Had the honour of presenting Pakistan’s statement on enforced disappearances in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir during the United Nations General Assembly session.
Will be representing Pakistan here for the next two weeks 🇵🇰 🇺🇳
A close relative of mine stalked me on Twitter and complained to my parents, saying I probably won’t be able to find a suitable rishta if I keep ranting on like this.
My parents said they’d rather I be single than with someone who quells my voice.
Parents: 1
Toxic society: 0
Pads and medicines are now en route villages of Naushero Feroze. We have also bought cotton rolls for women which will be distributed tomorrow morning inshAllah.
I was earning 92k prior to joining the civil service. I was also given phone allowance, a laptop, health insurance etc.
I now earn 46k - no car, no laptop, no frills.
One joins the civil service to serve. To give back. To make a difference. And no paycheck can replace that.
Pakistani women, repeat after me:
1. Not being married past the age of 25 does not mean you’ve crossed your expiry date.
2. Life is not a race and marriage is not the finish line.
3. Put yourself & your ambitions first.
4. Society does not define your worth; you do.
2019:
People told my parents I would have to settle for someone 10 years older because I’m past the age of 25.
2021:
Got married to a guy two years younger than me, and infinitely times better than what I could have ever hoped for.
Girls, don’t EVER compromise on love!
I told my father that I purchased a new chair for my writing table today.
His reply was beautiful: I pray you make wise decisions on this chair.
Such a small, yet powerful, dua.
Why did I join the Foreign Service?
I was rejected for a job at the UNDP and openly told I needed ‘sifarish’ to be finalized for a position at the IOM.
That’s when I decided I’ll rise to a position where I’ll be invited to speak at these very organizations.
One day inshAllah
Take a minute out of your day today.
Pause.
And thank Allah for having survived almost three months of a lockdown without having gone bankrupt, without losing your health, without having to bury your loved ones.
And continue to persevere. We will get through this, inshAllah.
Pakistani women need a break.
They need a break from the pressure of getting married.
They need a break from the pressure of having a child two seconds after they get married.
They need a break from the pressure of birthing a son.
Girls, please educate yourself. Get a postgrad degree. Intern everywhere. Work on your CVs. Socialize and network. Hustle and work hard! This isn’t a choice anymore - it’s your duty as future mothers, wives, sisters and a duty to yourself.
Selling my car due to posting abroad (else would never part with my beloved). Mileage is 19.5k, 2020 model, first owner, only driven in Isb, insured, back camera and multimedia screen installed by Kia, new battery, lifetime token paid, no work required.
Inbox only if serious.
Pakistan will be launching e-passport facility today, which will allow passengers to make use of e-gate facility at airports around the world. This is the biggest up-gradation of Pakistani travel documents since 2004.
Extremely proud to be a Pakistani and to be witnessing how the Pakistani diplomatic corps is leading the cause of the Palestinians from the front. Excellent diplomacy and absolutely tremendous efforts being made by Pakistan.
Seeing women around me marry the wrong person just for the sake of being married before 30 is utterly heartbreaking.
Our parents need to understand that women in this society do not come with an expiry date.
Officially graduated from the Civil Services Academy, Lahore.
Alhamdulilah for an amazing journey. Forever grateful to my parents for encouraging me to give the CSS, and telling me that there is nothing I can’t do!
P.S. I’m the one in yellow/white in front, with the Director.
This little courageous boy is Umer.
He is doing A levels from SICAS & earning a living through this stall.
There is a menu plus a contact number at the bottom.
All those in Lahore, I urge you to support this gem of a human being!
This was Bilal Pasha - the life of our batch, the light of our house in CSA. Whenever we picture him, we imagine a permanent smile on his face.
I hope you find your peace Bilal. Your death has shaken all of us to the core and there are many lessons to be learnt from your life.
Ashamed to call myself a lawyer today. What transpired today was absolutely disgusting and a clear mockery of any semblance of rule of law. High time lawyers in this country are reminded that are NOT above the law.
Someone’s harasser could be another female’s trusted friend and confidante, someone’s gentle son and a loving husband. Humans act out multiple roles in society, so it’s high time we stop justifying harassers with the ‘oh but he’s never crossed any lines with me’ argument.
CSS tip number 1:
Stop taking so many tips.
You don’t need them.
Turn off twitter, and study.
That’s it.
There’s no rocket science. No magic. No inner genius. Just hard work.
Disgusting to see people/pvt corporations profiting off of Coronavirus. Chugtai Labs is charging 7,900 rupees for coronavirus tests and face masks are being sold for 3000 rupees a box (originally sold for 100-200 rps).
Where is our empathy?
I gave the GRE in 2016 and scored in the 98% percentile for the English section.
Even then, I don’t know more than half the words that appeared in the CSS English MCQs section.
The CSS exam needs to maintain certain set standards rather than being so unpredictable each year.
Just saw this vending machine for sanitary pads inside a LUMS washroom.
So incredibly delighted to see our society becoming a tolerant space that acknowledges the very basic, biological needs of women. Hope more universities/offices follow suit!
Fail to understand how BBQs and events were being organized at Islamabad Club today. These two days in particular are days of mourning and reflection for all muslims, not just Shias.
Fail to understand how a man can expect his wife to serve him food and fetch him water after both have come home from a 9-hour shift, both have the same work commitments & both have to travel the same distance for work.
High time women stop putting up with this nonsense.
Before you sign the nikkahnama, observe.
Do they lie? Do they degrade you in an argument? Can they ever let you win a debate? Do they belittle your family? Do they prioritise and value you? Do they abuse you?
You can choose your spouse. Your kids can’t choose their parent.
Was taught Sociology by her at LUMS and found her to be exactly how she’s behaving here - judgmental and condescending towards the youth. Such an attitude is disappointing to see amongst teachers, it reeks of academic elitism and stifles debate amongst the youth.
Most annoying sub-group on here? Elite kids who act like seasoned analysts because they have learned the phrase 'dynastic politics'. Darling, you're just upset because your papa's dynasty did not make it to the top. Reserve your dismissive cynicism & go eat some avocado toast.
Heartiest congratulations to Maheen Hassan for topping CSS 2020 exam. Extremely delighted to see Pakistani women reaching new heights. May you be a source of inspiration for other women in our country, Maheen. More power to you!
Have officially scandalised all the neighbours by washing my own car today.
Feminism doesn’t just equate to clothes and wages - it means that no job should be gendered.
Moreover, no job should be ‘below’ our pay grade.
Girls in Pakistan are indoctrinated to have ‘sabar’ and ‘bardaasht’ when it comes to tolerating a man’s behaviour. She is forced to stay quiet and be the dutiful wife because ‘aadmi tou aisay hee hotay hain’.
No phupho ji, raise your son better. We won’t tolerate this anymore!
Time to make it Twitter official: recently decided to tie the knot only to put an end to all the incessant twitter DMs, of course.
On a serious note: introducing to the world Mr. Shanza -
@minhajmahdi
.
Please remember us in your duas 🧿
I URGE you to donate the money you would be spending on fancy coffees, expensive restaurant meals, holidays in Nathia etc.
ONE meal of yours can feed an entire family for a WEEK right now.
We are in the midst of a national emergency. Please think twice about your spending!
Amidst this global economic downturn, be immensely grateful if you still have food on your plate, petrol in your car, electricity in your home and bills you can pay off without taking a loan.
I was thinking of starting a twitter-based book club. The catch? You can only review the book within the confines of one tweet.
Would you folks be interested in reading one book a month, and then sharing your thoughts on it, one tweet at a time?
Happy to announce that I’ve been posted to Berlin as a Language Trainee. Will be here for a year to learn the German language and soak in its beautiful culture!
The Civil Services Academy needs to incorporate a proper, more practical module on social media usage for the new civil servants. Showing off offices, staff, raids and vigos is undignified and unbecoming. We need to raise to a higher standard.
Why is it so difficult for Pakistanis to give their maids a paid leave and clean their own damn houses? The threat of death looms over all of us and yet our main concern is ‘bathroom kaun saaf karay ga?’
This nation and its spoiled aunties need a severe reality check.
CSS 2022 candidates can head over to my Facebook page (under my name) for details regarding mentorship/guidance sessions on the English portion of the exam. Feel free to DM me here too.
I have some time these days hence want to provide individual guidance to aspirants.
Many congratulations to Pari Gul for becoming the first woman in the history of Balochistan to be appointed as the assistant superintendent of police. More power to you and all other women out there!
Nothing, I repeat nothing, can supplant the beauty of reading hard copies.
This generation with its ipads/kindles simply doesn’t know the beauty of physically highlighting exercpts or accidently leaving mug rings on papers 😂
Pakistani girls, have you done the following?
1. Open a bank account under your name, get a debit card
2. Save 25% of your salary every month
3. Learn an online skill and use it for part-time earning
4. Invest in gold
When will people learn basic etiquettes? Clearing the CSS and assuming the title of an ‘officer’ with a fancy desk and a small horde of staff does not entitle you to ask your staff to make calls to seniors. Have the courtesy to pick up the phone and make the call yourself.
Rupees 11000 lawn joras being sold out within minutes on the same day 12 people died in a stampede during Zakat distribution.
I have no words for how polarized we have become as human beings.
Someone I have been helping prepare for the CSS exam disappeared for a few weeks. Today, he sent me a picture of his father’s death certificate, along with his own medical certificates showing his deteriorating health. All because of Covid-19.
Please follow SOPs. Please.
Recently observed someone, who hasn’t even formally commenced their civil service career yet, refuse to get out of the govt car until the official driver opened the door for them.
Such behaviour is the exact opposite of what is expected of a civil servant, or any professional.
This made my day! MashAllah. Welcome to the Civil Services of Pakistan Zohaib Qureshi - may this be the start of an amazing journey for you! Credit goes to your parents, and all parents, for raising such amazing children.
کار مکینک کا بیٹا سی سی ایس مین پاس ہوگیا،
لاڑکانہ کا #زوہیب_قریشی اک کار مکینک کا بیٹا ہے، جس نے ۲۰۱۹ ملک کاُ سب سے بڑا امتحان پاس کر کے آفیسر بن گیا،
نوجوان کے لئیے پیغام ،!
#سنڌ
Has anyone in Islamabad/pindi lost this puppy? Bought him from a pet store but pretty sure he’s stolen. Looking to reunite him with his owner! Please help and spread the word!!
Eid mubarik to my brothers, sisters, friends and haters! ;) May Allah Almighty keep your plates full, your houses ringing with laughter and your hearts merry! 🌟
Trying to imagine what Pakistan would transform into if every city had a DC like Sir
@hamzashafqaat
Truly speechless at how almost everyone I meet who has interacted with him has nothing but praises about how their issue got resolved timely and efficiently.
Have watched this video at least 10 times today. Such pure, unadulterated and innocent love being exhibited. We live in such dark times these days, that such small moments of happiness are worth clinging to.
Saw a woman shell out over 30k on grocery, only to go in her car, unwrap an ice cream and throw out the wrapper (along with other paraphernalia) on the road.
What’s the use of all this wealth when you don’t have basic civic sense?
In law school, I was taught ‘Fīat jūstitia ruat cælum’, which is a Latin legal phrase, meaning "Let justice be done though the heavens fall."
Thought of sharing it today.
Heard the most beautiful word in Sindhi today; ‘gad ahyun’. This roughly translates into ‘we are together’ and is said when bidding farewell to a loved one.
In our attempts to anglicise our speech, we’ve forgotten just how beautiful Pakistan’s local languages are!
In elections held at UN HQ, Pak has secured membership of 3 key bodies; Commission on the Status of Women, Commission on Population & Dev, Commission on Crime Prevention & Criminal Justice.
Brilliant reflection of intl community’s trust in Pak to lead on these key issues.
One basic etiquette missing in our nation - not asking before forwarding someone’s number, and not telling who gave you my number before texting out of the blue.
It’s basic manners and this needs to be normalized.
My father was not a bureaucrat. He’s a retd Pak Naval officer.
I studied on a scholarship during my A Levels and was awarded the Woman of Pakistan scholarship at Warwick.
I am wholly dependent on my salary and have not taken money from my father since 3 years.
Do your research!
The more I grow up, the more I realize that our mothers were right when they told us to keep our private lives private, because of nazar.
Stop showing people glimpses of your private life, and watch it bloom with barkat.
This year’s CSS candidates deserve a lot of admiration for the perseverance required to sit for these exams in this heat. It is by no means an easy feat, and deserves admiration. My duas that Allah does behtri for all of you.
Fail to understand why civil servants bash the system.
1. You voluntarily chose to join it.
2. You probably spent a year or more studying for it, knowing its merits/demerits.
3. You probably gave the same exam multiple times.
4. You probably have it blasted on your Twitter bio
Some of you need to read this twice:
A. Leaking private conversations/pics sent during a consensual relationship is disgusting.
B. Equating the plight of rape/harassment victims’ with that of someone who is cheated upon is disgusting.
C. Cheating upon anyone is disgusting.
Never underestimate the power of a good boss. They can transform your outlook towards work, your mood, your relations with friends and family, your patience levels and your positivity.
Why must our dramas be so poorly researched and so idiotically scripted? Disappointed to see how the CSS journey was portrayed in Ehd e Wafa. Not only does it spread misinformation but it demeans the hardwork of all CSPs.
Wish our writers spent a LITTLE more time researching!
CSS 2019 final result is out and will be uploaded soon. Congratulations to everybody who passed! And to those who didn’t - this is just a blip on the road to many more achievements!
Heartening images coming out of Karachi. Extremely proud of our police and the bold actions being taken by the Sindh govt.
Please stay indoors and exercise caution. Please do not let the service of these brave men go to waste.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a civil servant or a politician. It doesn’t matter which authority appointed you to your position. It doesn’t matter how much money is in your handbag. What matters is how you treat others. That’s it.
Someone said something wise to me today:
We need to stop glorying overworking and wearing it as a badge of honor.
Work is just a part of life - not the centre of it.
The cannoli women we’re lambasting today are all of us at some points in our lives; how many times have we felt superior for speaking the white man’s tongue better than others? Our own CSS exam is better tackled by those well versed in English.