Uncategorized8 Comments

New Blog officially launched

sufiaz

The website for the new blog is officially launched. It will be running up here. It is very empty, at the moment, but this is how it will ultimately look once I start putting posts there. The menu still needs to be customized however, which I intend to do as soon as I manage to get some free time in the day. The WordPress theme I have used is called Daily Notes, which makes me think of a blank sheet of paper, where I can express my thoughts freely on a clean slate – a perfect way to start. Special … Continue reading New Blog officially launched

Uncategorized6 Comments

Blog will be shifting soon

sufiaz

One aspect of my work involves developing websites for my clients, for which me and  my team spend hours on the Internet looking up and shortlisting WordPress themes. Looking at all the delicious looking themes, and spending all this time developing beautiful websites for clients has been tempting me to get my own website for ages. Finally today I took the step and shortlisted a theme for myself, with my developer Arsalan’s help. Arsalan also spent time and effort developing my website on the company’s webserver, and helped me to finalize a domain name (URL) for my new blog – … Continue reading Blog will be shifting soon

Media and Politics, Rants and Raves21 Comments

In defence of Veena Malik

sufiaz

Much is being said of how Veena Malik has embarrassed Pakistanis no end with her recent exploits on the 4th season of Bigg Boss. Yesterday I even watched an entire hour long live program on a news channel, where Veena was invited along with a maulvi who, to put it politely, insulted her openly on air. I would like to ask my fellow Pakistanis and Muslims – and the media one question: Why Veena? Are there really NO other violations of Islam in our daily lives? What the public, and the media, should really be raising a hue and cry … Continue reading In defence of Veena Malik

Utter and Complete Randomness8 Comments

The Micro-Entrepreneurs that go Ignored

sufiaz

Came across an article on why Pakistanis are the bravest people on the earth the other day in Newsweek. Amid a great deal of irrelevant details, the article does touch on how, despite all the problems besetting the nation, Pakistanis manage to smile amid it all. There are so many articles like the above on the positive aspects of Pakistan and its people. One quality that hardly ever gets mentioned however is how enterprising Pakistanis can be – a prime example of which I observed when I visited the Badshahi Masjid in Lahore in 2007. As with any masjid, visitors … Continue reading The Micro-Entrepreneurs that go Ignored

Professional life9 Comments

Why I’ll never work at a bank.

sufiaz

I am sitting at work while I write this with Junoon’s Khudi playing in the background…and involuntarily I found myself comparing my job at a marketing communication firm (and my side job as a translator) to my sister’s job at Standard Chartered. I may not make as much money as her in the long run, but at the end of the day my job kicks her job’s ass…BIG TIME…and here’s why. The chichora Hindi/Urdu songs. Every day after lunch, when the biryani is getting us down, someone or the other puts on loud music at full volume to avoid the … Continue reading Why I’ll never work at a bank.

FML, General Family Life, MLID10 Comments

Random Desi Household Life

sufiaz

Today my brother, who is studying at the same university where I did my MBA from, asked mum for permission to go on a university trip to a historical location in a different city. Naturally, mum agreed. Five minutes later, I asked her for permission to go the SAME trip. Her response: “Are you crazy? NO”! What is also so typically “desi” about this: both of us needed to ask our parents for permission. My brother is 22, I am 27. Funnily enough, if I tell my friends I couldn’t go because I didn’t get “permission” from my parents, they … Continue reading Random Desi Household Life

Rants and Raves5 Comments

O ye who believe..Practice what ye preach

sufiaz

Forbear to judge, for we are sinners all.  ~William Shakespeare, Henry VI I am subscribed to a forum where marketing issues are brought up and discussed. Recently, someone brought up a TVC for a hair removing cream, which is reproduced here for the sake of discussion.   The comment made by a user on the above mentioned forum is as follows:   I don’t know whether you’ve noticed this but Anne French is advertising towards focus on vulgar-make of a female. They are clear in asking females to wear less. Is this campaign in accordance with local standards of the country. This is … Continue reading O ye who believe..Practice what ye preach

Professional life, Rants and Raves3 Comments

Before you develop a website for a client……

sufiaz

The biggest mistake in carrying out a project for a client is not drafting an agreement upon the start of the project and insisting that both you and the client follow it to the letter. I offer my experience with a certain client as proof of this. These days my company is trying to complete a project handover to a client who had requested us to provide a website for their company. This project was started over a year ago and we were handed over 50% of the payment in advance, with the understanding that the balance would be paid … Continue reading Before you develop a website for a client……