From a struggling aspirant to a top Current Affairs mentor, Sir Ammar Hashmi’s story is about determination, strategy, and real success. In fact, guided by Sir Syed Kazim Ali, he’s now helping CSS aspirants crush their goals with proven, authentic advice!
You may have heard of Sir Ammar Hashmi, a name revered among ambitious aspirants as a beacon of transformation who has brought their dreams to life. Indeed, his story is not just one of triumph but a testament to his never-ending determination and a purpose that defies convention. Unlike many drawn to the allure of prestige or privilege, Sir Ammar Hashmi’s journey in CSS and PMS was driven by a vision to serve his country, a notion that remains unshaken by the distractions of material gain. For this purpose, he began his path like a lone sailor who was adrift in a vast sea of false promises, grappling with the noise of hollow guidance and misleading shortcuts. However, after a long search, under the mentorship of Sir Syed Kazim Ali, he discovered the map to success, a framework of discipline, strategic planning, and mastery in argumentation. Therefore, rising from an overwhelmed aspirant to a distinguished CSS qualifier and, later, a respected educator, Sir Ammar Hashmi illuminates the paths of CSS aspirants seeking genuine guidance, equipping them with effective strategies and authentic advice to achieve their goals.
If we analyze the reality behind every glorious person’s success, we would realize that no one has reached the heights of success overnight. Undoubtedly, everyone has travelled through a long and challenging journey to get there. Today, let us explore the exceptional journey of Sir Ammar Hashmi by examining how he evolved into a highly determined and diligent Current Affairs (CA) coach at CssPrepForum, guiding countless students toward their dreams. Starting with his journey, like many aspirants, Sir Ammar’s perspective on taking the CSS examination attempt has always been distinct and unique compared to many others. Undeniably, where most CSS and PMS students aspire to pursue these prestigious positions in Pakistan primarily for financial benefits or privileges, his vision was always different. Indeed, he viewed these jobs as an opportunity to serve his country, Pakistan, in a tangible way. Indeed, this difference in approach stemmed from the fact that, for him, this career path was never about earning money or enjoying the protocol; it was about fulfilling the true essence and purpose of these roles.
However, to accomplish this purpose, the question of where and how to prepare for the CSS examination loomed large in his mind, indicating that his initial steps, like those of every aspirant, were marked by confusion and a lack of direction. So, when he looked around, he found a flood of academies and self-proclaimed social media teachers offering CSS and PMS courses. Each claimed to teach the complete syllabus in their own way but with one commonality: their whole course spans 1-1.5 months. At that moment, he said that he felt the real challenge was to judge which, if any, of them was valid. However, with limited time and no prior knowledge of CSS preparation, he tried the same approach as most aspirants in his position; he joined an academy, hoping for a roadmap with proper guidance for CSS examination preparation. Sadly, after paying a hefty amount for the course and attending lectures for 5-7 days, it became clear to him that they had little to offer. In his words, he said:
“Neither did they have proper study planners, nor did they cover topics in depth. They only covered them at a surface level. If someone asked a question, he would never get an answer. Additionally, everyone was being pushed to buy the academy’s or social media teachers’ own books and notes. Without a shadow of a doubt, proper guidance was a distant dream there!”
With this realization, he then decided to find a credible course for English preparation, understanding its critical role in the examination, while handling the other subjects independently to avoid wasting his time. But this time, he began his search like a cautious bird seeking to build its nest on sturdy branches. So, fortune intervened at this critical juncture – when he had lasted only a few months before the examination – while he was searching for credible guidance. During a family event, while listening to Sir Ammar’s study-related concerns, his uncle introduced him to Sir Syed Kazim Ali, a name renowned for unparalleled mastery in English preparation. His uncle strongly emphasized that no contemporary teacher in Pakistan could match Sir Syed Kazim Ali’s expertise and mentorship. Intrigued, Sir Ammar explored Sir Syed Kazim Ali’s services through his websites, which offered free resources filled with his insights for CSS and PMS aspirants. Thus, the quality and credibility of Sir Kazim’s guidance persuaded him that this was the mentor he had been searching for.
With full enthusiasm, he enrolled in his session, which proved to be a transformative decision for him. In fact, beyond his exceptional teaching of English and writing skills, Sir Syed provided invaluable guidance on crucial areas like domain coverage, identifying valid sources, and discarding unreliable ones, which significantly helped Sir Ammar in structuring his preparation effectively by turning what initially seemed like an insurmountable challenge into a clear, manageable strategy. Additionally, another crucial aspect of Sir Kazim’s mentorship was the open sessions he arranged with accomplished officers. During one such session with Ma’am Nirmal and Sir Badar, Sir Ammar learned a pivotal lesson: mastering arguments and their presentation is crucial to success in CSS and PMS. Thus, this eye-opening realization became a turning point in Sir Ammar’s preparation, enabling him to maximize his efforts to approach the examination with discipline, strategy, and persistent focus in the limited months left.
With seven months left, Sir Ammar began mastering English during Sir Syed Kazim Ali’s extensive sessions. According to him, he was sure that with consistent learning and practice, he would eventually master writing. However, recognizing the need to cover other subjects simultaneously, he created a proper planner by dividing his time strategically. While learning to write from Sir, he prioritized covering complex topics across all subjects. Once the continuous evaluations in Sir Kazim’s session began, he balanced practicing English with preparing smaller, simpler topics. Throughout this process, he gained clarity: three to four months of preparation is insufficient to excel in this examination, contrary to the claims of many CSPs who boast about achieving top cadres or positions with minimal preparation. However, this made his goal more pragmatic for him: to qualify for the exam, regardless of the circumstances. Two motivations drove this: first, to break the illusion created by many CSPs about achieving quick success, and second, to become a source of authentic guidance for future aspirants. To emphasize this, he found that, aside from Sir Kazim, no one in the market was delivering credible advice, and he aimed to raise awareness about what truly works and what does not in this field through his journey.
As a businessman, he has always relied on discipline and self-reliance, which made him a self-made individual. When it came to preparation, he carefully designed his timetable. According to his analysis, one common mistake many aspirants make is dividing their study hours based on time rather than content, which often leads to stress about meeting time quotas and leaving their tasks incomplete. Instead, he divided his days by topic, ensuring every subject received adequate attention. Furthermore, he also mentioned that he incorporated a proper diet and mind-relaxing activities into his schedule while completely cutting off from social media, a major distraction for most students during preparation. Alongside this, he conducted a thorough analysis of past papers for every subject, identifying their trends and dimensions. After preparing each topic, he cross-checked them to ensure no gaps remained in his preparation. Most importantly, he applied the writing techniques and rules he learned from Sir Syed Kazim Ali’s English classes to his question-writing practice. This significantly enhanced his paper-attempting techniques, making them more structured and effective.
When Sir Ammar finally appeared for the CSS examination, he achieved his least but most critical goal: qualifying them. This achievement, however, went beyond personal success. It allowed him to analyze the common perceptions surrounding the CSS examination. He concluded that this examination is not inherently complex. Instead, the perceived challenge stems from a lack of direction, poor planning, and distractions. With a structured and well-disciplined approach, aspirants can not only pass but also excel in this examination and, above all, secure top cadres and positions. Unquestionably, this actualization marked the beginning of Sir Ammar’s journey as a Current Affairs mentor at the CssPrepForum website, the brainchild of Sir Syed Kazim Ali. Determined to break the myths surrounding CSS preparation, he set out to provide authentic guidance to future aspirants, empowering them with the tools and strategies that had led to his own success.
Now comes the main discussion: what sets Sir Ammar and his teaching methods apart from others. Verily, as an educator, Sir Ammar’s teaching philosophy is rooted in authenticity, rigour, and a commitment to quality, which starkly contrasts the market’s typical offerings.
Starting from the minute details about his course, his course is vastly different from those offered by other teachers in the market. Most teachers complete their entire course in 15-20 lectures, but he believes in extensive coaching. In Howfiv’s compulsory sessions, he conducts 40-60 lectures alone, catering to students of all levels – whether they are fresh candidates with no background in social sciences or those attempting the examination for the second or third time. Furthermore, he ensures that every student is guided on a single topic, from understanding the smallest concepts to exploring all its dimensions, so that their critical thinking develops. And they must have ample data to support their answers with mature and unique arguments.
Moreover, his lectures, lasting 3 to 4 hours each, are highly interactive. Students are encouraged to present their opinions, engage in debates, and ask questions freely with each other, especially him. Thus, his unique communication approach not only ensures that all students’ queries are addressed in detail but also fosters critical thinking, creativity, and confidence in his students.
Moving forward, Sir Ammar’s teaching extends beyond imparting knowledge. He ensures that students actively apply what they learn during the session. For this purpose, he believes that full-length question-solving is a key component – a core part of his sessions – that helps his students develop real-time critical thinking skills. After attempting these questions, each student undergoes a personalized evaluation process with feedback tailored to their strengths and weaknesses. Once the session concludes, Sir Ammar conducts free mock exams to solidify his students’ preparation further.
Furthermore, what truly sets him apart is that he, along with all the coaches, sticks to the very principle: “Howfiv mentors never leave their enthusiastic, sagacious students alone even after the session ends!” So, he keeps all his students engaged in practice questions and test series until their exams, providing continuous evaluation, feedback, and counselling free of cost. Thus, through this strategy, he ensures that students stay motivated, focused, and on track.
It is worth mentioning here that Sir Ammar is the only Current Affairs mentor in Pakistan who solves the tricky questions from past current affairs papers and freely publishes them on the CSS Prep Forum, allowing his students to learn the proper way to solve each question. To him, “Through these questions, my students receive perfect answer samples, which significantly strengthen their paper-approach techniques and understanding of question breakdowns. And these are the two key factors that help them achieve the highest scores.”
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Last but not least, Sir Ammar intentionally keeps his classes small, with a maximum of 25 students per session. Because he prioritizes quality over quantity, he teaches only those students who are genuinely motivated, ambitious, and serious about their aspirations. Hence, this not only makes the sessions enjoyable but also enhances the learning experience while fostering a competitive classroom environment.
To conclude, Sir Ammar’s journey is akin to a phoenix rising from the ashes, demonstrating how determination and foresight can lead to unparalleled success. Indeed, throughout his journey, he symbolizes the art of focused preparation and strategic thinking. Undoubtedly, the way he guides his students by equipping them with the tools needed to chase their dreams mirrors the exceptional mentorship he once received from his mentor, Sir Syed Kazim Ali. Moreover, fostering critical thinking and encouraging steadfast practice in his students transforms his teaching experience into a guiding light for them. which thus proves that a person can achieve even the loftiest goals with the right mindset and tireless commitment.
Current Affairs Myths and Queries Explained!
Are you confused about Current Affairs myths and preparation strategies? Get clear, reliable answers to the most common queries and learn how to approach the subject correctly. Visit the links below to explore detailed explanations and practical guidance.
