Connect with us

Sindh Icons

Altaf Hussain Khawaja – A topper, an engineer, development expert, historian

Published

on

KARACHI: While opening his eyes in the well-educated and prominent family of district Sujjawal, the coastal belt of Sindh province, Altaf Hussain Khawaja son of Mohammad Hashim was born on November 22, 1972.

His father Mohammad Hashim owned agricultural lands and known for his soft and kind behavior to the people of the area.

Altaf Hussain Khawaja has three brothers and three sisters.

Altaf received his primary education from the Government Boys Primary School Tarr Khawaja. He passed his matriculation from the Government Boys Secondary School Sujjawal, affiliated with the Board of Secondary Education Hyderabad in 1988. He clinched A-grade.

Khawaja cleared his intermediate examination from the Government Muslim Science College Hyderabad in 1990. He grabbed A1 grade in the Board of Intermediate Education Hyderabad.

Mr Altaf was very active and attentive in studies and always took active part in extracurricular activities in the school as well as in the college.

With an extraordinary talent and his love towards education, Altaf qualified for admission in the most premier education institution – Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET) – from where he completed his Bachelors of Engineering (BE) in Civil in 1996. Yet again, he remained in the top five brilliant student in the university.

After finishing his university education, Altaf Khawaja started preparation and cleared the most competitive examination – Central Superior Services (CSS) held by the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) however he could not make it to the allocation process.

Similarly, Altaf Khawaja cleared another examination conducted by the Federal Public Service Commission for the post of Income Tax Officer however he did not join it.

In year 2005, Altaf qualified another competitive examination conducted by the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) for the post of Assistant Executive Engineer (AEN), Works and Services Department, Government of Sindh. Finally, he joined the Sindh Government as AEN.

Firstly, Altaf was posted as AEN Buildings Division Matli in 2006 where he had served for a longtime. He had also served as AEN Education Works at Karachi’s Baldia Town.

In 2011, Mr Khawaja once again appeared and qualified the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) examination for the post of Mukhtiarkar, Board of Revenue of the Sindh Government which he had joined by availing lien facility.

He had served in various districts of the Sindh province and his last posting was Mukhtiarkar Sujjawal. He also qualified the RQE.

In 2016, Altaf Khawaja quit the revenue job and rejoined the Works and Services Department and was posted as AEN Highways Sub-Division I Karachi where he served for two years.

In 2018, Altaf was posted as XEN Building Division-II Karachi. He had also worked as XEN Health Works projects lower Sindh as additional assignment.

Mr Khawaja also served as Regional Engineer Sindh House Islamabad in 2020. He had also worked as XEN Health Works. In 2021, he was posted as XEN Health Works upper Sindh.

Altaf also served as XEN Provincial Buildings Thatta, XEN Provincial Buildings Division-II, XEN District Buildings Sujjawal and XEN Buildings Division-I and II.

In March 2024, Altaf Khawaja was promoted to the post of Superintending Engineer (BS-19). Presently, Altaf is working as Superintending Engineer (SE) Provincial Buildings Karachi.

Sindh Icons

Rafia Javed’s journey from a village girl to an educationist, promoter for girls’ education

Published

on

KARACHI: With cuteness on face, bold and attractive personality, Rafia Javed daughter of Nazar Hussain was born on july 15, 1975 at Sita Nandhi a village near district Dadu. Her family had a prominent background in the area and her father was a government employee who worked at the local court.

Rafia Javed has two sisters and two brothers and all of them are highly educated and well-settled.

With limited resources, Rafia received her early education from the Seeta Nandhi Primary School while she received primary education from the Seeta Road High School. She passed her matriculation from the Board of Secondary Education Hyderabad in 1990. She clinched A-grade.

Rafia had to walk three to four kilometer daily to attend school which is the point that led her to be strong and study hard to be an extraordinary student.

Rafia did her intermediate from the Government Girls College, Dadu, affiliated with the Board of Intermediate Education Hyderabad in 1992. Yet again she grabbed A-grade in intermediate examinations. She also started teaching at her school to promote girls’ education.

Since childhood, Rafia remained a girl with helping nature who always had helped his colleagues, helped them in their studies. She also took active part in literary activities and debate competitions in school and college.

With an aim to do something extraordinary in life and achieve success where she can contribute to the society, Rafia Javed got admission in the Sindh’s premier education institution – University of Sindh – from where she completed Bachelors of Arts (BA) in English Literature. She also did her Masters of Arts (MA) in English Literature. Again, she outshined in the university.

On the sidelines of her studies, Rafia used to arrange workshops and seminars for the university. She also wrote articles for regional newspapers on different topics particularly girls’ education. Apart from her university education, she had also worked as Sub-Editor with Ibrat Magazine.

In 2001, Rafia Javed had passed the examination held by the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) and she choose to join the Education and Literacy Department, Government of Sindh.

Firstly, Rafia had served as Lecturer BS-17 who taught English at various colleges. Then she was posted as Assistant Director in the Education and Literacy Department where she had served with utmost honesty and dedication.

Rafia had also served as Deputy Secretary in the Universities and Boards Department, Government of Sindh for couple of years.

She had also served as Controller of the Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK) where she outperformed and brought major administrative and curriculum changes to ensure best quality of education for the students of the metropolis.

With her devotion and expertise in education sector, Rafia Javed was posted as Registrar, Directorate of Inspection & Registration of Private Institutions Sindh for couple of years. After her promotion to the next higher grade, Rafia has been working as Additional Director at the Directorate of Inspection & Registration of Private Institutions Sindh till date.                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Rafia Javed is a notable figure in the field of education in Sindh, Pakistan. She is recognized for her contribution to education reform, advocacy for girls’ education, and her efforts to improve the quality of education in rural and underprivileged areas of Sindh.

She has been a strong advocate for girls’ education, particularly in rural Sindh where cultural and socioeconomic barriers often limit access to schooling for girls. She has worked on initiative to improve teacher training and professional development, ensuring that educators are better equipped to deliver quality education.

Rafia has emphasized the importance of community involvement in education, working to engage parents and local leaders in supporting schools and educational programs due to it she has established two libraries one at Sita Road and another at Khan Pur. Her work has also extended to influencing education policies at the provincial level, aiming to create systemic changes that benefit students across Sindh.

Rafia’s efforts are part of a broader movement to address these issues and create a more equitable and effective education system in the region.

Continue Reading

Sindh Icons

Arshad Hussain Bhutto – An engineer, development expert, sportsman, humbled person

Published

on

KARACHI: Opening his eyes in the well-educated and well-settled family, Arshad Hussain Bhutto son of Muhammad Hussain Bhutto (late) was born on February 29, 1968 at Hyderabad, the second largest city of Sindh province. His father was a Professor by profession who was associated with the Education and Literacy Department, Government of Sindh.

Arshad Hussain Bhutto has two brothers and two sisters and all of them are well-educated and well-settled.

Mr Arshad received his primary education from the Model School, Old Campus in 1973. He passed his matriculation from the Board of Secondary Education Hyderabad in year 1983. He clinched A-grade in the matriculation.

He completed his intermediate from the Board of Intermediate Education Hyderabad in 1985. Yet again he passed his intermediate with flying colours.

Arshad Bhutto was an outstanding students in his studies who always took active part in debate and writing competitions. He also won several medals for his extraordinary skills.

Besides, Arshad also played cricket and football in his school and college level and represented cricket and football teams at different districts.

While finishing his intermediate, Arshad Hussain qualified the selection process and got admission in the premier engineering university of the Sindh province – Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET) Jamshoro – from where he passed his B.E (Civil) in 1991. He grabbed First Class in the university.

Mr Arshad always wanted to prove himself as the meritorious student and true and hardworking son of honest father who tasked him just to focus on studies and made them feel proud in the field of education.

With distinctive engineering degree, Arshad Bhutto appeared in the most competitive examination held by the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) in 1992 in which he had qualified for the post of Assistant Executive Engineer (AEN) BS-17, Works and Services Department, Government of Sindh.

While serving the people of the province by ensuring best quality services, Mr Bhutto had served as AEN in different districts till 2012. He was then promoted to the post of Executive Engineer (XEN) BS-18 and served in various districts of the province until 2018. Arshad Bhutto was then promoted to the post of Superintendent Engineer (SE) BS-19 in 2018.

In 2023, Arshad Bhutto was promoted to the post of Chief Engineer (BS-20) and posted as Chief Engineer, Buildings Division Karachi. Mr Arshad has worked with utmost dedication, honesty and sincerity in various districts including Tando Muhammad Khan, Badin, Hala, Jacobabad, Matiyari, Karachi etc.

Continue Reading

Sindh Icons

Athar Bahzad Memon – A topper, financial manager, an engineer, civil servant

Published

on

KARACHI: Belonging to well-known landlord and business family of Matiyari district (formerly Hyderabad), Athar Bahzad Memon son of Ghulam Mohammad (late) was born on July 5, 1978 in New Hala. His father owned agricultural lands, petrol pumps and rice mills.

Athar Bahzad Memon has three brothers and two sisters and all of them are well-educated and well settled.

Mr Bahzad received his primary education from Makhdoom Ameen Faheem Primary School, Hala while he completed his secondary education from the MG Government Secondary School, Hala. He clinched A-1 grades from the Board of Secondary Education Hyderabad in 1991.

He passed his intermediate from the S.I Government Degree College, Hala, affiliated with the Board of Intermediate Education Hyderabad in 1993. Yet again, he grabbed A-1 grades.

Mr Athar remained genius student in school, as well as, in the college who was admired by his teachers following his decent personality and soft-spoken attitude. He also won many writing competitions.

Mr Memon got admission in the most premier educational institution – Mehran University of Engineering and Technology – Jamshoro from where he completed his Bachelors of Engineering (B.E) in Civil in 1999. Again, he outshined in the university and grabbed top position.

In the meantime, Athar also did his Masters of Arts (MA) in Sindhi from prestigious University of Sindh. He also did another Masters of Arts (MA) in International Relations from University of Sindh.

Athar Bahzad Memon had contributed several articles on national and international issues in the local dailies which were widely read and lauded.

Soon after finishing his university education, Athar Bahzad Memon returned to his hometown and joined his family business for few years. In the meanwhile, he also started preparation for the most competitive examination to become a civil servant to serve people of the province.

In 2003, Athar Bahzad appeared and qualified the competitive examination held by the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) with flying colours. He was allocated in Provincial Secretariat Service (PSS).

After joining the Sindh Government in 2005, Athar Bahzad went for necessary training to Nipa and to Bangladesh.

Firstly, Mr Bahzad was posted as Section Officer in Health Department. He also worked as DDO Coordination under the dynamic leadership of senior bureaucrat Usman Chachar. He also served at DCO Secretariat, Matiyari district for some time.

Memon also worked as Section Officer (General) in Sindh’s irrigation department where he had served for some ten months. 

In 2013, Athar Bahzad was posted as Deputy Director, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) at Hyderabad. Later, he was posted as Deputy Secretary, Bureau of Supply and Prices, Agriculture Department where he worked with utmost dedication and commitment.

In 2017, Athar was promoted to BS-18 and posted as Deputy Secretary (Resource Wing), Finance Department where he had worked for long time. He had also worked as Deputy Secretary (Development-I, II) of the Finance Department for some four years.

Later, he was posted as Director of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) program. In 2003, Mr Athar Bahzad Memon was promoted to BS-19 and posted as Director General, Monitoring and Evaluation Cell, Planning and Development Department.

Presently, Athar is serving as the most important responsibility as Additional Secretary, Planning and Development Department of the Sindh Government.

Continue Reading

Trending