The Pakistani Spectator

I am Aqeel Zafar, also known as aqeeliz or barlas. I am a BS (Bachelors in Science) student, doing freelance web developing in my spare time, I blog at aqeeliz and am also technically managing PoliticsPakistan.com, MajesticIslam.com, EatnTravel.pk & Optographer.com (these latter blogs are just born).

Could you tell us what made you decide to blog, and what was the inspiration behind it?
I love to try out new services and technology, I first started blogging somewhere around 2004 - 2005, that is, when I first learnt about blogging, I have been blogging on and off since then.

What do you think sets Your blog apart from other blogs?
Currently my lack of updates, but hopefully it will change soon.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?
I do what I love, and when your heart is in your work, it greatly enhances your creativity and productivity. As Khalid Gibran said, “if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.”

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?
I don’t remember my gloomiest moment, but the happiest moment is yet to come.

Urdu Blogs have got huge potential, when do you think they will really take on the online horizon in Pakistan?
There are already quite a few Urdu blogs on web and I also know few people who are interested in starting one, so, even though I am not sure how long it will take, most probably it won’t take too long.

If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?
Australia, Switzerland & Egypt

What is your favorite book and why?
I love books, my favorite books range from fantasy like Harry Potter, to books like Raja Gidh, so, it’s hard to choose just one.

What is your favorite meal, dress, and sport?
This is easy, daal chawal, jeans with t-shirt (and hoody in winter), and Fifa 08 in sports

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?
What electronic gadgets / devices they are using.

Whose Future is more bright in Pakistan; English blogs or Urdu Blogs?
I think future of English blogs is more brighter. Even with people’s interest in Urdu blogs, I don’t think they will surpass quantity and quality of English blogs around.

How Pakistani bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?
I will recommend Google ads! (adsense) best way to earn money from any website / blog online and they are also very easy to set-up, even for not so technology savvy people.

Do you think Pakistani bloggers tend to remain somewhat self-centered and really don’t go out of their shells? Is it the oriental style of blogging, or they are still unsure about it?
I don’t think Pakistani bloggers are self-centered, there might be some but then you can find some such bloggers everywhere in the world.

Who are your top five favourite bloggers in Pakistan?
Sohaib Athar (reallyvirtual.com), Babar Bhatti (telecompk.net), Tee Emm (Karachi Metblogs / pakng.wordpress.com), Osama (Green & White) & Dr. Awab Alvi

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger in Pakistani blogosphere?
Hmmm… not that I can think of.

What is the future of blogging in Pakistan?
Future of blogging looks bright here, especially with these recent events like bloggers meetup, more and more people are finding out and getting interested in blogging.

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?
Blogging has improved my writing skills and helped me improve my technical skills which has been quite helpful in my professional life. As for personal life, I have met many great new people, which is also good and as I used to be on computer all day, even without blogging, it hasn’t taken any precious time from my real life.

What are your future plans?
Finish my BS, launch couple of online services and blog more often.

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?
Just that it’s about time we people start helping each other, instead of pulling each other’s leg. And instead of just thinking about our own benefit, we should start caring a bit for our country too, it desperately needs this.