E-Magazine | A.V.I.R.A (Be Heard)

Beyond the Balance Sheet: The Human Cost of Sunday Banking

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 17:40:00 +0000

Something I came across recently shook me more than I expected. A private bank—already stretching its working hours well beyond the usual—has now decided to open its doors on Sundays too. Sunday, the one day we collectively breathe, rest and reconnect, has been traded for another block of “business hours.”

The decision is wrapped in that familiar corporate phrase: customer facilitation. It sounds harmless—even noble—but it quietly erodes human dignity. Who, exactly, is facilitating the staff? What about the men and women behind the counters, behind the ledgers, behind the entire economic engine of this country?

I read an internal circular that tried to justify the move. “Keeping in view the work‑life balance of staff,” it began—then proceeded to confiscate their weekend. A token allowance of a few thousand rupees was presented as compensation for time lost with children, spouses, elderly parents—or even time alone to simply be.

All of this feels particularly absurd in an era of rapid digitalization. Banks trumpet their mobile apps, internet portals and virtual branches…but instead of investing further in technology to lighten the load on physical staff, we squeeze more hours from the very people those systems should be liberating. If modernization is truly our aim, shouldn’t we be lessening the physical burden, not extending it?

The weekend pause is not just about family or fatigue. It is a sacred space to reflect, grow and realign with our Creator. Personal development, self‑awareness and spiritual connection are not luxuries; they are necessities. When a system refuses to grant that space, it doesn’t merely dent productivity—it starves the soul.

This is not facilitation; it is quiet exploitation. And it raises larger questions: Where are the regulators? Where is the Pakistan Banking Association, mandated to protect not only institutions but the people within them? Their silence is deafening.

We claim to be steering Pakistan toward a Shariah‑compliant banking model. If that is genuine, our human‑resource policies must embody Islamic values in spirit, not just in branding. Islam governs justice, balance and human worth—not merely financial transactions.

Industry leaders must remember that authority is a trust (amanah). When you wield the pen of policy, you do not merely sign memos; you shape lives. Strip workers of rest, reflection and the right to reconnect with Allah (SWT), and you are no longer leading—you are merely commanding.

Capitalism may urge us to chase limitless growth, but Shariah—and basic humanity—call us to protect, to balance, and to put Insaan (the human being) before Inaam (the reward).

This is more than a critique. It is a call to pause, reflect and realign before we normalize a culture that sacrifices the very people who hold our financial system upright.

By An Islamic Banker – Promoting Islamic Banking for Raza‑e‑Elahi (SWT)

2nd Annual Art Exhibition '14 - Peshawar

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 06:19:00 +0000

Art lovers throughout the world miss no opportunity in viewing the works of YOUNG artists.

A free invitation is something which no art lover will forgo.

#MoU - A.V.I.R.A & L.R.I.P - Green E-MaG

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 17:09:00 +0000

Today, A.V.I.R.A and Center of Excellence for Energy Studies, Legal Research Institute of Pakistan has signed the Memorandum of Understanding to publish a magazine called "Green E-Mag" under the LRIP-CEES Environment Programme!

An Environment Revolution ... About to Take Place !!

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 15:10:00 +0000

Event: INAUGURATION CEREMONY LRIP - CEES ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

Hosted By: Legal Research Institute of Pakistan

Date & Time: Saturday, June 21st, 2014 at 17:00 PST

Venue: Hotel Shelton's Green, Peshawar Cantt.

#Report - Annual Art Exhibition '13 - Peshawar

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 13 Oct 2013 14:24:00 +0000

Annual Art Exhibition '13 - Peshawar

Department of Art & Design from College of Home Economics, University of Peshawar arranged an Annual Art Exhibition on 7^th and 8^th of October 2013 in PUTA Hall, University of Peshawar under the patronage of Miss Zil-e-Huma Mujeeb (Head of Department) with the support of Miss. Imrana Simi, Miss. Nayyar Kamal, Miss. Zubaida Mughal, Miss. Samina Mukhtar, Miss. Nazish Bangash, Miss. Amina Khattak. The Incharge of the exhibition was Principle of College of Home Economics Dr. Kaneez-e-Fatima. The Annual Art Exhibition ’13 was sponsored by Coca-Cola Pakistan and A.V.I.R.A (Social Media Partners).

World Bank Project Completed by 11 Students of University of Peshawar

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 07:44:00 +0000

Eleven young students from University of Peshawar have successfully completed the World Bank Youth Initiative Programme.

To, The Young Leaders

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sat, 05 Oct 2013 14:03:00 +0000

Dear Young Leaders!!!

Assalam-o-Alikum,

As, Napoleon Bonaparte said, “A leader is a dealer in hope”.

We are always told that if we don’t do as the romans do, we will not succeed. A leader never accepts that. If we take an example of Pakistan, we will always be told that, “Look! This is how the society functions.” And it’s common that most of the time people do not fight the system, they can’t lead their country and take the easy options.

Annual Art Exhibition '13 - Peshawar

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Fri, 04 Oct 2013 11:28:00 +0000

Art lovers throughout the world miss no opportunity in viewing the works of YOUNG artists.

A free invitation is something which no art lover will forgo.

Youth To Leaders (YTL)

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 12:37:00 +0000

Two days of Your life time journey. Leadership has been described as “a process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task"

Changing Technology

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 16:27:00 +0000

A few years ago, we used to buy prepaid internet cards to get connected with the world through internet. The speed of those connections was ten times slower than that of modern DSL or wireless internet. I used to download themes and pictures, which took hours to download even a single picture or theme, but still we loved it.

How to Make Your Country A Better Place to Live In

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 15:38:00 +0000

There is no country better to live in than your own country. The issue to be handled is what we can do to make it better place.Myself being a citizen of this country, I will start off with a few suggestions and explain them and give my personal reviews on it.

I am Because We Are

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 06:32:00 +0000

Pakistan!

The Pak Sar Zameen! The Land of Pious!

Years back the fight started for the Independent. Everyone stood up for own identity.

I so unwillingly believe that a nation comprising of 200 million people can cry over for lack of resources, employment, and opportunities. No, we are the nation of lions, the nation of spirit, and the nation of self-believing people! We were created to cultivate distinctions. We were born to make people realize that somewhere in this “world” is a nation that truly believes in own strengths. The nation that sacrificed each and every paisa, honor, lands, businesses, lives and much more for the sake of their own Identity, their own Homeland, a place of free will for all of them!

Independence

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 06:32:00 +0000

On the night of 13th August 2013, I was sitting with my Grand Mother in her room. We were discussing some general issues about Pakistan and that how bad time Pakistan is facing now a days. While talking about the current issues I noticed that my grand maa’s eyes were full of tears and she wanted to express her feelings about these situations but she was entirely unsuccessful.

میرا مقصد حیات : میرا پاکستان

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 06:31:00 +0000

پورے آٹھ سال بعد میں واپس پاکستان آیا تھا. اپنے ملک کے حالت دیکھ کر مجھے بہت صدمہ پہنچا. ہر ام انسان کی طرح میں نے حکمرانوں کو کوسنا شرو کر دیا. میں اسی بات پر اپنے خالہ زاد بھی سے بات کر رہا تھا جب اسکے بیٹے نے اکر زد کرنی شروع کردی کے اسے پاکستان کا جھنڈا لینا ہے. آج یکم اگست تھی. ابھی پورے ١٤ دن باقی تھے پر بچے تو پھر بچے ہوتے ہیں. جب میرے کزن نے اسکو مانا کرنے کی کوشش کی تو وہ رو پڑا اور کہنے لگا:

میں اور پاکستان

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 06:30:00 +0000

"مگر میں تم سے بہت محبّت کرتی ہوں."

"تم جھوٹ بول رہی ہو، تم سب جھوٹ بولتے ہو اور تم لوگ یہ نہیں جانتے کہ یہ جھوٹ مجھے کتنی تکلیف دیتے ہیں، تم سب کہتے ہو کہ مجھے تم سے محبّت ہے مگر محبّت کرنے والے ایسے نہیں ہوتے."

"پھر کیسے ہوتے ہیں؟"

#3 Story - I Volunteered

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 06:28:00 +0000

I Volunteered - Organized by Revolution Flame in collaboration with GURU TEES.

This evening while I was going to mosque after Iftaari, I noticed a boy standing beside his mother near the mosque. The boy was looking at his mother at intervals. He seemed confused. After offering the prayer, as I was going out of the mosque, I saw the same boy at the threshold of mosque with his mother behind him, covering her face.

#2 Story - I Volunteered

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 06:28:00 +0000

I Volunteered - Organized by Revolution Flame in collaboration with GURU TEES.

Peeking through the window, I used to wonder about dozens of ambitions I coveted for. The dreams that, consequently, would satisfy my own self-esteem, my own desires, my needs, my wants. One of those prestigious dreams, however, was social work.

#1 Story - I Volunteered

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 06:27:00 +0000

I Volunteered - Organized by Revolution Flame in collaboration with GURU TEES.

There's this Aaya Jii (Maid) at our university, I often talk to her in between my classes and I knew how tough life she is living. How she struggles every day and honestly works hard to support her family. Her husband is a drunk, he doesn't work and lives off of her.

After A Dream

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 06:26:00 +0000

Thee a dream in Dark

Maverick passion dim spark

Freedom

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 06:26:00 +0000

Today, my body was a TV’d massacre.

Today, my body was a TV’d massacre that had to fit into sound-bites and word limits.

Today, my body was a TV’d massacre that had to fit into sound-bites and word limits filled enough with statistics to counter measured response.

Connecting the Differences

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 06:24:00 +0000

‘Time is always with the people who have courage to fly, not with the people who stand and watch the sky’, I believed in my favorite quote when during my class at university, received phone call from US embassy Karachi about my selection for SUSI 2013, it was the beginning of a dream converting into reality.

Art of Maryam Shakeel

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 06:23:00 +0000

"There are two ways of interpreting a glass half-filled with water. You can either call it half-full or half-empty. Even though referring to it as half-full may give you hope, I do not intend to excite the readers by projecting fake optimism while so much is going terribly wrong in Pakistan. I still believe that despite all the unpleasant happenings, not all is lost yet."

Artist: Maryam Shakeel

(Student from Rawalpindi)

Pakistan - A Photograph

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 06:22:00 +0000

“Pakistan not only means freedom and independence but the Muslim Ideology which has to be preserved, which has come to us as a precious gift and treasure and which, we hope other will share with us.” ― Muhammad Ali Jinnah

(Photograph by: Anum Khan (Karachi

Art of Raazea Zainab

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 06:22:00 +0000

"You don’t need complexity to prove your love for your country - only making this flag I can feel my patriotism for my country rush through my blood."

Artist: Raazea Zainab

(Mirpur)

Because, This Is What Matters

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 06:21:00 +0000

Sometimes peoples do care about those things, which do matters for them, and more than anything else. That is called our peak of priorities and shows our importance for such things. Some people have priorities with Education, some have with Relations and some have with their business and professions and that's all matters for them. There are some unusual things too that do matters but they doesn't have any solid meaning or role in their life but they had set them as first priorities for their selves and they keep surviving for that their whole life.

E-Magazine | A.V.I.R.A (Be Heard)

Beyond the Balance Sheet: The Human Cost of Sunday Banking

2nd Annual Art Exhibition '14 - Peshawar

#MoU - A.V.I.R.A & L.R.I.P - Green E-MaG

An Environment Revolution ... About to Take Place !!

#Report - Annual Art Exhibition '13 - Peshawar

World Bank Project Completed by 11 Students of University of Peshawar

To, The Young Leaders

Annual Art Exhibition '13 - Peshawar

Youth To Leaders (YTL)

Changing Technology

How to Make Your Country A Better Place to Live In

I am Because We Are

Independence

میرا مقصد حیات : میرا پاکستان

میں اور پاکستان

#3 Story - I Volunteered

#2 Story - I Volunteered

#1 Story - I Volunteered

After A Dream

Freedom

Connecting the Differences

Art of Maryam Shakeel

Pakistan - A Photograph

Art of Raazea Zainab

Because, This Is What Matters

Beyond the Balance Sheet: The Human Cost of Sunday Banking