Social Media: a Powerful Tool for Social Awareness and Communication (by Shiraz Paracha)

It seems to me that organizing an event through the social media is not very common in Pakistan. Perhaps many of us don’t take the social media seriously. We use social media forums to pass time and often for sharing casual opinions and comments. There is nothing wrong with that but we can also use the social media for campaigning, organizing activities and promoting togetherness and harmony. 

In many parts of the world the social media are sources of bridge building and bringing people together for common causes. Social media forums have become major sources of communication, networking etc. Such forums are also used for event organization and political activism. This has happened because of the mainstream media’s indifference towards problems of working classes. The corporate media serve interests of the rich and powerful and ignore issues that concern ordinary people. In this backdrop the social media forums have become alternative platforms and voices of the voiceless. 

However, the social media are not alternative to actual/physical human interaction and activities. If cyber exchanges and interaction are not backed by real time human efforts and activities, and if the social media sources/platforms are not credible there can be negative implications. Also the social media are not replacement for physical human socialization and political activism. Total reliance on the social media for communication and social activity can result in de-politicizing people, inactivity, individualism, isolation etc. The point to remember is that the social media are not alternative to actual human interaction, activity or interpersonal communication. The social media tools should compliment and strengthen actual human interaction. Use of credible social media forums can supplement real time social and political activities/debates and awareness campaigns.

For example, in the late 1990s, the powerful anti-globalization and anti-capitalist movement were created through the social media where thinking minds and dissatisfied souls shared ideas and concerns. This was followed by actual mobilization of millions of people who would turn up at every meeting of the IMF, the World Bank, G7 group and other influential bodies. Ordinary people successfully registered their protest using the social media as networking and communication tools. The creation of the G20 group was the direct result of those protests where activists from around the world had successfully challenged institutions that protected interests of the rich and powerful. That is why most governments and agencies monitor social media forums for intelligence and information gathering purposes. They formulate policies and strategies in the light of trends and information they note on social media forums. First WikiLeaks and now Edward Snowden disclosures about the US National Security Agency (NSA) electronic surveillance and internet monitoring are examples of the significance of the social media. Anyway it is another topic and I will try to share more thoughts about it but at another time. 

My Comment: Food for thought for PTI government in KPK by Shiraz Paracha (FB Post)

My comment..!

Last weekend, I was in Lahore where power cuts (Load-shading) were terrible. I was staying near the Mall Road but even that posh area was not immune from the load-shading. Same was the situation in other parts of the city. Power cuts are severe in rural areas and in small towns. Therefore Khyber Pakhtunkhawa isn’t the only province which faces electricity shortages indeed all Pakistan is suffering because of this. 

There is little doubt in WAPDA’s incompetency and irresponsibility. PESCO staff and employees performance is also poor. They could be involved in power theft, wrong billings, line losses etc. The Provincial Government can assist the Federal Government in controlling these problems.

Under the 18th amendment provinces have the authority to sign agreements with foreign and local companies, import/purchase electricity, build power plants and dams and produce electricity from multiple sources. Power generation should be the top priority of the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa Government, not protest marches. 

Currently it takes 72 months (six years) to prepare feasibility report of a hydropower project. This is a very long time. Actually, most of the time is wasted due to red tape and bureaucratic hurdles. This time period can be brought down to half easily. According to experts a hydrology report can be prepared within 24 months.

The PTI Provincial Government should focus all its energies on hydro-power projects. It has four more years during which it can start several dozen hydro-power projects. Consequently, the power crisis will be resolved. 

Political point scoring, finger pointing and street protests are not the way forward. Both governments should cooperate and come up with solutions. Pakhtunkhawa needs peace and stability for economic development more than any other province. Wisdom dictates that the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa Government join hands with the Federal Government in resolving the power crisis. Dialogue and engagement with the federal government is in the interest of our province. Political disturbance and street marches may take us back to the dark day of July 5, 1977. 

Shiraz Paracha

The Issue of Palestine: in comparison to the issue of Pakistani Pashtuns (Shiraz Paracha's recent FB Post)

Where do we go?
Some friends are comparing the Palestinian situation with the situation in the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa and FATA. In my humble opinion, it is not the right comparison because both are different cases. 
Palestine is occupied by the illegitimate state of Israel. The Palestinian people are victims in their own homeland at the hands of Israel and its Western supporters. Britain had created Israel at gun point in the Palestinian lands. Jews were victimized by Europeans (Germans) not Arabs. A Jewish state should have been created in Europe; instead the British helped Zionists to occupy the Palestinian lands and forced the Palestinian people out of their homes. Later, the United States patronized Israel and provided it full support. Even today, Israel can’t survive without the US economic, political and military aid.
Two-State Policy/solution is not a fair or just solution but despite the unfairness enshrined in the Two-State Policy, most Palestinians have accepted it. They are willing to co-exist alongside Israel. But everyday Israelis humiliate & discriminate Palestinians, Israel is building new settlements and grabbing more and more Palestinian land. Still ordinary Palestinians do not resist. They go to Israel and work as slaves; they live in Gaza as prisoners but Israel’s greed and discrimination seem unending. Zionists extremists like prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his masters in the US and UK want to totally enslave and subjugate the Palestinian people. They are exterminating the Palestinians. Systematically Arabs are forced out of their lands and homes. This is absolutely unacceptable to any people.
Would Western people accept such treatment? The answer is NO. The British state and people are extremely sensitive even about their colonies. In 1981, Britain had sent troops to Falklands (A British colony in the South Atlantic Ocean) near Argentina. The British had occupied Falkland which was part of Argentina but when Argentina tried to take it back Britain had attacked Argentina. The point is that the Western countries follow double standards and they do not believe in any morality when it comes to foreign policy. They support Israel due to Western strategic interests in the Middle East and also because of the influence of powerful Jewish lobby on Western governments and politicians.
Through Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Arab Gulf states, the United States and its allies control the Middle Eastern oil and strategic energy and trade routes at the cost of the Palestinian people. That is why all democratic and peace loving people, including many Jewish organizations and groups, support the Palestinian cause. 


As compare to Palestine our situation is different. We the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Afghanistan and Pakistan are divided and have been fighting among ourselves. Foreign troops (USA and NATO) are occupying Afghanistan but some of us consider the Americans and NATO forces as saviors. Some liberal friends support the U.S presence in Afghanistan. Perhaps such friends are frustrated with Mullahs, the Talibans etc. By supporting the U.S and the West they believe that they are strengthening anti-mullah forces/elements. But in reality their stand is based on reaction, not just and rational principles.
On the other hand there is a large majority of Pashtuns who see the world in black in white. They believe in an over simplified interpretation of Islam and politics. To them everyone who disagrees with their interpretation of religion or way of life is an enemy of Islam and Pakistan. So they hate ‘liberals or pro-western Pashtuns and Pakistanis’.
The Pakistani military is not clear either. Military commanders consider themselves philosophers, political thinkers, religious scholars, strategic planners and diplomatic experts---all at the same time. Under this thinking Pakistani generals want to control the will and fate of 200 million people by determining Pakistan’s internal and external policies. We are facing consequences of wrong polices and misadventures of our former military generals.
Indeed we are victims of our own believes, interpretations and understanding of world and life as a whole. Foreign forces don’t have to come to Pakistan to destroy us. Apart from few African and Asian countries, I have never seen such polarization and hatred for each other in other societies as we have in Pakistan.
People and nations survive when they agree on a minimum agenda and take the middle ground, not extreme positions. In mature societies decisions are reached after public consultations at appropriate forums through objective and rational reasoning and analysis. Evidence based arguments/realities dictate policies, not illusions and few persons’ dreams. If we are driven by emotions, ethnic and religious biases we will not make right choices and may not find peace and harmony. Pakistan needs soul searching and many dimensional national dialogue. Most of all we should trust and appreciate each other as individuals and also have faith in our institutions despite their mistakes.
Shiraz Paracha 
(Recent Facebook Post)

Yeh Pakistan Hai

Yeh Pakistan Hai

Galiat

Galyat (گلیات ‎) region, or hill tract, (also written Galliat and Galiyat) is a narrow strip or area roughly 50–80 km north-east of Islamabad, Pakistan, extending on both sides of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Punjab border, between Abbottabad and Murree.The word itself is derived from the plural of the Urdu word gali, which means an alley between two mountains on both sides of which there are valleys and it is not the highest point in the range. Many of the towns in the area have the word gali as part of their names, and are popular tourist resorts.

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Yeh Pakistan Hai

Yeh Pakistan Hai

Behavior during Joblessness

Joblessness is a major source of frustration and demotivation that leads further to idleness and ill planning. Very few people are smart enough to think positive during such situation and opt for odd jobs. The following are the outcomes of job loss:

• Loss of your professional identity

• Loss of self-esteem and self-confidence

• Loss of your daily routine

• Loss of purposeful activitya

• Loss of your work-based social network

• Loss of your sense of security

There are many techniques helpful in overcoming this situation and keeping high spirits by taking care of yourself , reaching out others, and to rethink your career goals and rediscover what makes you really happy. The following are some of the steps that can be helpful during the time:

1. Enroll to some development classes or training that are new to you and will certainly increase your skills and confidence. "Remake yourself into what the market seeks and you may never be unemployed again" quoted by Ms Peterson.
2. Go for volunteering to develop professional and social contacts with people working in different organization. This can sometimes create a good reference and sometimes a good job.
3. Confront bias bravely by covering your joblessness time with some training or professional development as most of the people ignore job seekers who stay jobless for more than a year or so.
4. Stay in touch with your professional contacts as joblessness compels one to isolate and stay confined that is very disastrous. Go for long lost friends from school, college and university times, use social media to connect to friends, colleagues and companies like LinkedIn, FB
5. Turn to people you trust for support. Never take the unemployment stress alone instead share with trusted one. Never underestimate the importance of others in life especially in this type of situation
6. Write about your feelings and the things you did or you wished to do
7. Accept the reality, the sooner you do the sooner you will get out of the situation you are going through
8. Don't put yourself down as you need to stay confident and well composed to find another job
9. Joblessness can be used efficiently by rethinking the career priorities and you will surely find something positive
10. Involve your family by updating them about planning and new developments in job search and listen to their concerns.