Islamabad - The 1988’s batch of Civil Service of Pakistan, generally known as 16th Common, celebrated retirement of their first four officers.
The retired officers of 16th common puffed away retirement eve with slogan “good-bye tension, hello Pension”. The officers who had retired included Ahmad Kamal (Sept 2014), Ahmad Mubarak Ahmad (Nov 2014), Arshad Rehmat Ali (Dec 2014) and Mohammad Akram Chaudhary (April 2015) and were paid tribute in a befitting ceremony held in Islamabad. The programme hosted by Justice Athar Minallah was moderated by Dr Syed Kaleem Imam and aided by Kamal Tipu and Mohammad Abid Saeed.
The outgoing officer Muhammad Akram (Accounts) said jokingly, “Hi Honey, I am home forever”; DIG Ahmad Mubarak soberly remarked, “I am retired from service not from work”; Ahmad Kamal (DMG) said, “it is time for new adventure” and Arshad Rehmat Ali (Postal) witted, “my life is seven days weekend now”. 117 persons had joined eleven groups of civil service on 1st November, 1988 at Walton Lahore. Dr Imam quoted, “retirement is privilege and not many of us make it,” remembering demised of five batch-mates Ali Ainduddin, Ijaz Lagrial, Fahim Hashim, Mubeen Sharrif, and Saaed Wahla. Interestingly, seven officers namely Khalid Tiwana, Athar Minallah, Irfan Tariq, Ziad Mahmood, Anjum Khurshid, Asif Siddiqi, Shahzad Cheema and Ahmad Mehdi left civil service opting other ventures for their career, he recalled. Break-up revealed that Ahmad Kamal hailing from Attock, an MBBS doctor from DMG retired on September 12, 2014. Ahmad took his pre-retirement from service after having diligently served as Additional Secretary in various departments. Ahmad Mubarak, MA English, hailing from Pasrur successfully commanded 7 districts and two ranges.
Whereas, Arshad Rehmat Ali from Lahore,  MSc in Zoology served as Divisional Superintendent Pak Railways, chief marketing manager RLYS and dry port. Muhammad Akram from Vehari, graduated from Government College Lahore, served in Pak audit department and accountant general offices of Pakistan. Program entailed remarks from serving officers, address by retired officers, distribution of shields, and group photograph with light musical ambience. “Let the relaxation begin. But trouble with retirement is you never get a day off, remember past, enjoy the present and embrace the future,” said Justice Athar Minallah to retiring colleagues. Dr Imam, said let’s celebrate retirement of first four stalwarts of 16th commoners! This is joyful goodbye as we will say hello again.
Tipu said that good friends are like stars, you don’t always see them, but they are always there. Abid Saeed said friendship is in loving and hard times will always reveal true friends.