Shaikh Muhammad Ali 2012 Have fun while you learn!
Oct 28, 2014
Sh
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2012
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Have fun while you learn…….. Page 1
http://paulocoelhoblog.com/2011/01/05/the-aleph/comment-page-10/#comment-776944
Intro:
I am being invited to a ‘Leadership Management Program’ every year by the
Higher Education Commission (HEC) for the last four years at the HEC Khanaspur
retreat, Ayubia, KPK and I must tell you that it is indeed a privilege which only a
few of us at the top are granted year after year. Learning with the top 20 officers
of HEC is a fun deal. HEC usually does this in July every year and for the last four
years I have been privileged by the HRM Division to invite the guest speakers.
With these privileges granted, I can comfortably claim that I have been my
organizations best corrective measures. Laughter
The first time around, I invited Mr. Suleman Ahmer, who is the CEO of
Timelenders, Karachi; in 2009. Suleman, I have followed from the US days; is a
passionate and inspirational speaker who among other corporate endeavors
has worked in Bosnia to help the Muslims during the Bosnian war. He is a very
religious person and through his management training programs tries and brings
you to the ‘Sirat-e-Mustaqeem’ (The path to salvation) and does this beautifully.
He is also the celebrated writer of the book titled ‘Embattled Innocence’ which is
based on his Muslim relief work in Bosnia. He has a BS in Electrical Engineering
from University of Nebraska, Lincoln, USA and is a much sought out speaker
locally and in the Middle East.
Have fun while you learn…….. Page 2
This is what his website says about him: “He has trained thousands of individuals
from over 50 nationalities in Strategic Visions, Strategic Time Management and
Strategic Negotiations Skills. The vision of Timelenders, which he founded, is to
help individuals and organizations develop worthy visions”.
In 2010, I introduced Sohail Zindani to HEC and he won the contract to come
train us on Leadership and Management. Sohail is known to me from Karachi
and is called the ‘Little Master’ in his circles and is an exuberant personality.
Young, bubbly and lively and while hailing from Karachi, he runs around the
room with enthusiasm and looks you in the eye which does not leave you
enough room to catch a little nap during his trainings. Laughter! He has an MBA
from Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi.
This is what his URL says about him: “Few people have impacted the day-to-day
execution of learning in Pakistan’s corporate arena more than Sohail Zindani. A
gregarious, sought-after speaker, author and organizational development
consultant, Sohail is characterized by friends, colleagues, competitors and
clients as one of the most insightful, humorous, compassionate and professional
individuals in training industry”.
On the last day of this workshop, Hassan Nasir Zaidi and I went to successfully
scale the Mushkpuri peak; the 2nd highest peak in the Galliyat which stands at
an elevation of some 9,470 feet. It is another story that we got 2 hour late to
class and bore the brunt of getting the participation certificate about three
month late since we had set a bad precedence for the rest of the officers. No
regrets!
In 2011, HEC again contacted Suleman Ahmer to come speak to us. After this
workshop, four of us hikers wanted to scale the Miranjani peak on the following
Sunday but the two of us had serious stomach infections and the plan was
shelved.
Come July 2012, and I was asked again to find a new face for the HEC
Leadership Management Program. This time around I was finally able to catch
Ms. Maryam Chaudhry who is also a good friend and is the CEO of Corporate
Communications. Maryam hails from Lahore and her style says that.
As usual; Hassan and my family planned to travel together to Khanaspur, like
always. We met at the Malpur bus stop on the Murree Road around 5:00 p.m.
and from there proceeded in our two cars i.e. his Jeep Cherokee and my Club
Santro. We took the old Murree road and on the way to Murree, we stopped at
Have fun while you learn…….. Page 3
our favorite ‘Chai-Pakora’ stop somewhere between ‘Charra Pani’ and
‘Company Bagh’.
Our favorite Chai-Pakora stop enroute to Murree
Further enroute to Murree, Hassan’s jeep broke down and was having heating
problems but with the help of his mobile phone and a friend in Lahore, we were
guided to have the necessary stops, cool down the jeep and thus finally
reached Khanaspur albeit late. As expected, I decided to stay with him all
along since we are both hikers and hikers always stick together in times of need.
What are friends for, huh!
Hassan’s jeep is being cooled off
This is what Maryam’s website says about her: “Ms. Marryam Chaudhry is the
Managing Director of Corporate Communications, Lahore. She is a professional
corporate trainer and her company facilitates the business sector by providing
Have fun while you learn…….. Page 4
practical, interactive and fun filled activity based trainings to the corporate
sector through workshops and seminars. She has conducted numerous trainings,
and has 10+ years of experience. She is a former Banker and a Gold Medalist
MBA, and has lived most of her life in the United States”.
This time around a few of us wanted to hike the Miranjani peak on Sunday; right
after the training but yet again failed miserably since it started raining cats and
dogs on the previous Saturday evening. While everybody else rejoiced, some of
us were caught with long faces. Man proposes and God disposes. Huh!
(Some of the 1st ladies enjoying the Galliyat)
One of the best parts of these workshops is that it gives a chance to some 18-20
senior officers to mingle together with families outside the work environment in
the beautiful setting of Khanaspur, Ayubia which is at a height of some 8,000
feet or so.
(The up and down trips in the Galliyat)
Have fun while you learn…….. Page 5
While the officers attend 2-3 days of intensive 9 – 5 classes, the spouses and the
children enjoy the environs of the hill resort.
(Ladies and girls are all smiles while their husbands & fathers are in class)
Amazing friendships are developed, minds open, and we all get a chance to
think outside the box. Unfortunately, a very few of us still refuse to come outside
their boxes and they continue to remain clerks. LOL Public servants in this era
often do their best when they stop caring about whether they will get fired.
Since there is not enough space in our guest house thus many officers are made
to stay at different hotels which include the Montana Hotel, the Willow Grove,
Punjab university guest house and the PTDC guesthouses.
(Hassan’s, Anees’ and my family outside our hotel after a long day)
Have fun while you learn…….. Page 6
The workshop usually culminates with a ‘Bara Khana’ (Last supper!) which is
followed by song and dance.
(The cooks, drivers, assistants are dancing the night away)
Since we could not scale the Miranjani peak thus we had the entire Sunday 15th
July 2012 to ourselves. Suddenly, in the morning three of us colleagues decided
to walk the pipeline track and off we went at 9:00 a.m. for this 2-3 kms walk.
(From L-R: Anees, I and Awais at the start of the Dungagali pipeline walk)
It is always an exhilarating experience to take this walk which is also known as
the Dungagali trek. This is what the Virtual Tourist site says about this trek:
“Dungagali is situated on slopes of Mukhspuri peak, 3 km from Nathiagali on
main Murree road. By road it’s a 5 minute drive from Nathiagali. You can go for
walk on famous pipe line track at an altitude of 8,200 feet (2,499 m). On your
Have fun while you learn…….. Page 7
way enjoy views of Mukhspuri, river Jhelum and Ayubia national park.
Pipe line track also serves as an entry point of Ayubia National Park, which is
spread over an area of 3,312 hectares and is the natural habitat of numerous
species of wild animals. You can witness rare varieties of birds, animals and trees.
An entry fee of Rs. 5 per person is charged by forest department to enter Ayubia
National Park.
Walk on this 4 km long track is an experience of a life time. In 45-50 minutes you
would be in Ayubia where you can spend some time and then come back
following the same track.” 1
(The caption of the picture says it all)
After a lavish brunch and while we were planning to return, Farman Ullah
Anjum’s (DG-Services @ HEC) kids made a plan with my wife to go to the resort
close to the Kohala Bridge. Always waiting for an opportunity to visit new places,
we immediately decided to join the bandwagon.
Since the drivers and the caretaker @ Khanaspur advised us not to take the
longer route due to the hordes of people returning to Islamabad via the run-of-
the-mill road, we took a short cut instead which routed us behind the Governor’s
house in Nathiagali.
1 http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Pakistan/North_West_Frontier_Province/Nathia_Gali-
1307715/Things_To_Do-Nathia_Gali-Dunga_Gali_Pine_Line_Track-BR-1.html
Have fun while you learn…….. Page 8
(One of the most amazing landscapes in the Galliyat of Murree in the backdrop)
Although, we took this road but did not discern that it had three seriously broken
patches and was extremely steep. While Farman and his family were riding in
the official Land Cruiser, I was driving my ‘Baleela’ aka Club Santro 1.0.
(Camaraderie at play while my car cools off)
My car brakes almost failed twice on the way to the resort but we saw the most
amazing landscapes on this route which are closed to public eyes since the
road is a shambles and is not a beaten path.
Have fun while you learn…….. Page 9
(Have you ever seen someone drinking Coke in a French Fries Bag?)
The views were simply breathtaking and the horror ridden ride was worth at least
once in life especially in my little vehicle. We stopped almost after every half
hour since my car was a street car and the road was only meant for a 4wd.
(Both the families are enjoying another breath taking view)
Once we reached the Kohala hideout, it was verminous with the well-known
species called homosapiens. My God, the place was infested with Darwinian
monkeys jumping around all over the place, on the roads, in the water, up the
hill, trying to swim, dancing in the rain, peeing in the open. Organized chaos, I
would rather call it!
Have fun while you learn…….. Page 10
(The population explosion following us around)
It was like 14th August in Murree. Well, this is the type of cheap entertainment the
nation gives us and the haves and mostly the have-nots enjoy to the hilt.
We somehow managed to grab a few chairs and although wanted to have tea
and Pakoras there, ended up having a late lunch of Chicken Karahi and Pateer
(Bread). The children enjoyed the water under their feet although we wanted to
get out fast due to the huge and mostly uncouth and uncultured rush around
us. After living in ‘Islamabad the slow’ for over a decade now, one thing that we
try to avoid is; public places full of people.
(At the Kohala resort somewhere next to the Neelum-Jhelum river)
We left the place quickly after lunch and while taking the Murree Expressway,
stopped by at a road side restaurant for tea. This was a rather cleaner place
Have fun while you learn…….. Page 11
with a good ambience and better views of the Murree hills. The children also
enjoyed their short stay here.
(Tea break at the road side Café on the Murree Expressway)
We stayed here for a good half hour and enjoyed our tea. While the ladies
enjoyed their usual chit chat, Farman and myself reflected on new strategies
that we learnt during the workshop and the good times spent together during
the last three days.
(Mr. and Mrs. Shaikh, the two love birds!)
All good things must come to an end and thus we had to leave for home. On
the way back, we were caught in a huge traffic jam which started after the
‘Satra Meel’ (17 mile stop) on the Murree road. It almost took us 2 or more hours
to reach the Shell Petrol pump off Murree Road from ‘Satra Meel’ stop.
Have fun while you learn…….. Page 12
Post Script:
Hope dies last and hope is but all I have. When the world works, and it often has
over the recent centuries, it’s because everyone moves forward, in a kind of
modest unison. With my escapades I have learnt that I am, in short, a traveler at
birth; for whom even a visit to the candy store was a trip through a foreign world
where no one I saw quite matched my parents' inheritance, or my own and the
most distant shores, I am constantly reminded, lie within the person asleep at our
side depending on which ever side of the bed we get up on.
As you can tell, I'm a firm believer that the human spirit is capable of great
things and able to solve any problem. The world is moving fast and it's only
getting faster. So much technology, so much information, so much to
understand; to think about, to react to! So we try to speed up to match the
pace of the action around us. We stay up until 3 am trying to answer all our
emails. We Twitter, we Facebook, and we Link-in. We scan news websites
wanting to make sure we stay up to date on the latest updates. And we salivate
each time we hear the beep or vibration of a new text message.
We somehow need to slow down and appreciate the beauty around us before
we are no more. Why bother speeding and trying to achieve all that we need to
achieve. We just need to decide on our needs and wants and take it from
there!
A study of car accidents by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, USA put
cameras in cars to see what happens right before an accident. They found that
in 80% of crashes the driver was distracted during the three seconds preceding
the incident. In other words, they lost focus — dialed their cell phones, changed
the station on the radio, took a bite of a sandwich, maybe checked a text —
and didn't notice that something changed in the world around them. Then they
crashed.
For God sake don’t text or listen to the Cell phone while you drive. Have a safe
journey. The world is indeed yours. Go out and explore!
Shaikh Muhammed Ali ‘The Wandering Dervish’
E-mail: [email protected]
Cell: +00-92-321-5072996
22nd September, 2012, 20:15 (PST)