While my bachelors was under completion, I firmly decided to become a bureaucrat and this is not possible without appearing to CSS competitive exams. When it comes to CSS Lahore is hub of best academies for accomplishing my dream. After a vast online research and recommendations of CSP’s (Civil Service of Pakistan) I got to know about two top academies in Lahore. The struggle was not over because a best academy had to be chosen and maximum number of people recommended me ‘Officers Academy’.
After the most awaited result of my last course of bachelors I decided to go to Lahore but not alone, because it was my first ever visit so my Mom and Dad accompanied me. It was about end of September and we arrived Lahore early morning on ‘Lahore Junction’ railway station. Very next day I went to academy to get admission for new session and luckily it was not too late to enroll because classes were subject to start in first week of October so we have 4 – 5 days. My father suggested that make a visit to Islamabad and Murree, from Thokar Niaz Baig we took Daewoo and reached Islamabad in 4 hours approximately. Motorway was an amazing experience to travel with and we saw sunset in Islamabad. Very next day we visited different points of Islamabad and left for Murree, it was as beautiful as heard. We spent two days in Murree and enjoyed the cold winter, not only this we went to Ayubia and Nathiya Gali too and they were also amazing places to explore.
Considering our purpose of visit we returned to Lahore a day before classes were supposed to start. Now my family had to say good bye to me and went to Karachi. It was my first day at Officer Academy where SSP Hammad (Principal and Founder) welcome the new batch by introductory session in which he told about himself and asked students to share their background too. I was sitting at the back so it took little time to come my turn and started with my academic background, while everyone told about their university/institute name so I did the same. When I said I have graduated from Institute of Business Management (IoBM) Karachi people starred me for a while because I was to only who came all the way from Karachi just because of CSS preparations. Though the class came to an end few colleagues asked my why did I come to Lahore? Weren’t there any academy in Karachi? I replied yes there are academies in Karachi too but not up to the mark.
Being a Karachiite I had totally different perception about Lahore while we listen in news and explore on social media that government has made Lahore the Paris of Pakistan. Well this perception is bit right on extent when it comes to Metro bus service, Speedo, Green Line and Orange line train (though under construction) and nonetheless greenery of Lahore is an edge to make this claim. Though Karachi is a mega city where I am born and brought up so it took a week or two to adjust. As time passed I made new friends and went to different ventures with them. I preferred travelling in metro bus which was not a good experience because it was jammed pack with people, we reached the Azaadi station and went to Minar e Pakistan which is an epic heritage of Pakistan and Badshahi Mosque was on the right side and beauty of mosque was so appealing that I could not stop myself to take pictures there. As it was sunset time so we decided to eat something from Anarkali Food Street which is adjacent to Badshahi mosque, at a local food chain we had delicious Karahi and ice-cream as dessert.
Now it was almost the end of third week that SSP Hammad Haider announced a speech competition for section and assigned us the topic ‘Globalization’. Considering my public speaking skills I also took a part in this completion which occurred very next day of announcement. Overall there were 10 participants which included nine girls and me, just because of my name written on the top of the list I was called first to present and luckily with the grace of almighty I did it very well and had good impression on SSP Hammad, competition ended with the speech of last girl and they also did it pretty well. Now the results were announced and I secured second position and got 1000 rupees as token of appreciation, shared this news with family and they were exited and hopeful that I will clear CSS in first attempt (InShaAllah).
Almost 45 days have been passed that I am in Lahore and really enjoying my journey for CSS, experiencing the hostel life for first time ever and have cooperative mate living with. At times I miss my family and Karachi but misses Biryani the most. I have tried more than a dozen Briyani outlets and have not find any chain up to the mark which means that Biryani belongs to Karachi only. So what if Biryani is my opportunity cost I am learning a lot from Lahore and Officers Academy. The only thing which has inspired me at academy is down to earth personality of SSP Hammad Haider, though he is an SSP but arrogance has never reflected from his attitude. He is so loyal in terms of teaching that he give us all possible knowledge of the topic.
Lahore and its people are really amazing that we Karachiites should not create any perception about them.