Sparkistan: 7 Pakistanis Who Are An Inspiration for Us All!

Pakistan is a country which is filled with immense talent. Unfortunately, that talent often goes unnoticed and unappreciated. Sparkistan – an initiative taken by Atlas Battery – aims to highlight and promote all the unsung heroes of the country.

To discover more about the stars, the management of Atlas Battery travelled all across Pakistan to record the sparking stories of the national heroes. After much effort, here are the top stories:

Dr. Naeem Taj

Dr. Naeem Taj works as a surgeon and specializes in laparoscopic surgeries and resides in Rawalpindi. Working as a surgeon of the Capital Hospital CDA, Naeem Taj has earned fame and prestige for the nation by registering his name in the Guinness Book of World Record by removing 25.5 cm long gallbladder through 1 cm incision.

This is the longest ever gallbladder removed laparoscopically in the medical history. Moreover, he has also been awarded with another certificate for removing the Longest Appendix from a child which was 21cm long.

Muhammad Ali – Roshni Helpline

Muhammad Ali has been a human rights activist for more than 20 years and has worked on the issues of human rights of children, women, and ethnic minorities.

Following his passion to help others, Ali established Roshni helpline, a non-profit and non-government organization (NGO), in 2006.

Roshni Helpline has an absolute resolve to protect children and women from exploitation at all levels and in all forms i.e. trafficking, abuse, sexual violence and exploitation; to help families in search, recovery and reunification of lost and trafficked children, and offering of immediate psychosocial support for both – the affected children and families.

Samar Khan

Samar Khan is an athlete, cyclist and an explorer. She works as a social activist to encourage youth to break stereotypes and set the trend for ‘Adventure Sports’ in Pakistan.

In July, Samar Khan became the first woman in the world to cycle atop 4,500-meter-high Biafo Glacier in the Karakoram Mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan.

The athlete has been awarded several certificates by Tourism Department of Gilgit-Baltistan. She has also cycled 1,000 kilometers from Islamabad to Pakistan-China border in ten days.

Nazir Sabir

Nazir Sabir – born in Hunza – is a Pakistani mountaineer. He has climbed the Mount Everest and four of the five 8000m peaks in Pakistan which includes the world’s second highest mountain K2 in 1981, Gasherbrum II 8035m Broad Peak 8050m in 1982, and Gasherbrum I (Hidden Peak) 8068m in 1992.

He became the first Pakistani to have climbed Everest as a team member of the Mountain Madness Everest Expedition. The team was led by Christine Boskoff from USA which also included famed Everest climber Peter Habeler of Austria and eight Canadians.

Aneeqa Bano Mission

Narjis Khatoon Hearing Impairment School is a Project of Narjis Khatoon Health and Education Welfare Foundation Skardu. The NGO works particularly for deaf people and also caters the needs of special children as well.

It is the first organization in the Skardu region which is committed to work for the development of deaf people. The aim of the NGO is to raise the living standard for these people through education and skills.

Azima Haider Zaidi

This is the story of a 21-year old girl who defied all odds and used her physical disability as a motivation to become an artist. Azima Haider uses prosthetic limbs and has amassed a great following due to her immense character.

She said:

I observe other people who’re living in more harsh and unprivileged conditions than I do, and that actually makes me feel a whole lot better. To me my family, friends and all those who’ve helped me in some way are closest to my heart. I am and will always be appreciative towards them!

Azima uses several mediums to portrays her art like crayons, markers, pencils, pastels etc.

Her biggest achievement is that she was selected as a YES (Youth Exchange and Study) exchange student and got a lifetime opportunity to travel to U.S and become a Pakistani ambassador.

Rooma Syedain and Siblings

Pakistan is blessed with thousands of talented and extremely intellectual talents, signaling towards a bright future for the country. One such example of outstanding achievers, are the Syedain siblings. These siblings outperformed each other to become the youngest Microsoft Certified Professionals in the world.

• Rooma became the world’s youngest Microsoft Certified professional. She achieved many of the Microsoft certified modules, including the Microsoft Certified Information technology professional, Microsoft Certified Technology Specialists and Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate, along with 15 months’ experience in the networking field.

• Inam Ali Syedain, took a leap forward to beat his sister’s record as the world’s youngest Microsoft Professional of the world. He is the world target record holder, a Microsoft certified Information technology professional, also becoming a Microsoft certified technology specialist and Microsoft certified Solutions Associate.

• However, the youngest of the Syedain siblings could not be left behind and beat both his his siblings to become the world’s youngest Microsoft Certified Professional at the age of 8. Subhan passed the certification on the first attempt while studying in Class 1, going on to become a Microsoft record-holder – an Information Technology Professional and Solutions Associate.