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Greenfield Country Club & Resort Trip

Courtesy: Green Fields Country Club It was fantastic! We went on our office tour to the Greenfield Country Club & Resort Hotel at the end of March. I had to get up early because the Bus timing to pick me up from the office was 9 AM.Can you believe sir Junaid and our office boy missed the bus and joined us from a petrol pump on the way. The journey was good everyone was enjoying the travelling by singing, dancing and laughing. It was a sunny day. As we reached there on time at the main gate, our CEO sir Khurram was already reached there with his family too.It was a lush green garden over there. They served us delicious juice at the entrance. There were multiple activities like indoor outdoor games, horse riding and boating etc. The soothing environment of the place was spiritually pleasing to me because it took me closer to nature. I was enjoying the activities we played cricket together and won the match too. The indoor games were brilliant. After lunch, we had gone for swimming. The water was so cold which was contrasting with the sunny environment. After lunch, we played indoor games Carrom board, mechanical bull ride and table tennis. I captured many landscapes and sceneries. As you know photography is my hobby too. I have also experienced the built indoor structure from an architectural design point of view they beautifully used the dark colours of marble and furniture to respect the interior design as you can see in the pictures At the end of the day I enjoyed all the activities and tired enough so I enjoyed tea over there with a beautiful view of the sunset. Moreover, it was a good trip I learned a thing that outdoor & communal activities-built team coordination and communication skills strong. It’s also good for our physical and mental health.

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The Ancient Festival of Holi(ہولی کا قدیم تہوار)

ہولی کا قدیم تہوارجس کا آغاز پاکستان کی دھرتی سے ہوا پاکستان میں صوبہ پنجاب کے جنوبی شہر ملتان کے قلعہ کہنہ قاسم باغ میں واقع ہندوؤں کا تاریخی مندر ’پرہلاد پوری‘ تاریخی اعتبار سے دنیا بھر میں بسنے والے ہندوؤں کے لیے اہم حیثیت رکھتا ہے کیونکہ کہا جاتا ہے کہ ’ہولی‘ کے تہوار کا آغاز یہیں سے ہوا تھا۔ تاہم یہ مندر گذشتہ کئی سال سے ایک کھنڈر کی صورت بنا ہوا ہے ہولی ہندوبرادری کا تہوار ہے جو بھارت میں قومی سطح پر منایا جاتا ہے۔ اس کے علاوہ ایشیا کے دیگر حصوں اور مغربی دنیا کے مختلف حصوں میں منایا جاتا ہے۔ ہولی کو رنگوں کا تہوار یا محبت کا تہوار بھی کہا جاتا ہے۔ہولی کا تہوار برائی پر اچھائی کی فتح، بہار کی آمد، دوسروں سے ملنے، کھیلنے اور ہنسنے، معاف کرنے اور معافی مانگنے اور ٹوٹے رشتوں کو دوبارہ بحال کرنے کی علامت ہے۔ یہ اچھی فصل کے لیے شکر گزاری کے طور پر بھی منایا جاتا ہے۔ ہندو عقیدے کے مطابق ہولی کے تہوار کا آغاز پاکستان کے شہر ملتان سے ہوا جہاں آج بھی پرہلادپوری مندرکے آثارموجود ہیں۔ ہندو دھرم کی روایات کے مطابق یہ قدیم مندر بھگت پرہلاد کے نام سے منسوب ہے، جو ست یوگ میں آئے تھے۔

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Remembering an Unsung Hero

Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali It was a tense afternoon of 23rd April 1930, when thousands of people had gathered in front of the Qissa Khawani Bazar Police Chowki in Peshawar, and the men of the Royal Garhwal Rifles took positions against the protesting crowd. Hundreds of people were looking on from their houses and rooftops. The British Captain warned the non-violent demonstrators to disperse but it had no effect on them. Then, in a rush of anger, he shouted….  ”Garhwal ~ Three rounds Fire !! ” In response, an equally firm voice of platoon head Veer Chandra Gharwal was heard, refusing to fire upon unarmed people even if the Captain were to shoot them down….. and all the Garhwali soldiers lowered their rifles to the ground. It was a rare and extraordinary moment of couragous defiance by a local unit in the history of British colonial rule. However, for this disobedience, he along with 59 soldiers were arrested and faced military court martial. They were sentenced to life imprisonment and all their properties were seized. After serving this term in several jails for 11 years, 3 months and 18 days, he was finally released in year 1941. Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali was born on 25th December, 1889 in the district of Garhwal, Utterkhand, and died on 1st October, 1979 after a long illness. For his humanity and courage, he deserves to be known, acknowledged and remembered by us.

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The last days of Socrates
By Plato

‘Nothing can harm a good man either in life or after death’ – Socrates The trial and condemnation of Socrates on charges of heresy and corrupting young minds is a defining moment in the history of classical Athens. In tracing these events through four dialogues, Plato also developed his own philosophy of a life guided by self-responsibility. Euthyphro finds Socrates outside the court-house, debating the nature of piety, while the Apology is his robust rebuttal of the charges against him. In the Crito, awaiting execution in prison, Socrates counters the arguments of friends urging him to escape. Finally, in the Phaedo, he is shown calmly confident in the face of death. Will start reading this enlightening book by a great philosopher about the last days of one of the greatest philosopher of all time who accepted to drink a cup of poison as a price for not compromising on the truth he believed in.

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Pakistan Ka Matlab Kya? la ilaha illallah

Islam appears to me like a perfect work of architecture. All its parts are harmoniously conceived to complement and support each other; nothing is superfluous and nothing lacking; and the result is a structure of absolute balance and solid composure.  – Leopold Weiss born on 2nd July 1900 in a Jewish family in Austria. Converted to Islam in 1926 in Berlin and adopted Muslim name Mohammad Asaad. In 1932, he came to British India and met poet philosopher, thinker, Allama Mohammad Iqbal who inspired asad to stay in British India and help Muslims to establish their separate home. Allama Iqbal encouraged asad to translate Sahi Al Bukhari in English for the first time in history. Asad went to Kashmir to do the needful. When Pakistan was born on 14th August 1947,  Asad was the first foreigner to get Pakistani Citizenship and was appointed Director of the Department of Islamic Reconstruction by Qaid e Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah with the following goals to achieve: 1) interest free banking 2) Islamic education system 3) constitution based on Quran and Sunnah In the words of Qaid e Azam, a State of our own concept – that is to say, a State which would fully satisfy our desire to have a polity built on the principles of Islam. Alhamdulillah Qaid e Azam was a true marde momin. We have to fulfill the unfinished agenda of our Qaid e Azam and Pakistan.

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urban forest

Mini urban forest at Hyderabad’s taluka Tando Jam

Mini-forests are small areas of forest often found in urban centers. Saplings are planted at three per square meter, which is far denser than in normal forests. These forests can be as small as a tennis court meaning that they can exist in urban areas which are often lacking biodiversity. A great initiative has been taken by the district commissioner of Tando jam by inaugurating a mini urban forest. The eye-catching look of the forest decorated with coloured umbrellas has begged the attention of the whole of Pakistan. There are numerous benefits of the mini urban forest. It not only maintains the desirable vegetation cover but also protects the biodiversity by providing preferable habitat to birds and animals. Besides, these parks are the need of the hour to contain the menace of global warming. Global warming, which begets climate change, is a global phenomenon therefore mini urban forest is the best step to contain it at the local level. The local community also gets benefits from these green spaces. These parks provide fresh oxygen and suitable area for walking and exercise which ultimately put positive psychology impacts on humans. Therefore, the idea of a mini urban forest should be promoted and supported by the government at all levels of society. Besides, the government should also launch an awareness campaign regarding the benefits of these forests so the people should take interest in the building and protect mini urban forests. Town Planner Anis SamooMember of Pakistan Council of Architects and Town PlannersMember of Institute Of Planners Pakistan

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Sheikh Abdur Rasheed

Remembering The Late Sheikh Abdur Rasheed

With Sheikh Abdur Rasheed’s passing on Thursday 21st January 2021, the Town Planning profession lost one of its most talented, respected, and beloved members. He spent an extensive part of his life working for the betterment of the profession, fashioning new ways to strengthen the profession, and depicting the importance of urban planning as a top part of the country’s social and communal fabric. He was one of the first urban planners of Pakistan. He laid the groundwork for future generations to follow in his footsteps.Born in 1936, Sheikh Rasheed completed his M.A. in Sociology from Punjab University in 1961 and his MSc. in Town Planning from UET Lahore in 1965. He further did a post-graduate diploma in Planning Housing and Building from the Netherlands in 1970. Being one of the first urban planners in the country with a sociology specialization made him more perceptive, receptive, and open towards the country’s urban social and development problems. He was one of the first planners that showed that urban planning is not just another field of study. Still, it is intricately plaited into the overall structure of society. It is related to every other discipline such as economics, sociology, engineering and politics. With every experience, he became more knowledgeable and, in due course, became a sea of wisdom and learning for every coming generation of urban planners. His accolades and honours included international certifications, Vice Chairman Town Planning PCAPT, President IPP, visiting professor at UET, assignments in the U.K., USA, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and numerous conferences seminars. Sheikh Rasheed’s diverse experience working with national and international donor agencies on mega-projects of Master Planning and Land Development schemes established him as an outstanding Town Planning profession member. In 2011, the Prime Minister of Pakistan awarded him a Gold Medal for his policy paper on Urban Development, focusing on housing. His seasoned career included being a planner under the Ministry of Municipal & Rural Affairs Saudi Arabia and Director-General twice for the Punjab and Lahore Development Authority. After his retirement in 1996, Sheikh Rasheed joined MM Pakistan. He spent 25 years of his career flourishing as a Team Leader, Co-coordinator, Planning Advisor, and Sector Head on various assignments. His dedication and enthusiasm in his roles were highly motivational for young and old. His participation brought another level of professional excellence to MMP’s Urban & Infrastructure Sector. As with all of his ventures, he leaves behind a legacy of being the pioneer of developing Master Planning within MMP.He worked on projects of much significance in every province of the country. As Director-General of LDA, he guided the early planning and development process of the metropolis. As an executive member of the planning and development board, he improved and streamlined the entire province’s planning and development process. He was one of the members who reviewed the existing master plan of Islamabad under the request of CDA. In addition to all these major social and policy-related works, he has multiple stars on his shoulders for working as a principal planner and as a sociologist for various urban and rural housing projects, master plans of international cities, water and transport-related projects.Sheikh Abdur Rasheed will be remembered as an exceptional Townplanner and an extraordinary human being by students, colleagues and the country’s Town Planners. May Allah grant him the highest place in Jannat.

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LDA

LDA reforms have led to Ease of Doing Business in Lahore

LDA reforms have led to Ease of Doing Business in Lahore. Under its Vice Chairman, S.M. Imran, LDA revised building and zoning regulations-2019 to promote vertical development and curtail abnormal horizontal sprawl. The fundamental motivation behind these reforms is to shape-up Lahore in a direction that the city can offer better life and livelihood opportunities to entire inhabitants. The reform agenda proposed various amendments in building bylaws to promote multi-story residential apartments and commercial plazas. The Chief Town Planner, LDA led this whole trial and segregated high-rise buildings into six broad categories depending on building height, namely low rise, medium-rise 1, medium-rise 2, high rise 1, high rise 2 and skyscraper category. The new building bylaws allow multi-story buildings on plots as small as 10 Marla – comparably, the minimum area required for tall buildings was four Kanals in the previous bylaws. Similarly, changes have been made in height restrictions on 10 Marla plots residing next to a 30-feet wide road by changing the limit to 50 feet from 38 feet. The authority has made similar changes in various categories, such as for 1- Kanal plot, the height limit is now 90 feet, 2-Kanals 120 feet, 4- Kanal 200 feet, and 8-Kanals to 12 Kanals up to 300 feet. For the category of a skyscraper, the plot requirement is more than 12- Kanals, and it has no height restriction, but the developer will have to get a NOC from the Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan to move forward with the development. Besides, to encourage vertical development and controlling haphazard horizontal expansion in the district, the authority under the guidance of DG LDA and V.C. Chairman LDA Mr S.M Imran has also revised its procedural rules regulations to fashion ease of doing business in Lahore. Out of the several changes made in the procedural rules, the following are worth discussing. The first reform is that plans will be sanctioned after submission of documents (Clause 10.4.1.), which states that after submission of documents to the concerned agencies, the building plan may be issued provided other conditions under the building regulations are fulfilled. The second reform is relief in the release of plans in phases (Clause 10.4.1 (f)), in which the authority has allowed the developer, in case of a multi-story building, that during the processing of a claim for release of the subsequent floor plan above plinth level, to continue the construction up to ground floor at his own risk and cost but strictly following plan under process for release. The third reform is the validity of the sanction plan (Clause 10.7.1), for plot size up to 2-Kanal and for plot above 2-Kanal, the maximum period has been increased to 5 years. The fourth reform is that for non-hazardous warehouses, the requirement of NOC from EPA will not be applicable anymore (Clause 10.4.1). The Fifth reform is quick and early approval of building plans. In the case of building plans of residential plots, approval will be given within 21 days in approved schemes and 30 days in the controlled areas, while in the case of the commercial building, plans will be approved within 30 days. One crucial point here is that if the plans are not sanctioned within the prescribed time, the owner can start and raise construction at the site after payment of scrutiny fee and a penalty for deviations (if applicable) and submission of an affidavit that the construction will be raised as per submitted building plans (Clause 10.13). In case of all the other buildings such as Apartment, Public building, multi-story building and industrial, building plans are to be approved within 45 days. If the plans are not sanctioned within 60 days, the owner can start and raise construction at the site after payment of scrutiny and submission of relevant documents for firefighting, structure drawings, traffic impact assessment reports, etc. The sixth reform deals with implementing an insurance policy for multi-story buildings to save the developer from any future incident and harm. The authority has ensured that the owner will provide insurance for the building from a registered Insurance Company at the time of issuance of the completion certificate (Clause 10.9.3 (d)). The authority has constituted a Grievance Committee to recommend the cases involving non-compoundable building violations (mentioned in Clause 10.11.1) for regularization up to max 10% of the total covered area as well as other such matters owing to destitution subject to payment of fee and fines on the production of relevant NOC from Rescue 1122, Civil Defence and certificate from professional PEC registered Structural Engineer. The authority has also allowed construction in phases (Clause 10.8.3(1)), which states that if the developer intends to construct the building in multiple phases, the plan or drawing provided for approval must have construction in phases duly numbered. What is more is that if the building comprises of more than one block, the owner may plump for development in the form of the first block (as up to plinth level, 38ft and above), the second block (as up to plinth level, 38ft and above), and so on bound by validity of building period/sanctioned plan. These regulations and many others will allow new developers and entrepreneurs to get their projects developed quickly without any hassle. Under these new regulations, all government agencies and other departments are bound to decide on the issuance of no-objection certificates within 15 days. This improvement in the plan approval process, issuance of NOCs, and completion certificates will bring more investors into the city and transform the city into a high-rise modern provincial capital rather than an uncontrolled, constantly expanding megapolis.

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shakar parian

The villages of Islamabad

کریڈٹ ۔عابد علی اسلام آباد میں 85 دیہات شامل تھے جو اسلام آباد کی تعمیر سے متاثر ہوئے۔ جن میں تقریباً 50 ہزار افراد آباد تھے۔شکر پڑیاں بھی ان میں سے ایک گاؤں تھا یہاں دو سو سے زائد گھر تھے جو بالکل اس جگہ پر تھے جہاں آج لوک ورثہ موجود ہے۔ لوک ورثہ کے پیچھے پہاڑی پر اس گاؤں کے آثار آج بھی جنگل میں بکھرے پڑے ہیں۔ 85 دیہات کی 45 ہزار ایکٹر زمین جب سی ڈی اے نے حاصل کی تو متاثرین میں اس وقت 16 کروڑ روپے تقسیم کیے گئے جبکہ انہیں ملتان، ساہیوال، وہاڑی، جھنگ اور سندھ کے گدو بیراج میں کاشت کے لیے 90 ہزار ایکڑ زمین بھی الاٹ کی گئی جس کے لیے 36 ہزار پرمٹ جاری کیے گئے۔ان میں جو بڑے گاؤں تھے ان میں کٹاریاں بھی شامل تھاجو موجودہ شاہراہ ِ دستور اور وزارت خارجہ کی جگہ آباد تھا۔ شکر پڑیاں لوک ورثہ کی جگہ، بیسٹ ویسٹرن ہوٹل کے عقب میں سنبل کورک مری روڈ پر سی ڈی اے فارم ہاؤسز کی جگہ گھج ریوٹ. جی سکس میں بیچو, ای سیون میں ڈھوک جیون ایف سکس میں بانیاں, جناح سپر میں روپڑاں جی 10 میں ٹھٹھہ گوجراں, آئی ایٹ میں سنبل جاوہ نڑالہ اور نڑالہ کلاں. ایچ ایٹ میں جابو زیرو پوائنٹ میں پتن, میریٹ ہوٹل کی جگہ پہالاں ایچ ٹین میں بھیگا سیداں, کنونشن سینٹر کی جگہ بھانگڑی, آبپارہ کی جگہ باغ کلاں اسی طرح راول ڈیم کی جگہ راول، پھگڑیل، شکراہ، کماگری، کھڑ پن اور مچھریالاں نامی گاؤں بستے تھے۔ فیصل مسجد کی جگہ ٹیمبا اور اس کے پیچھے پہاڑی پر کلنجر نام کی بستی تھی۔ شکر پڑیاں میں گکھڑوں کی بگیال شاخ کے لوگ آباد تھے جنہیں ملک بوگا کی اولاد بتایا جاتا ہے۔ گکھڑوں نے پوٹھوہار پر ساڑھے سات سو سال حکمرانی کی ہے۔ راولپنڈی کے گزٹیئر 1884 کے مطابق ضلع راولپنڈی کے 109 دیہات کے مالک گوجر اور 62 گکھڑوں کی ملکیت تھے۔

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Subqtullah Rashdi

Subqtullah Rashdi

Subqtullah Rashdi is one of the few freedom heroes of South Asia who had chosen the path of militancy as a tool to fight against the invader, the colonial power in United India and win freedom rather than carrying a struggle as per the line adopted by Gandhi. He is many times different from other such heroes who had chosen the same path such as Bhagat Singh and others. Behind him were his disciples who were more than a million, women, men and children who joined him in his call. He was martyred this day in 1943 before dawn by hanging till death. His body was not given to his heirs. His two teenage sons were taken into custody and sent to exile to London, monitored and governed by the British rulers. Still, his grave is unlocated. The most important of all is that hundreds went to gallows in following his path. The entire hur families were sent to jails, their free movements were curtailed. He was 32 years old when he went to gallows at Hyderabad Jail. Col Kargil was a British officer who executed his death. That last night of Soreh Badshah is narrated by Kargil. Pagra played chess with him, Pagara defeated Kargil in chess. Time was nearing to execute his death, Pagara offered Namaz and with full confidence and courage, he went to gallows.He lived in his early life in jails of Bengal, where he was inspired by Subash Chander Bose and his doctrine winning freedom. His slogan for his movement was وطن یا کفن۔ Jinnah was his lawyer. His trial was a mockery of free and fair trial even by the standards of those times. British rulers brought first-time martial law in some part of Sindh to crush his movement. British empire brought Hur Act, in law Hurs were treated as prone to do the crime. How this militancy had brought these into ashes, is a great ordeal in itself. It was also a freedom movement fought by women. When Air Marshall Asghar Khan, who was a pilot at that time serving in the Indian Air force, was ordered to take the plane and make aireal firing upon their located movement. Asghar Khan came back without executing orders because there was a movement of women and children riding on carts. They were not militants. Asghar Khan was court-martialed.It is a long tale, needs a thousand pages to write down this ordeal and the commitment of this hero for the motherland.

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Ruins

Mushtaq Ahmed Yusufi

بشکریہ پیج :مشتاق احمد یوسفی یہ کھنڈر ضلع جلہم کے شہر پنڈ دادنخان میں واقع ہیں۔ یہ کوئی عام کھنڈر نہیں یہ دسویں صدی کے مشہور سائینسدان ابوریحانالبیرونی کی لیبارٹری ہے، جس میں انھوں نے ان پہاڑوں کی چوٹیوں کا استعمال کر کے زمین کی کل پیمائش کا صحیح اندازہ لگایا البیرونی کے مطابق زمین کا قطر 3928.77 تھا جبکہ موجودہ ناسا کی جدید کیلکولیشن کے مطابق 3847.80 ھے یعنی محض81 کلومیٹر کا فرق البہرونی نے ڈھائی سو سے زیادہ کتابیں لکھیں، وہ محمود غزنوی کے دربار سے منسلک تھے، افغان لشکر کے ساتھ کلرکہار آئے، افغانوں نے البیرونی کے ڈیزائن پر انکو یہ لیبارٹی بنا کر دی، اب سوچنے کی بات یہ ہے کہ ہم اپنے ورثہ کی کیسے قدر کرتے ہیں، اس میں ماسوائے چند بکریاں چرانے والوں کے علاوہ کوئی نہیں جاتا، اگر اس کا خیال نہیں رکھا گیا تو بہت ہی جلد ہم اس عجوبہ سے محروم ہوجائینگے، اس کے علاوہ یہاں تک جانے کا راستہ بھی ٹھیک نہیں ہے، اس کے لئے تقریبا ایک گھنٹہ کا پیدل سفر کرنا پڑے گا، حکومت کو چاہیئے کہ دوبارہ سے ٹھیک کرے اور تعلیمی اداروں کو چاہیئے کہ Study Tours ایسے تاریخی مقامات پر کروایا کریں۔ یہ جو سٹڈی ٹور مری، نتھیا گلی وغیرہ میں کیئے جاتے ہیں یہ صرف اور صرف تفریح ہی ہو سکتے ہیں ان سے تعلیمی مقاصد حاصل نہیں کیئے جا سکتے، 1974 میں سوویت یونین نے ابو ریحان محمد بن البیرونی پر ایک فلم بھی بنائی ھے جس کا نام ھے ابو ریحان البیرونی، البیرونی کی وفات 1050 میں غزنی افغانستان میں ہوئی اور وہیں آسودہ خاک ہیں

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Dyal Singh Majithia

Dyal Singh Majithia

Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia (1848–98) was an Indian banker and activist in progressive and social reform measures in Punjab. He established The Tribune newspaper in Lahore in 1881 and later remained founder chairman of the Punjab National Bank, established in 1894. He established the Dyal Singh trust society. When he died in 1898 he owned 26 prestigious properties, including Dyal Singh Mansion of 54 residential units on The Mall, scores of lawyers’ chambers on Fane Road, the exchange building which was later sold to Ganga Ram Hospital, and a property in Karachi which was sold after his death and the earning invested in the purchase of land on the road to Mian Mir, where today stands the new campus of Panjab University. Most of the buildings, plots of land, and villages in Lahore, Amritsar, and Gurdaspur districts were bequeathed to the trusts that set up Dyal Singh College and Dyal Singh Library. His other business activity concerned the purchase and resale of precious jewelry. With his deep knowledge of the history of the Sikh kingdom and the riches of the once important and wealthy families now in dire straits, he sent agents to buy these out for him. He was a connoisseur of precious stones and told his friends how lucrative this business was.

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Nasirud-din-Murat-Khan

Nasirud-din Murat-Khan

Nasirud-din Murat graduated with triple degrees in architecture, town planning, and civil engineering from Leningrad State University in 1930. He enjoyed a thoroughly successful career in the capacity of both as a chief civil engineer and as a chief architect involved in several projects in the USSR such as the national theatre in the city of Derbent, a polytechnic institute for 800 students in Makhachkala, a 600-bed hospital in the same city, town planning and designing of a new township for 60,000 families (over 100,000 people) in Makhachkala and other numerous projects. In Pakistan, he designed multiple structures as well including 1,000-bed Nishtar Hospital in Multan, a mental hospital of 500 bed in Mansehra, Division Public School in Lahore and Faisalabad, 700+ seating capacity auditorium in Forman Christian College, Municipal office in Multan, Mosque in the Governor’s house and many other to count. The most iconic gift given by the architect was Minar-e-Pakistan for which he didn’t charge a penny and to which he gave the reason that he wanted to show gratitude to the country who gave him his final home. There is a misconception that he was only the architect of the monument but in reality, he was both architect and engineer of the monument. Originally, the top of the monument didn’t have a covering to signify the young country’s infinite, promising growth. The committee overseeing the project changed the design to a dome to signify Islamic architecture, which was contested heavily by Nasirud din. He told the committee that they are stunting the growth of the country by changing the design but the committee didn’t budge. They even excluded him from the project two weeks before the inauguration and sent him the final bill which he rejected because he wanted to pass the bill after removing errors and defects. The committee went forward with their decision and inaugurated the monument without even inviting the man who gave everything to it. According to his daughter, he was heart-broken and devastated and he wanted to leave Pakistan but unfortunately, he died a year after, with a broken heart.

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Sir Ganga Ram

Sir Ganga Ram Father of Modern Lahore

Rai Bahadur Sir Ganga Ram Rai Bahadur Sir Ganga Ram (13 April 1851 – 10 July 1927) was an Indian civil engineer, architect, and leading philanthropist of his time, who established the Renala Hydral Power Station in Renala Khurd in 1925. His extensive contributions to the urban fabric of Lahore, in modern Pakistan, caused Khaled Ahmed to describe him as “the father of modern Lahore”. In 1873, after a brief Service in Punjab P.W.D devoted himself to practical farming. He obtained on lease from the Government 50,000 acres (200 km²) of barren, unirrigated land in Montgomery district, and within three years converted that vast desert into smiling fields, irrigated by water lifted by a hydroelectric plant and running through a thousand miles of irrigation channels, all constructed at his own cost. This was the biggest private enterprise of the kind, unknown and unthought-of in the country before. Sir Ganga Ram earned millions most of which he gave to charity. In the words of Sir Malcolm Hailey, the Governor of Punjab, “he won like a hero and gave like a Saint”. He was a great engineer and a great philanthropist. He designed and built General Post Office, Lahore Museum, Aitchison College, Mayo School of Arts (now the NCA), Ganga Ram Hospital, Lady Mclagan Girls High School, the chemistry department of the Government College University, the Albert Victor wing of Mayo Hospital, the Hailey College of Commerce, Ravi Road House for the Disabled, the Ganga Ram Trust Building on The Mall and Lady Maynard Industrial School. He also constructed Model Town, once the best locality of Lahore, the powerhouse at Renala Khurd as well as the railway track between Pathankot and Amritsar. He built Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lady Mclagan School, and Renala Khurd Power House with his own money. He was a promising agriculturist, too. He purchased thousands of acres of barren land in Lyallpur (now Faisalabad) on lease and by using engineering skills and modern irrigation methods, turned the arid lands into fertile fields. He retired in 1903. He died in London on July 10, 1927. His body was cremated and his ashes were brought back to India. A portion of the ashes was consigned to Ganga River and the rest buried in Lahore on the bank of the Ravi. A statue of Sir Ganga Ram once stood on Mall Road in Lahore. Saadat Hasan Manto, the famous Urdu writer, in one of his stories on the frenzy of religious riots of 1947 writes that an inflamed mob in Lahore, after attacking a Hindu residential area, ‘turned to attack the statue of Sir Ganga Ram, the Hindu philanthropist. They first pelted the statue with stones; then smothered its face with coal tar. Then a man made a garland of old shoes climbed up to put it around the neck of the statue. The police arrived and opened fire. Among the injured was the fellow with the garland of old shoes. As he fell, the mob shouted: “Let us rush him to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital”.

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CityStreet

Are 15-minute cities the future?

The concept of the 15-minute city is slowly gaining traction across the globe as policymakers and urban planners look at its versatility in combatting densification and climate change. Imagine a city that included all urban necessities in a 15- minute radius? That’s the new concept of the 15-minute city based on the idea from Professor Carlos Moreno at the Sorbonne in Paris, in which all urban necessities are within a 15-minute reach on foot or bicycle. Moreno believes that humanity needs to move away from its dependence on roads and cars and aim to live in a carbon-neutral city. It’s a concept rapidly gaining traction after the COVID-19 pandemic as urban planners and architects look to alleviate the densification of cities. “The idea is that cities should be designed or rather re-designed so that they are within the distance of a 15-minute walk. People should be able to live the essence of what constitutes the urban experience to access work, house, food, health, education culture, and leisure,” he said in his TED Talk about the concept. “We need to rethink cities around the building blocks that form 15-minute cities. First ecology for a green and sustainable city, second proximity: to live with reduced distances to other activities, third solidarity: to create links between other people. Finally, participation should involve citizens in the transformation of their neighborhood. Cities are places of economic dynamism and innovation, but we need to make urban life more pleasant healthy, and flexible,” he says. The idea is already taking shape among policymakers and urban planners; Paris is aiming to be the world’s first 15-minute city by 2030, while Melbourne is looking at 20-minute neighborhoods by 2050. Buenos Aires, Amsterdam, Madrid, and Glasgow are also focusing on this concept in their bid to reduce emissions and waste in the drive towards carbon neutrality. WHAT FACTORS MUST A 15-MINUTE CITY HAVE? Proximity: Things must be close, no more than 15-minutes via bicycle or foot Diversity: Different urban amenities including a green environment Density: There must be enough people to support a diversity of businesses in a compact land area. Ubiquity: These neighborhoods must be so common that they are available and affordable to anyone who wants to live in one. NEOM-SAUDI ARABIA’S 15-MINUTE CITY NEOM, The Line, launched earlier this year aims to test out the 15-minute city in the MENA region. The   vehicle-free city   is expected to offer zero-carbon, high-speed autonomous transport, in addition to offering a green environment with all urban necessities no more than 15-minutes away.

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In Ruins: 6 Projects That Breathe New Life Into Dilapidated Buildings

Ruins can be spotted all around the world, both in rural and urban areas. Those decayed buildings, bare brick walls, tattered exterior, and beautiful architecture are always eye-catching. The notion of combining them with new architectural styles rather than rebuilding these ruins is modern. 6 Projects That Breathe New Life Into Dilapidated Buildings.

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energy resources

What are Alternative Energy Sources?

Alternative energy encompasses all those things that do not consume fossil fuel. They are widely available and environment friendly. They cause little or almost no pollution. There have been several alternative energy projects running in various countries to reduce our dependence on traditional fossil fuels. There are many impressive options that you can take into consideration. Here you will learn more about alternative energy sources that you can take into consideration. Solar Energy Solar is the first energy source in the world. It was in use much earlier before humans even learn how to light a fire. Many living things are dependent on solar energy from plants, aquatic life, and animals. Solar is mostly used in generating light and heat. The solar energy coming down to the planet is affected by the orbital path of the sun and its variations within the galaxy. In addition, it is affected by activity taking place in space and in the sun. It was this energy that is believed to have been responsible for the breaking of ice during the ice age, which creates the separation of lands and sea. Solar energy is one of the alternative energy sources that is used most widely across the globe. About 70% of the sunlight gets reflected back into space and we have only 30% of sunlight to meet up our energy demands. While solar energy is used for producing solar energy, it is also used for drying clothes, used by plants during the process of photosynthesis, and also used by human beings during winter seasons to make their body temperature warm. Solar energy can be extracted either by Solar Thermal or using Photovoltaic (PV) Cells. There are two kinds of solar energy the active solar energy and passive solar energy. Passive solar energy basically uses duration, position, and sun’s rays intensity to its advantage in heating a particular area. It also uses it to induce airflow from an area to the next. Active solar energy uses electrical technology and mechanical technology like collection panels in capturing, converting, and storing energy for future use. Solar energy does not create any pollution and is widely used by many countries. It is a renewable source of power since the sun will continue to produce sunlight all the years. Solar panels, which are required to harness this energy can be used for a long time and require little or no maintenance. Solar energy proves to be ineffective in colder regions that don’t receive good sunlight. It cannot be used at night and not all the light from the sun can be trapped by solar panels. Solar energy advantages are much more than its disadvantages which make it a viable source of producing alternative energy. Wind Energy This is one of the energy sources that have been in use for a very long time and for centuries. It was used in powering sailing ships, which made it possible for explorers to sail around their trade routes in distant lands. A single windmill can power the crop irrigation, and the family energy needs, water pumping, and electric lights. However, at the present time, there are several windmills that are used to generate the required energy mostly for industrial uses. Many of the wind turbines can capture much power all at once before feeding it to the power grid. These are commonly known as wind farms and have been in use for many years all around the world. It is only the United States that is going slow in terms of accepting this alternative energy source. Wind power is a renewable source of energy and reduces our alliance with foreign countries for the supply of oil and gas. It does not cause any air pollution and has created several jobs in the last few decades. Advancement in technologies has brought down the cost of setting up the wind power plant. Wind energy can only be used in areas that experience high winds which means that it cannot be used as a source to extract energy anywhere on earth. They sometimes create noise disturbances and cannot be used near residential areas. These disadvantages have made the use of wind energy in particular regions only. Geothermal Energy Geothermal energy can be found anywhere on the earth. Most countries tap this energy to generate electricity and power millions of homes. The areas which have high underground temperatures are the ones which are the ones which are prone to earthquakes and volcanoes. The United States produces more Geothermal electricity than any other country in the world. Most hot water geothermal reservoirs are located in the western states, Alaska, and Hawaii. Geothermal energy is totally renewable as the Earth will continue to produce heat as long as we are all are here. If these resources are tapped and are utilized effectively, they can provide solutions to the world’s power problems. Geothermal energy produces no pollution, reduces our alliance on fossil fuels. It also results in significant cost savings as no fuel is required to harness energy from beneath the earth. These advantages make geothermal energy one of the best alternative energy sources. But, geothermal has its downsides too. It is suitable for a particular region and cannot be harnessed everywhere. The earth may release some harmful gases while releasing the heat which may prove adverse for mankind. Also, the areas where this energy is harnessed are prone to earthquakes and volcanoes. Apart from that, setting up geothermal power stations requires huge installation costs. Hydroelectric Energy Solar energy is produced by the sun and wind energy is produced by the moving of winds. The heat caused by the sun drives the wind. The movement of winds is then captured by wind turbines. Both wind and sun cause water to evaporate. The water vapor then turns into rain or snow and flows down to sea or oceans through rivers or streams. The energy of the moving water can then be captured and called hydroelectric power. Hydroelectric power stations capture the kinetic energy of moving water

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Construction Package By PM Pakistan

Iqbal Institute of Policy Studies invites you to the following event.Webinar on “CONSTRUCTION PACKAGE BY PM PAKISTAN”When: Thu May 7, 2020, 12:00 pm – 02:00 pm (Pakistan Standard Time) Joining link info: To join the video meeting, click this link: https://meet.google.com/qpn-wgpc-ocyOtherwise, to join by phone, dial +1 240-774-0086 and enter this PIN: 555 481 385#To view more phone numbers, click this link: https://tel.meet/qpn-wgpc-ocy?hs=5) Moderators: Lt. Gen (R) Haroon Aslam – President Advisory Board IIPS Mr. Khurram Farid Bargatt – Member Advisory Board IIPS Speakers: Mr. Zaigham M. Rizvi – Chairman NPHP Mr. S.M. Imran – Vice-Chairman LDA Mr. Shafiq Akbar – Chairman Graana Group Mr. Akbar Sheikh – Chairman ABAD (N.R) Mr. Kalim A Siddiqui – Chairman PCATP Mr. Javed Afzal – Provincial Chief SMEDA Instructions: Use of Google Chrome Browser is recommended to join the webinar. To ensure voice clarity & prevent feedback participants are requested to mute their microphones unless they are the ones speaking. Participants besides the Panelists are requested to reserve their questions for the webinar end Q&As session or write their questions in the comments section.

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Internship Program 2020

An internship at Sheher Saaz allows you to tackle real issues in policy areas spanning the full breadth of work. As an intern, you will have the opportunity to work alongside our experienced full-time staff in helping out in the day-to-day operations at a research center. Interns are an integral part of the team. They take charge of tasks that support the organization’s work and operations. We welcome dedicated, resourceful, and motivated individuals from various academic backgrounds to join our team and make an impact on building a better Pakistan. Here you not only build your knowledge and skills in a thought-provoking think tank environment, but you will also gain experiences that will be beneficial to your personal and professional growth. We offer three types of internship programs: Junior Associate Program Sheher Saaz most competitive and prestigious internship program for graduates. Candidates must possess expertise in subject areas relevant to Sheher Saaz work, such as economics, political science, law, business, social sciences, environment, gender development, GIS, transportation, project management, conservation, architecture and urban planning as well as business development. Junior Associates are expected to handle more complex tasks such as assisting with the completion of a research proposal/paper and leading a program campaign. Eligibility: University graduate with a CGPA of at least 3.5 Duration: 6 to 9 months To apply, please submit the following documents to hr@shehersaaz.com Curriculum Vitae (include references) and cover letter Transcripts and relevant certificates Essay to the following question: ‘What policy reforms would you propose in Pakistan and why?’ Sample of written work Shortlisted candidates will be notified for further interviews. Business Development Internship Sheher Saaz is seeking a current college student, current graduate student, or recent college graduate who is interested in serving as an intern and providing a wide range of database, research, administrative, and general support to Sheher Saaz Development Manager. In return, Sheher Saaz will provide an opportunity for the intern to gain experience in and familiarity with areas such as conducting surveys, collecting primary and secondary data, event management,  business development, research, and day-to-day operations of a think tank with a global network. The Development Intern will be part of the External Relations Team and report to the Development Manager. Specific Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: Assist the development staff in entering data for analysis. Conduct research on potential strategic partners, markets and industries. Prepare reports and presentations for internal and external use. Draft correspondence, reports, proposals and briefs. Assist the development staff in planning events and other activities. Maintain files and other development materials. Attend department and staff meetings. Assist with mailings, filing, and special projects as needed. Qualifications Strong writing and research abilities. Desire to learn more about research and development. Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and relevant professional applications. Experience with databases is a plus. Good interpersonal skills and attention to detail. A demonstrated commitment to Sheher Saaz mission and values. Unimpeachable ethical standards and personal integrity. June 2020 to November 2020 Flexible within business hours (9:30 am to 5:00 pm). A firm commitment of 40 hours per week is required. Duration: 6 months To apply, please submit the following documents to hr@shehersaaz.com Curriculum Vitae (include references) and cover letter Transcripts and relevant certificates Sample of written work Shortlisted candidates will be notified for further interview. Internship Sheher Saaz Internship is an internship program for fresh graduates and students from any academic background. Interns are expected to provide support for projects and activities of the division that they are assigned to, and will have the opportunity to be involved in policy research, event management, communications work and so on. Eligibility: University students from any background Duration: 3 to 6 months To apply, please submit the following documents to hr@shehersaaz.com Curriculum Vitae Short answer to the following questions: ‘Why do you want to be part of Sheher Saaz and what do you want to achieve from the internship program (limit 300 words) Sample of written work Shortlisted candidates will be notified for further interview.

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The Canadian Mandate: Data Governance for Economic Prosperity

The ministerial mandate letters are clear: there is a need to establish a new set of online rights focused on data use for Canadians. Three ministers, in particular, are charged with the main task of coordinating these new rights: innovation, science, and industry; heritage; and justice. Why such a focus on data? Simply put, there are substantial societal issues related to the use and monetization of personal data. As we set rules and regulations in this area, we also need to be mindful of the broader, and complex, picture: data is at the heart of the innovation process, where the rules of the game are very different from those of the tangible economy and where a global battle is taking place on what those rules could look like. Canada’s values should be reflected in those rules and we need to take charge now. Our prosperity depends on it. Data is the feedstock for the algorithms that power artificial intelligence (AI) and digital platforms where both large quantities and varieties of data are necessary. Together, data and AI are a powerful force that has disrupted existing industries and led to new types of business models, work arrangements, and industries. Not surprisingly, governance arrangements have struggled to keep up. The focus has generally been on setting the rules for our tangible assets like steel and lumber, given the trade wars over the past few years. But, we now need to shift that focus to the rules for intangibles and data. Data is extremely valuable. Experimental estimates from Statistics Canada have placed the value of Canadian data at almost two-thirds the value of our oil assets—or about $217-billion. And while large, the value pales relative to other countries. While not strictly comparable, the market cap of the U.S.-based Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google is around US$4-trillion. This high valuation results from their monopoly positions and huge data stores. These companies are further cementing their advantageous positions each and every minute, with continued acquisitions of data through user engagement and fierce protection of their assets by a combination of de facto rule setting in the absence of national regulations: trade deals that enshrine open data flows; strong intellectual property protection of their data and AI assets; takeovers of innovative firms through their vast reserves of cash; the acquisition of top talent; and the powerful information asymmetries that drive out competition. There is a tangled web of interconnected national and international governance issues around big data, AI, and digital platforms that pervade all aspects of society. They include surveillance, privacy, cybersecurity, competition and trade, foreign direct investment, online speech, and even democracy. Against this background, what could a Canadian strategy look like? First, we need to get our domestic framework right. The elements of a successful strategy are already in place, including the National Intellectual Property (IP) Strategy, National Cyber Security Strategy, a Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, and a Patent Collective. These initiatives reveal both the strengths and weaknesses of our current approach—each department brings a set of experts, but the danger is a lack of coordination across them. We, therefore, need to ensure that there is a horizontal focus on data governance with all relevant departments at the table to ensure a coherent set of policies. Second, we need coherence across levels of government and a multi-stakeholder dialogue given the important societal concerns around data. Third, the government can, and should, be a powerful incubator to test out governance arrangements both for its own operations and within the industry. There is no one-size-fits-all approach and a combination of standards, regulations, and laws will be required. An essential element of this approach is standard-setting. Standards not only help to set the rules of the game, but they also embed societal values for the use of new technologies such as online rights. They can also be used to embed Canadian IP. Importantly, we can guide international discussions on global governance. Even as de facto rules are being set by the platforms or by other regions, the scene is chaotic and there are no internationally agreed-upon rules—and they are sorely needed. We should not underestimate the ability of Canada to be a global leader. We are a recognized leader in AI research, we have the talent, we have a reputation for good governance, and there are many countries looking for guidance. This article was originally published in The Hill Times. The opinions expressed in this article/multimedia are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of CIGI or its Board of Directors. ABOUT THE AUTHOR ROBERT FAY Robert (Bob) Fay is the director of the global economy at CIGI and is responsible for research direction and related activities. He has extensive experience in macro and micro-economic research and policy analysis.

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