Pakistan's got heroes (not just terrorists)

Our nation has gifted individuals who have the potential to do great things.

Adeel Ansari March 19, 2012
Pakistan is an interesting country to say the least. We have probably as many (if not more) news channels here than entertainment channels. Unfortunately, where other countries use their media to benefit their people and show case talent from within it, we use ours mostly to spread fear and loathing for ourselves.

I was recently browsing the internet to see if we had success stories of our own, for motivating our people, when I found out about so many gifted people in our country about whom we hardly hear anything. The media shows one interesting story about these people and then goes back to how Pakistan is going to the dogs.

Unlike what our own media shows, we are not terrorists begging America to love us and show us their mercy – that’s just our government. The nation, on the other hand, is a bunch of highly gifted individuals with the potential to do great things, inspire others and perhaps be the future think tanks of the world. Here are some examples of the  individuals from Pakistan that I was able to come up with in a matter of 20 minutes on Google.

  • 70-year old Mushtaq Ahmed Siyan (PhD student): This amazing person is from the small town of Gujranwala and a poor man, but one that can speak, write and read English and did his MPhil in 2010 and is currently doing his PhD in Education. Why did he do this? Only to show the world that he can, not for employment but just because.


[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYWY1GsdFg0&feature=youtu.be]]

  • Two brothers make a gas powered fan: The first time they made a gas powered fan was in 1970 and now they have perfected the design. The fan runs for up to four hours and only consumers one rupee of gas!


[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmQDHQRIb3k]]

  • Pakistan’s First Fuel Efficient Car: Made by 12 Pakistani students from NED, the car can travel 80km in a single liter. The last report on these individuals indicated that they were trying to secure sponsorship to take their car for a world competition back in 2010, whatever happened to them, is still unknown. I’m sure we can use such cars inPakistan nowadays, but unfortunately no one from the government has tried to turn this project into a reality.



  • Ali Nawazish: He took 23 subjects in his A’levels and scored 21A’s, 1B and a C. He didn’t require any tuition, just a lot of hard work and energy drinks. He’s currently enrolled in the Cambridge University.



  • Car + Power Generator – A Pakistani invention: Necessity is truly the mother of all inventions and we, in Pakistan, therefore have a lot of great inventors. A generator that can power your house can also be used to run a car. The person who made this invention isn’t even a college graduate. This speaks wonders for our people and yet no one from the government cares.


[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMazGbesHZo]]

  • Moin Khan travels the world on a motorbike: Moin Khan travelled half the globe, from America to Lahore, on his motorbike as part of his campaign called 'A different agenda'. He too realized that Pakistan wasn’t presented in the best of ways and wanted to do something to change that. His story is one to be shared and learned from. He was able to change the minds of many regarding Pakistan and its people during his six month trip. He can easily be used as a good will ambassador by our country for youth across the world, but then again, that would require the government to give a hoot about its people and the image of the country, which it currently does not.


With so much talent present in our country, why doesn't our government invest in education, vocational training and infrastructure development? We need to fix our problems ourselves and not rely on the so called friendships of other nations.

We have all the potential we need, all we require now is for the government to listen and act.


WRITTEN BY:
Adeel Ansari Adeel Ansari moonlighted as an RJ on Cityfm89 (as Jellyman) but now works at Henkel after completing his MBA-Marketing from Lahore School of Economics and is currently settled in Dubai. He tweets as @Adeel_Ansari (https://twitter.com/Adeel_Ansari)
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (18)

Amna | 12 years ago | Reply What a heading Pakistan’s got heroes (not just terrorists) Like Pakistanis are terrorists?
Nandita. | 12 years ago | Reply @Anoop: To point out the successes only masks the 1000-pound gorilla hiding in your closet. I disagree. To point out successes means giving people hope and encouragement to work towards a better future and not lose faith.Isn't that better than brooding over failures ? There may be loads of issues within any society, are you saying that people should only wallow up in self pity or misery ? Is there anything wrong if people take pride in the success stories of their countries/states ? Forget Pakistan,bihar and UP for a minute, doesn't karnataka have issues of its own ? Does that stop us from gloating about Rahul Dravid's success on the cricket pitch. It doesn't, does it ? That's what life is about Anoop ; Clinging onto hope in the face of abject misery. @ Author - Very well written. I wish Pakistan a great future.
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