I’m Muhammad Zubair and I am a level 7 local guide at Google Maps. This program has significantly changed my life. Since my childhood, I always wanted to learn about different people, cultures, traditions, and food across the world, however, due to financial constraints I was unable to fulfill this dream.
Local Guides program has given me the opportunity to interact with the international community and to learn about their experiences and has enabled me to share my experiences, thoughts, and ideas with the rest of the world.
My upbringing was done in the suburban village of district Sargodha, Pakistan. The area is so backward that people are not accustomed to technology. Till my teenage, I was also one of them. That’s why after completing my Masters in Economics from International Islamic University, Islamabad, I decided to pursue research as my profession.
This has given me an opportunity to travel across the country and to look at the local customs, traditions, and food more closely. As I mostly traveled alone, I always had difficulty in finding local stations, food stalls, petrol pumps, etc. This is where Google Maps came as a revelation to me. It became a life savior and made my life a lot easier by saving precious time. Since then, Google Maps became my reliable travel partner and more than a friend. Honest reviews and pictures posted by other local guides helped me to choose the right destinations. It was exciting to see how people are helping others by making contributions. I saw how their comments are interesting and helpful for everyone to explore new things.
After getting inspired by the work of local guides, I also decided to be a part of the Local Guides Program. I feel accomplished to be associated with this great community because helping others is the greatest thing one can do in this life. Being part of this program has given meaning to my life and I feel like I’m doing my part in helping others on Google Maps.
Moreover, I am an admin of a Facebook group named “Lets Help Others” which helps people to find good jobs for them. I am also heading a group of volunteers that deals with helping the poor families to come out of poverty. So far, we have helped more than 100 families and this journey continues. We are also working for the betterment of educational opportunities for children from poor families by providing them uniforms and gifts in 50 primary schools.
I started contributing to Google Maps by writing posts, adding reviews, posting pictures, answering questions, for helping people know about different places like parks, historical buildings, tourist spots, food points, markets, hospitals and other famous places within different cities in Pakistan. My reviews and suggestions are also helping local businesses to improve and expand their services and products. I feel like my dream of helping others is coming true.
Lahore is the second biggest city of Pakistan. I have been living in Lahore for the last 3 years. The People of Lahore are known for their love for food and there are famous food outlets, restaurants in every corner of the city. After keenly exploring the endless options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in this city, I have made a list of famous traditional food points so that everyone could enjoy great traditional cuisine from the great city of Lahore.
My aim is to keep contributing as a local guide on Google Maps because it gives me inner happiness whenever I help somebody by answering his/her question, posting a review or adding a picture.
Connect 2020 will be a great opportunity for me to learn from the experiences of other Local Guides from across the world.
