labels on the package. It should be as per the to their e-commerce platform and customers
requirement by the e-commerce company. will only know the exact price at the checkout.
This includes the branding requirements as These are all the considerations to think about
well. If suppliers are not compliant to those when establishing an e-commerce platform in
requirements, it would cause more damage to a virtual supply chain environment.
the brand than good.
Consistent Customer Experience: In the
e-commerce world, as all the customer
interactions are virtual, it is very important
to make sure each customer gets good and
Sultan Mustafa Khan (Son) Huma Khan (Mother)
consistent service with a quick turnaround. BS(CS) – 2018 MBA(P) – 1995
For example, once the order is placed on the Software Engineer Assistant Vice President
e-commerce platform and order is passed Finz Technologies Askari Bank
to the supplier to get fulfilled, how will the
company know the status of the order and when
exactly the supplier is going to ship the order.
Most of these interactions happen through EDI
documents but if status is not updated and a
customer is calling to know the status of the
order, it would surely not go well with that
customer.
Less Hassle Returns: Returns are common
in the US and usually returns are anywhere
between 3 to 10% of the sales depending on
the categories. As e-commerce companies
are mainly shipping individual packages to be
delivered to the customers, it is important to
make sure that it arrives to the customer in a
pristine condition. If customer is not satisfied
with the delivery, it is important to make sure
a good and easy return experience is provided
including free shipment back and no questions
asked from the customer.
Freight is another huge factor in e-commerce
business. Every order comes with multiple
shipments which could ship as parcel, Less-
than-truck-load (LTL) or Full-truck load. Even
with parcel shipments, additional accessorial
charges like hazardous material (HazMat),
large packages, address correction, residential
delivery fee are to name a few. Then shipping

ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 38 ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 39

 Challenges Faced by
By
Dr Muhammad Shahbaz Cheema
BTTM(H) – Year 2001
Post-Doctorate/Teaching Assistant
University of Manchester Design and Fashion
Graduates in The National
United Kingdom
Textile Industry
The fashion and design sector is undoubtedly of fashion and design. We need to focus our
one of the largest and most influential segment educational and training programs, especially
of the National and International textile industry. at the university level, in the areas of technical
With the availability of advanced technology and aesthetical textiles. It is not just about
and ease of access to global fashion database, changing the courses or study materials, it is
Pakistan’s fashion and apparel design industry is about the methods and process of transferring
rapidly growing and strengthening its position in knowledge from teachers to students. It is
the textile industry, both in Pakistan and the university’s responsibility to design a
abroad. The government must play professional teaching framework through
its part in promoting the which students can acquire skills and expertise
efforts of the textile rather than the conventional approach of
entrepreneurs passing the examinations. We must use an
in this arena, architectural approach for textile/fashion design
however, it is the courses, just like the architect when he starts
responsibility of to design a building he has to consider all the
universities and aspects that are necessary for the building such
colleges in Pakistan as the strength of the building, its performance
to produce skill- in different conditions, and aesthetics.
oriented graduates Currently, most textile education institutions
and professionals are teaching courses that are based on the
who are equipped aesthetic aspects, such as decoration and
to promote and beautification. However, it is also important to
drive the fashion consider the technical aspects for the design
and design sector and production of garments. Due to the
so that the National current approach, most students are not able
textile industry is to fulfil the market needs and this results in
able to compete in unemployment for the graduates.
the International The universities in the developed countries
market. This is an are working on the advanced aspects of
important step textile design, such as virtual sizing, virtual
for promoting the showrooms, virtual pattern development and
image of Pakistan’s virtual garment stitch and fit. This results
textile industry at in a reduction in the lead time and within
the International hours’ retailers can confirm their garment
level in the area designs with their suppliers. The virtual design
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 40
processes save time and cost and also leads to
enhanced confidence in the process of approval
from the customer.
Lack of collaboration between the textile
industry and the education sector also has a
negative impact on the quality of learning for
textile design students. At the university level
students are not able to understand the real
problems of practical work in the industry,
and faculty members also do not have real
understanding about the demand of the
industry terms of the type of graduates and
skills required. These educational gaps have
forced the textile industry businesses, wherever
possible, to recruit and train persons with
basic education instead of employing textile
graduates. This allows them to save money, as
they can pay lower salaries to these employees
as compared to the textile degree holders.
Finally, the lack of research and development
activity in textile materials and processes in
the academia has also led to a lack of interest
and demand for textile graduates by the textile
industry in Pakistan. The progressive textile
businessmen always welcome new techniques
and approaches that can maximize their profits
and this will only be possible if the academic
institutions can generate new knowledge that
can be applied to enhance the quality and
productivity of their products and processes. A
greater focus on research and development by
the academia in collaboration with industrial
organizations will enable the development of
a knowledge-based textile industry in Pakistan
that can compete in the global textile Market.
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 41
 THE NEED
By
Mazhar Hamayun
MCS(E) – Yr. 2005

TO GET THE
Cyber Security Engineer
Check Point Software Technologies,
Ltd. – Washington, District of

BASICS RIGHT
Columbia, United States

Years ago, having an anti-virus, program and a consumer or a business; in layman terms it
firewalls implemented and reviewing logs used to could be simply constituted as using common
be the most effective way to manage cybersecurity. sense too.
But technology has become more intrinsic in our Traditionally Cybersecurity has been achieved
lives whether it is at work or at home, and hackers by putting in controls like anti-viruses,
have become more persistent determined and firewalls, backups, vulnerability management
competent. and password best practices. This is simple,
To keep up with the ever-changing threat easy and can be adopted and implemented
landscape and protect the assets by someone with limited to no technical
at home or part of enterprise background.
architecture/environments, Enterprise Cybersecurity is reducing risk while
we as cybersecurity maintaining continuity of business operations
professionals must aka COOP. This is achieved by implementing
get the basics right all the Cybersecurity controls but in addition
that will serve identification and documentation of
as the building business processes, prioritize vulnerabilities,
blocks and keep continuous monitoring to detect compliance
us prepared for and determine threats. This requires a good
the future. understanding of technology and hands-on
It’s important experience working with technology.
to start by Enterprise Cybersecurity is designed to...
understanding - Identify, understand and document risk to the
the difference business
between - Identify and prioritize vulnerabilities
Cybersecurity enterprise-wide.
and Enterprise - Develop and implement a technical
Cybersecurity. architecture based on Defense in Depth
Cybersecurity strategy.
in general is - Protect data, users, applications, systems
reducing risk and networks that could be physical or
and greatly virtual and can be on premise or cloud-based
based infrastructures.
on the - Provide guidelines and structure for secure
threat to software development.
- Cyber train workforce making them part of
your defense in depth strategy.
- Make the organization resilient against
cyberattacks.
What’s driving Enterprise cybersecurity?
The user experience has become central to
the products and services that organizations
deliver. As organizations use technology to
meet the needs of users around the world,
whether in the form of digital experiences or
physical goods, the risk of security breaches
and attacks increases.
In some organizations, IT and cybersecurity are
at odds. IT exists to support business growth
and efficiency. Cybersecurity exists to secure
not only technology but also data pertaining to
employees, partners and customers.
Stumbling through the last ten years
The approach to cybersecurity has changed
during the past decade. One term that sticks
out is cyber hygiene. Like washing your hands
or brushing your teeth, the concept of cyber
hygiene means doing the basics, the minimum
to secure your organization.
These basics include ensuring employees
change their passwords regularly, developing
an inventory of all software and hardware
across an organization, and allowing and
blocking websites. Vulnerability management
and vulnerability scan of critical systems
can ensure the routine software patch
management.
Although doing the basics will increase
cybersecurity, cybersecurity operations became

ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 42 ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 43


somewhat chaotic. Breach after breach of
corporate and government organizations
spawned an array of new cybersecurity
standards. These regulations apply more
regulations for data security, financial security,
international privacy, banking security,
healthcare security and cloud security to name
just a few. The endless number of requirements
made it difficult to coordinate cybersecurity
processes, which led businesses to only focus
on the bare minimums.
Moreover, cybersecurity threats to an
organization can change daily. Added to the
mix are increased business risks, IT architecture
growth, thousands of cybersecurity tools and
few experienced cybersecurity professionals.
With new technical vulnerabilities being
discovered, new attacks being created, or
humans just making mistakes, it’s nearly
impossible for most organizations to keep pace
if they are solely focused on doing the bear
minimum for compliance.
There is no silver bullet when it comes to
cybersecurity, implementing good defense
in depth controls provides a good starting
point. Every decision we make from that
starting point will determine and dictate the
cybersecurity posture whether it be home
technologies or enterprise technologies.
Preparing for the Future Cyber threats
The adage, “What got you here is not going
to get you there,” rings true in cybersecurity.
Basing your cybersecurity operations on
compliance alone or relying on the latest
technology will not attribute to success in the
future.
Technology is moving at a rapid pace but there
are certain things we can predict about the
future.
Conflict between older legacy IT systems and
newer technologies will continue.
Successful business growth continues to rely on
the Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G networks.
Business growth will depend on automated
business processes and IT systems that need to
adapt to consumer needs.
Automated security operations and machine
learning will help drive innovation across
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 44
Recognizing
industries and among our adversaries.
The spectrum of cybersecurity products and
services will continue to grow but won’t
necessarily be integrated.
UMT Legacy
The following can be helpful in evolving current
cybersecurity practices into a strong enterprise
cybersecurity operations program.
- Create a strong cybersecurity program that
Families
entails a Risk Management Framework.
- Make cybersecurity an essential business
need.
- Create a core team of business, IT and
cybersecurity leadership that works in concert
to identify, prioritize and manage risk.
- Identify business risks (current and future) and
map them with zero trust mechanism in all Muhammad Sohaib Vahedy (Son) Khobaib Ahmad Vahedy (Father)
systems. Then, prioritize cybersecurity BS(O&Sc) – UMT student MBA(P) – 1995
goals and objectives according to business Business Development Manager CEO
requirements. Multi Business Solutions vMulti Group of Companies
- Ensure visibility and understanding. Not all
business risks are clear, and not all technology
risks can be mitigated within acceptable
tolerance levels. Having clear visibility and
understanding will increase your
organization’s security posture.
- Grow resilience and recovery capability.
Cyber resilience involves areas such as
ensuring business delivery of products or
services, having systems that are safe-to-fail,
and building security from within, making
it a part of all business and IT operations. In
addition, it involves multi-layered protection
that includes strong passwords and two-factor
authentication.
Conclusion
As technology becomes more integral to
business and grows in complexity, it’s critical
to start incorporating cybersecurity into every
aspect of the enterprise. The adoption of EC
operations is one of the best ways to do so.
Although it’s a challenging task, it’s one that
CISOs can accomplish when they understand
the evolution of cybersecurity, measures of
success and some areas of focus to get started.
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 45
Success
Story
LIVING
AGAINST
THE
ODDS
Dr Ayesha Saleem
PhD (EDU) – Year 2021
Lecturer
University of Education – Lahore
M
y name is Dr Ayesha Saleem! And I
am an ordinary human being with a
disability “visual impairment”. In my
childhood I wanted to play like other children,
I wanted to catch the butterflies, run to win
the race, and wanted to see the beauty of
nature. When I wanted to play with children
they refused to make me a part of their games.
I used to fall down when I wanted to chase
my fellows or catch the ball. I used to weep
for hours and ask Allah why you have made
me like this? Why cannot I become a part of
this world? Why everyone refuses me? Why do
people consider me a symbol of pity and divine
punishment? My days were slowly passing
while fighting with my fate. Since I was the
second child with visual impairment in the
home and my parents knew about the special
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 46
schools of visually impaired children, my
parents sent me to school when I turned 5 and
at that time my third sibling was born with the
same impairment.
When I entered the school and realized that
there are 50-60 girls studying in that school
with visual impairment, I gradually started
accepting my disability and used to play with
girls. Although I could see a bit but the wish
to see everything left in my heart was like a
burning desire. I used to sit on the ground and
touch the flowers and leaves and talk with
Allah (SWT). I could experience the beauty only
by touch or by closely looking at the flower. I
wanted to study because I had two teachers
in that school with visual impairment. I used
to draw flowers with markers and crayons to
satisfy my desire for sight.
At the age of 11, my parents changed my
school and I was shifted to a private school for
the visually impaired “Aziz Jehan Begum Trust”
for the blind where my younger brother was
studying in class 1. In class 5 I was introduced
to computers along with brail by the teachers
in this well-equipped school. The teachers used
to teach us computers with the help of the
software Jaws (job access with speech). In 2005,
I graduated from that school attaining “first
position” in matriculation.
In 2005, I entered Lahore College for Women
University to attain my higher education. I did
FA and BS education from that institution.
After studying in a comfortable environment
in my school I was again sent to face the bitter
world with a lot of questions to shatter my
confidence. From the first day in university I
experienced odd behaviors of fellows they used
to say “hy bachari dakh nai sakti”, children like
her should not study as they are a burden on
society and at times my fellows did not offer
me help when I had to move from one class
to another. I used to weep while standing and
waiting for someone to show me the path.
Although I used to walk with a white cane
I did not know the paths in my earlier days
and I used to fear while walking alone, while
everyone in my surrounding was commenting
about me. I overcame these challenges in
weeks and made some friends who supported
me. I used to sit in the first row in class and
participate in class, I used to ask a lot of
questions from teachers and used to draw
their attention to my eagerness to learn. The
teachers eventually started to appreciate me
and boosted my confidence. In my BS I used to
appear in exams through computer and I used
to attempt my paper in the public computer
lab. I wanted to present my learning by writing
myself. I wanted to rely upon my abilities and
I always wanted to take the least favors and
support from others. Because I have realized
in my life, people help you and they remind
you of the help they have rendered upon you. I
completed my BS education in 2011 with good
grades and fulfilled my teachers’ hopes of a
bright future.
During my university life, I used to dream that
one day I will do PhD education and become a
renowned and excellent teacher. To accomplish
this dream I took admission in MPhil education
at the University of Education in 2011 and
ended up with this degree successfully in 2014.
I was selected as a lecturer at the University of
Education in 2015 and took admission in PhD
education at the University of Management
and Technology in October 2015 to accomplish
my dream of becoming a PhD doctor. The
journey of PhD was successfully accomplished
in 2021 with the constant facilitation of my last
higher education institution and the support
of my supervisors during this journey. My
supervisors understood my needs and provided
me extra attention and time for the successful
accomplishment of my research work. During
this time, I have published 9 research articles.
InshAllah I will continue to produce more
research work and teach to the highest level of
excellence. Today I can confidently say although
Allah (SWT) made my life difficult, rather a
different life, although I cannot see the visual
beauty of things and I depend upon others
in so many ways I struggled against the odds,
fought to establish myself, worked harder to
achieve dreams and lived life to set an example
that human beings can live a successful life by
not accepting defeat. Although I have taken a
difficult path to accomplish myself today I stand
confident and dignified in front of everyone. I am
a success because my family supported me, my
friends guided me and my teachers taught and
motivated me.
Always keep in mind if you are differently-
abled, have odd social/financial life, and people
question your abilities, you have to prove them
wrong by constantly working hard, patiently
moving, concentrating on your goal, and setting
higher standards of accomplishment. Success
is always attained in life by swimming through
pain, fears, failures, barriers, discouragement, and
social unacceptance/demotivating comments
from people in your surroundings. But you have
to consistently replace pain with patience, fear
through courage, barriers through enthusiasm/
alternative plan, demotivating comments
through staying quiet/focusing on your goals,
and failure through trying consistently. At the
end of the day, you will reach your destination
but receive a lot of scars and wounds on your
personality and lose your charm over the years
however, you will be contented with your success!
This is life! Do not live a life of a spectator who
laughs upon others and questions their abilities
but lives a life of a winner, a dreamer, and a
victorious individual.
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 47
Success
Story
M Faisal Thakur
MA(ELT) – Year 2002
Founder and CEO
The Right Schools and Colleges
Network
S
ince ages I have been receiving emails
from UMTs alumni desk so religiously
that I have hundreds of them in my inbox
and hardly delete any of them because I think
it’s a relationship call from my Alma Mater.
It reminds me of the golden days of young
ILM, they fill me with the joys I used to have
with my class fellows and teachers, sittings
full of laughter’s in Barkat market; there was
no proper canteen in the campus so the best
available place was the staircase of a famous
bakery situated just opposite to that small
campus where the school of education was
established in 1998.
The most precious time I still cherish was
to offer Zuhar and Asr prayers in Dr Hassan
Murad’s office on the first floor under his
Imamat. We were hardly 6 or 7 male students
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 48
in the first ever class of MA ELT and were able
to accommodate on one long prayer mat
behind Dr Sb. After prayers a nice meaningful
chitchat and at times a cup of tea too and
more than anything a matchless smile, which
would energize even now, was used to be the
best part of all treats.
In spite of my desire to attend every get-
together I could not attend any function or
ceremony because of my health issues. Now
I am much better and ready to join and
reconnect life to the broken strings. I am highly
thankful to Ms Rubina Shurjeel for providing
me an opportunity to share my experiences
with the UMT community.
To me success is not what people
conventionally think of; it’s not about achieving
big goals or earning a lot of money. It’s an
act of personal satisfaction the more one is
satisfied the more successful he or she may be,
now this level of satisfaction differs, it varies
from person to person. When I recall my early
school life or subsequently college life I used to
be an imaginative person. This trait moved my
educational career towards literature, teaching
and learning, though my family wanted me
to study sciences. The only gap in my student
and professional life occurred when I had to
face a serious ailment. I suffered from a kidney
failure. I remained under medical supervision
for more than 3 years. I had to undergo dialysis
before kidney transplant. It was 5th November
2018 when Allah the Almighty granted me a
new life and I recovered from a ventilator after
transplant surgery. I am on lifelong medication
to keep the new kidney going but the real
medicines are blessings of Allah and prayers of
my mother, family and thousands of students
for whom I am working day and night.
After serving so many organizations I wanted
to do something with my own colors that was
only possible where I could do freely without
any job related limitations so I dreamt of
a network of my own, the seed of the idea
eventually turned into a reality in 2011, and The
Right Schools and Colleges Network came into
being.
The Right Schools and Colleges is a
countrywide network of comprehensive
schools (playgroup to class XII). It evolved on
a thorough value based system of education
that has been recognized and appreciated
nationally and internationally. More than
70 branches in Pakistan and 4 branches are
operational in the capital of Libya Tripoli. By
the grace of Allah, it gives us profound sense
of relief and accomplishment that The Right
Schools and Colleges network has contributed
in the economic growth of Pakistan by
injecting 600 to 800 Million PKR in its economy
and created an estimated job pool of 5000+
employees. Hopefully the figures will rise
geometrically in the years to come.
The Right Schools and Colleges Network, in line
with its mission, seeks to provide value based
quality education to groom students with a
futuristic vision and a clear sense of orientation
to be competitive as well as cooperative in
their learning environment. At the same time,
we are equally focused on the grooming of
the teachers and management who are the
creators of the learning ethos in an educational
setting.
Therefore, round the year teacher-management
development programs have been designed for
their professional and personal growth. Having
established the right culture, the classroom
experience will also focus on delivering and
meeting the individual needs of every pupil.
This requires each teacher to know the needs
of every child and for a structure to exist where
students can be assigned to The Right teaching
groups to meet those needs. Moreover, we have
the honor to introduce a unique feature of Life
Skills Learning that will equip the children with
the vocational training to deal with everyday
circumstances.
We have introduced a system of imparting
religious education which is a context-
embedded religious education system. We
believe that religion should not be taught in
segregation as it makes the students excel in
their social skills and scientific knowledge.
Islam has dilated upon many scientific aspects
which need to be highlighted and established
amid the young generation’s minds. Similarly,
our experts give relevant scientific examples
and quotes from The Quran and Hadiths
wherever content of the syllabus speaks on any
scientific topic. At the same time, we accept
and value different faiths and beliefs of children
in schools.
Above all, it’s my team that helped me realize
my dream and it’s just the beginning; a long
journey is yet to be covered. Our team is the
best asset that we can cherish on and take
pride of. Our highly- qualified, diverse team
is equipped with extensive knowledge base,
deep-rooted professionalism and unwavering
commitment. That, in fact, is at the core of who
we are and what we do. From top to bottom,
our team is committed to delivering the
highest quality and efficiency to provide
unparalleled service to our nation through
our network schools and colleges.
Last but not the least I must mention the
companionship of my life partner who stood
with me through all thick and thin, especially
when I was fighting back from my kidney
failure she proved herself ‘one-woman army’
because it was not an easy task to arrange a
kidney donor, to see the kids at home, manage
office in my absence and a lot more.
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 49
Success
Story
Naseem Ahmad Jawa
MBA(E) – Year 2005
Founder and CEO – EXOTIC
INTERIORS STUDIO – UAE-UK-PAK
Founder – E-BUILD PAKISTAN
MBA (Marketing),
MSC (Management)
Member of Pakistan Business
Council Dubai, UAE
Member of LIFT Pakistan, Part of
Jumpstart Pakistan
Member of International Council of
Shopping Centers
S
uccess Belongs to Allah (SWT), We can
only strive with the right intention and
direction.
When I was asked to write my success story
for the upcoming Alumni edition; it occurred
to me that I don’t have any success story. For
me success is a journey, it is boundless. It is
perceived uniquely by every individual. The
journey in this world should be seen through
the lens of reality and that comes to the point
of how many lives we have helped change
positively. Now it sounds interesting and I can
pin down a few lines from my life.
Coming from the family who believed in
entrepreneurship more than a job, I understood
at the very early stage of life that there are
two important things to change the economy;
Education and Entrepreneurship. Only being
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 50
educated can help one in getting a good job
and living a life like a pond in fairy meadows
but to chase your dreams and create a bigger
impact in others’ lives was only possible
through entrepreneurship. Early life challenges
taught me how to survive through challenges
on my own, make opportunities and squeeze
them to the best. My father’s demise at the
age of twenty gave me two ways; one lead to
comfort by giving up my dreams and the other
was all full of challenges (financial, emotional,
educational) but will enable me to pursue
my dreams and do something for my family,
society and country. The best time of building
ethics, values, and entrepreneur’s skills is
youth and I had a chance to spend time with
my father at our family business. The basics
I learned from my father were honesty, hard
work and embracing every challenge that
comes your way, and being adaptable to the
situation.
After spending a couple of years in the textiles
industry in Pakistan my next focus was UK
for better studies and to pursue my dreams.
I always believed in making the most of early
years in career, that’s why I did full-time
business during my two years’ job in Pakistan.
This gave me on-ground training about how
to start a business, raise capital, build capacity
and grow.
Moving to UK was not an easy start but it
was paid off with an opportunity to learn
international business, the social values,
service standards and how to grow business
competitive markets.
After working a couple of years in UK, the
destiny brought me to UAE, I had to settle
down in Dubai after getting married. I started
the third chapter of my life, a chapter of
growth, prosperity and financial independence.
I worked with a retail company starting as
Business Manager and went up to Directory
Retail for the gulf region and a board member
in just five years. Just then I realized it’s time to
give full attention to my own run side business,
known now as Exotic Interiors Studio, based
out of Dubai. I worked with more than 200
nationalities, travelled around the world while
working with best companies out of Europe,
USA, UK, China and Middle-east in industries
like fashion, cosmetics, electronics etc. Brought
international ventures to Gulf, launched
successful brands from inception to execution
including product research and development.
Right at the peak of my career where everyone
wants to be, I had taken the company from a
small family run business to convert in to good
size retail company with multiple international
and in-house brands, building corporate
infrastructure, with company offices across Gulf,
and helped adding three new business sectors
(education, media, real estate consultation) to
the company profile, I decided to move on.
Life without challenges was never my forte;
I realized it at the end of 2013 when I left
the extremely well paid comfortable job
and joined my own part-time run business.
This gave me a new set of experience; Exotic
Interiors Studio is known as one of the best
Architectural and Fit out Consultant, Designer
and Contracting company in the UAE. I never
had fear of failure in life, every business can’t
be successful monetarily but it gives you
intangible experience, learning and network
which helps you grow in life. Because of failure
I never stopped exploring opportunities. I kept
trying different business initiatives like retail,
technology, construction etc and all of them
were not a big success. Only failing can help
you grow, build capacity and stand tall. I have
been a part of many initiatives within and
outside the country, however, the focus was to
contribute in the society and country we come
from and where we are embraced, whether
with money, business or creating employment.
Our most recent venture in Pakistan is E-Build
Pakistan where we took initiative to digitize
the façade or construction industry and help
people sitting in remote areas to grow the
cottage industry, trade and services. It also
addresses the issues in construction industry
for the overseas diaspora and offer turnkey
solutions to them.
In a nutshell, we have been engaged in
creating more employment opportunities
for Pakistani talent in the region, share the
knowledge, helping people to improve their
set of skills, let them go back and set up their
own business, invest in Pakistan in Technology
business, construction and in a small portfolio
of real estate. I believe in exchange programs
where we share knowledge, experience,
success and financial resources to help young
entrepreneurs. I believe in pursuing dreams,
taking initiatives, killing the fear of failure,
being persistent and never giving up, share
everything you have and it will grow faster,
be adaptable to the education, learning new
skills and technology, and if you’re not flexible
the journey of success won’t last longer.
Our mission to educate one girl and create
employment for one individual in each family
creates immediate income resources and long-
term plans for generations through educated
women. When I look back, Alhumdulillah, I
can safely say I tried and will continue trying
making difference in the lives of people around
us whether they are family, city, or country
mates. Rest I leave it to the Almighty to decide
if it is called success or the struggle. It has been
a journey from no one to someone, someone to
showrunner, and then to no one. And this is life!
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 51
Success
Story
Naseer Ahmad
BS(TXE) – Year 2008
CEO
ALKIMIA PAKISTAN [Solution for
textiles]
Sole Agent
EKSOY DYES & CHEMICALS, Turkey
Eksoy Pakistan
Co-founder/Director - Spiretexx
(Pvt) Ltd Lahore
I
am basically a textile professional doing
multiple businesses from textile chemicals
to textile sourcing and representing reputed
EU clothing companies in Pakistan. This diverse
portfolio of businesses looks very interesting
but to handle this diversity you need to have an
inspiring driving force. This brings you a great
motivation and keeps you moving all the time.
Life is a struggle and you need to make this
struggle inspiring and satisfying. Everything
does not happen overnight. Everyone needs to
go through certain processes and my story is
not different in this perspective.
My story basically starts from a small town
called ‘Gojra’ known as ‘Village of Hockey’ near
Faisalabad. I grew up having dreams in my
eyes to become renowned in hockey. It was a
reality of era that no kid could imagine to live
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 52
without a hockey kit. I played hockey under
the supervision of USTAAD ASLAM RODA and
USTAD IQBAL BALI. At a later stage, the hockey
was not working for me so I decided to focus
on my professional life.
Later, I decided to focus on my professional
career and choose ‘Textile Industry’ as my
elder brother was already working in a famous
multi-national chemical company. From
school level, I distinguished in Chemistry and
secondly having a textile know-how from my
brother I was happy to place myself in this
industry. So direction was set at an early stage
for my educational career and then it worked
out quite well. After matriculation I moved to
Lahore and started working in a small textile
processing unit part time. During the day
time I was studying in Government College of
Science and in the night shift I was working in
a textile factory. I was very clear even at that
time to complement my studies with practical
knowledge and it really helped me to define
my further journey in textile.
After college, I enrolled in UMT in 2004 in
“Textile Engineering” program. During university
time also, I continued my part-time job in
textile dyeing unit. UMT played a key role
in developing my personality and boosted
my confidence not only in studies but extra-
curricular activities also. I remained the Vice
President of Textile Info Society, Editor Textile
Bulletin, and Team Leader of International
Conference of Textile Clothing (ICTC 2006). I
urge young students to always focus on extra-
curricular as this really helps you to break out
of your comfort zone and do something extra.
I would also like to mention my role models
who inspired me to excel in the textile
industry – Mr ZAHEER AHMAD (CEO Spell Tech
International) and DR MUHAMMAD MUSHTAQ
AHMAD MANGAT (my teacher and mentor in
UMT). My brother always inspired me from
the start of my life to dream and believe in
making your dreams a reality. He has always
been a great support and motivation for me
throughout my career. Mr Mangat helped me
in learning theoretical and practical framework
of textile industry and further conceptualize
the future potential of textiles. He inculcated in
me the “Vision and Mindset” to achieve higher
goals in my professional career.
After my graduation in 2008, I joined Eksoy
Chemicals and Dyes (a Turkish Chemical
Company) as a Technical Manager. In four
years of my first job, I learned about corporate
culture and local chemical business’ dynamics.
They whole team worked very hard and finally
in 2011 Eksoy decided to invest $5 million in
Pakistan with state of the art manufacturing
facility. I left the job as Regional Head
Faisalabad in 2012.
This was the turning point of my life. I wanted
to do something inspiring where I could
plan the rest of my life. I never wanted to be
part of big bureaucratic hierarchies rather
I always dreamed to make an impact and
challenge fears to do something big. With
this, I decided to jump into my own business
and founded “Alkimia – A solution for textiles”.
The textile industry was lacking the basic
spirit of research and development and
this became an opportunity for Aklimia to
unfold future potentials. Our main focus was
process optimization and cost effectiveness.
By Grace of God, we have been quite
successful in our venture and due to this my
parent company Eksoy offered me complete
market representation in Faisalabad. With
this arrangement we scaled up our chemical
business in Faisalabad and in a few years
we became the thriving young research and
development based Chemical Company in the
industry. The journey never ended here. In 2014,
we joined hands with Spell Tech International
– a Lahore bases chemical company – to
expand our market base countrywide. Instead
of creating an unnecessary competition, we
synergized together and Eksoy decided to
invest more in Pakistan – Eksoy Faisalabad
Plant is under construction which roughly will
come out a venture of $20 million in Pakistan.
In 2020 we co-founded a Textile Sourcing
Solution Provider called Spiretexx (Pvt) Ltd.
Covid 19 badly shook the whole textile supply
chain around the world. In this difficult era
where mostly businesses were contracting
around the world, we envisioned a great
opportunity to enter into textile clothing
business. This is going to foster intelligent
supply chain solutions for clothing retailers and
help to achieve new challenges of the industry.
Giving back to the society has always been
on my mind. During my great time at UMT, I
volunteered myself for social activities. I have
been part of Balakot – UMT Earthquake Relief
Team in 2005 and together with Army and
Canadian Muslim Student Federation we spent
two weeks with the affected. In my opinion,
we need to focus on our close community
circles and focus on innovative ideas to
uplift socioeconomic status of the people. In
recognition of my achievements, I was awarded
Young Alumni Award in 2012.
At the end, I would like to focus on Sustainable
Human Development (SHD) in Pakistan. We
are going to have great opportunities ahead
and to fully utilize these we need to focus on
developing minds in Pakistan. We need to
inspire our younger generations for a bright
future tomorrow. This is the responsibility of our
generation and for this we need to work very
hard. Pakistan Zindabad!
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 53

By
Anees Ur Rehman
MBA(P) – Year 2009
Head of Sales
Zellbury
“I am Anees Ur Rehman Shaikh, a UMT alumnus
graduated with a degree in MBA Marketing
in 2010 with outstanding results and
achievements. UMT is not only my
educational institute but served as an
inspiration to me to shape up my
whole journey as a success story to
be remembered forever.”
Corona has been the death
of many businesses. It
disrupted the overall
economy on a
massive scale.
Corona brought
unemployment,
mismanagement,
lack of resources,
mental health
issues, financial
instability, and fear.
Corona not only affects
every profession and field;
it also upsets both genders
respectively. According to statistics,
females comprise 49% of Pakistan’s
population but they only constitute
24% of the labor force which is
much lesser than the employment
rate of males. At the same time
females are at more risk of job
deprivation when it comes to any
disaster like the Covid outbreak. In
2020, Covid caused defacement
to several businesses in Pakistan.
And due to this, a huge number
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 54
THE BOOM OF
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
AND FEMALE
RESELLERS IN CORONA
of companies reduced the number of their
employees without giving them any prior
notice. A lot of people lost their jobs and are
now unable to support their families. This
community of unemployed but hardworking
people comprises of more female population
than the male population that causes the
gender poverty gap. International Labor
Organization (ILO) has estimated that full or
partial lockdown measures now affect almost
2.7 billion workers, representing around 81% of
the world’s workforce, while the IMF projects
a significant contraction of global output in
2020. COVID-19 is lurching the world economy
towards a global recession, which will be
strikingly different from past recessions.
Equally, narrowing gender-based education
gaps and ensuring women remain in and
expand their participation in the formal labor
market will play a significant role in providing
many economies with the capacity to ‘rebound’
with stronger, more equitable, and sustainable
growth. Antra Bhatt, statistics specialist and
co-author of the report from Insights to Action
say that “The resurgence of extreme poverty as
a result of the pandemic has revealed women’s
precarious economic security”. Women typically
earn less and hold less secure jobs than men.
With plummeting economic activity, women
are particularly vulnerable to layoffs and loss of
livelihoods.”
Ginette Azcona, lead author of UN Women’s
latest report from Insights to Action and
UN Women’s Senior Research and Data
Specialist says, “For the last 22 years, extreme
poverty globally had been declining. Then
came COVID-19, and with it, massive job
losses, shrinking of economies, and loss of
livelihoods, particularly for women. Weakened
social protection systems have left many of
the poorest in society unprotected, with no
safeguards to weather the storm”.
This outbreak disturbs female breadwinners
the most. Because of the shutting down of
the small business, they are unable to find any
suitable job for themselves and their families.
And the situation urges them to learn skills that
can help them earn. That causes the boom of
female entrepreneurs and resellers.
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is an activity of business
setup, both on a small and large scale, that
helps a person gain profit by taking on financial
risks. Covid brings disaster and awareness at
the same time. It helps people learn how to
manage and tackle unfortunate situations.
The awareness about entrepreneurship comes
with e-commerce websites and channels like
Enablers, Extreme e-commerce by Sunny
Ali, and digital platforms like Digi skills, etc.
Covid changes the flow of economy from B2B
to business to individuals. A lot of people,
mostly housewives, students, and single
mothers started their small set up and started
working online after getting skills from any of
these digital platforms that are offering their
services free of cost. It not only brings money
to the people but also stabilizes the shivering
economy of Pakistan during the Corona
outbreak. During and after corona our main
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 55

goal is to uphold and sustain more consistent,
equivalent, and inductive economies and
societies in Pakistan.
It’s a time for women who are struggling from
unemployment to start entrepreneurship
because it’s a necessity caused by Covid-19.
“About 40% of employed women that are
working in some hard-hit sectors lost their jobs
during the pandemic as compared to 36.6% of
Men” (McEachern).
What are the main factors behind this Boom?
• Economic breakdown
• A lot of free time
• More time spent on social media platforms
(that cause awareness itself)
• An additional source of income (main source
for those who lost their jobs during corona)
• To be shoulder for your partner and parents
during a crisis (economical stability)
• Shared responsibility
• Increase in consumer online buying behavior
during corona
Female Resellers:
As a head of Sales in one of the leading
clothing brands, Zellbury, I acknowledged and
appreciated the work done by female resellers
during this disastrous pandemic. With the
surge of Covid our hand-to-hand business was
affected but there comes the online business
that starts booming. Our online sales start to
increase rapidly. And a lot of small businesses
start to approach us. Many females contacted
me with the reference of their small start-
up of Instagram or Facebook pages while
few are selling live on YouTube as well. It’s
overwhelming for me to encounter the level
of hard work and consistency these women
are showing and how they own their small but
personal setups. These female resellers are so
devoted and self-made.
Online Consumer Behavior:
Pandemics shifts everything from physical to
online. Online education, online business, and
online buying as well. This online consumer
behavior proves to be the best and fortunate
for those females who are not allowed or
comfortable in going outside to earn some
bucks for their families.
Covid year (2020) wasn’t the worst year
for those who were earning online. Many
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 56
Recognizing
females started their online reselling pages.
These females buy clothes, shoes, and other
accessories in bulk from wholesale and then
sell them online with a great amount of profit.
UMT Legacy
As we all know that Covid bounds us to our
houses. And most of us are not going outside to
get something for ourselves. And these pages
help us get clothes and other accessories in the
Families
minimal price range on our doorstep within a
few days. Isn’t it amazing?
Not just clothing but these food services like
Panda Mart, Bykea, Airlift, Foodpanda, Careem,
and Uber also proves to be our companions
during outbreak. So, it will be incorrect to
say that 2020 is the worst year for everyone. Rukhsana Anjum (Mother) Tazeen Sehar (Daughter)
Yes, it caused a lot of disturbance but it also MS(AL) – 2013 BBA(H)- 2013 , MBA(Ev)- 2018
edifies us how to get used to things that came
anonymously.
Professor in English, BS-20 Marketing Executive
“The ripple effects of COVID-19 have Govt College of Technology, Lytton Instructor Brandon Lahore
demonstrated the enormous obstacles women Road Lahore.
face, but also their resiliency and ability to
overcome even the greatest of challenges. With
the right tools and support in place, women
will be able to achieve so much more”, Gillan
and Bosman say.
Contemporary World:
Women are now equally supporting men in
almost every field. And in some professions,
they are working flawlessly like blogging and
content writing. We all know and can smell
the change in our working course. We are
moving toward the digital world. And digital
space is for everyone irrespective of their
gender, nationality, and more importantly their
qualification. Most of the working people on
digital platforms have minimal education but
they are succeeding in their careers. Because
digital platforms are giving them opportunities
without judging them based on their degrees
but their skills. That’s why we have a very
diverse population on online platforms that are
working with minimum investments and bulk
turnovers. This is called an actual contemporary
world where everyone has equal opportunity
in every possible field. And everything is under
his/her control because you are your own BOSS
here.
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 57
 PHOTOGRAPHY
Muhammad Omer Shabbir
BS EE – YEAR 2013
SAFETY ENGINEER | COMBINED GROUP COMPANY
KUWAIT

ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 58 ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 59

THE IMPACT OF
COVID ON
SDGs AND NEW
WORKSCAPE
By
Ahmad Hafeez Anjum
Team Lead
Sustainable Development Initiative
SDI - University of Management and Techonology
The world is changing drastically, the spread
of Covid 19 has brought many new challenges,
the social life, environment, academia, and
workplaces are not as they used to be, the new
normal whereby it is bringing new challenges,
it is also providing new opportunities, the
workscape has evolved from 9 hours a day to
flexible work timings, this has not only provided
comfort to the workforce but also increased
their productivity. On the other hand, many
who were not able to earn a proper livelihood
for themselves before Covid or were engaged
with jobs that required public dealing were hit
hard and left unattended.
The world needs sustainable development
goals now more than ever. The charity or the
work development sector has proved to be not
more than a patchwork as all their programs
were disrupted and still have not been able
to operate at par. All the stakeholders are
convinced now that they should work and build
sustainable operations or projects so that no
anomaly can halt their organizational working
and operations.
The pandemic has severely threatened the
achievement of Sustainable Development
Goals, as a retort to the COVID-19, the world
needs a new definition of the entire concept
of the SDGs, the UN has already started
reconceptualization of the global goals and
its SDGs 2030 agenda. Being the torchbearer
of research and innovations, industry and
academia have now more responsibility for
them, their previous arguments and policies
have lost the battle against Covid as it has
challenged the concept of sustainability which
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 60
Alumni Award 2022
C- Level Executive
Alumni Award 2022
all stakeholders were emphasizing as their Gul -e- Mariam
sole purpose.To cater to the new challenges, • Chairperson - Rural Development
all stakeholders including, academia, industry, Foundation of Pakistan
government, and development organizations • Board Member Pakistan Alliance for
should come together and discuss their Girls Education
problems and bottlenecks and how combined • Board member of National Curriculum
efforts can provide a better and more workable Council to devise Single National
solution to the problems. Curriculum in private , public schools
The new workscape has highlighted the need and Madrasahs of Pakistan
for a new skill set than a degree to survive and
acquire a better job in the relevant industry.
The industry has realized that people can work
from home and can be more productive than
coming to an office for a specific number of
hours, academia is teaching online so in the
future university infrastructure will not matter
if their focus is on providing quality education
and employability opportunities.
The development sector has seen that
providing food to the needy will not eliminate C- Level Executive
hunger and poverty, it can only be eradicated Alumni Award 2022
by providing the needy with the marketable
skillset which one can use to provide food
Mukaram Mukhtar
for itself and family. The government is also
Commercial Head Digital Industries
realizing that including SDGs in their national
Punjab Region
policies is not enough, they have to work
together with all stakeholders and make a
sustainable model which not only helps the SIEMENS
needy but also builds future leaders.
To conclude, a sustainable policy is not only the
state’s responsibility, but it is the responsibility
of all stakeholders to work for the collective
goal and provide the resources and research
in relevance to a single national agenda. Only
then a sustainable social, environmental, and
economic development is possible.
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 61

By
Zain Qazi
BS (TXE) - Year 2014
Sr Deputy Manager - Product
Development
Naveena Denim Ltd
CEO - ChaiRusk
Nowadays, a nice pair of jeans is an
essential part of a modern wardrobe
which is fashionable as well as long-lasting
as compared to conventional fabric, it
grows into an important part of our casual
attire. Denim fabric’s market worth was 21.8
billion dollars in 2020, and it was predicted
to reach over 26 billion dollars by the year
2026. Its retail sales are by far the most valuable
channel in the denim industry. By 2027, the retail
sales value is expected to be over 71.8 billion USD.
That year, the worldwide denim jeans market is
expected to be worth roughly 87.4 billion dollars.
If we talk about Pakistan Denim Industry, it’s
now a Denim Hub in the region in less than a
decade and is considered as one of the leading
suppliers of quality denim fabric to
the world’s known brands for the
garments like Levi’s, ZARA,
JCPenny, GAP, Next, M&S,
H&M, Bershka, Mango, Pull
and Bear, etc. According
to figures from the
Pakistan Bureau of
Statistics, Pakistan’s
textile and garment
exports increased by
22.94% to $15.4 billion
in the Fiscal Year 2020-
21 (July 2020-June
2021). Though it’s a
very good sign for
Pakistan’s economy
and despite the
positive outlook for
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 62
SUSTAINABLE DENIM
INDUSTRY
IS THE
NEW NORMAL
the denim industry, denim manufacturers are
under pressure to adapt their manufacturing
practices in order to address environmental
concerns as per COP26 (United Nations Climate
Change Conference) held this month.
With such astonishing sales figures, it’s
apparent that the manufacturing of jeans has
a considerable influence on worker health
and impact on the environment. BLUE is not
so “GREEN” because Denim manufacturing
procedures emit a large number of greenhouse
gases, their influence on the environment is
not minimal. However, with their sustainable
approach, denim producers are always
attempting to decrease these environmental
impacts. Although making jeans in the
traditional technique may not appear to be
a major concern in terms of sustainability
at first look, the size of the industry and the
methods of jeans production make a significant
difference. Imagine the environmental impact
of the denim industry if all of the world’s jeans
were produced using environmentally friendly
methods.
Sideways from the massive water usage, denim
manufacturing is also a well-known source
of water contamination. Garment production
pollutes over 70% of Asia’s rivers and lakes, with
denim being a major wrongdoer. Chemicals are
used extensively in the manufacturing process,
resulting in a run-off that ends up in bodies
of water. These chemicals, which include lead
and mercury, are also toxic to workers and
communities where factories are set up.
Sustainability is entirely depending upon
Research and Development goings-on in any
company; if an organization does not spend
on R&D, there will be zero innovation and
hence “No Sustainability”. Fortunately, as
part of business goals and as to protect the
environment, several denim firms in Pakistan
are working hard to embrace greener ways and
developing new procedures for manufacturing
jeans. They recognize the significance and
necessity of establishing a long-term business.
Many classic denim brands, such as Levi’s,
Nudie Jeans and G-Star, have implemented
eco-friendly manufacturing processes and
lifecycle procedures in response to the
increasing competition from new-generation
designer brands.
In Pakistan, Denim manufacturers are doing
so much for making the environment less
poisoning such as;
• Sustainable Fibers: (Bast, Re-Gen and
Traceable Fibers)
The use of eco-friendly fibers and cotton
substitutes have been elevated, like Hemp,
Linen, Tencel, Ecover, Modal, etc. has been
introduced in the denim industry to make it
more socially responsible.
• Post and Pre-Consumer Waste:
The use of PCW cotton and recycled polyester
(recycled pet-bottles) yarn has reduced new
cotton and virgin polyester use in denim.
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 63

• Pro-Laser Dyeing Techniques (Laser
efficient rope dyeing):
Improvement of Ring dyeing effect or surfaced-
indigo coating in rope dyeing, as to achieve
laser friendly fabrics which reduces chemical
and water use afterwards.
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 64
• Water-Less / Less-Water Dyeing Techniques:
By the addition of innovative chemicals in rope
dyeing, can have a better yield and improve
crocking as well as can save water.
• Patented Spray Dyeing for Yarn and Fabric
(Rota Spray):
The non-contact spray application allows the
defined application indigo rope dyeing by using
very less water, chemicals and auxiliaries.
• Patented Indigo Foam Dyeing for Yarn and
Fabric (Indigood):
Indigood is a foam dyeing method that
eliminates over 99% of water from the dyeing
process.
• Patented Electricity Indigo Dyeing for Yarn
(Smart-Indigo):
Smart-Indigo is an electrochemical technique
that uses a lot less energy than conventional
methods. This approach uses only electricity,
water, indigo dye, and caustic soda, hence uses
6 times less energy, resulting in a 10-times
reduction in carbon footprint.
• Sustainable Sulphur Dyeing Technique
(Advanced Denim by Archroma):
ADVANCED DENIM technique is an ecofriendly
denim dyeing process. Instead of indigo, the
Denim-Ox and Pad/Sizing-Ox processes use a
new generation of concentrated Sulphur dyes
that are more environmentally friendly.
• Ozone Denim Fabric Finishing Technique
(G2 Dynamic by Jeanologia):
G2 Dynamic is a continuous fabric finishing
ozone technology. It’s a water-saving and toxic
chemical-free alternative to some of the most
water-intensive and polluting fabric finishing
methods. We can achieve the necessary results
in less time, resulting in resource savings
in both the fabric production and garment
manufacturing.
• Smart-Foam Washing Technique:
Smart foam is changing the way denim
garments are finished. Smart foam uses a
patent-pending technique to reduce natural
resource usage, making sustainable clothing
production simple and affordable.
• Eco-Wash by Nano Bubble Technology:
We can apply resin, bleach, water repellent
chemical, softener and enzymes etc using Nano
Bubble Technology, which takes air from the
atmosphere and converts it into Nano bubbles.
This saves approximately 95% of water, 50% of
chemicals, and 80% of energy.
• Patented Stone less Wash System
(DEWELLI):
It’s a new washing industry technology that
entirely removes the pumice stone while
maintaining the same effect. Pumice stone
pollutes the environment and water, creates
solid waste, and raises manufacturing costs.
Without the use of a pumice stone, this product
achieves the same effect during the washing
process.
• LASER Technology in Apparel Industry:
Lasers machines in denim apparel industry
can provide a wide range of finishing effects
that would usually need various chemical and
mechanical finishing procedures and multiple
pieces of equipment, making these systems
both versatile and ecofriendly. Laser technology
gives maximum production flexibility, precision,
and power with excellent cost-effectiveness.
The latest advancements in the denim
industry will shortly result in significant
improvements. Denim firms must calculate
their environmental impact in order to
safeguard the environment while both profiting
from the business, as a response to the desire
for sustainable jeans.
The simple truth is that we all have a role to
play in making denim more ecological and
nature friendly, as it has historically been
destructive to the environment. Whether
it’s repurposing an old pair of work jeans or
purchasing sustainably made denim, our
individual choices will hopefully encourage
textile manufacturers to adopt more
environmentally friendly practices for the sake
of our planet’s future.
Our personal and professional lives were turned
upside down during COVID Pandemic. We
were all looking for methods to adjust to this
new normal, which isn’t easy given that denim
businesses are collapsing and small firms are
closing. We all emerge from this COVID-19
disaster, we have just a choice; we can either
put back together the denim industry as it
was before, which was wasteful, polluting,
and brittle, or we can reform it and develop
an industry that will help us thrive in the
long-term which will clearly be SUSTAINABLE
because “There is no PLANET-B”.
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 65

By
Raheela Naz
MPhil (AL) – Year 2015
Education Strategist, Project Manager
Senior Team Lead
Mumkin Hey
I am a child whose teacher is LOVE, surely
my master won’t let me grow to be a fool. -
Rumi
The advantage of emotions is that they
lead us astray, and the advantage of
science is that it is not emotional. - Oscar
Wild, 1891; The Picture of Dorian.
I remember, in our school, we had
the privilege of learning from highly
talented, learned, and skilled
teachers, with strict discipline to
follow. We used to participate in
extra-curricular activities that were
held recurrently throughout the
year. Our school was a hub of
constructive activities such as
sports, social work, volunteer
activities, fun activities
(Meena Bazaar), creative and
constructive competitions,
literary programs, etc. In spite
of this rich environment,
there remained something
missing. This missing
element developed a kind of
suffocation in the teaching
and learning process.
Children were taught as
machines, not as human
beings. They have emotions,
feelings, opinion, and their
own point of view about
life and facts. They come
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 66
SCHOOLS CAN BUILD OR
DESTROY A CITY IF THE
TEACHING AND LEARNING
PROGRAM NEGLECTS
THE EMOTIONAL LITERACY
ENVIRONMENT!
to school with issues in life such as abuse,
violence, deprivation, bullying, poverty, difficult
relationships, blackmailing, etc.; making them
worried or depressed. But in school, who was
responsible for listening to their issues and
empowering them with the right information
and support. No one!
Unfortunately, the same environment still exists
in our schools, even after decades. Suicides,
depression, and drug use among teenagers
have increased. Dr Murad Musa Khan, chairman
of the Department of Psychiatry at Aga
Khan University Hospital, Karachi elaborates
reasons for suicide, including “academic
pressures, relationship problems, identity
problems, parental discord, use of drugs,
bullying (including cyber-bullying)”. He further
says, “If they don’t have the right balance of
opportunities, resources, and hope, they can get
‘bored’ and hopeless,”. The annual report of the
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (2012)
claims that teenage girls in Karachi commit
suicide because of poverty and uncertain
future.
Our schools focus on academic and cognitive
aspects of students’ learning but, unfortunately,
emotional literacy gets ignored immensely.
Negligence of this fact ruins all investment
parents put in the well-being of their children.
Per year, children spend 1500 hours in their
school. In a study conducted in Karachi
(Hussein, 2008), girls experienced emotional
problems, and boys faced issues related to
peers.
The alarming situation is that children’s
emotional health has been a highly neglected
research area in Pakistan. One study was held
in Lahore in 1992 by Javed Kundi and Khan for
analyzing children’s (9-11 years) emotional and
behavioral problems in schools.
The study found that 93% of students suffered
anti-social problems. 42% of children were
found “abnormal” on the scale; 61% of students
were boys. The study showed worse conditions
for students in the community schools.
16%- 21% of the school children in Lahore
suffered intense emotional and behavioral
problems, calling for clinical attention. (Saleem
and Mahmood, 2011)
According to another research study conducted
in Karachi by Syed, Hussein, and Yousafzai
(2007), to analyze emotional and behavior
problems amongst 5-11 years old school
children, 47% of children were found to
be Normal, 19% on Borderline, and 34% as
Abnormal.
42-30% of children experienced abnormal
behavior reported by their parents in another
study conducted by Hussein (2008) for
evaluating conduct problems in private and
community schools. In the same survey, girls
experienced intense abnormal behavioral
characteristics than boys. The study found that
these children were suffering from behavioral
issues more than in other countries; 7% of
boys and 3% of girls suffer conduct disorder in
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 67

developing countries. (Mullick and Goodman,
2005).
Children suffer developmental issues when
conduct problems persist continuously.
That can affect their relationship with peers,
teachers, parents and leads to unsatisfactory
performance at school, personality disorder,
and later on in life, restricted employment
opportunities. Such children may suffer
depression, closing doors of happiness and
success for them.
Emotional literacy has been termed as a self-
science; helping children identify and change
emotions, motivate themselves, and empathize
with others.
Mostly in our schools, academic and cognitive
aspects of learning play a vital role in the
students’ personality development. The main
factor, to growing a strong personality, has
not been given priority. In the absence of an
emotional literacy environment, students
cannot meet the standards of the competitive
and global workforce, adaptability, and stress
management.
Emotional literacy is not just related to
teaching students how to face bullying, verbal
abuse, anxiety, and anti-social behavior but to
empowering students to meet the challenges
of living and working in the modern-day world.
Here are given six steps, a school can
implement an effective emotional literacy
environment:
1. A school must develop an emotional literacy
program based on five competencies: self-
awareness, self-management (regulation), social
awareness, responsible decision making. (Zins,
Weissberg, et al, 2004).
2. To achieve positive youth development, a
school needs to teach emotional literacy across
the curriculum.
3. For emotional, social and academic
learning, a school needs to provide a quality
environment to students. For this, a school
should offer opportunities for “empowerment
and skill-building, the presence of supportive
adults and peers and be safe and orderly”
(Catalano; et al, 2004). Students must feel
confident and autonomous in this environment.
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 68
Recognizing
4. A school must grow such initiatives in the
school, enabling youth to contribute positively
to society with responsibility, in the presence
of contextual reality such as “low family socio-
UMT Legacy
economic status segregated economically in
the depressed neighborhood”. (McEvoy Welker,
2000).
5. Youth that does not build an emotional
Families
connection with their school, suffer from
low grades, disruptive behavior, and less
attention in the absence of a healthy learning
environment. Quality content instructions
and teachers’ positive relationship with youth
provide the enabling environment, helping
them to lead a happy and responsible life. It
is an evidence-based fact that students model Amaaem Abuzar (Daughter) Abuzar Qaseem (Father)
the behavior of teachers and instructions in BS(CH) – UMT Student BCS – 1999
their practical life. Senior Manager, EMEA
6. Personality development programs can help
students reduce risky behavior, drugs, violence
Support Resolution
and adapt pro-social behavior, exercise, Dell Technologies Dubai
leadership, and healthy peer relationship.
A school can play a vital role in teaching
students how to be successful and responsible
citizens by integrating an impactful emotional
literacy environment with its academic and
cognitive development programs.
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 69
Success
Story
Sidra Jahangir
MPhil (MC) – Year 2016
Producer/Reporter
Pakistan Television Corporation
Limited (PTV)
J
ournalism has always been my
passion that is why I chose a career
in journalism. I am working in media
for more than 8 years. Currently, I am
associated with Pakistan Television
News as a Reporter/News Producer. It
wasn’t an easy journey. These years were full of
struggle, disappointments, and hard work. The
key to success is ‘never give up.
Today I am honored to be a part of a state-
owned television channel. Pakistan Television
is not only a television channel; it is an
institution. It taught me a lot. PTV gave a so
much confidence and respect. It gave me
opportunities that private channel employees
can dream of.
I completed my MPhil degree from UMT in
Media and Communication in 2016. It was
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 70
a great learning experience. Working and
studying at the same time was tough but
it made me who I am today. Late Dr Hasan
Sohaib Murad was my mentor. His charismatic
personality was always an inspiration for the
students.
I started my career as an associate producer
in a private channel. My 8 years’ career was a
roller coaster ride. I have seen many ups and
downs in the media industry. But I decided not
to give up. Finally, I am at a point in my career
where I am proud of all the sufferings I had to
go through. I am happy that I never gave up.
Working with Pakistan Television is a great
experience. I covered blast news, elections,
and so many important events without gender
biases. I was an introvert by nature and people
discouraged me a lot. Everyone said that I can
never be a journalist. But I worked hard. It is
hard to go against your nature but if you are
passionate, no one can stop you. I proved that
no matter how much the world tries to hold
you back, always continue with the belief that
what you want to achieve is possible. Believing
you can become successful is the most
important step in actually achieving it.
Every obstacle we come across in life gives us
an opportunity to improve our circumstances,
and whilst the lazy complain, the others are
creating opportunities through their kind
hearts, generosity, and willingness to get things
done.
Our struggles in life develop our strengths.
Without struggles, we never grow and never
get stronger, so it’s important for us to tackle
challenges on our own, and not be relying on
help from others.
When I decided to do my Master in Media and
communication, everyone made fun of me.
“You will do media studies and media job? You
can’t talk properly”. Even my teachers said that
I have wasted a seat. It was heartbreaking. I
worked hard and proved myself. I studied day
and night. Did all my projects, assignments,
and presentations with great devotion. This
dedication blessed me with a gold medal.
After completing my Masters, getting a job was
my priority. Although my parents were not in
this favor. They wanted me to get married. I
tried applying for jobs. I was lucky enough to
get a job without references and experience
in a channel that was not on-air at that time.
Channel was in making. I learned a lot from
that channel. Actually, the knowledge we get
through books during studies is quite different
from real working life. Working experience
teaches you a lot. And if you get to work with
professional people, you learn a lot.
After switching 3 channels, I finally started
working with PTV. This is the best experience
until now. The organization itself is an
institution. People here are so professional and
competent. Every day you learn something
new. Whether it’s news-making, package
production, reporting, panel production, PTV
news gives you an opportunity to experience
and master every field.
When I went for reporting for the first time,
I was getting nervous. Holding PTV mic and
facing camera was such a great experience
that cannot be expressed in words. My two
colleagues went to that event with me. They
actually wanted to make me nervous but, on
the spot, they helped me a lot. Taught me how
to face the camera with a smile and confidence.
They were standing with the cameraman
behind the camera, holding the script for me
to read. I can never forget that day. Today, I am
confident and faced cameras so many times
but still, I am thankful to them.
I believe in teamwork. The whole team is
responsible for a good project. I am proud to
be a part of this organization. How to write a
good script, select beautiful and appropriate
words, what is proper Urdu accent, how to read
a script, and a lot more that I have learned from
my legend seniors.
My message for students and freshers is to
try hard and believe in yourself until you see
success despite how many times you have
failed. It is quite common for many people to
give up after many setbacks and failures. In
reality, there is no gain without pain. So, try
hard to achieve success in life despite what life
offers you.
Sometimes, life offers you situations that not
only demand hard work and perseverance
but some patience. You should identify your
priorities in life and develop a good strategy
to work towards fulfilling them rather than
wasting your time and effort on unnecessary
aspects of life.
Always listening to “you can’t do this” irritates
you. Some people get disheartened and few
make it a challenge for them. Always focus on
what you want to do rather than what others
are saying, people, will discourage you no
matter what. It is up to you to make yourself
strong and set your goal. After all, you are the
driver of your life, never handover the steering
of your life to others.
Failures and struggles are part of professional
life. Yet, if you continue on your way to success,
you finally achieve massive success in the
fields of expertise. No hurdle or a person can
stop you ever in your way towards success.
This is nature’s way of telling the importance
of struggles in life. Sometimes, different kinds
of struggles are needed in life to make you
stronger in the future. Never feel disappointed
in life and stop trying when life offers you
struggles but keep on fighting until you see
success. I wish every student gets a professional
life of his/her dreams, Ameen.
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 71

By
Maidah Safdar
MS(Eco) – Yr. 2020
The act of looking at a collection of written symbols
and extracting meaning from them is “Reading”. When
we read we use our eyes to obtain written symbols
(letters, punctuation marks and spaces) and we use our
brain to translate them into sentences, phrases and
paragraphs that express something to us. Reading
can be done at heart or aloud. Kids who read
aloud get rid of their bad pronunciation soon.
Good readers build up a sense of
comprehension through their experiences
of prior knowledge, reading strategies,
vocabulary and visualizing or imagining
the text as a real performance.
Reading is an essential key to success.
If children do not learn to read at their
appropriate age they will definitely lag
behind from their curriculum in their
school as well in the class. They will not
be able to pick up the pace with their
peers and will eventually leave school
without being qualified enough to read.
Teachers play a crucial role in helping
their students to read efficiently.
Research has shown that practicing
reading instructions with the students
enables them to read fluently,
with proper pronunciation and
simultaneously understanding the
meaning of the text. This exercise helps
them to communicate with each other
orally and in writing.
Important steps taken by a good
reader:
• Set Out Goals
• Draw Inferences
• Keep a Thesaurus or Dictionary
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 72
A writer ONLY begins a book
and A reader finishes it____
Samuel Johnson
WHAT DOES A good
reader DO?
• Imagination
• Selective Reading
• Improves Spoken and Language
• Reads Good Literature that Maintains Stable
Mental Health
• Ability to Connect with the Content
• Enjoy and Appreciate Literature
• Summarize the Content
These steps are explained one by one below:
• Set Out Goals
A good reader can set out the goals before
reading a text. The reader makes points about
the structure or organization of the text, they
also make an outline to take its overview to
check its relevancy according to their goals.
• Draw Inferences
Good readers can draw the meanings of
the text, through their ability and skills to
understand it. Their intuitions work for them.
Reading practice enables them to comprehend
the hidden meanings within the text such
as they get to know the unraveling incidents
in the text or why is a particular character
behaving in a certain way and what will
happen next.
• Keep a Thesaurus or Dictionary
People who are fond of reading always keep
a thesaurus or a dictionary with them. I
personally think that one cannot enjoy the text
fully without knowing the meanings of the
difficult words. It is suggested that whenever
you find a hard word search for it in the
dictionary and write its meaning in your little
diary so that you remember it for the future.
• Imagination
Good readers have a great imagination, while
reading they can imagine and have visual
images of what is happening in the story. They
get too absorbed into it that they can create
their own world of fantasy.
“Something very magical can happen when you
read a good book” J.K Rowling
• Selective Readers
Good readers become selective because they
focus their attention on the reading goals they
have set. Usually, when they understand the
concept of the story they try to skip the parts
where the plot becomes tedious or stretched.
They are only interested in the parts where the
story has a twist or something new to serve.
They sometimes also leave those parts when
they find they have read something similar like
that before.
• Improves Spoken and Language
Good readers learn the pronunciation of the
words and improve their speaking skills with
time. They come across many words that are
difficult to pronounce but with the help of the
thesaurus, they get through it easily. By the
time they become well-spoken and learned
intellectuals.
• Reads Good Literature that Maintains Stable
Mental Health
Reading is to mind what exercise is to the
body. This means reading good literature
progressively entertains your mind. It helps you
to think critically, intellectually and liberally.
Good readers always read worthy compositions
to maintain a healthy mindset and an ethical
lifestyle. They avoid bad and indecent content
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 73

that affects their minds ineffectively.
“All readers are good readers when they have
the right book” Jeanne Herry
• Ability to Connect with the Content
Reading is the name of connecting yourself
with the story mentally and emotionally.
The characteristic of a good reader is that
he compares himself with the text in the
light of his own experiences. The more you
are connected to the story the more you will
understand it. Connectivity can build a sense of
empathy in you which is very important.
“We lose ourselves in books and we find
ourselves there”
“I am a part of everything I have read” Theodore
Roosevelt
• Enjoy and Appreciate Literature
They take pleasure and respect in the literature
they read. They do not feel bored or frustrated
about the content because they have a passion
to read and find it fascinating. Good readers
respond to the text efficiently and effectively.
• Summarize the Content
When good readers understand the story or a
certain text they are ready to summarize it in
their own words. The process of reading and
understanding helps them to write a review or
briefly explain it in their own words.
So, when you will finish reading this article on
good readers you will definitely want to buy a
good book of your taste and will follow the tips
given above. These tips will surely help you to
develop your interest in reading and increase
your vocabulary. Our daily lives which seem
to be very busy and hectic have a maximum
screen time of five to eight hours. We should
take out some time for our leisure and invest it
in reading a good book. It will essentially assist
you to develop a sense of comprehension and
creativity. Reading books can make you relax
and refresh your brain from the tiring routine.
Good books create good readers and good
readers take advantage of their knowledge and
write useful literature for the people. I would
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 74
Recognizing
recommend you to read good content as much
as you can so that you turn out to be a good
reader and a keen observer. I hope this brief
article on “what good readers do?” might make
UMT Legacy
you a good reader too!
Here are some wise words from the world-
famous writers and personalities, Just take a
moment to appreciate their famous sayings
Families
and quotes about reading.
“An investment in knowledge pays the best
interest” Benjamin Franklin
“Only a generation of good readers will spawn a
generation of good writers” Steven Spielberg
“Learn to be good readers, which is perhaps Ayesha Haseeb (Daughter) Haseeb Haider
a more difficult thing than you can imagine.
Learn to be discriminative in your reading to
BID – UMT Student MBA(E) - 2002
read faithfully and with your best attention all Senior Manger Examinations
kinds of things that you have a real interest University of Management
in not imaginary and in which you find to be and Technology
really fit for what you are engaged in.” Thomas
Carlyle
“Some readers allow their prejudices to blind
them. A good reader knows how to disregard
inappropriate responses.” John Barton
“Better readers are better thinkers” James
Patterson
“Maybe this is why we read and why in
moments of darkness we return to books: to
find words we already know” Alberto Manguel
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 75
Success
Story
Haseeb Ullah Khan
BS(ES)
Establishment of
My Sports Career
I started my International sports career in
2011 where I participated in under 16 Asia
Cup, giving my best performance. Then I
was selected in Under 19 Baseball team
where I participated in a few tournaments
and I continued my sports career. Later, I got
my name in Pakistan’s senior team where I
played several tournaments Nationally and
Internationally and won many medals and also
got a scholarship from UMT on sports basis. I
still am playing my part for Pakistan National
Baseball team.
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 76
Journey of
Entrepreneurship
When I got Admission in UMT I joined many
extracurricular activities which motivated me in
my daily life and my career as an entrepreneur
where I gained a lot of knowledge and got a
lot of experience. My experience made me win
the All Pakistan Entrepreneur Business Idea
sponsored by Sprite and I won a huge amount
of money to open up my own restaurant. Now
my aim is to get more excellence in this field in
order to be more successful.
My Message for
the Youngsters
I will just give one message that
I learnt during my educational as
well as entrepreneurship journey
that is “Passion is Priceless”. Follow
your heart and it will generate the
best outcomes.
Being my Own Boss Awards and
Finishing my degree and gaining a lot of life
experience, now I am doing my own business
Accomplishments
I received an Emerging Baluchistan Award from
in Quetta (Baluchistan) as a Government
Government of Baluchistan on March 25, 2021
Contractor and also associated with DHA where
and I was also nominated as the best Baseball
we build roads, houses, buildings hospitals
and Rugby player of Baluchistan for which I will
etc. As I am from Baluchistan and Baluchistan
be awarded a Diamond Jubilee Award.
will be the main hub in CPEC (China-Pakistan
Economic Corridor) so I am also connected
with CPEC in Baluchistan’s South region
where we work together to make Baluchistan
beautiful and Pakistan successful.
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 77

By
Nashmia Habib
DNS – Year 2021
Senior Officer - Content Writer
University of Management
and Technology
We all are in the quest for a solution through which our bellies can
vanish and our fat can evaporate. As a chubby kid I always wished
for a magic wand that could turn me thin in a “whoosh”. We all have
thought of ways of melting ourselves with hot belts or compressing
our bodies under body shapers. After trying these fat loss schemes
you will definitely loose trust in the fitness industry.
The secret sauce to weight loss is way simpler than you can imagine.
All you need is consistency and patience. As a Doctor of Nutrition
I want the world to know a few tricks that aid in losing weight.
We’ll go through them one by one.
1. Fiber on an Empty Stomach
Trick one is having something fiber rich on an empty
stomach. Now it is up to you to choose what suits your
taste buds and your morning routine. The options you have
are chia seeds, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, ispaghol husk
or bran cereal. Taking this on an empty stomach will
clear away all the toxins and keep your gut healthy.
For your knowledge a healthy gut is the basis of a
healthy living.
2. The Right Nutrition Plan
I would not urge you to get a plan for yourself from
the nutritionist because people trust the abilities
of Google way more. The objective is just to get a
plan that targets your goals with the right calorie
intake and is not at all boring to follow. A plan
helps you stay focused and aligns eating habits.
3. Meal Timings
The most important aspect that we mostly ignore
is the timing of our meals. One should be eating
their breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks on the
same time each and every day. The reason this
part is important is because every time we eat
our body secrete the hormone insulin as the
sugar content rises in the body. When the
body clock knows when to secrete insulin
and when not to, the process is harmonized
and digestion with other processes takes
place well. On the other hand, when we are
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 78
THE PERFECT
WEIGHT LOSS
GUIDE
consuming meals on discrete times our body
clock loses control and the mechanism does
not remain balanced resulting in weight issues.
4. Exercise
Definitely it’s tough to take out time from your
busy schedules and hop in the gym to workout
but believe me it really works. Actually it’s not
important to just workout in the gym but any
physical activity can help. It can be running in
the park, skipping rope in your garden, playing
football with friends or maybe dancing in your
room. All this activity aids in burning calories,
increasing your metabolic rate and facilitates in
shaping you up. So don’t forget to move!
5. Optimistic Attitude
I’ve seen people losing weight, getting down
in inches but still unhappy and stressed about
their weight goals. Never forget “Stress leads
to weight gain and fat accumulation in your
belly region”. If you really want to achieve your
fitness goals never worry about the progress
just stay focused and stick to your plan. A
positive attitude = positive outcomes. We just
need more patience. We need to wait long
enough for it to work.
6. Let Go of Emotional Eating
Eating a bunch of junk after 9 at night because
you feel you’re too old to go after your dreams.
Eating your face off all weekend because you’re
pissed that the scale didn’t move as fast as you
thought it should. Having a carbonated drink
every night because your spouse is gone with
friends, and you don’t know what to do with
yourself anymore. Stop doing this to yourself
and it will make a huge difference in your
dream body.
7. Sleeping Well and On Time
Everyone who needs to get to their goal weight
should get 6 to 8 hours of sleep otherwise, your
body can’t burn fat and will store it instead. In
order to sleep on time, make sure you turn off
your Wi-Fi and keep your phone very far away
from you when you jump into bed.
8. Stop Before Your Stomach Gets Full
Eat when you get hungry (not just when it’s
time or you want to) and stop right before
you’re full (instead of when you feel bloated
and start burping). Even our religion instructs
us to divide our stomach into three parts: one
for food, one for water and one for air. But we
fill all the parts with food and then complain
about weight issues.
9. Overcome The Feelings of Shame, Fear
and Confusion
Never ever think bad of yourself or have the
fear of facing public because you think they will
body shame you. Remember what you think of
yourself, others perceive you in the same way.
Be confident, be proud of yourself, love yourself
because everybody is beautiful in their own
way.
Good things add up over time. It just wasn’t on
the particular day we needed it to happen. The
diet industry has done a good job teaching us
how to be terrified of food. Thank you to all the
bat shit crazy diets that convinced us eating
1200 calories a day was “good for us.” Get out
of the diet trauma and skip all the excuses to
make a start. Believe me, results do happen,
you just need to be positive and make healthy
lifestyle changes in your daily routine.
Everybody needs to set goals and go after
them! So don’t wait and prepare to be the best
version of yourself.
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 79
HOW TO STOP
WORRYING AND
START LIVING
BY
DALE CARNEGIE
Book Review
By
Khadijha Tariq
BS(SS) – Year 2014
MPhil(MC) – Year 2017
I
nitially published in 1948, I must admit
that I was a little skeptical when I first
started reading this book in terms of its
practicality and applicability in concurrent
times. However, after starting this book, I
realized that this self-help book is here to
reign as a classic for many years to come and
deserves a special place on the bookshelves
of all the avid readers out there. In this book
review, I will discuss the contents of this
book, a chapter wise summary and some key
giveaways, so you can get an insight about
some life-changing lessons in this non-fiction
masterpiece.
Dale Carnegie, popularly known as the
godfather of self-help books, was an American
writer and lecturer. He has authored several
books, out of which some of the prominent
ones include: How to Win Friends and Influence
People (1936), How to Stop Worrying and Start
Living (1948), and Lincoln the Unknown (1932).
Carnegie’s books focus on ideas pertaining to
self-improvement, changing one’s behavior
towards other people and how to achieve
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 80
and gladness. So instead of dwelling on
thoughts of anger or revenge, he proposes the
readers to spend their time focusing on happy,
hopeful things. He further adds that worrying
about the past or future is pointless. The rule
is simple. Whatever happened in the past or
might happen in the future must not intrude
upon today. The best preparation is to do the
best you can, in life and work, in this present
moment.
The second part of the book discusses some
basic techniques to analyze worry. Carnegie
suggests that problem analysis takes place
in three steps: The first step is to write your
problems on a piece of paper in a clear and
orderly manner. In the second step the readers
should make a list of all the options they have,
after carefully analyzing the facts. In the third
step, they should dismiss their anxiety and
hesitations by arriving at a decision and acting
upon it. These simple steps can help people
in analyzing their worries and finding out the
right solutions to get rid of them.
In the third part of the book, Carnegie suggests
readers to let go the habit of worrying before
it breaks them. He provides readers with some
actionable advice to break this vicious cycle by
immediate success in life. He is regarded as
using the law of averages, a formula that can
the pioneer of public speaking and is known
help you outlaw your worries. He adds that
for deciphering the psychology of successful
circumstances are beyond human control and
people and how they aced their personal and
hence the best thing to do is to just lean back
professional lives, respectively.
and cooperate with the inevitable.
How to Stop Worrying and Start Living is
In the fourth part of the book Carnegie shares
divided into ten parts and each chapter is
one of the biggest lessons of his life: “If you
further divided into numerous sub-sections.
think fearful thoughts, you are fearful. If
The book starts with the philosophy that people
you think miserable thoughts, you become
try to fight their apprehensions by eliminating
miserable and if you think happy thoughts –
the sources that cause them. However, they
you guessed it – you become happy.” He advices
tend to forget that the majority of our worries
readers to stop evening things with their
are based on things that we cannot eliminate
enemies, as this would lead to frustration alone.
from our lives such as our job, children, family
The fifth part of the book focuses on Carnegie’s
life, financial difficulties and mental peace.
early life experiences and how he conquered
Carnegie suggests that instead of fighting our
his fears. He recommends the readers to learn
worries, we need to face these issues head-
the art of praying to ease their worries, while
on, along with changing our mental attitude
the sixth part discusses the pertinence of unjust
towards life.
criticism, as a disguised compliment from
The part one of the book focuses on
someone who is either jealous or feels envy.
fundamental facts that you should know about
Carnegie reminds readers to do the best they
worry. Carnegie asserts that fearful thoughts
can and fly right without taking notice of such
were dangerous and scary, while joyful
setbacks.
thoughts helped us fill our lives with pleasure
The seventh part of the book emphasizes
fighting fatigue and worries. He suggests
readers to rest before they get tired and
complete the most important tasks first. In
part eight. Carnegie shares the tricks to find
the right kind of work so you can be happy and
successful in life. He says, “The greatest tragedy
I know of is that so many young people never
discover what they really want to do.” “Find
work that you enjoy doing where time passes
by instantly.” “Don’t assume that you are only
fitted to one occupation.” The ninth chapter of
the book focuses on ways to lessen financial
worries and what factors cause them, while
the tenth chapter is extremely insightful, as it
contains 32 true stories to inspire readers to
conquer their fears and worries.
All in all, “How to Stop Worrying and Start
Living” is a must-read for all those people who
are struggling in their lives and are looking for
ways to handle their apprehensions wisely.
This book provides you with actionable pieces
of advice, simple practical exercises and the
correct course of action to fight the detrimental
effects of worrying. I highly recommend this
book, if you wish to lead a fulfilling life by
becoming more aware of yourself and the
people around you. This book can help you
fight the everyday nuances of living and refocus
on the more important aspects of life.
Best Quotes from the Book
• When we hate our enemies, we are giving
them power over us: power over our sleep, our
appetites, our blood pressure, our health, and
our happiness.”
• “Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.”
• “Two men looked out from prison bars, one
saw the mud, the other saw stars.”
• “A good deed, “said the prophet Mohammed
(PBUH), “is one that brings a smile of joy to the
face of another. “Why will doing a good deed
every day produce such astounding efforts
on the doer? Because trying to please others
will cause us to stop thinking of ourselves: the
very thing that produces worry and fear and
melancholia.”
• “I found it wasn’t so hard to live only one day
at a time. I learned to forget the yesterdays
and to not think of the tomorrows. Each
morning I said to myself, ‘Today is a new life.”
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 81
Success
Story
Reimyail Ashraf
I
BS(MC) – Year 2021
joined University of Management and
Technology with an absolute blank mind
and a little passion to touch the sky. I was
a medical student, who got too scared
to even attempt to get in any medical
institute. I wondered if I’ll be able to do
anything worthwhile. With right direction and
guidance from honourable faculty of University
of Management and Technology, I got to live
my dream.
I started my professional journey since semester
1, I took the golden opportunity provided to
me by UMT TV and started my training to be
a valuable member of society. Started with
production and after completing the duties for
9 months, my teachers motivated me to be a
part of on-camera team. I was not the best, but
that experience of a year helped me groom into
a confident and self-contained individual. UMT
TV was just the first step.
I got job of a program host in semester 3 and
I started getting invitations to host National
as well as International events. I remember
standing in front of crowd of 500 people from
11 different countries and thinking how I got
so lucky to experience this, well the path was
paved for me by my respected teachers and a
little credit goes to my commitment.
Along my way to graduation I scored 5 Dean
Merit Awards and 3 Rector Merit Awards
and graduated with Patron’s Medal. Felt an
absolute privilege and a dream come true! I
didn’t just ace my studies, I got a job as Digital
Content Writer with a Multinational firm in
5th semester. It might seems impossible or
too good to be true but I’ve lived that life and
enjoyed every bit of it. I used to work 9 hours
and then go straight to university, I basically
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 82
Write for the Next
Alumni Magazine
• An article based on your skills/expertise
• A short story
• A travelogue with photos
• Any other suitable literature for the magazine
Write-up Length: 1000 words
Target Audience |- The upcoming issue will be emailed to
20,000+ alumni (from fresh Graduates to CEO level), 25,000+
students, and will be published on social media. This will be a
good opportunity for you to showcase your expertise.
lived on 4 hours of sleep and energy drinks, not
a very healthy way to live but I must tell you a
very satisfying one! Send us your write-ups at alumni@umt.edu.pk
I followed the path showed to me by my
hardworking and respected teachers.
Along with my professional journey I left
no stone unturned in reaching new heights
academically. I did desertion as my Final Year
Project and worked on Critical Discourse
Analysis of Tweets of ISPR during recent
standoff between India and Pakistan. My
supervisor helped me every single step, as
much as possible. My thesis is appreciated by
each member of faculty and it brought a sense
of pride for doing something which matters in
the research field. I’m continuing my research
in next phase as well.
Because of proper mentorship from my faculty,
I’m studying at an International University in
United Kingdom with a Dean’s Scholarship
to help me manage my finances along with
a full time job as Social Media Expert in
multinational company managing clients all
over the world. Can somebody pinch me? For
me it is as unreal as it might sound to you.
When I started my journey I felt like a complete
failure but I’m a living proof for every student
out there that right motivation and hard work
can bring wonders in your life. Never give up on
your dreams!
I owe my success to University of Management
and Technology!
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 83
Success
Story
Rizwana Ashraf
MA(ELM) – Year 2019
Professional R&D, AM II and Chi-
nese Interpreter Foton JW Auto
L
Park (Pvt) Ltd
ife is a race which is all about winning.
But winning is not the only end point.
In life, we should understand no one
has made great achievements on the
first day. World famous personalities
did not become popular in one day.
They took lot of failures and challenges to
become what they are today.
Talking about myself I am an experienced
business professional having 8+ years of
National and International working experience
with a consistent track record of successfully
employing best business practices that improve
efficiency, reduce operating costs while
increasing productivity. Giving you all some
snapshots about my early life, it never has been
an easy life. I was born in a village situated in
the city of Chichawatni. My early education
from grade 1 to 6 is from Government Girls
Middle School and I always have been on the
top of the chart student. My parents saw my
passion and dedication towards education
and decided to put me in a private school as
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 84
the Government school was not meeting the
demand. Then I got enrolled in Dawn Girls
High School in Chichawatni, I studied there
from Grade 7 to Grade 10. The teachers’ there
played an important role in my grooming, to
improve my English and Urdu both, as in the
government school I had never studied English
of that level. My abba played an important role
to not just to pick and drop me to school but to
educate and guide me about life. He always has
been there by my side and I’m blessed to have
the best parents in the world who supported
their daughters dream to do something in life.
I did my graduation from Virtual University in
Bachelors in Business Administration - BBA
and then I requested my parents to allow me
to go to big cities like Lahore and Islamabad
but Allah had a different plan for me, things
got in my favor and I was granted a study visa
of China. I moved to China in September 2012
and then my dream journey started, though
things were hell difficult at the beginning;
different country, different people, different
culture, different language and biggest issue of
halal meals. Forgetting about all the difficulties
I just focused on my goal to “Do something
in life to make my parents and Country name
shine”. I’ve faced many ups and downs in life
but I decided to never quit. It was once said
by a wise man, “when faced by failures, do not
give up; keep trying till you meet success in
life”. Similarly, in our life we should wait with
patience. Hard work pays. So, we should “Never
Give Up” until we reach what we are focusing.
Hey, coming back from the memory lane, I got
an offer from an amazing lady Miss Yan to work
for her. I accepted the offer and got associated
with “Liang Bao Bei - 0123 Group” Company
and stayed associated with them from 2012 to
2016 for four long years. Working with them
was super amazing and I got them familiar
with Pakistani Culture as I took Pakistani
clothes for the kids, I was awarded as the best
employee award for four consecutive years. Not
only this but they have written an article on me
with the title “Love is the Universal Language
for All”. I got associated with Confucius
International school and colleges later and then
I came back to my home country at the end of
2016.
My brother Dr Muhammad Azeem (MBBS
Doctor + PHD in comparative Education),
recently working as associate professor with
China’s leading University played an important
role and got me enrolled in University of
Management and Sciences - UMT in January
2017 as I really wanted to complete my
masters. I studied in UMT in education
department with the program “Masters in
Education Leadership and Management - MA
(ELM). During my education I received 1 time
Deans’ Award and 2 times Rectors Award +
Gold Medal on my graduation ceremony. I
literally enjoyed my time in UMT.
Currently I’m working with Foton JW Auto Park
Pvt Ltd since 2018. My current designation is
Dy Manager Marketing and Strategic Planning.
Working with this company is just super
amazing under such an amazing boss. I’ve
learnt a lot from my boss (Mr Abid Saeed). He
is such an amazing boss and Auto Industry
expert, he taught me a lot. So, whatever I am
today in Auto Industry, he has played such a
major role in it.
Making that move:
To bring that missing “Peace” in my life, I go
here and there, from one orphanage to another,
from downtown to cities, to old age home to
providing food to street children. Don’t know if
I get back that peace or not but I got so much
love and I’m blessed Alhamdulillah. Allah has
chosen me for this job to serve His people. No
matter big or small, but at least it keeps us
going. I’m associated as Goodwill Ambassador
to “Mera Ghar Orphanage” project of “Equal
Foundation Trust”. I’m doing food drive for
street children, educational financial support
to children, monthly rashan support and
health support to needy. All these are my own
initiatives to help people because to love Allah
it’s important to love His people.
I’m a very ordinary person and just trying my
level best to do my best in whatever I do. I
believe
“At My Will, Mountains Will Crumble,
I’ll Drink The Ocean,
Says the Preserving Soul.
Have That Sort Of Energy, Work Hard,
and You’ll Reach The Goal”
My message for all my readers is “Anyone can
give up, it’s the easiest thing in the world to
do. But to hold it together when everyone
else would think you’re falling apart, that’s
true strength. Life is very interesting. In the
end, some of your greatest pains become your
greatest strengths. Strength does not come
from winning. Your struggles develop your
strengths. When you go through hardships and
decide not to surrender, that is strength.”
The world does not need more successful
people, but there is an urgent need for all sorts
of peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers,
and loving people.
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
1. 8+ Years of educational and industrial and
automotive experience
2. Passionate marketer who believes in success
is making those who believed in you look
brilliant
3. Exposure to education industry, China and
International ECE system, automotive and
chemical industries.
4. MA Leadership and Management from UMT,
Lahore - Gold Medalists (Score 3.95/4 GPA)
5. Experience of hosting National and
International Government delegates.
6. Educational writing presentation in
university hosted events and automotive
article writing.
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 85

INTROSPECTION
By
Kanwal Zaffar
MPhil(EL) - Year 2021
Teacher – Lahore Grammar
School
Recently, the most popular Korean Drama
‘Squid Game’ is surfacing everywhere on social
media. It is entertaining for some but a great
number are of those who are horrified and
detested to witness wastage of lives for the
sake of a mere game. That massive waste of
‘lives’ strikes us all, making us all wonder about
the sickening thought behind the production
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 86
and depiction of such a series. Each one of
us must have felt disgusted with the idea
of shedding blood for either a mercenary
ambition or entertainment purpose. But wait,
isn’t it the game, we are all the players of? Isn’t
the same trending dehumanization we project
vehemently in our lives every single day? Isn’t
this horrific production mirroring the real ‘us’?
‘We, the educated, civilized people don’t kill
people for the sake of money or fun’: an answer,
we might appease ourselves with. Forget
others, think deep, aren’t we the ones who are
butchering ‘us’ ‘ourselves’ every day? Aren’t we
the ones who rejoice in slaying our identity,
respect, values, and humanity? Startling
revelation…but sadly true!
I, a postgraduate, hale from the sacred lands
of Pakistan: a dream come true place, that
witnessed a blood-smitten history at its birth. I
belong to the country that got an infusion of its
spirit through the religion of Islam: an identity
that distinguishes me from the rest. So, I am
a Pakistani Muslim experiencing educational
ventures to benefit me and my beloved
country. This is my social, cultural, and morally
acceptable identity that I would showcase at
every junction of life. The ‘real’ me might be
someone who, like the masked agents of Squid
Game, appear to be much scarier. For decades,
I am engrossed in the game of racing madness;
the game which is conditioned to mark
transformation in the life of the player: like
players in the squid game have to go brutal,
selfish for their gains, etc. I had to assume an
identity which no sage may be able to find its
traces of.
As the first step of transformation, it dawned
upon me that I have to bury my eastern roots
and develop into somehow Western which,
according to social trend setters, is a better
choice to make, is trendy and certainly all
empowering. By the dint of aping westerners,
I am deemed to appear, think and act like my
colonial masters. I am brown, my skin color is a
mere embarrassment for me which has to be
changed. My dark hair has to undergo an acidic
transformation as well for that’s how I would be
able to meet standards of modernity. Last and
not the least of my transformed appearance is
my dress which should be revealing in every
possible manner. Getting myself to dress in
accordance with the eastern dress code would
earn me the title of ‘conservative-mindedness’.
Since I am evolving into the new ‘me’, I have to
acquaint myself with the world of social media
and showcase highlight reels of fake ‘me’. Now I
know, I can be more beautiful, in fact, amazing
by using filters to hide the imperfect ‘me’. I
have to style myself with brands, cars, and all
that can make me catch people’s attention,
their likes, their appreciation.
Being a student as well, the education game
I am in, doesn’t require me to tread orthodox
methods of acquiring real knowledge,
speculation, research or bully my head by
working to polish my skills because the race
of CGPA’S or A*’ can only be won by procuring
them. I have to stay at the top, I have to be the
best, the one whom everyone looks with awe.
So, did the above mention details startle you?
Or trigged your introspection? If not, it’s even
more alarming.
Dear UMT Alumni, the dramatic sarcasm I just
modeled by using the personal pronoun ‘I’
didn’t mean the critique of the public but it
aimed to make us probe the directions being
right or wrong that we have thoughtlessly
taken for our lives. The identity we own has
millions of sacrifices at its roots. But sadly we all
are probably not worthy to live in this piece of
land called Pakistan. What good our ancestors,
our national heroes did, went away with them,
but how are we really contributing? What had
to be the real part played by us? What to talk
of contributions, sacrifices, or services we, in
fact nowhere left any stone unturned to strike
irreparable loss to our beloved country. We not
only put our national, cultural, and religious
values at stake but simply despise and discard
them as if it was a matter of embarrassment.
Youngsters, all around us, are sickened with,
what Fanon says ‘epidermalization of inferiority
complex.’ They are so much impressed with
the West that brutal ripping of their roots
doesn’t panic them. They are oscillating
between the disbelief of relying on, trusting,
and believing what is foreign. We have
forgotten to trust our abilities, skills, incredible
strengths, and potentials. Beauty addicts,
unskilled educationists, social media fakes, the
embodiment of moral depravity: do we ever
take a pause to ruminate that who we actually
were and what had really become of us?
We are indeed simulacra, copies of copies,
not once but multiple times distanced from
reality. In this age of mass delusion, people
are surviving by means of either emotional or
intellectual manipulation or with utilitarian
decisions: a way to extract one’s benefits.
Revering Darwinian mentality, as projected
in the Korean series, we know only to survive
by the means of violence. In short, we are all
trapped in some kind of game somehow.
Though hard to say and act, but we simply
cannot afford this fake projection anymore. We
have to contemplate renaissance to stop the
nuisance of moral depravity, façade, hollowness,
and human deterioration. There is a real need,
for each one of us, to stand upright in the
procession of transformation. We have to stop
playing the pawn of colonial games played by
invisible masters. Allah Almighty has created us
all to be His vicegerent on the earth. Whether it
be Nietzschean Ubermensch, or Allama Iqbal’
super Momin, he isn’t only responsible to save
his skin but the rest of humanity’s as well.
Leaving our mercenary needs aside, and
prioritizing our problems, we have to look
for the ‘why’ of our lives and recognize our
‘real mission’ we all have been assigned since
our birth. Together we all, hand in hand, can
transform this garbage of replicas, the fakes,
the rotten. We, like a Messiah, can contemplate
our survival. Let’s discipline our lives in true
essence. Let us stop running blindly after
grades and equip ourselves with real-life
skills. This game-changer ‘money’ is no doubt
important but let it not be our sole ambition.
Let us return something to this beloved piece
of land we breathe in. Let us make a pledge to
work strenuously, not for the self but for the
collective humanity. The potential of Pakistan’s
youth has earned global appraisal, so why we
need to act as ‘followers’ when we have the
ability to be our own leaders. Wake up to the
call, before we go to ashes with our identity,
individuality, potential, and unmatched ability.
We are an invincible nation. Let’s acquire real
knowledge, which may truly enkindle joy and
hopes in our hearts.
ILMIAN MAGAZINE 2022 | 87
EFFECTS OF FEAR
AMONG CHILDREN
AND ITS SOLUTION
IN ISLAMIC
PERSPECTIVE
By
Tariq Mahmood
MPhil (ITC) – Year 2021
Senior Elementary School Educator
Govt Elementary School
Sheikhupura
We all know very well that children are a very
precious gift by Allah (SWT). Allah says in His
book that the children are an adornment and
prosperity of this world, but only when this
blessing is adorned with ornaments of religion,
morality and education. Now the issue is how
we can bring up our children accordingly.
In the past, children were taught in strict
restricted environment in which teachers used
to punish and threaten kids. This is the reason
why a child grows up in fear in our society.
Even a child’s mother, who loves her child
unconditionally, also commits a mistake in
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instilling fear in the child. For example, when
a mother says to her children, ‘sleep otherwise
ghost will come to eat you’, she is putting fear
in the mind of her children and this grows like
a shadow within them.
Now the time has changed. We should
also change our behavior with children.
Although Government has made law about the
punishment of children yet in rural areas it has
been ignored which makes the children dull
and rebellious.
According to John B. Watson “Children are
affected by three emotions: fear, anger and
love”.
Types of Fear:
1. Permanent fear
2. Temporary fear
3. Positive fear
4. Negative fear.
Elements of Fear
1. Natural Fear: Natural fears are an inescapable
part of child’s life, through which a child must
have to go e.g. storms, roar of clouds and
earthquakes.
2. Examination Fear: Examination fear is like
a distressed condition for the child that he/
she may experience during the onset or at
the time of examinations. It can result in poor
performance in examination or may create even
sickness in them.
3. Fear of Darkness: Many children are afraid
of darkness. When we turn off the lights, not
only children become afraid but their positive
imaginations also turn off, and they grow
being unable to distinguish between reality
and fantasy. It means they may believe that
monsters are under the bed or in the wardrobe
waiting to spring up once the light goes out.
Effects of Fear on Human Body
Fear is a condition in which a person feels
afraid, uncomfortable or even dangerous. It
leaves numerous effects on the human body.
Some of them are given below:
• Fear makes a person’s face yellow or very red.
• A fearful child’s digestive system becomes very
slow and he may feel cramps in the stomach.
• A lot of sweat may ooze out during the
condition of fear.
• The breathing system becomes very fast.
• The heart starts to beat too fast or too slow.
Effects of Fear on Child’s Learning Process
The most dangerous effect of fear on the
children’s learning process is the use of
punishment by the teacher. The strict
punishment does not only affect the students’
body but also paralyzes their mental capacity
as a result children become afraid of the
teacher. This fearful state of mind may cause
nervousness and inability in child to learn
something so he/she starts avoiding the
learning process. Teacher centered and strict
environment has bad effects because it is not a
child’s friendly environment.
Reasons of Fear Among Children
Fear is an intense unwanted uneasiness related
to a person, place, activity, event, or object
that causes emotional distress. It is especially
important to identify the possible fears of
children.
According to J. B. Watson there are only two
reasons of child’s fear:
1. Loud voice
2. Removal of physical support
There are many other factors that contribute to
a child’s fear; some are given below:
• The child is also afraid of what the child’s
friends are afraid of.
• If a person threatens a child, the child will be
afraid of every other person resembling him.
• Some experts say that some fears can also
pass through generations genetically.
Islamic Perspective
When we study the teachings of Islam, we
come to know that Islam guides us completely
how we can teach our children without giving
them fear and punishment. There are many
examples in the life of Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Hazrat Anas said
“I served the Holy Prophet (PBUH) for ten years,
he never got angry with me and he never said
why you did not do this work, and never said
why you did it”.
On one occasion the Holy Prophet Hazart
Muhammad (PBUH) said,
“The person who does not love his children and
also does not respect his elders is not one of
us”.
When we study the Holy Prophet Hazart
Muhammad’s (PBUH) practical life, we observe
his love and care for children. One day when
the Holy Prophet was going with his followers,
he saw Hazrat Hussain (RA) playing in the
street. He walked fast and picked him up,
embraced him and kissed Him.
Once when Hazrat Hassan (RA) and Hazrat
Hussain (RA) were thirsty and the water could
not be found, the Holy Prophet put his tongue
in their mouths one by one to quench their
thirst. Once the Holy Prophet was sitting for
dinner and a child was sitting with him and he
was eating with his left hand, the Holy Prophet
neither punished him nor got angry with him,
but he explained with love to start eating in the
name of Allah and eat with the right hand and
eat from the front of the plate.
We learn from these examples that parents
and teachers must adopt good behavior in
their practical lives, so that the children may
overcome fear. In this way, a pleasant and
happy environment can be created. We should
give respect to the children as giving respect is
also a source of confidence and getting rid of
fear.
Suggestions to Overcome Fears
There are a few suggestions in which parents
and teachers can help the children to overcome
their fears.
• Determining the true nature of fear. For
example, parents should discuss about the
dogs in presence of children that dogs may
bite but they bite only those people who tease
them.
• Eliminating things that cause fear. If a
child is afraid of a washing machine when it is
switched on, then use the machine only when
the child is not present.
• Getting the child’s attention. If the voice of
aircraft frightens the child, attract his attention
to yourself and discuss the aircraft in detail.
• Assuring the children. Children are aware of
their parents’ concerns, so parents should not
discuss their problems in front of their children.
Parents should make them feel everything is
under control.
• Encourage the children’s efforts. We can
control children’s fear to encourage their effort.
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THE
METAMORPHOSIS
BY
FRANZ KAFKA
Book Review
By
Frafsa Saleem
MA(Eng) – Year 2020
Senior English Teacher
The Drakken School – Lahore
“The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka
‘The Sinistrous life of Gregor Samsa’
Themes fear, imagination, dispelling of
family responsibility, Samsa, the hero of
Metamorphosis indicates the disintegration of a
postmodern man.
Ever since the world was created changes
began, Adam and Eve were to live their lives
in heaven but were disillusioned by Satan. A
change for them to live in a world of hardships
and follow the rules of the divine.
Changes in our lives are unavoidable, it’s not
that everything will remain as usual. We are
born to see different surroundings around us
which enables us to adapt to the society and
the family that we are born in, every second
we see our lives changed which somewhat
impacts us. The acceptance of any change is
likely to happen and we humans are to adapt
to possibilities.
Although life was simple at the time of
modernism, as the industrial age started it
brought change for the middle and lower-
class people. A change of hard work leaving
their homelands to earn. Fear of knowing
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(the family of Gregor).
A society that holds lower and middle
class under the authority and fulfills their
requirements. Every day Gregor had to catch
his train at seven and reach on time to his
office. The reason to reach every day at the
office on time was to make the boss happy.
But still, the boss complains that Gregor isn’t
doing his work accordingly and that his job is
at risk. The fear of losing a job, how will all be
managed, questions arise in Gregor’s mind.
But when he comes to know that his father
had saved some money for rainy day Gregor is
shattered and tormented that why his father
had never told him about the savings. Gregor’s
mind was disillusioned that why would his
father hide the money from him.
A postmodern man doesn’t pretend that
modern life is beautiful and humane and
that their intention is quite different. They
do not seek to resolve man’s social problems
but rather to release man from them so that
they can attain a level of understanding that
transcends the imposed limits of time and
space. A man that believed that we are not
such a radical relapse of God, but only one of
the different places to live and earn. It would
his bad moods, it tells as if the human sins has
be called the postmodern era which was
angered God and that man is left out of much
separating people from each other. A vivid
hope to survive in this postmodern era. Life is
representation of humans dehumanized the
so hard and struggling for the modern man
souls after world war 1 and world war 2. They
that his thoughts are only limited to bringing
couldn’t believe that the Divine could do that
harmony to the family and to making the boss
to them or how could God bring upon so much
happy. It’s said that the boss is always right it
bloodshed. They started to believe there’s no
can be in any shape like authorities and fathers.
God or the death of God. Writers came along
Gregor waking up in the morning feeling
writing about the sufferings of humans and
transformed sees himself turned into a bug.
using the term stream of consciousness in their
Now the absurdity of life knowing what change
writings.
has been brought on to him to search meaning
Now we see ourselves as if we are living in
in one’s life and the inability to search for it. But
a world of Kafka where we feel as if we are
moreover, if I look beyond this story, the change
powerless in front of our authorities. When we
or transformation of Gregor is to give lessons to
feel as if our destiny is out of our control when
those who do not realize what the worth is of a
we are bullied, humiliated, and mocked by the
human who works the whole day to provide for
society and especially by our own families.
his family. It is a rebellion against those fathers
In the Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa, the hero
who have isolated and alienated their children
of the story has described an object of unusual
are not in the freedom to use their own wings
power, a power to bring change in his life to
to fly and win.
develop independence. More clearly it is the
Metamorphosis not only wants to emphasize
beginning and the renewal of life and moves on
Gregor’s deadly transformation but our own
towards a catastrophic life for the protagonist
continuing experience as survivors. Gregor’s
and promised an improved life for the survivors
family members have to turn much of their
attention to bringing in income to replace his,
but it is largely an emotional movement away
from him and growing denial of his humanity.
When the Samsa family realizes that Gregor
is no more of in their use, they depart from
him mentally and accept that they only have
to earn and live life. How inhumane life is that
we only survive with others for reasons and
once that reason is gone there’s no emotional
attachment left between us. The fear of losing
all his recollections and obeying his father’s
orders is the utmost strangest relationship
with his father. He was capable of feeling such
suffering that was within him. For Gregor and
his creation, the metamorphosis is a kind of
rescue for him that will lead him to liberation.
It will construct self into others which will not
be so good for others but for Gregor the end
will only be tragic. The end might have been a
happy ending as it is so in fairy tales. But the
reality isn’t a fairy tale; there’s no happy ending
but struggles. We are living in a mechanical
world full of machines moving us here and
there. It has alienated us from each other.
Gregor was living in a fool’s paradise, a rational
understanding for Samsa was to make his
family happy and that is what they all wanted
from Samsa. Gregor Samsa was not of first
priority for them. It appears that his family’s
situation, and the capacity to get along without
him, have been misrepresented to Gregor. It
shows that all were just wanting to fulfill their
needs and not to see how Gregor is working
diligently to make ends meet and what his
desires were.
For Gregor, absurdity and acceptance were
his fate. He was only to take care of his family
which was obnoxious for him. Gregor was
unable to palliate from his atrocious and
desolated life. Nothing seems complete for
Gregor; only the nothingness which remains
with no meaning in life no love of life which
remains hanging on the wall as halcyon.
A Sisyphus contemplation is person keeps on
seeking fortitude for their life. Life only is Grinch
when we consciously make it that way, it is the
imitation of our fears that if we don’t tend to
our responsibilities; feelings of Agliophobia will
control the mind of a person in agony.
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PSYCHOLOGICAL
IMPACT OF SOCIAL
MEDIA
By
Saima Yousaf
MPhil(PSY) - Year 2021
Psychologist
Special Education Department -
Govt of Punjab
With growing technological inventions, life
has changed and has become faster and
comfortable. As technology becomes more
accessible, it is not surprising that adolescents
are spending more time online than ever before
and use of social networking sites has become
so popular these days that no one can evade
it. Global Web Index (2020) reported that more
than 3.8 billion people are using social media
around the world, and the number is increasing
rapidly. According to Data reported, there were
37 million social media users in Pakistan in
January 2020.
The rapid expansion of social media
engagement has become a topic of significant
research for the last few years. The engagement
to cyber technology is progressively
becoming a problem. The cost related with
this engagement is increasing in physical,
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psychological and social terms. In countries like
Pakistan the problem becomes more serious
where parental check and balance is imprecise.
Many instances have been disclosed, where
people were drained by an overwhelming
obsession to use the mobile phones, browsing
net, play online games, or chat with distant
and unseen neighbors in the virtual, timeless,
cyber world. If we take a look at the beginning
the purpose of social networking sites was to
provide a platform for communication and
exchange of information. Six degrees was the
first social media network, it was introduced
in 1997. Another well liked activity was
blogging. Blogging was launched in 1999.
Social networking sites like LinkedIn, MySpace,
and YouTube were introduced in early 2000s.
The most famous social network Facebook was
inaugurated in 2004. Another most used social
media site Twitter was started in the year 2006.
After having these applications, people got
Instagram in the year 2010 and in the year 2011
Snapchat was introduced.
No doubt social media engagement is a fast
growing fact of present time. Social media
use is more expanding with expansion of
smart phones to keep up social relations, to
watch news feed, and amusement. There are
many other reasons why people use social
media, these may include immediate source
of enjoyment, easy way of entertainment, to
be in contact with friends and family and to
support and manage relations, self-satisfaction,
a chance to renew him/herself, expressing
thoughts, to escape from problems, to delay a
task, weariness, sharing of information, to have
new friends, etc. For these activities people use
different social networking sites, most common
of them are; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,
YouTube, Snap chat, WhatsApp, etc. Definitely
there are many benefits of social media like
conversation, teleconference, exchange of
information, sharing photos, news etc., but at
the same time people have become addicted
to different social networking sites, which is
leading to social, physical and psychological
problems. Like, people who use social media
excessively may face escalated personification,
biasness of physical appearance, or issues with
eating especially young individuals. Moreover,
excessive use of digital networks may result in
negative feelings in people, like depression and
anxiety. The number of buddies on net and
unlimited time hang around social media may
be few of many causes of negative effects of
using social media. With limited supervision in
online environments, and due to unrestricted
and unlimited use of social media there are
growing concerns about adolescents’ risk
for Internet attachment and vulnerability
to negative online experiences, people may
have virtual problem, virtual tolerance and
virtual communication because the people
while using social media want to be notified
of anything immediately. Social networking
sites are so powerful that just one touch can
give details and another can attach to large
number of people. Chamath Palihapitiya, ex-
Facebook executive, disclosed that Facebook
was launched to compel others. Moreover,
he disclosed (reported by CNBC, 2017) that
social media applications like Facebook,
Snapchat, WhatsApp and Twitter influence
users psychologically and these social networks
are crumbling the society. Similarly former
Facebook president, Sean Parker, also revealed
that the idea after development of Facebook
was to devour greater conscious attention and
large amount of time of users.
Overuse of social media is creating social
pressures and anxieties, even many people
check their social media accounts before
leaving bed. People who use social media
excessively have similar criterion as addiction.
They become unable to care for their personal
life, have compulsion to use social media, they
use social media to escape, they prefer to use
social media to change their mood, develop
symptoms of tolerance, try to stowaway their
compulsive behavior, and like to spend time
with social media users. Every unpleasant
behavior effects on consciousness, mood and
alters brain functioning. When such behaviors
are experienced regularly they can lead to
impairment in life functioning. Researches
show that overuse of social media is not a key
problem as alcohol and drug addiction, but can
produce withdrawal and tolerance symptoms
People, who are highly engaged with social
networking sites, compare their lives with other
people, if they make upward comparison it
drifts to make individuals feel bad which may
lead one to start living distant and people may
develop anxiety about activities performed
when they are not online and want to look
over their account again and again, and even
become upset if social media is not accessible
due to continuous impulse to check it. Feelings
of loneliness and inadequacy are created by
frequent social comparison because of constant
impulse to check updates.
Users of social media want to upload photos
and videos constantly and then have desire
to see the number of likes and comments
received. Stalking other peoples’ profiles
excessively is also a driving force for overuse of
social media. In addition to other psychological
problems arising due to overuse of social
media, cyber bullying is also growing rapidly.
With advancement of technology daily
activities of youth have moved online, it is
notable that bullying, a negative experience
that disturbs the life of many people, has
also moved online and latest appearance
of cyberbullying shows that perpetrators or
offenders give importance to technological
devices to dominate and influence others.
Cyber bullying is affecting emotional health of
individuals. Loneliness and social isolation is
being seen due to non-acceptance of victims.
As a result of social removal young adults may
suffer from depression and low self-esteem.
Suicidal ideation and depression are the threats
bullies can have; furthermore bullies can have
more chances to engage in maladaptive and
antisocial behavior as compared to non-bullies.
Various studies have indicated that
unrestricted use of social media is related
with mental, physical, and cultural features
of people proceeding to depression,
loneliness, sleeplessness, poor mental health,
dissatisfaction with life, and social connectivity.
So it is need of the time to address the
problems arising because of excessive social
media use. Especially parents and teachers
should recognize the potential dangers youth
can have on engaging in excessive online
behavior and must take practical steps to
lessen online problematic behaviors and cast
down cyberbullying.
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