ZAHID IKRAM | Founder & CEO of Cyber city online [ccol]
S/W Engineer, Webmaster, Author, Speaker, Poet, Illusionist, Caligraphy Artest and Researcher!
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CCOL (Formerly CYBER CITY) began its operations on 17th MAY 1998 at Beverly Center, Blue Area, Islamabad. Founded by Mr. Zahid Ikram (Software Engineer) with his co-investor Miss Patricia Tan (a Business entrepreneur from Singapore), He sought to create a perfect e-Business environment for Government Bodies, Corporate, NGOs, Educational Institutes and other small to medium sized business organization to boost there services and products with the power of web technology. His motto was "The Net is 4 Every1!
Sine 1998, under his professional vision, CCOL has been providing web solution to succeed for an online business, attract new leads, ignite branding, engage more customers and unlock business potential.
He believes that a e-commerce is very valuable sales and marketing tool for any business and he is passionate about helping you get it right. CCOL is the obvious choice for business websites, Web Hosting Server and e-Marketing Solutions Provider in the Cyber World. CCOL is known for partnering with it's clients to build successful website solutions they love!
He has personally sponsored and developed many Government and NGO's Projects which have been launched & appreciated by many Federal Ministers and Government Officials, which has been highlighted in National Media & News. Find more...
Childhood & Early Education
Born on Thursday 26th November 1970 (27th Ramzan) in the Village 247 G.B. Marosi Pur, Near Mureed Wala, Tehsil Gojra, District Toba Tek Singh (TTS) Faisalabad Division, Punjab Pakistan.
His parents shifted to Gojra in his childhood. Gojra is located at almost 50 Km from Fasialabad. Some of the other surrounding cities are Jhang, Toba Tek Singh and Sumandri. Gojra is well known for Hockey Champions.
He received his early education from MC Jadeed Primary School, Gojra. He passed his primary school certification with distinctions and got Education Board scholarship in Board Examination held in TTS.
He attained his Matriculation from MB High School. Gojra. He was a Class Monitor & Scout Leader for 5 Years in his school life. As his father was ex-Army man, he won the Fauji Foundation's Scholarship, as top 10 Students countrywide.
For Intermediate classes (F.Sc.) he joined Government Degree College, Gojra with Pre Engineering Subjects. During his College life he also attained National Cadet Course (NCC) Army Training program, he won the shields for Gun Shooting competition and as Best Cadet.
He also hold the position of Scout Leader for his collage and led his Team twice for Ghora Gali, all Pakistan Scouts Camps. He won the 1st prize in commando race at Ghora Gali Camp.
Youth & Extracurricular Activities
He started his poetry & calligraphy at the age of 17. He was found of Calligraphy Art and Drawing Nature.
He tried to join the Pakistan Air Force, but not succeeded. then during his studies at college he decided to go overseas for higher level of Education. For this purpose he stared serving junier students as tutor and a small business of Video Games. Upon having his savings he went to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and started his overseas life at the teenage all alone and self sponsored. He worked part time to pay his studied and lodging throughout his studies in overseas. His part time jobs include Restaurants Work, Tandoori Chicken & Naan Cook, Security Guard, Carpet & Clothes Sales Man, Computer Assembly etc. After 2 years he left Malaysia and went to Singapore for a longer period.
He also stared his calligraphy art as a professional and also stared to design & perform his own illusions after getting inspired by a great Magician "David Copperfield". He performed his illusions on stage for charity shows and College Ball Nights. Singaporean friends started calling him David. While his stay in Singapore as a student and Professional employ, he was a regular blood donnor at Singapore Blood Bank and has been awarded a medal for his community services.
Education from Overseas
- Software Engineering from the University of Wales, UK
- System Engineering & P.D.I.T. from Informatics Singapore
- A.D.C.S. from University of Oxford UK
- Web & Multimedia Engineering from Stamford Singapore
- Network Engineering U.I.C. Singapore
- N.C.C. Higher from Oxford House UK
- N.C.C. from Oxford House UK
- Advance Diploma in Information Technology from Stamford College PJ, Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia
- Diploma in Business Communication from Regent School of Economics, Kuala Lampur, Malaysia
Job Experience in Singapore
He was totally self-sponsored during his studies abroad, He served as a
Tandori Chicken Cook, Security Guard, Fire Command and Control System
Supervisor, Door to Door Seller of Persian Bukhara Carpets and Pakistani Dresses, Nursing of Paralyzed old man. PC Assembly, Hardware Drivers and Operating Software Installer. Beside many other jobs he also draw his Paintings as a Quranic Calligraphic Artist. He has been traveling a lot on Carry Trading Business Trips
He has served his first job as Software Engineer and webmaster of Singapore Online at "Silkrich (S) Private Limited, Singapore" under the kind administration of Mr. Desmond Chan
from 1997-1998. He learned the art of Management from his great Boss.
Since he was self-sponsored, it was very hard for him to pay his livings and educational expenses as his education expanses were increasing every year with the advance studies. He lived under a staircase in “Singapore Poly: for more than a year, while having a Security Guard Job there. He has also spent a year under a Water Tank on a Roof Top of MIB, an Industrial Building.in Singapore.
He was optimistic, Allah helped him to award a Job in Singapore, The company “Silkrich Singapore” for which he as done his software project for, It's chairman picked him as their developer and got him the Employment Pass as a Software Engineer in Singapore.
So he got his first official Job as an IT Professional in Singapore as a System & Software Engineer and Webmaster. He was appointed to develop Singapore Online Portal.
He enjoyed living in Singapore, he invited his Parents and younger brother to Singapore. His parents were missing Homeland andalso he was willing to serve his motherland. He left Singapore in 1998 to establish CCOL in order to serve his Homeland Pakistan.
He loved his homeland and decided to serve his nation.
After leaving Singapore for good he returned to Islamabad in order to serve his homeland. He introduced Information, Internet & Web Technologies for Government, Local Business Organizations and Social Life. He was the trend settler of Cyber Cafes in Pakistan.
Services in Pakistan
He is a Webmaster/Developer of all CCOL Network Websites
Some of his Credentials include Pakistan Tourism Development Corporations (PTDC), Board of Investment (BOI), Expert Advisery Cell (EAC), Engineering Development Board (EDB), Pakistan Post, Capital Territory Police (CTP), Rescue 15, SAARC Energy Centre, Business Support Centre, Pakistan Steel and National Quality Centre etc. Find more...
Beside his dvelopment work, he also delivers lectures & Seminars for Government Organizations and Universities. He has publishes some of his poetry "Behr-e-Bekraan" Endless Ocian. For the past couple of years he has been doing research on "Science in Quran" and publishing his work online. He has been sponsorring many NGOs and good causes to support. Now he is in process of setting up a Community Theme Park for poor families and kids at Mouri (a remote mountain area near Islamabad).