7 Pakistani heroes you should definitely know about

Sparkistan is an initiative taken by Atlas Battery to show the immense talents of the unsung heroes of Pakistan.

While our country has the highest youth bulge with massive potential, the heroes and high achievers usually go unnoticed amidst the ‘terror news’ and negative triggers on mainstream media. Not all superheroes wear capes and Atlas Battery took the initiative to discover such stars of Pakistan by traveling all over the country. It is showcasing the stories of 15 Sparkling Heroes who are contributing to promote the positive image of Pakistan with their extraordinary abilities.

1. Dr. Naeem Taj

Dr. Naeem Taj from Rawalpindi is a Surgeon with specialization in general/laparoscopic surgeries. The Guinness Book of World record has issued, surgeon Dr. Naeem Taj of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Hospital, a certificate recognizing his major achievement of removing the World’s Longest Gall Bladder (5,568 stones from a 25.5cm gall bladder) through laparoscopy. Not just that, after receiving the certificate he was awarded another certificate for removing the Longest Appendix from a child which was 21cm long.

2. Muhammad Ali – Roshni Helpline

Muhammad Ali from Karachi is the founder of Roshni Helpline, which is a non-profit and non-government organization (NGO) which came into existence in 2006. The founder of the Network, Muhammad Ali is a human rights activist who, for more than 20 years, has worked on the issues of human rights of children, women, and ethnic minorities.

Roshni Helpline works to protect children and women from exploitation at all levels and in all forms i.e. trafficking, abuse, sexual violence and exploitation; to helping families in search, recovery and reunification of lost and trafficked children, and offering of immediate psycho-social support for both – the affected children and families.

3. Samar Khan

Samar Khan is the first woman in the world to cycle on top of Biafo Glacier. She’s an athlete, cyclist and an explorer and works as a social activist to encourage youth to break stereotypes and set the trend for ‘Adventure Sports’ in Pakistan. In July, Samar Khan had become 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 had also cycled 1,000 kilometers from Islamabad to Pakistan-China border in ten days.

4. Nazir Sabir

Nazir Sabir is a Pakistani mountaineer. He has climbed Mount Everest and four of the five 8000m peaks in Pakistan, including 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 from Pakistan to have climbed Everest on 17 May 2000 as a team member on the Mountain Madness Everest Expedition led by Christine Boskoff from USA that also included famed Everest climber Peter Habeler of Austria and eight Canadians.

5. Aneeqa Bano

Aneeqa Bano and her husband Afzal Rasool are the two individuals who are impacting lives of hundreds by providing deaf children with an education and safe shelter in Gilgit-Baltistan. Narjis Khatoon Hearing Impairment School is a Project of Narjis Khatoon Health and Education Welfare Foundation Skardu. This is an NGO, focused on working for the deaf particularly and the special children as well. This is the first organization in this area committed to working for the development of deaf people.

6. Azima Haider Zaidi

A 21-year-old girl with a physical disability who makes use of prosthetic limbs. Besides her disability, she took her life, not as a challenge but a blessing from God. She was selected as a YES (Youth Exchange and Study) exchange student and got a lifetime opportunity to travel to U.S and exchange culture like an active Pakistani ambassador. She is also interested in arts. 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!”

7. Rooma Syedain and Siblings

Syedain siblings have done Pakistan proud by becoming the youngest Microsoft Certified Professionals in the world.

• Rooma became the world’s youngest Microsoft Certified professional. She gained and 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 has taken another 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.
• The youngest of the Syedain siblings beat his brother and sister 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.

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