Green flag on the top of the world

It has been over a month now that I am following the first ever Pakistan Gender Equality Expedition initiated by Pakistan Youth Outreach in association with a few foreign sponsors. Among others, the expedition includes two siblings from Shimshal Hunza in Gilgit Baltistan.

Today, I found the news on Facebook that both the siblings Samina Baig and Mirza Ali were able to successfully reach the summit of Mount Everest. This is such a huge news but unfortunately not yet covered by any mainstream media. This makes Samina Baig the youngest and only female mountaineer from Pakistan to conquer the highest mountain in the world. Also, Mirza Ali, who is a professional mountaineer, becomes youngest male mountaineer from Pakistan to reach Mount Everest Summit.

Samina Baig (21) and Mirza Ali (29) set out for the expedition last month. Mirza Ali used to send messages through his satellite phone while the receiver updated his personal blog. The last time I checked his blog the team had reached camp IV and were expecting to reach summit by 19th or 20th May. Finally at 7:40 AM Local Time they did it!

Congratulations and many prayers for a safe return.

I made this poster for Spectacular Pakistan.

“As a part of a Gender Equality Expedition by Pakistan Youth Outreach, two siblings from The Hunza Valley Samina Baig (21) and Mirza Ali (29) have reached the summit of Mount Everest (8,848m) on Sunday May 19, 2013) 7:40 AM Local Time.” – Spectacular Pakistan

Navroz Mubarak

Happy New Year 2013

Mission 2013:  Rely more on abilities and lesser on luck.

Two fresh changes in Facebook profile design

One good thing about Facebook is the way they roll out new features. During 2012, Facebook has made huge changes in the profile and page designs. Today, I found two new changes in the profile design.

1) New Tabbed Links:

A new tabbed link design has been added in the profiles. You may now see text links instead of the old tabs with images. Also there is a more link with all other items listed under it. Pretty cool. This would help to differentiate between Facebook Pages and Facebook Profiles.

2) Content Justification:

You may now see your application data piled up on the right side of the page. All other data, like things you share, is put on the left side of the page. Again, a useful change. Previously, you would find it a little messy with content spreading here and there. Also the highlight feature will not extend your images and other posts on the width of the whole page. It would simply add a highlight badge over the right corner of the post.

I am sure not many would be excited about the changes. Let us know your opinion through the comments.

Happy Facebooking

Ecstasy on the top of Hunza Valley

It was 2:00AM in the morning on the long vacation night so freezing that one wouldn’t even think about exposing any single body part out of sleeping bag. But I did it. I had leave for the Hon Pass with a few friends to see the sun laying its very first rays on the spectacular mountains surrounding the Hunza and Nagar Valleys.

Me at Hon Pass (4257m) The Hunza Valley, Rakaposhi and Diran Peak in the background. Photo by Wasim Zapoo

Once again, it was so great to be on the top of The Hunza Valley. Two years back when I went to this place (Hon Pass), it took my breath away. The Hon Pass is worth visiting if you don’t get pleased enough by just seeing a picture!

I visited the Hon Pass for the first time in 2010. Photo by Imtiaz Ali

A few more pictures from this years Trek to Hon Pass

Me at Hon Pass (4257m) The Hunza Valley, Rakaposhi and Diran Peak in the background. Photo by Wasim Zapoo

I visited the Hon Pass for the first time in 2010. Photo by Imtiaz Ali

Happy Independence Day of Gilgit-Balitistan

Today is the 65th Independence Day of Gilgit-Baltistan. The people of Gilgit-Baltistan, on November 1, 1947, fought a fierce battle against Dogra Raj and forced the Dogra Commander-in-chief Ghansara Singh to flee. Gilgit-Baltistan, after getting freedom from Dogra Raj, was later affiliate with Pakistan.

Know more about Gilgit-Baltistan on Wikipedia

Happy World Photography Day

Wish you all (amateur and professional photographers) a very Happy World Photography Day.

About World Photography Day:

Founded in 2009 and first launched globally in 2010, the World Photography Day project has grown to become a global celebration of photography. World Photography Day originates from the invention of the Daguerreotype, a photographic processes developed by Joseph Nicèphore Nièpce and Louis Daguerre. On January 9, 1839, The French Academy of Sciences announced the daguerreotype process. A few months later, on August 19, 1839, the French government announced the invention as a gift “Free to the World”.

(Text Credits worldphotoday.org)

Life I see in you Everything [Guest Post]

Life I see in you Everything…
Those amazing butterflies, with colorful wings
Peacock, from whose tail, entire rainbow springs
And the greens of nature, where my heart swings
Delicious flavored fruits, and the meals of king

Life I see in you Everything…
I see wonderful clothes, attractive dressings
Standing high, looking firm, great buildings
Multi colored fountains with light railings
glowing city in dark, these unique sightings

Life I see in you Everything
Covered in the mist, those fade evenings
Bunking with friends and the birthday feelings
Laughter of hours, on disastrous paintings
Fighting for pizza with favorite toppings

Life I see in you Everything
So I strive hard, to achieve my sharings
I want to have each of above blessings
And i dont care for my health and other Human Beings
I even Left My Lord, I Stopped Praying

I feel sometimes, I got struck by lightenings
Hidden inside me, are my soul’s burnings
People see me smiling, “it’s a happy ending”?
My heart is in pain, “You Just See My Coatings”

Butterflies once touched, powdered color leavings
The greens in winter are nothing but wiltings
The snow I like, in summer is melting
And joy of meal, is of feeble timings

Dresses of my choice, will be mere peelings
Buildings of sky, would do ground kissings
lights and friends, would lose their glistenings
Time will shake it all, there are no healings

Am I trapped in dreams?”Am i a Cageling”?
How hard I would try, I would lose everything
Old age or accident, would end up my earnings
“Guys! em going to my Grave, THIS is My Ending”

Guest Post by Ammar Hassan

Facebook turns 8

It was 8 years ago when today’s most fascinating social network was born. Initially before it’s public launch, it was called thefacebook.com which was only available to Howard University students. Later, it was also made available to students of other universities of United States. On 4th February 2008, Mark Zukerberg  renamed to domain name and launched what we know today as “FACEBOOK”.

Since then, Facebook has remarkably grown in all aspects. Users, money, employees, everything. Facebook has not only put Mark Zukerberg – the founder of Facebook, in the list of top and youngest millionaires but also helped a lot of start ups, non profits and other companies grow, interact and increase sales.

Today in 2012, Facebook still continues to grow it’s users and it’s most likely to have about 1 billion users by August this year. This might be a joke unless you know the actual amount of people living on surface of our earth. Click HERE to read some interesting facts about the population of the world.

Being the most used website next to Google, Facebook is no doubt a revolutionary social media and social networking platform.

Happy New Year 2012

Happy New Year too all visitors. Hope 2012 is not the end of the world 

Year 2011 went like a day but was full of fun, little achievements and yeah not to forget the bad times. 2011 showed all of it. The world lost some great men, there were tragedies, disasters and failures but life has to go on. Here we go – into a yet another new year with all hopes and expectation for even better times.

If it didn’t Bring you Joy,
Just Leave it Behind.

Let’s Ring in the New Year
With Good Things in Mind.

Let Every Bad Memory Go
That Brought Heartache and Pain.

And let’s Turn a New Leaf
With the Smell of New Rain.

Let’s Forget Past Mistakes
Making Amends for This Year.

Sending You These Greetings
To Bring you Hope and Cheer