Loud Thinking

Archive for November, 2010

 

India’s export target of USD 200 billion for year 2010-11 seems far behind, if compared with China, whose exports in a single month exceeds USD 200 billion.

The main secret of China’s exceptional economic performance is its peace policy towards Taiwan. For India, if it has decided not to play as a second fiddle to China, peace with Pakistan, should be the corner stone of its foreign & economic policy.

The present policy of just buying time to wait and see Pakistan falling down is in fact, hurting India more in economic & strategic terms.

Just imagine, the shape of India & its influence in the world if, at present, its exports were for example USD 3000-3600 billion per annum. It is high time India recognized its potential, realized the dividends of peace and must not settle for less, more so when both, China & Pakistan are nuclear powers.

The decadent myopic policy of waiting game, to see the demise of nuclear Pakistan, is not going to serve India, either in short or long term.

     

A Ghazal of Ghalib

Rendered into English

By my late father Syed Shahab Uddin Ahmad

Former lecturer of Chemistry (1941-51), Aligarh Muslim University.

(Kehtay ho na daingay hum, dil aagar para paaya,

Dil kahan keh gum kejaiy, hum nay muddaa paaya)

English Translation

 

You say my heart you will not give me back

If you could find it some where laid;

But where is the heart for me to lose,

Lo! thus I know where it has captured been.

In loving I enjoy the taste of life,

Redress it gave to all my pains,

Itself although a cureless pain it is.

My heart confiderate of my rival is,

No trust in it can I repose and thus

My sights are void and laments vain.

It’s beauty’s art to test in guise;

It is simple yet artful, listless yet alert.

The buds are blooming anew, reminding me

My broken heart, which I have lost.

I know this much of my heart, that oft

I ran in quest of it, but it is you

Who, has so oft been finding it.

The preacher of his words has sprinkled salt

On wound, but may one ask of him,

What pleasure did he get from this?

The sudden increase of acts of terrorism with particular reference to the incidents in May 2011 & PIDC house attack on Nov. 11, 2010 in Karachi, highlights the importance of preventive measures to curb the menace of terrorism, which is causing severe losses to men, material and reputation of the country.

In the cases of terrorist attacks on the GHQ, PIDC house & Pakistan Navy air base it was reported that the gang of attackers was residing in a rented house for wuite some time, in an area not very far away from their targets. It was also reported that the neighbors of these houses were although, suspicious of these tenants yet; they kept quiet and did not tip area police about their apprehensions.

Under the circumstances there is a dire need for motivating general public, to remain extra -vigilant in playing their role of defending the motherland, by involvement of entire population of the country, to look out for the stay and suspicious activities of the terrorist, in their near vicinity.

As such, In order to make the stay of terrorists at any place almost impossible, it is proposed to actively involve the entire population to look out & hunt them. This objective can be easily achieved, by the announcement of the Government, that a reward of Rs. 50 millions shall be paid to any person, who informs the Police about the terrorist staying in a house, hostel, hotel, rest house or any such place.

If the war against terror is to be won quickly, the entire population of the country have to be geared up and involved in the task of  watch and vigilence.  

 

Now the time has come to separate the growth, development, education, eradication of poverty & security of Pakistan from the politics, forever.

All stake holders in Pakistan, must immediately come forward for deciding about the direction of the future of the nation.

In this regard, it is suggest that, we should aim to bring Pakistan, to the level of Singapore of 2010, by the year 2030.

All politics & considerations should be made subservient to this target for 2030, even if we have to abolish weekly holidays for the next 20 years & reduce our daily sleeping time to 6 hours.

I am more than confident that by the dint of sheer hard work, sincerity & honesty, which is imbibed in the bones of Pakistani work force, we can surely re-build our country into the comity of 20 developed nations of the world, in the next 15-20 years.

Senate of Pakistan has passed a resolution calling writing off of entire debt of Pakistan. President, PM & Interior Minister, Mr. Rehman Malik, are on record, demanding loan write off for Pakistan. Also, Oxfam has campaigned internationally for write off of Pakistan’s Foreign debt.

However, our worthy Finance Minister, Hafeez Sheikh, has the guts to say that Pakistan will not seek debt waiver. And in fact, he is negotiating more & more loans for Pakistan. (Why stars should then be thy friend’s enemy? Huway Tum Dost Jiskay Dushman Uska Aasman Kuion Hoo.)

Security of Pakistan’s future depends in its economic growth & development. Moreover, we Pakistanis must know without any doubt, that the easiest and surest way of moving ahead, is to stand on our own feet.

Foreign aid, can keep us afloat but won’t allow us to swim. Biggest factor in any victory is self confidence. Anti thesis of terrorism is education, coupled with economic emancipation of masses.

As such, the nation must embark upon the following four point agenda, for the economic salvation of the country, without any further loss of time.

1. Request to all foreign donors for a 5 years moratorium, on all debt repayment by Pakistan.

2. 20% per annum reduction in all non-developmental government expenditures, plus total freeze in all perks paid from the national exchequer, involving foreign currency.

3. Increase in productivity & exports with liberal tax relief to industry, commerce & trade.

4. Set a target for 20% per annum increase in foreign remittances, by offering innovative incentives to expatriate Pakistanis.

The silence of  world human rights champion governments & organizations, over India’s use of brute force, is very strange and to say the least, in-human.

During the decades’ long struggle of Kashmiri people, India has killed over 80,000 unarmed men, women & children, just for their un-pardonable crime of demand, for right of self-determination.

Lately, India has adopted a new method of genocide, by killing innocent children, sick, old ladies & men of Kashmir, by holding back availability of milk, medicines & other civil supplies for Kashmiris, through the imposition of curfew, stretched as long as, 15 days in one go.

We urgently appeal, to the conscious of the world peace loving people, organizations & governments, to stand up & help the poor Kashmiris in exercising their right of self determination; to overcome this 63 year old humanitarian issue, without any further delay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many congratulations to the Pakistani nation & Mrs. Bushra Aitzaz Ahsan, Chairperson, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Women`s Wing, on winning the Gold medal by Pakistani Women Cricket team in the Asian Games.

Now it is high time & I appeal to President Asif Ali Zardari, to immediately appoint Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, as Chairman PCB, for uplifting the men’s Cricket in Pakistan.

The other advantages of appointing Mr. Aitzaz Ahsan are as follows:

1. He is a non-controversial person and shall be acceptable to all and sundry.
2. He is a man of integrity with a clean reputation.
3. He possesses vast experience of man management & is an expert communicator, which are critical requirements for the job of chairman PCB.
4. He is a brilliant legal mind of international repute. This aspect will weigh very strongly in Pakistan’s favour, because ICC will think 100 times before talking or taking any non- sense decision against our cricket or players.

In view of the foregoing, I earnestly appeal to President Asif Ali Zardari to appointment Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan as Chairman, PCB.

I am sure this master stroke of the President will be very much appreciated within and outside Pakistan.

I would like to suggest  that the State Emblem of Pakistan, which was approved by the central government in 1954, needs to be slightly modified, in line with the changed realities.
 
The shield in the center of the Emblem, with four partitions, is still showing two crops (Jute & Tea, related to the then East Pakistan) along with Cotton & Wheat. 
 
As such, it is proposed that the images of jute & tea may be replaced  with another two major crops of Pakistan i.e. Sugarcane & Rice , on the State Emblem of Pakistan.

Senate of Pakistan has passed a resolution calling for writing off of entire debt of Pakistan. President, PM & Interior Minister Mr. Rehman Malik, are on record, demanding loan write-off  for Pakistan.  Also, Oxfam has campaigned internationally for write off of Pakistan’s debt.

However, our worthy Finance Minister, Hafeez Sheikh has the guts to say that Pakistan will not seek debt waiver.  And in fact, he is negotiating more & more loans for Pakistan.(Why stars should then be thy friend’s enemy? Huway Tum Dost Jiskay Dushman Uska Aasman Kuion Hoo.)