Visiting Egypt to support freedom

Will be in Cairo (22-26 Jan), Siwa (27-29 Jan), Alexandria (30 Jan-01 Feb), Cairo (02 Feb), back to Karachi on 03 Feb… InshAllah!

Will be traveling to Egypt as Civilization Ambassador of Egypt in Pakistan and will express solidarity, pay tribute to the brave and peace loving youth on behalf of Youth from Pakistan & around the world. Youth there continue to struggle relentlessly for a future of hope and of change towards democracy & social justice. Looking forward to meet friends in Egypt and will visit top three cities. Will be in Um Dunya (the Mother of the Universe) inshAllah from 22 January-02 February 2012.

R.I.P Arfa Karim!!

R.I.P Arfa Karim!! Pakistan is indebted to Arfa for making our country proud!! Born in 1995, Arfa Karim got the honor of World’s Youngest Microsoft Certified Professional when she was only 9 years old in 2004. Bill Gates, the Chairman of Microsoft, invited Arfa to visit the Microsoft Headquarters in the USA in the age of 10 only. Amazingly, she was certified for flying a plane at a flying club in Dubai at the age of 10. Indeed, enormous loss for Pakistan!! We will miss you Arfa!!!!!!!!

Message to the Egyptian Youth

Crossing Borders Pakistan is inviting the young people to write a brief message of appreciation to the courageous youth of Egypt. All messages will be presented to the youth of Egypt in Egypt. Hurry up and don’t miss this opportunity to record whatever you want to say to the youth and leaders of Egypt. The entries are open to the youth of Pakistan as well as the youth from all around the world. Send your entries latest by Wednesday, 18 January 2012. Find more details here: http://crossingborderspakistan.wordpress.com/our-projects/

Star Of The Week

At Pakistan Zindabad Youth Magazine:
http://www.pakistanzindabad.pk/2011/12/bilal-masood-star-of-the-week/

The party and not the man

Imran Khan at Karachi rally mentioned how impressed he was at the age of eighteen to see the welfare system of United Kingdom when he went there for the first time. He also said that Scandinavia has the best welfare system in the world except that they have not embraced Islam. After living in Denmark for nearly a year and observing the welfare system there and having just arrived back home, I share the same feelings as the destiny took me to that part of the world also at a young age. Just like many Pakistanis, I also have high hopes that PTI is pining to make our country a prosperous Islamic welfare state.

No wonder that the reason for the massive support for Khan Sahib is that people in Pakistan have no other option and therefore they want to give him a chance. The expectations of these common people are unprecedented high. However, this is the irony that we as a nation have always had high hopes with successive individual leaders of the parties and not the parties themselves. The very reason of this individual support has been the fact that the so-called democratic parties did not have democracy among their own ranks and even qualified leaders could not excel at the level of Chief Executive because they were not allowed by those who believe in ancestral politics.

Imran Khan has struggled for 15 years to come to this point, but it is pivotal for him to understand that he should not make PTI a one man party. If he really wants to bring a change in Pakistan, it is only possible that his party sets an example for other parties by democratically choosing the best candidate for the best job and this also means that he does not necessary should become the Prime Minister, but take responsibility of administering his party as the Chairman to ensure good governance at all levels.

I believe that if Imran khan wants to do something good for Pakistan, he must bring his members of the party to come in front for the public debate and allow the best candidate to win for that particular portfolio. For example, in the current scenario, the party has three candidates who have been the former foreign ministers. The real democracy will come to Pakistan when people will choose their Prime Minister, and Cabinet ministers among the party nominated candidates and PTI could take a lead to make this possible in Pakistan.

Imran Khan promised at the Karachi rally that "I promise on Quaid-e-Azam's birth anniversary that I will do what the Quaid-e-Azam wanted to do." It would have been so good if he had said that his party will do. It might be a little slip of tongue, but every word matters when you are being looked upon as a savior of the country. He, himself acknowledges the fact that Pakistan has enormous problems but they all can be solved so rather than promising to eliminate corruption in 90 days of coming into power, it is pivotal that Imran makes it clear to his supporters that to bring a change we need to be patient and contribute in this change actively, but allow him reasonable time. It must be remembered that too many expectations made Obama from hero to zero.

Coming will be the interesting times to see what policies PTI will bring to address the issues of Pakistan not only from solving law and order, water, energy, gas, industry, agriculture and transportation issues and education dilemma to providing Roti, Kapara, and Makan for the poorest of the poor and addressing the disparities of Balochistan, but some of the relevant issues that he did not mention in Karachi rally including how to end the feudal system from the country, elimination of honor killing( Karo Kari), rehabilitation of the flood affected people and how PTI would find the solutions to the challenges faced by more than sixty percent of the population in the shape of youth.

In these tough times, whoever is sincere and wants to bring a positive change in Pakistan should be supported and encouraged, but being a youth myself, I must be cognizant of the fact that it should be a support for the party and not for one particular personality in this case Imran Khan, even with the fact that I and many like me love him because of his outstanding contributions to our land and his thoughts to make Pakistan a better place to live for us and our future generations, something we all dream today.

Interview to a Danish School

- What was your point of view when you came to Denmark?

Being a Muslim, I thought it will be hard for me to live in an environment where the cartoons against Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) were published and there was a strong reaction in the Muslim World after these cartoons were published. I also knew that there were good and bad people every where and Denmark will not be an exception where you may find racist and friendly people. On a lighter note, Denmark has been known for its Vikings and Danish cookies. I also knew that it will be very cold country and coming from South Asia, it will not be easy to cope with the extreme cold weather. Denmark has also been known as one of the best welfare states and a rich country.

- When you came here, did you felt that people saw and treated you different?


The young people I met are festive and friendly. Many times because of the Danish language there have been problems where I am sitting with all Danes, it is important to realize them to talk in English, but I understand that it is natural and comfortable to speak in ones own language but to integrate non-Danish people, it is important to talk in English language. Of course I was considered as a foreigner and some one from outside of Denmark. Since I am coming from Pakistan initially people were reluctant about me because of the conflict going on at the border with Afghanistan and perception of terrorist and Taliban. However, everyone listened to my point of views, and slowly and gradually things improved as I was just one of their fellows. Still, I find that Danish students sit on one table for the meals and international students at another which is not good and something I found among the young people here in Denmark that they do not want to integrate more with foreign students.

The media is talking about a “clash of civilizations.” But that's not what I experience when I have discussions with young people in Denmark. Although there is a 180 degree difference in cultures of West and the East especially West and the Muslim world, however, what brings us together is that we all are human beings, we all believe in universal human values, peace and we all are part of global community. By crossing the borders of different countries, I have found that traveling is the best learning experience. It helps remove misunderstanding that unfortunately prevails today in our world. It enhances what we learn in the class room

- Have you ever been in a big conflict because of your descent?

Not a big conflict. However, I do not drink, something which is very common in Denmark, I was asked this question why I do not drink many times. In my religion drinking is prohibited and as Denmark is not a religious country, there have been times when people have not been able to understand it.

-Why do you think that some of the danish inhabitants' are seeing negative on people with good education who comes from the eastern part of the world?

There are of course some people in Denmark who thinks like that. Danish inhabitants should not see educated people who comes from the eastern part of the world negatively in fact they should be considered as an asset for the progress of the country, they are here not only to make their lives better, but actually to contribute in the Danish economy. They are intellectuals and good addition for Denmark and those who think negatively should be told about this fact.

- How do YOU think that we could change the danish peoples point of view on people from other parts of the world?

Ask them to interact more with the people from around the world in person where ever they get opportunity in Denmark and also meet them online. If we want a better world and more peaceful Denmark, it is important. However, the best way is to travel to global south so that they can find on ground realities and do not trust the media. Make young and old visit asylum centers, and ask them to volunteer for projects that promote interfaith harmony. Be more open to people from other parts of the world and if they are in Denmark, make them feel at home.

CB hosts journalists from Pakistan

Crossing Borders had the pleasure of hosting 19 journalists from different areas of Pakistan on the 5th of December at Krogerup College. Director Garba Diallo welcomed the Pakistani delegation of journalists and led a highly engaging, sometimes even intense discussion on the role of the media in intercultural dialogue and the role of journalists in promoting intercultural understanding and peace. Afterwards, CB ambassador Bilal Masood, himself from Pakistan, gave an inspiring speech you can watch at the link below:

http://vodpod.com/cbpakistan

Source: http://www.crossingborders.dk/page5.aspx?recordid5=47