Loud Thinking

Archive for March, 2014

Identify Discrete Tasks to Get Through Your Email Faster

It can be tricky to distinguish between processing your email and doing your work. You’re “just checking your email,” and the next thing you know, you’re deep in an Excel file, calculating the latest budget figures so that you can reply to a message — while new messages pile up. The more you can separate the job of reading and replying to email from the tasks that are sometimes embedded in your correspondence, the faster you’ll be able to get through your inbox and actually get on to those tasks. A good rule: stay within your email program during email time. Anything that requires you to open a browser or Word document, pick up the phone, or walk over to a colleague’s desk is by definition a discrete task.

Adapted by HBR from “Work Smarter, Rule Your Email” by Alexandra Samuel.

An open letter to Mr. Asif Ali Zardari

Dear Mr. Asif Ali Zardari Sahab.

AoA.

The reported death (due to the non availability of food and medicines) of more than 120 kids, in the draught stricken Tharparkar area of Sindh province, is an unpardonable crime, committed by the negligent officials of the PPP government in Sindh.

Now, the CM Sindh government, has transferred and suspended some officials, for dereliction of their duties, in this sad saga of poor and hapless residents of Tharparkar, which is absolutely an insufficient punishment, compared with the magnitude of their crimes.

As such, before the divine justice takes its course, necessary orders may be issued for registration of cases and arresting the responsible officials, who failed to stop this absolutely avoidable tragedy.

Best regards.

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad

Lahore.

Sent from my iPad3 4G LTE

M/s Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto and Qiam Ali Shah, mere transfer and suspension of responsible Sindh government officials for their criminal negligence, resulting in killing (murder) of more than 120 poor children of Tharparkar is not at all sufficient.

These officials must be arrested and tried for their dereliction of duties resulting in the death of more than 120 poor children.

“It is not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings.”

— Ann Landers

“The world is a great mirror. It reflects back to you what you are. If you are loving, if you are friendly, if you are helpful, the world will prove loving and friendly and helpful to you. The world is what you are.”

Thomas Dreier (1884-1976);
Writer, businessman

When to Use “I” and “We” in Public Communications

Leaders’ public communications can make their careers — if they remember their real audience. Some leaders mistakenly act as if big public communications are all about themselves, while their teams think that communications should be about them. They will be sensitive to the number of “I’s” versus “we’s” that the leader uses. Yet teams also want their leaders to be forceful and decisive in taking responsibility for improving the situation. This requires a few strong “I’s,” like “I will.” So how do you know when to use “we” and when to use “I”? It’s important to use “we” when describing positive accomplishments, and “I” when taking responsibility for stumbles and indicating resolve to make changes. The people on your team know the difference, and they’re listening carefully.

Adapted by HBR from “Every Leader’s Real Audience” by Rosabeth Moss Kanter.

Urgent appeal to the PM Pakistan and heads of all the political & humanitarian parties/NGO’s of Pakistan.

Humanity and human kids are dying in dozens in Tharparkar Sindh, due to the malnutrition (in plain words HUNGER) and the nation wonders how the chieftains of PMLN, PPP & PTI viz Mian Muhammad Nawaz sharif, Asif Ali Zardari and Imran Khan and other leaders of small and big parties, eat their meals and sleep in their beds???

Wake up all the leaders of the political and humanitarian parties/NGO’s in Pakistan, to immediately address this human tragedy/catastrophe in our back yard; and order the armed forces of Pakistan, to immediately air drop emergency relief to the residents of the Tharparkar; and establish field military hospitals, in the drought affected areas of Sindh.

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URGENT AND IMPORTANT NEWS ITEM

Drought in Tharparkar: Death toll reaches 121 in three months

By Z Ali Published: March 7, 2014

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HYDERABAD:

Nearly 121 have died during a drought in Tharparkar in three months, according to the Mithi taluka hospital. While the Sindh government has only confirmed roughly half that number of fatalities, 32 children died in the month of February alone in the area, due to malnutrition. The district has four other talukas, with over 2,000 villages spread across the largest desert region in the country. The effects of drought in these areas are not properly known.

Surgeon Dr Jaur Kumar said 23 deaths had been registered at the Mithi taluka hospital, citing various causes in addition to food deficiency. According to sources, 38 children died of malnutrition in the Mithi taluka hospital in December 2013, and there were 42 deaths in January, 36 in February; there have been five deaths in March thus far. Local representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) are reluctant to share their findings and WHO’s Dr Nasrullah Thebo and Dr Nisar refused to comment on the deaths. These figures are not officially accepted and Dr Kumar, who publicly accepted that 23 deaths had been registered in February, was suspended by the chief minister for failing to cope with the situation.

The flurry among government officials and the sudden visit of chief minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah on Thursday to take stock of the situation indicates its severity. “I came here after watching the media reports,” the CM said. “Some 60 children have died in the last two months due to pneumonia and other illnesses,” added Shah, who visited the hospital and inaugurated a subsidized wheat distribution programme.

The provincial government usually declares a state of drought in Thar by September or October when there is low rainfall during and after the monsoon season. However, with moderate to low rainfall occurring until late September last year, the government pushed the announcement forward and provision of relief was thus delayed.

Deputy Commissioner Makhdoom Aqeeluz Zaman admitted that there is a problem to contend with, but deflected responsibility from his administration, saying, “We have seen statistics in the past which show that such incidents happen during droughts.”

According to sources, local administration and health officials described the situation as ‘normal during drought’ while briefing the chief minister. “We expected that the CM would announce a special package and compensation for families whose children have died but he did not even mention how long the subsidized wheat distribution programme will continue,” an official who was at the meeting told The Express Tribune.

As many as 60,000 wheat bags, 25 kilograms each, are slated for distribution in the district. Usually this process starts in November or December and continues for at least three months until spring. Speaking with the media, the chief minister said more wheat would be supplied in case of a shortfall, but did not specify a timeframe for the distribution. Additionally, the district administration owes Rs60 million to transporters responsible for ferrying wheat across the desert region and a local activist pointed out that distribution will not commence until these dues from 2012 and previous years are cleared. “The quantity of wheat to be distributed is too little and too late,” he added. The chief minister said he has taken notice of the transporters’ complaints and said the problem would be addressed.

Locals have seen the numbers of cattle, camels and peacocks whittled down during the drought this year. The chief minister has suspended local livestock officials for their failure to control the situation. Additionally, to the chagrin of the Tharis, Shah has also imposed a ban on the sale of cattle from Thar to other districts for a period of 15 days in view of the deteriorating health of the animals.

Additionally, Pakistan Peoples Party Patron-In-Chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has directed the Sindh government to launch relief operations in the Thar desert immediately and called for a Special Relief Committee to monitor the situation. Speaking with his Advisor on Minority Affairs Surendar Valasai, who belongs to Thar, he expressed his concern over the deaths of 32 children and said he will take the issue up with Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 7th, 2014.

Humanity and human kids are dying in dozens in Tharparkar Sindh, due to the malnutrition (in plain words HUNGER) and the nation wonders how the three chieftains of PMLN, PPP & PTI viz Mian Muhammad Nawaz sharif, Asif Ali Zardari and Imran Khan sleep in their beds???

Wake up all the leaders of the political and humanitarian parties in Pakistan, to address this human tragedy/catastrophe in our back yard and order the armed forces of Pakistan to immediately air drop emergency relief to the residents of the Tharparkar; and establish field military hospitals in the drought affected areas of Sindh.

Drought in Tharparkar: Death toll reaches 121 in three months

By Z Ali Published: March 7, 2014

Share this articlePrint this page Email

HYDERABAD:

Nearly 121 have died during a drought in Tharparkar in three months, according to the Mithi taluka hospital. While the Sindh government has only confirmed roughly half that number of fatalities, 32 children died in the month of February alone in the area, due to malnutrition. The district has four other talukas, with over 2,000 villages spread across the largest desert region in the country. The effects of drought in these areas are not properly known.

Surgeon Dr Jaur Kumar said 23 deaths had been registered at the Mithi taluka hospital, citing various causes in addition to food deficiency. According to sources, 38 children died of malnutrition in the Mithi taluka hospital in December 2013, and there were 42 deaths in January, 36 in February; there have been five deaths in March thus far. Local representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) are reluctant to share their findings and WHO’s Dr Nasrullah Thebo and Dr Nisar refused to comment on the deaths. These figures are not officially accepted and Dr Kumar, who publicly accepted that 23 deaths had been registered in February, was suspended by the chief minister for failing to cope with the situation.

The flurry among government officials and the sudden visit of chief minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah on Thursday to take stock of the situation indicates its severity. “I came here after watching the media reports,” the CM said. “Some 60 children have died in the last two months due to pneumonia and other illnesses,” added Shah, who visited the hospital and inaugurated a subsidized wheat distribution programme.

The provincial government usually declares a state of drought in Thar by September or October when there is low rainfall during and after the monsoon season. However, with moderate to low rainfall occurring until late September last year, the government pushed the announcement forward and provision of relief was thus delayed.

Deputy Commissioner Makhdoom Aqeeluz Zaman admitted that there is a problem to contend with, but deflected responsibility from his administration, saying, “We have seen statistics in the past which show that such incidents happen during droughts.”

According to sources, local administration and health officials described the situation as ‘normal during drought’ while briefing the chief minister. “We expected that the CM would announce a special package and compensation for families whose children have died but he did not even mention how long the subsidized wheat distribution programme will continue,” an official who was at the meeting told The Express Tribune.

As many as 60,000 wheat bags, 25 kilograms each, are slated for distribution in the district. Usually this process starts in November or December and continues for at least three months until spring. Speaking with the media, the chief minister said more wheat would be supplied in case of a shortfall, but did not specify a timeframe for the distribution. Additionally, the district administration owes Rs60 million to transporters responsible for ferrying wheat across the desert region and a local activist pointed out that distribution will not commence until these dues from 2012 and previous years are cleared. “The quantity of wheat to be distributed is too little and too late,” he added. The chief minister said he has taken notice of the transporters’ complaints and said the problem would be addressed.
Locals have seen the numbers of cattle, camels and peacocks whittled down during the drought this year. The chief minister has suspended local livestock officials for their failure to control the situation. Additionally, to the chagrin of the Tharis, Shah has also imposed a ban on the sale of cattle from Thar to other districts for a period of 15 days in view of the deteriorating health of the animals.

Additionally, Pakistan Peoples Party Patron-In-Chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has directed the Sindh government to launch relief operations in the Thar desert immediately and called for a Special Relief Committee to monitor the situation. Speaking with his Advisor on Minority Affairs Surendar Valasai, who belongs to Thar, he expressed his concern over the deaths of 32 children and said he will take the issue up with Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 7th, 2014.

“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”

— Will Rogers

“We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light.”

Mary Dunbar