The 4th Dimension

We are in middle of March and the remaining days leading upto 23^rd March, media will keep on reminding us the historical importance of Pakistan resolution and its implications. No doubt these celebrations are essential but it is also important that along with these celebrations we come up with something concrete that can actually help prosper Pakistan. Instead of drawing room discussions it’s more appropriate to chalk out plans and take actions.

I have always dreamt that MNCs operating in Pakistan, particularly the telecom companies [since I belong to telecom J] should also pump back the amount of fortune that they earn, back to the society. This only confirms their long term plans and their commitment to the betterment of the country.

Telecom companies do have their corporate social responsibility programs but many believe that most of the initiatives under CSR umbrella are marketing gimmicks. Barring a few exceptions like the Mobilink’s contribution towards the IDP issue, recycling of billboards material and making school bags out of it and Khuddar Pakistan from Telenor are all indeed very laudable efforts.

Looking at the current situation in Pakistan, where almost daily, we have suicide bombs welcoming the dawn of a new day, where every day hopes fade against mounting adversities, ambitions are slaughtered, lousiness is vindicated and change is defied, people in the land of pure do not have much to feel happy of. Our favorite past times, Cricket and Hockey to name a few have plunged into such depths that it is miraculous to believe that events folding on those fields can stimuli change. All in all we have lost hope and have forgotten to focus on the positivity that surrounds us. We often forget that Pakistanis are number one in philanthropy; are the most hospitable people and are peaceful and want peace.

In these tough times I as an ordinary Pakistani would like to thank Telenor Pakistan for the ‘Karo Mumkin’ campaign, a campaign that promises to deliver a message of hope and optimism to the people of Pakistan. The campaign [details can be viewed here] invites people to come up with ideas and suggestions that can contribute towards the betterment and prosperity of Pakistan.

The following is the official stance on the campaign:

Everyone has an idea or a dream that they wish to transform into reality. With its products and services, Telenor Pakistan hopes to inspire hope and self-belief in the people of Pakistan. Just recently, Telenor Pakistan transformed an opportunity into an achievement by launching the country’s first real mobile banking service, easypaisa. In the same tradition, we aspire to extend this faith to everyone that any possibility can be realized if pursued with commitment, confidence and belief.

Usman Javaid,

Director Marketing Telenor Pakistan

I know that it is wishful but still if this campaign can stimulate a chain reaction that Buddha has said:

One moment can change a day… One day can change a life… One life can change the world.

Lets pray that for us Pakistanis, this campaign can be that moment J

Karo mumkin Pakistan, Zindabad Telenor!

P.S:  Disclaimer: I am neither associated with Telenor nor its affliated vendors/PR agency. The views expressed in the above blog are my own, readers reserve their rights over difference of opinion.

I was thinking the topic for my next post. Going through the usual forum posts at Zumbeel regarding job hunts I could not stop my self from smiling. After all I had found out something to write upon.

Sitting in this MSc of my company after exhaustive 14 hour activity my mind is going down memory lane. Just some months ago I was also going through the same uncertainty, extreme sense of despair and those canny moments of depression, ultimately leading to a negative mindset all together. Life could not have been much bad. It was 3 months since I have graduated and to land a job seems like reaching the moon. Scanning newspaper, dropping resumes on the website and going office to office to drop the CV simply looked waste of time, energy and resource. I used to wonder what will happen? Will I ever get a job? Is telecom really that saturated? And god knows what type of ifs, buts and coulds.

Then from absolutely nowhere sanity struck my mind. I took this situation as a challenge knowing the universal fact that the stars shine when it gets the darkest I started the hunt with a new resolve knowing not to never ever give up because the only person that can stop me is I alone and no one else. I prioritized things and tried to figure out that what I really wanted to achieve.

I was lucky to have found a mentor (name not mentioned on request) who really helped me focus and tried to help me find a direction. A lot of my career achievements I attribute to him, for the way he helped me in some of my craziest and ajeeb o ghareeb time.

Till to this date I wonder how luck usually plays around. From 5^th semester onwards I was fascinated by Mobilink and I always dreamt of starting my career with such a company. After completing my bachelors my very first interview was at one of the leading ISP (internet service provider) for their LDI operations. The team lead there took my first interview, followed by the manager. I cleared both the interviews and was offered a job. On 28^th December I was called for contract signing but due to the events that unfolded on 27^th December, the Malaysian management of that company went back to KL, thus my hiring was delayed indefinitely. I couldn’t believe it nor could I could have done anything in this regard.

It was second week of January when out of nowhere I got a call from the person who took my first interview at that ISP. He told me that he has switched to Mobilink WiMAX department (now known as Mobilink Infinity) and he wants me to be a part of his operations team here. I was literally shell shocked. Even in my wildest dreams I hadn’t imagined of such things to happen. So happily i gave the joining.

Bottom line is “you must knock on doors until your knuckles bleed.
Doors will slam in your face. You must pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and knock again. It’s the only way to achieve your goals in life.” (by anonymous).

Just weeks down the road a lot of fresh graduates will pass out with dreams and a lot of anticipation. Some will be lucky and will instantly get on board while others will have to go through a lot of tough time to land a job. Many guys will hear a lot about people getting hired on reference. I have already touched upon the types of references in my last post. Like any other thing reference is neither good nor bad, it the way it is used that lead people giving a judgment.

I would like to end by sharing the following:

“My favorite animal is the turtle. The reason is that in order for the turtle to move, it has to stick its neck out. There are going to be times in your life when you’re going to have to stick your neck out. There will be challenges and instead of hiding in a shell, you have to go out and meet them” (by anonymous).

Until next time,

Haris