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Rafique Ahmed Buriro – A topper, civil servant, an economist, an educationist, sportsmen, book-lover

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KARACHI: Rafique Ahmed Buriro son of Haji Kareem Bux Buriro was born on September 19, 1971 at a small and backward area namely Gozo of Khairpur Nathan Shah taluka of Dadu district. His father was a hardworking farmer who used to cultivate his own agricultural fields.

Rafique Ahmed is the youngest child of the family with four brothers and four sisters.

Rafique received his primary education from nearby Government Primary School, Gozo while he completed his matriculation from the Government High School, Gozo, affiliated with the Board of Secondary Education Hyderabad in 1987. He was the only student of the taluka who clinched the top position with extraordinary marks.

Then, Mr Buriro moved to Hyderabad, the second largest city of the Sindh province, from where he completed his intermediate from the Muslim College Hyderabad. Yet again, he outshined in the intermediate examination held by the Board of Intermediate Education Hyderabad in 1989.

Since his very first day at school, Rafique Buriro was a brilliant and extraordinary student in his studies, as well as, in extracurricular activities like sports, debate competition, writing competitions etc. He also wrote articles for various newspaper in his school days.

With a vision to serve the downtrodden people of the province, Rafique got admission in the Sindh’s premier educational institution – University of Sindh – from where he completed his Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in English Literature by securing yet again the top position. Continuingly, he also did his Master in Arts (MA) in English Literature from there with first class and distinction in 1996.

Besides, Rafique Buriro also did Masters of Public Policy from Japan and another degree i.e. Masters of Economics from the United States.

In his university days, Mr Buriro worked as sub-editor (translating English articles and news into Sindhi) with major dailies – Ibrat, Sindhu, Bakhtwar, Khalq – etc.

With MA English degree in hand, Rafique Ahmed Buriro was offered a job of a lecturer in Cadet College Petaro in 1996 where he served for a period of one year. In the meanwhile, he was also offered a job in the Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET) as lecturer of English which he did not accept.

Mr Buriro had also qualified the competitive examination of the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) and joined Sindh Government’s Education Department as Lecturer (English) where he served from 1997 to 2000 at different colleges of Hyderabad/Matiyari districts.

While serving as lecturer, Rafique Ahmed also appeared in the most toughest and competitive examination – Central Superior Services – and qualified it with flying colours in 1999. He was allocated Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS). 

Moreover, Rafique had also qualified for other jobs including prime intelligence agency of Pakistan but he preferred PAS (formerly DMG).

After mandatory training from the Civil Services Academy, Lahore, Rafique Ahmed Buriro was firstly posted as Assistant Commissioner (UT) BS-17 at Lasbela, Balochistan. He had also served as Executive District Officer (EDO) Revenue, Naseerabad, Balochistan, Executive District Officer (EDO) Revenue, Loralai and Executive District Officer (EDO) Finance & Planning, Kalat.

In 2006, he was promoted to BS-18 and was posted as District Administrative Officer, Kalat, Deputy Secretary, Home Department, Government of Balochistan and District Coordination Officer (DCO) Ziarat.

With his honesty, dedication and commitment to public service, Rafique was promoted to BS-19 in 2008 and he was posted as Additional Secretary in Finance Department, Government of Sindh. He had also served as Additional Secretary at Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Sindh and Additional Secretary, Home Department, Government of Balochistan.

Rafique had also served as Deputy Commissioner, Jacobabad, Deputy Commissioner/DCO Tando Allahyar and District Coordination Officer, Lasbela, CFO/Director Finance, Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP), Program Director, Sindh Basic Education Programme (USAID), Chairman, Sindh Textbook Board, Education Department and Managing Director, Sindh Technical & Vocational Training Authority (STEVTA).

In 2018, Mr Buriro was promoted to BS-20 and posted as Secretary at Chief Minister’s Secretariat where he served for a long time. He also served as Secretary Mines & Mineral Development Department, Secretary College Education Department, Secretary Irrigation Department and Secretary Services & General Administration Department (TMR).

Rafique Ahmed Buriro had also served as Commissioner Sukkur Division and Member Board of Revenue for a long period of time.

In August 2023, he was promoted to BS-21 and was posted as Chairman, Chief Minister’s Inspection Team, Government of Sindh where he unearthed various scams in government departments.

Presently, he is posted as Secretary of the Agriculture Department, Government of Sindh.

Apart from his brilliant civil services career, Rafique Buriro maintains various professional trainings that included – Diploma in Leadership and Management, Course for Certified Directors, Financial Management and Budgeting, District Budgeting under Devolution Plan, Public Management and Information Technology.

Mr Buriro is a book-lover, tennis player and a swimmer. He is writing on subjects of economics, business and technology. He is specialising in poverty alleviation through education and digital literacy.

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Syed Hasan Askari – An evolution expert, a civil engineer, a lawyer, sportsman, humbled person

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KARACHI: Opening his eyes in the well-educated and well-off family, Syed Hasan Askari son of SM Askari was born in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal area on January 15, 1966. His father SM Askari was a senior government officer who had served the Civil Aviation Authority (formerly Airport Development Authority) as Director Finance.

Mr Hasan Askari has four brothers and a sister and all of them are highly qualified and outshined in their careers.

Hasan Askari received his primary and secondary education from Karachi’s prominent educational institution – Habib Public School -. He passed his matriculation from the Board of Secondary Education (BSEK) in 1981. He clinched A-grade.

He passed his intermediate from the well-reputed and historic institution – D J Sindh Government College -, affiliated with the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK) in 1983. Yet again, he grabbed A-grade.

Apart from academics, Hasan Askari was an extraordinary student too who always took active part in extracurricular activities like playing sports, debate competition etc.

Mr Askari had qualified for the admission in the Pakistan’s well-reputed and prominent engineering varsity – NED University of Engineering and Technology – from where he passed Bachelors of Engineering (B.E) in Civil in 1989. Like his earlier academic achievements, he again outshined and grabbed First Division.

With an engineering degree in hand, Syed Hasan Askari had joined the ECIL Consulting Services, an engineering firm, who was tasked to construct Karachi – Hyderabad Dual Carriageway in 1992. He had also briefly served at the Naval Dockyard as an Engineer.

In 1992, Hasan Askari joined the Schon Group as Civil Engineer where he had served with utmost dedication and honesty. In the meantime, he also appeared in the most competitive and toughest examination held by the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) that he had qualified with flying colours.

In 1993, Syed Hasan Askari joined the Education and Literacy Department, Government of Sindh as Assistant Executive Engineer (AEN) BS-17. He had served as AEN in Karachi’s West and South districts for a longer period of time.

Particularly in district South, he is the man who had introduced rehabilitation and restoration of historic educational buildings including NJV, DJ Science College and many others.

On the sidelines of the shining job career, Mr Hasan Askari also completed his LLB from the SM Law College. He also passed his Masters of Business Administration (MBA).

In 2013-14, Mr Hasan was promoted to the post of Executive Engineer (XEN) BS-18. He devotedly served in Korangi, East districts and Bin Qasim areas where the condition of the government schools are far better than the rest if compared.

In 2021, he was promoted to the post of Superintending Engineer (SE) BS-19. He briefly served in Mirpurkhas district and later he was posted in Karachi where he had served in Karachi’s Central, South, West and Keamari districts. He was awarded as the Best Superintending Engineer of Sindh.

With his outstanding performance aimed at improving infrastructure of the government schools, Hasan Askari was promoted to the post of Chief Engineer (BS-20) in July 2024. Presently, Syed Hasan Askari is working as Chief Engineer, Education Works Karachi, Education and Literacy Department, Government of Sindh.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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