Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Motorcycle industry goes full throttle with rebound in exports
KARACHI: The domestic motorcycle industry has registered a remarkable recovery during the four months ending July 2011, industry executives told The News on Monday.
“The motorcycle industry has started taking its roots in the international markets and exported around 10,500 units to different countries during April-July,” Sabir Shaikh, chairman, Association of Pakistan Motorcycle Assemblers said.
The exports have picked up to $1.34 million after a 135 percent drop in 2010/11, Shaikh said. The quality and price of locally-produced bikes have effectively checked imports, he said.
Last year, exports experienced a steep decline after a major policy shift by the government when the Research & Development (R&D) facility was withdrawn from the motorcycle industry, he said.
Motorcycle exports stood at $786,310 in the year 2008/09 and surged to $3.5 million in the next year on the back of $50 per unit Research and Development facility. Exports fell by 135 percent after the withdrawal of this facility, said the APMA Chairman.
Fahad Iqbal, Chief Executive HKF Engineering the makers of Ravi motorcycles, said the decline in exports would have been much higher, but the prudent marketing strategy keep it under control.
“Exports of motorcycles averaged over 2,500 units during the last four months, which is a good sign for the industry. This, he added, is double the monthly export of 1,200 units in 2009/10 when record exports were witnessed. He said that the trend is expected to continue and Pakistan will easily be able to double its motorcycle exports this year,” he said.
The progress this sector has made over the last ten years is a proof that Pakistani entrepreneurs can compete with the best in the world if consistent policies are in place, he said, adding the industry provides a viable option as the next emerging export after textiles from Pakistan.
“We are aiming to export half a million units annually by the year 2016, but for this we want consistency of policy ,” Fahad claimed.
Growth in this sector means that part making industries like steel, rubber, electronics, and plastics, also get a boost, he added. The industry creates downstream avenues like motorcycle dealerships for new and old bikes, repair, and maintenance workshops and spare-parts businesses.
“The motorcycle industry has started taking its roots in the international markets and exported around 10,500 units to different countries during April-July,” Sabir Shaikh, chairman, Association of Pakistan Motorcycle Assemblers said.
The exports have picked up to $1.34 million after a 135 percent drop in 2010/11, Shaikh said. The quality and price of locally-produced bikes have effectively checked imports, he said.
Last year, exports experienced a steep decline after a major policy shift by the government when the Research & Development (R&D) facility was withdrawn from the motorcycle industry, he said.
Motorcycle exports stood at $786,310 in the year 2008/09 and surged to $3.5 million in the next year on the back of $50 per unit Research and Development facility. Exports fell by 135 percent after the withdrawal of this facility, said the APMA Chairman.
Fahad Iqbal, Chief Executive HKF Engineering the makers of Ravi motorcycles, said the decline in exports would have been much higher, but the prudent marketing strategy keep it under control.
“Exports of motorcycles averaged over 2,500 units during the last four months, which is a good sign for the industry. This, he added, is double the monthly export of 1,200 units in 2009/10 when record exports were witnessed. He said that the trend is expected to continue and Pakistan will easily be able to double its motorcycle exports this year,” he said.
The progress this sector has made over the last ten years is a proof that Pakistani entrepreneurs can compete with the best in the world if consistent policies are in place, he said, adding the industry provides a viable option as the next emerging export after textiles from Pakistan.
“We are aiming to export half a million units annually by the year 2016, but for this we want consistency of policy ,” Fahad claimed.
Growth in this sector means that part making industries like steel, rubber, electronics, and plastics, also get a boost, he added. The industry creates downstream avenues like motorcycle dealerships for new and old bikes, repair, and maintenance workshops and spare-parts businesses.
Foreign investment: UK-Pakistan trade to reach £2.5b by 2015
ISLAMABAD:Members of a trade mission from the United Kingdom met with senior political and business leaders of Pakistan here on Monday to identify new investment opportunities in the country.
The delegation, whose members represent financial and mining sectors of the United Kingdom, will hold several meetings over the next few days with key business and political leaders in different cities, according to a statement released by the British High Commission.
“This trade mission will explore, identify and commercialise untapped and underdeveloped mining opportunities throughout Pakistan by bridging the gap between London’s capital markets and Pakistan’s mining sector,” the statement said quoting one of the trade mission’s lead coordinators, Nadim Khan, who is a corporate finance partner at a UK law firm.
“We will be looking to provide Pakistan with access to world-class entrepreneurial support, significant foreign capital and technical expertise, which will hopefully provide a gateway for others to follow across other sectors,” Khan said.
The UK is the second largest overseas investor in Pakistan, with over 100 companies operating in the country in different sectors, including education, retail, pharmaceuticals, banking and energy.
Major British companies include Unilever, Shell, GlaxoSmithKline, Standard Chartered Bank and Barclays.
The statement said that generally, British companies reported a good return on their investments in Pakistan, as it was a relatively open economy with a pro-business regulatory regime.“A successful mission will contribute to the target of increasing bilateral trade to £2.5 billion by 2015,” Khan said. Bilateral trade between the UK and Pakistan in 2010 was £1.19 billion.
The delegation, whose members represent financial and mining sectors of the United Kingdom, will hold several meetings over the next few days with key business and political leaders in different cities, according to a statement released by the British High Commission.
“This trade mission will explore, identify and commercialise untapped and underdeveloped mining opportunities throughout Pakistan by bridging the gap between London’s capital markets and Pakistan’s mining sector,” the statement said quoting one of the trade mission’s lead coordinators, Nadim Khan, who is a corporate finance partner at a UK law firm.
“We will be looking to provide Pakistan with access to world-class entrepreneurial support, significant foreign capital and technical expertise, which will hopefully provide a gateway for others to follow across other sectors,” Khan said.
The UK is the second largest overseas investor in Pakistan, with over 100 companies operating in the country in different sectors, including education, retail, pharmaceuticals, banking and energy.
Major British companies include Unilever, Shell, GlaxoSmithKline, Standard Chartered Bank and Barclays.
The statement said that generally, British companies reported a good return on their investments in Pakistan, as it was a relatively open economy with a pro-business regulatory regime.“A successful mission will contribute to the target of increasing bilateral trade to £2.5 billion by 2015,” Khan said. Bilateral trade between the UK and Pakistan in 2010 was £1.19 billion.
Pak-Romania cooperation accord inked
SLAMABAD, (SANA): Pakistan and Romania signed an agreement on economic, scientific and Technical cooperation here on Monday.
Mr. Abdul Wajid Rana, Secretary Economic Affairs Division signed the agreement on behalf of Pakistan Government whereas Romanian Ambassador Mr. Emilian Ion signed on behalf of Romanian Government.
The agreement shall promote cooperation between the two countries in the fields of industry, agriculture, forestry, energy sector, research and development, telecommunication, computing & informatics, transport, logistics, environment protection, tourism, investment promotion, SME cooperation, education, health case and science and technology.
Under the signed Agreement, Pakistan-Romania Joint Commission would be set up. The Commission will work for identification of new development opportunities, develop proposals for economic cooperation of the government institutions, as well as establish ad-hoc or permanent expert working groups and committee of both countries.
The Commission shall hold its meeting at least once a year alternately in Pakistan and Romania and will review progress of decisions undertaken in the previous meetings.
Mr. Abdul Wajid Rana, Secretary Economic Affairs Division signed the agreement on behalf of Pakistan Government whereas Romanian Ambassador Mr. Emilian Ion signed on behalf of Romanian Government.
The agreement shall promote cooperation between the two countries in the fields of industry, agriculture, forestry, energy sector, research and development, telecommunication, computing & informatics, transport, logistics, environment protection, tourism, investment promotion, SME cooperation, education, health case and science and technology.
Under the signed Agreement, Pakistan-Romania Joint Commission would be set up. The Commission will work for identification of new development opportunities, develop proposals for economic cooperation of the government institutions, as well as establish ad-hoc or permanent expert working groups and committee of both countries.
The Commission shall hold its meeting at least once a year alternately in Pakistan and Romania and will review progress of decisions undertaken in the previous meetings.
Record $1.3bn remitted in August
Overseas Pakistani workers remitted $2,406.78 million in first two months (July-August) of 2011-12, showing impressive growth of 39.58 per cent.
KARACHI: Overseas Pakistanis remitted record $1.31 billion in August 2011 as against $933.06 million in same month of last year, showing a tremendous jump of 40.45 per cent, State Bank of Pakistan said on Monday.
The previous highest amount remitted in a single month by overseas Pakistani workers was recorded in June 2011 when they sent home $1.10 billion. This was sixth consecutive month when overseas Pakistani remitted over $1 billion. They had remitted $1.05 billion, $1.03 billion, $1.04 billion, $1.10 billion and 1.09 billion in March, April, May, June and July 2011 respectively.
Remittances received from all countries showed impressive growth. In August 2011, inflow of remittances from Saudi Arabia, UAE, USA, UK, GCC countries (including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman), and EU countries amounted to $309.79 million, $294.46 million, $263.58 million, $163.90 million, $134.31 million and $42.38 million respectively as compared with inflow of $205.56 million, $212.56 million, $186.82 million, $108.29 million, $108.54 million & $29.14 million respectively in August 2010. Remittances from Norway, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan, other countries in the month under review amounted to $102.05 million as against $82.15 million received in August 2010.
Overseas Pakistani workers remitted $2,406.78 million in first two months (July-August) of 2011-12, showing impressive growth of 39.58 per cent or $682.54 million when compared with $1.724 billion received in same period of last fiscal year.
Inflow of remittances in July-August 2011 from Saudi Arabia, UAE, USA, UK, GCC countries (including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman), and EU states amounted to $601.62 million, $552.11 million, $458.45 million, $282.45 million, $250.76 million and $74.97 million respectively as compared with $400.50 million, $389.59 million, $330.68 million, $193.86 million, $209.79 million and $52.99 million respectively in July-August 2010.
Remittances from Norway, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan and other countries in first two months of current fiscal year amounted to $186.42 million as against $146.83 million received in the period last fiscal year.
SBP, Ministries of Finance and Overseas Pakistanis had undertaken joint Pakistan Remittance Initiative (PRI) to facilitate flow of remittances through formal channels. It has shown remarkable progress as remittances through formal channels have beaten all previous records.
KARACHI: Overseas Pakistanis remitted record $1.31 billion in August 2011 as against $933.06 million in same month of last year, showing a tremendous jump of 40.45 per cent, State Bank of Pakistan said on Monday.
The previous highest amount remitted in a single month by overseas Pakistani workers was recorded in June 2011 when they sent home $1.10 billion. This was sixth consecutive month when overseas Pakistani remitted over $1 billion. They had remitted $1.05 billion, $1.03 billion, $1.04 billion, $1.10 billion and 1.09 billion in March, April, May, June and July 2011 respectively.
Remittances received from all countries showed impressive growth. In August 2011, inflow of remittances from Saudi Arabia, UAE, USA, UK, GCC countries (including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman), and EU countries amounted to $309.79 million, $294.46 million, $263.58 million, $163.90 million, $134.31 million and $42.38 million respectively as compared with inflow of $205.56 million, $212.56 million, $186.82 million, $108.29 million, $108.54 million & $29.14 million respectively in August 2010. Remittances from Norway, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan, other countries in the month under review amounted to $102.05 million as against $82.15 million received in August 2010.
Overseas Pakistani workers remitted $2,406.78 million in first two months (July-August) of 2011-12, showing impressive growth of 39.58 per cent or $682.54 million when compared with $1.724 billion received in same period of last fiscal year.
Inflow of remittances in July-August 2011 from Saudi Arabia, UAE, USA, UK, GCC countries (including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman), and EU states amounted to $601.62 million, $552.11 million, $458.45 million, $282.45 million, $250.76 million and $74.97 million respectively as compared with $400.50 million, $389.59 million, $330.68 million, $193.86 million, $209.79 million and $52.99 million respectively in July-August 2010.
Remittances from Norway, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan and other countries in first two months of current fiscal year amounted to $186.42 million as against $146.83 million received in the period last fiscal year.
SBP, Ministries of Finance and Overseas Pakistanis had undertaken joint Pakistan Remittance Initiative (PRI) to facilitate flow of remittances through formal channels. It has shown remarkable progress as remittances through formal channels have beaten all previous records.
Pakistani PM Stresses Rapid Expansion of Ties with Iran
TEHRAN (FNA)- Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Islamabad attaches much value to its relations with Iran, and underlined the need for accelerating development of ties between the two neighboring states, given the two nations' political, geographical and cultural commonalities.
Speaking to reporters during a joint press conference with Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi here in Tehran on Tuesday, the Pakistani premier voiced pleasure in his meetings with senior Iranian officials, including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Vice-President Rahimi and Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani.
He said that during the meetings, the two sides have discussed promotion of economic relations and described priorities, including building road and rail connections as well as energy cooperation "as we believe that these areas of cooperation would promote peace and stability in the region".
Accelerated expedition of a multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline project which is due to take Iran's gas reserves to Pakistan and export of 1000 MW of Iranian-generated electricity to Pakistan have been among the main points touched in the talks between the Pakistani premier and Iranian officials, according to Gilani.
Cooperation in facing security challenges and campaign against terrorism, extremism and drug-trafficking and goods smuggling was among other areas of our discussions, he added.
According to Gilani, the two countries agreed to increase bilateral trade to $10bln from the current $1.2bln.
Gilani said two committees, one headed by foreign ministers and the other by interior ministers, would meet on a regular basis to make their borders safe and work out ways of boosting economic activities and trade.
He said there was a paradigm shift in Pakistan's foreign policy and it wanted to forge close relations with its neighbors. Iran, he added, was one of the countries with which it would like to develop 'very close relations' as it is a very important regional state and a neighbor of Pakistan.
Pakistan has requested to open a consulate in the port city of Bandar Abbas in Southern Iran and a cultural center in Tehran, Gilani said, reminding that the move would narrow down the gap between the two nations.
Gilani arrived in Tehran at the head of a high-ranking politico-economic delegation on Sunday and met with top Iranian officials to discuss expansion of all-out ties and cooperation.
Speaking to reporters during a joint press conference with Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi here in Tehran on Tuesday, the Pakistani premier voiced pleasure in his meetings with senior Iranian officials, including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Vice-President Rahimi and Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani.
He said that during the meetings, the two sides have discussed promotion of economic relations and described priorities, including building road and rail connections as well as energy cooperation "as we believe that these areas of cooperation would promote peace and stability in the region".
Accelerated expedition of a multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline project which is due to take Iran's gas reserves to Pakistan and export of 1000 MW of Iranian-generated electricity to Pakistan have been among the main points touched in the talks between the Pakistani premier and Iranian officials, according to Gilani.
Cooperation in facing security challenges and campaign against terrorism, extremism and drug-trafficking and goods smuggling was among other areas of our discussions, he added.
According to Gilani, the two countries agreed to increase bilateral trade to $10bln from the current $1.2bln.
Gilani said two committees, one headed by foreign ministers and the other by interior ministers, would meet on a regular basis to make their borders safe and work out ways of boosting economic activities and trade.
He said there was a paradigm shift in Pakistan's foreign policy and it wanted to forge close relations with its neighbors. Iran, he added, was one of the countries with which it would like to develop 'very close relations' as it is a very important regional state and a neighbor of Pakistan.
Pakistan has requested to open a consulate in the port city of Bandar Abbas in Southern Iran and a cultural center in Tehran, Gilani said, reminding that the move would narrow down the gap between the two nations.
Gilani arrived in Tehran at the head of a high-ranking politico-economic delegation on Sunday and met with top Iranian officials to discuss expansion of all-out ties and cooperation.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
One student’s journey from small-town Balochistan to Harvard University
Located on the outskirts of Quetta, is the barren valley of Mariabad where the Hazara lead slow-paced lives. These tribal people, living in narrow brick huts speckled along the rugged hillside, typically sell loose cloth, sweaters or tea for their livelihood.
Like most poor people, their aspirations rarely go beyond sustaining themselves in this underdeveloped nook of Balochistan. Many of them live and die in Mariabad — unaware of the complex concerns and tremendous pace of life in urban centres like Karachi and Lahore.
But one student — the son of a trader who sold Quaid-e-Azam style caps in Mariabad for a living — dared to tread a radically different path. Karrar Hussain Jaffar transcended the confines of an obscure town in Balochistan, where people rarely educate themselves beyond matriculation, to study at the prestigious Harvard University. His story — a narrative about the wondrous possibilities of equal educational opportunities — is truly inspirational.
“My childhood friends, with whom I spent my youth playing cricket, drive suzukis and rickshaws in Quetta for a living, while I am a PhD student in the US,” says Karrar in a humble tone. “I often wonder why God chose me, out of all the people in my community, to get ahead in life?”
Karrar attributes his educational achievement to his father’s passion for his children’s higher education. He vividly remembers the chilly morning when his father showed him the ad for Lahore University of Management Sciences’ national outreach programme (NOP), which aimed to sponsor education and living expenses for capable students who could not have afford to pay.
“I was doing my FSc at Cadet college and didn’t even know a single thing about LUMS at that point in time,” he fondly recollects. “I didn’t take the ad seriously because LUMS did not offer engineering, the field I was interested in.”
When he returned back to college from his winter break, he attended a presentation by a LUMS’ faculty member, who introduced students to the national outreach programme.
“At the end of the presentation we all took a pre-screening exam,” he explains. “A few weeks later, I got a letter from LUMS inviting me to attend sponsored classes for SAT preparation.”
During the four weeks he spent rigorously studying for the SATs, he fell in love with LUMS. To him the institution seemed otherworldly; its grand building, spacious classrooms and impressive teachers fascinated him.
“I never knew things could be so orderly and perfect; it was like I was in a foreign country,” he remarks. “I felt very motivated to study hard and join the institution.”
But his herculean struggle with English often left him frustrated.
“I had always dismissed English as a colonial remnant in our country so I really struggled while preparing for the test.”
Yet with utmost dedication, Karrar managed to clear the screening exam at the end of the four-week training and was selected to take the SAT exams, sponsored by the university. After obtaining an impressive score in his SATs, Karrar got admitted in LUMS and was offered a full scholarship and a monthly stipend.
“I came to LUMS in very high spirits,” reminisces the bright student.
But Karrar, who had attended the NOP training program at LUMS during the quiet summer break, had never seen the institution in full semestral bloom. When he saw throngs of students, clad in western wear and fluent in English, emerging from every nook and cranny, his excitement gave way to culture shock.
“I was used to wearing shalwar kamiz, but at LUMS most people were wearing jeans. I would greet people by saying salaam, while the other students would ask ‘what’s up?’” he recollects in an amused tone.
Often feeling like a misfit during his first year at university, Karrar mostly spent his days with other NOP students. “But after a year I managed to befriend other students from Lyceum and Karachi Grammar school.”
He sheepishly adds, “After a year I figured out that ‘what’s up?’ is equivalent to saying salaam.”
Karrar graduated on the Dean’s honour list, with a cumulative grade point average of 3.7 and 3.68 in his majors, Maths and Economics, respectively.
“I got job offers in the banking industry after graduating but I turned them down because I wanted to tread an academic path,” he explains in a categorical tone.
A year after graduating, Karrar got a Fulbright scholarship to study in the US.
“I simply told the interview panel that I want to come back to Balochistan after completing my studies. That’s where my home is; that’s where I belong,” he explains passionately.
But perhaps the most memorable moment in his life — an incident he recalls quite animatedly — was when he found out that he made it to Harvard University.
“I had no internet at home in Mariabad so I walked 15 minutes or so to a nearby internet cafe to check my email for Harvard’s decision,” he explains. “When I saw the acceptance email, I just thought it was too good to be true.”
Yet after he raced back home to reveal the news to his parents, his moment of rapture soon transformed into a session of lengthy clarification.
“My mother asked me what Harvard was and my father asked me to wait for potential offers by other universities” he says with a laugh. “It took a while to convince them that I got into the world’s top university.”
But ironically for a student, who was left disconcerted by the ‘westernised’ student body at LUMS, adjusting to life at an American institution was smooth sailing.
“After LUMS, I was very used to being around different types of people so studying and living in the US was not such a problem.”
Karrar completed his Master’s last year and is currently pursuing a PhD in Economics from the University of Southern California.
What does he want to do with all the knowledge he is amassing?
“I want to increase educational awareness in Balochistan—particularly amongst people from my community,” he says.
The young academic’s goal might seem like the reiteration of the clichéd promise of “development” that many educated Pakistan promise their country. However, Karrar is actually a first-hand witness of how education can revolutionize communities and places.
“Because of all that I achieved, my parents allowed my sister to get college education in Lahore and my brother got the motivation to get a scholarship to study in Australia,” he says with a hint of pride.
Karrar confesses that most of his family and friends cannot even comprehend what his life is like in the US. But he is fairly confident that after he returns, he can change that.
“I can make them realise the value of education,” he says.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 8th, 2011
Like most poor people, their aspirations rarely go beyond sustaining themselves in this underdeveloped nook of Balochistan. Many of them live and die in Mariabad — unaware of the complex concerns and tremendous pace of life in urban centres like Karachi and Lahore.
But one student — the son of a trader who sold Quaid-e-Azam style caps in Mariabad for a living — dared to tread a radically different path. Karrar Hussain Jaffar transcended the confines of an obscure town in Balochistan, where people rarely educate themselves beyond matriculation, to study at the prestigious Harvard University. His story — a narrative about the wondrous possibilities of equal educational opportunities — is truly inspirational.
“My childhood friends, with whom I spent my youth playing cricket, drive suzukis and rickshaws in Quetta for a living, while I am a PhD student in the US,” says Karrar in a humble tone. “I often wonder why God chose me, out of all the people in my community, to get ahead in life?”
Karrar attributes his educational achievement to his father’s passion for his children’s higher education. He vividly remembers the chilly morning when his father showed him the ad for Lahore University of Management Sciences’ national outreach programme (NOP), which aimed to sponsor education and living expenses for capable students who could not have afford to pay.
“I was doing my FSc at Cadet college and didn’t even know a single thing about LUMS at that point in time,” he fondly recollects. “I didn’t take the ad seriously because LUMS did not offer engineering, the field I was interested in.”
When he returned back to college from his winter break, he attended a presentation by a LUMS’ faculty member, who introduced students to the national outreach programme.
“At the end of the presentation we all took a pre-screening exam,” he explains. “A few weeks later, I got a letter from LUMS inviting me to attend sponsored classes for SAT preparation.”
During the four weeks he spent rigorously studying for the SATs, he fell in love with LUMS. To him the institution seemed otherworldly; its grand building, spacious classrooms and impressive teachers fascinated him.
“I never knew things could be so orderly and perfect; it was like I was in a foreign country,” he remarks. “I felt very motivated to study hard and join the institution.”
But his herculean struggle with English often left him frustrated.
“I had always dismissed English as a colonial remnant in our country so I really struggled while preparing for the test.”
Yet with utmost dedication, Karrar managed to clear the screening exam at the end of the four-week training and was selected to take the SAT exams, sponsored by the university. After obtaining an impressive score in his SATs, Karrar got admitted in LUMS and was offered a full scholarship and a monthly stipend.
“I came to LUMS in very high spirits,” reminisces the bright student.
But Karrar, who had attended the NOP training program at LUMS during the quiet summer break, had never seen the institution in full semestral bloom. When he saw throngs of students, clad in western wear and fluent in English, emerging from every nook and cranny, his excitement gave way to culture shock.
“I was used to wearing shalwar kamiz, but at LUMS most people were wearing jeans. I would greet people by saying salaam, while the other students would ask ‘what’s up?’” he recollects in an amused tone.
Often feeling like a misfit during his first year at university, Karrar mostly spent his days with other NOP students. “But after a year I managed to befriend other students from Lyceum and Karachi Grammar school.”
He sheepishly adds, “After a year I figured out that ‘what’s up?’ is equivalent to saying salaam.”
Karrar graduated on the Dean’s honour list, with a cumulative grade point average of 3.7 and 3.68 in his majors, Maths and Economics, respectively.
“I got job offers in the banking industry after graduating but I turned them down because I wanted to tread an academic path,” he explains in a categorical tone.
A year after graduating, Karrar got a Fulbright scholarship to study in the US.
“I simply told the interview panel that I want to come back to Balochistan after completing my studies. That’s where my home is; that’s where I belong,” he explains passionately.
But perhaps the most memorable moment in his life — an incident he recalls quite animatedly — was when he found out that he made it to Harvard University.
“I had no internet at home in Mariabad so I walked 15 minutes or so to a nearby internet cafe to check my email for Harvard’s decision,” he explains. “When I saw the acceptance email, I just thought it was too good to be true.”
Yet after he raced back home to reveal the news to his parents, his moment of rapture soon transformed into a session of lengthy clarification.
“My mother asked me what Harvard was and my father asked me to wait for potential offers by other universities” he says with a laugh. “It took a while to convince them that I got into the world’s top university.”
But ironically for a student, who was left disconcerted by the ‘westernised’ student body at LUMS, adjusting to life at an American institution was smooth sailing.
“After LUMS, I was very used to being around different types of people so studying and living in the US was not such a problem.”
Karrar completed his Master’s last year and is currently pursuing a PhD in Economics from the University of Southern California.
What does he want to do with all the knowledge he is amassing?
“I want to increase educational awareness in Balochistan—particularly amongst people from my community,” he says.
The young academic’s goal might seem like the reiteration of the clichéd promise of “development” that many educated Pakistan promise their country. However, Karrar is actually a first-hand witness of how education can revolutionize communities and places.
“Because of all that I achieved, my parents allowed my sister to get college education in Lahore and my brother got the motivation to get a scholarship to study in Australia,” he says with a hint of pride.
Karrar confesses that most of his family and friends cannot even comprehend what his life is like in the US. But he is fairly confident that after he returns, he can change that.
“I can make them realise the value of education,” he says.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 8th, 2011
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