News & Events

1) First Information: 
On 13 January 25, Chapter Chairman received a call from CEO SST, AVM Qasim Masood Khan about upcoming Founders Day at SST PSR on 25 January 25. To me that was a late call as such intimation is given at least a month in advance. December to February are three months of relevant cold in Karachi; therefore, weddings, aqiqas and traveling is usually planned during these months. I also had planned to go camping and fishing in the North with my entry mates from 21 to 24 January. Karachi Chapter was expected to provide max attendance on 25 January plus a few 'senior' Sargodhians that could grace the night function at SST PSR on 24 January. 

2) Registration by SOBAK members: 
Accordingly, SOBAK was intimated at its SOCIAL as well as OFFICIAL groups about Founders Day with their Registration cut off date on 20 January. Panic date was kept at 18 January. On 18 January, the SOBAK CMC was requested to attend the event. All except one agreed. The declining member had gone through a delicate surgery recently. The last year list was tapped and a few more were added to the participant list. Subsequently all members of Karachi Chapter were personally invited by the CMC. 

3) Coordination with SST: 
The CEO SST was informed of the expected members of Karachi Chapter that had consented to attend. About 24 had consented that included four "vetrans" going to SST PSR a night before. CEO SST agreed with the Base Commander, Faisel to provide two 'Coasters' for the occasion. 

4) Coordination with SOBA HQ: 
The Secretary General SOBA HQ did send a few posts to be circulated in the Chapter. That was done. However, all the portfolio holders of SOBA HQ were conspicuous at the Founders Day by their absence. Fundamentally, SST and all the projects of SST are babies of SOBA. When one chooses to be elected for a portfolio, one is obliged to have certain responsibility. I will not write much on it. It makes me sad. 

5) Coordination with SST PSR: 
The Principal, SST PSR, AVM Tahir Ranjha, despite his busyness rose to coordinate with Chairman SOBAK about the development at Karachi. We also had the blessings of having a Sargodhian Admin Officer, Gp Capt. Ejaz Hassan, at the school. He ran the details with many a time before the actual occurrences. Hats off to his efforts and the strength of his cell phone battery. 

6) Coordination with Faisel Base:  
A major highlight of the planning and execution was the way Faisel Base Officials coordinated with me. AVM Qasim had given me one contact at Faisel Base for the transport arrangements: Gp. Capt. Yasir Abbas. Sending him a message from me came his call to assure me of his full support for the logistics. He sent me a list of names and cell phone numbers of relevant officers. However, before my call the calls from those officers and ORs. This standard of cooperation was maintained until we arrived back to Faisel Mess. 

7) RV Points: 
We had around twenty participants that consented to proceed to the school. However, finally only thirteen departed. Eight of these were residing closer to Faisel Mess than Falcon Malir. Therefore, we had to have two RV Points. Unfortunately, six of these eight didn't qualify to enter PAF Mess, Faisel without their clearance. However, PAF Faisel was quick to facilitate us and provided clearance within an hour. 

8) Departure: 
It was in true Sargodhian Spirit that no participant was late to arrive for the ETD from Faisel as well as Falcon, Malir. We departed at 0545 from 0615 from Falcon, Malir. 

9) Journey: 
Sura Fatiha gives us a true picture of the importance of Journey. The senior Sargodhians and their lady-wives had captive get together in a small space. The narrators had captive audience. Such interactive sessions are few and far between. Those SOBAK members that missed this trip, missed too much. 
We had a tea/ breakfast break midway at a restaurant that had a paid toilet facility. The breakfast package had been prepared by Zaheer Babar (Secretary General SOBAK) a night before. Sandwiches were handmade until midnight on 24 January. His dedication to task is exemplary. Aafreen Aafreen ????????????????
Our driver had been going to SST PSR previously too. However, that made him complacent. He made a wrong turn and missed a turn to make us tour the insides of Hyderabad city. Nonetheless, owing to our departure well in time, we made to the school in time to freshen up and be seated on time. 

10) Events at School: 
We were received at the School by none else than the Principal himself. He was introduced with all the senior Sargodhians and ladies. 
Founders Day activities were arranged in the cricket field stadium. The audience were seated in the pavilion. We were given seating space in a separate block near the Centre. The view to the ground was perfect. The events of the occasion unfolded as per the published programme (attached herewith). 
We had an alarming observation that never happened before. Boys in the parade had to keep standing for about less than an hour during the activities. It was sad to observe that ten (10) boys fell. They were taken to the two ambulances parked behind the parade. This gives us an idea of the less than ideal physical and mental toughness of the boys. The irony is that Head PTI was awarded Excellence Award by the School. A Point to Ponder for the school management. 

11) Speeches by Principal and Chief Guest: 
The Principal gave an excellent account of himself while stating his vision. He was crisp and eloquent in his words. The Chief Guest, Syed Sardar Ali Shah, Education Minister, Sindh focussed more on SIPD. From the contents of his address, it was clear that he was much concerned about the HRD of the thousands of newly recruited teachers in Sindh. If that be the case, SIPD's marketing has been well taken care of. It is an opportunity to grab for JZ Aziz, the CEO of SIPD. 

12) Meeting with Head of IT SST PSR: 
One of high achiever Sargodhian, Sohail Raza (22nd Entry - Ad) has been working on website and software development in Holland since 1997. He had specifically asked me to invite the heads of IT or Oi/c website of SST PSR and SIPD. Meeting Mr. Asif Khan, Head of IT SST PSR, I learnt that they had already touched base in 2014 and SR did develop the School website. However, Mr. Asif says now their website is hosted by a Pakistani and he is satisfied. I reckon Pakistanis could have "other" reasons to have a Pakistani host. Nonetheless, I have shared SR's cell number with Mr. Khan. 

13) Meeting with CEO SIPD: 
Unlike Mr. Khan, Jahanzeb Aziz, CEO SIPD was very much forthcoming on learning about Sohail Raza and told me that he would get help from SR as much as possible. 

14) Lunch: 
A separate table with dedicated service had been provided laid for Sargodhians. A simple menu of Chicken Korma, palak paneer, and biryani topped with raita salad and nan was a nicely prepared and presented to fill our appetite. A few of us ate enough for a deep nap in the transport for three hours. 

15) Return Journey: 
Return journeys are always depressing. However, it does matter who is returning from where. Could you recall when we returned from PCS to home. That was never depressing except when our friendship had grown in PCS. The ache of separation from friends against the joy of meeting the parents and siblings had the push and pull play in this lonely journey. However,  notwithstanding, tiredness was the main contributory factor in the present depression in our Return Journey. As usual, there were four back-benchers, including me, that tried (in vain) to cheer the inmates. The cloud was so much grey that the travellers refused to take even a tea-break on the way back. 

16) Letters of Gratitude by SOBAK: 
For their good work and their service to Karachi Chapter, the CMC decided to send letters of gratitude to: 
i) CEO, SST; 
ii) Principal, SST PSR; 
iii) Base Commander, Faisel.   
These letter had been dispatched on 28 January 2025.