Loud Thinking

Archive for June, 2014

Price of a miracle..?

A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet.

She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes ..

Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall’s Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.

She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was too busy at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good. Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!

‘And what do you want?’ the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. I’m talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven’t seen in ages,’ he said without waiting for a reply to his question.

‘Well, I want to talk to you about my brother,’ Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. ‘He’s really, really sick…and I want to buy a miracle.’

‘I beg your pardon?’ said the pharmacist.

‘His Name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?’

‘We don’t sell miracles here, little girl. I’m sorry but I can’t help you,’ the pharmacist said, softening a little.

‘Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn’t enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs.’
The pharmacist’s brother was a well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, ‘What kind of a miracle does your brother need?’

‘ I don’t know,’ Tess replied with her eyes welling up. I just know he’s really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can’t pay for it, so I want to use my money.’

‘How much do you have?’ asked the man from Chicago

‘One dollar and eleven cents,’ Tess answered barely audibly.

‘And it’s all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to.’

‘Well, what a coincidence,’ smiled the man. ‘A dollar and eleven cents—the exact price of a miracle for little brothers. ‘

He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said ‘Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let’s see if I have the miracle you need.’

That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neurosurgery. The operation was completed free of charge and it wasn’t long until Andrew was home again and doing well.

Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place.

‘That surgery,’ her Mom whispered. ‘was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?’

Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost..one dollar and eleven cents….plus the faith of a little child.

In our lives, we never know how many miracles we will need.

A miracle is not the suspension of natural law, but the operation of a higher law. I know you’ll keep the ball moving!

Here it goes. Throw it back to someone who means something to you!

A ball is a circle, no beginning, no end. It keeps us together like our Circle of Friends. But the treasure inside for you to see is the treasure of friendship you’ve granted to me.

کیا ہماری نماز کیا روزہ

بخش دینے کے سو بہانے ہیں

Pak – China friendship is higher than the Himalayas and deeper than the Oceans..?

Beijing to set up Chinese industrial parks in India

India is asking China to open its market for Indian IT and Pharmaceuticals besides step up investments to compensate the trade deficit.

PTI | Jun 30, 2014, 04.47PM IST

BEIJING: India and China on Monday signed a key agreement to set up Chinese industrial parks in India as their commerce ministers held the first meeting here after the new NDA government came to power.

On her first visit to China, commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman held talks with her Chinese counterpart Gao Hucheng here during which she flagged India’s concerns over the trade deficit which averaged over $35 billion a year and sought greater access to Indian goods and services.

READ ALSO: Govt clears MoU with China for industrial parks

The two sides later signed the MoU on Cooperation on Industrial Parks India to facilitate more Chinese investment in India to compensate the ballooning trade deficit, which now average around $35 billion a year. The bilateral trade totalled to $65.47 billion last year.

READ ALSO: India, China sign three important pacts

Ahead of her meeting with Gao, Sitharaman, who is part of the delegation of Vice-President Hamid Ansari, told the media here on Sunday that she will make a strong pitch for greater access for Indian goods and services into China and seek big ticket investments into the Chinese industrial parks.

India is expecting China to set up four industrial parks in different states.

According to Chinese officials, its current investments in India stands at $1.1 billion, mostly in Gujarat.

India is asking China to open its market for Indian IT and pharmaceuticals besides step up investments to compensate the trade deficit.

She said she will press the Chinese minister to provide greater market access to Indian goods like gems, jewellery, grey cotton fabric, pharmaceuticals and IT.

“The larger backdrop with which we are working is that there is definitely a big imbalance with China,” she said.

“We are importing lots more than we are exporting. The scope for Chinese to come to India to somewhat redress the imbalance to get their investments in India to set up manufacturing several goods to do some justice to redress the imbalance,” she said.

“What I want to raise with the minister is that there is immense scope for Chinese investments in India both in manufacturing and other sectors in which Chinese do have an advantage whether it is infrastructure, railways. More such areas can be found where the Chinese investments can be encouraged,” she added.

“If you live long enough, you’ll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you’ll be a better person. It’s how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit.”

— William J. Clinton

Establish Your Worth Before Negotiating a Raise

When negotiating for a raise, it’s pretty standard to begin by listing your achievements to lead up to a big reveal. But this “ta-da!” approach can make you seem childish and needy, and catch your boss off-guard. Instead, establish a monthly check-in with your supervisor to update him about what you’re doing and where you’re headed. This shows momentum, and managers will reward that. And when it’s time to negotiate, you won’t need to toot your own horn — your counterpart will already know where you’re coming from and be more inclined to hear you out.

Adapted by HBR from “ 6 Tips for Reluctant Negotiators” by Whitney Johnson.

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

AoA.

Each and every word of the below mentioned article titled New “axis of reform” by Captain Anwar Shah is worth reading for you and all your policy advisors.

Best Regards,

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad

New ‘axix of reform’

June 29, 2014
CAPTAIN ANWAR SHAH

Asia’s, three economies are suddenly experiencing a burst of change that could alter the growth trajectory for the worlds’ most populous region. We are going to see the birth of a new “axix of reform”, one which could revive the global economy. The month of May recorded Indian export of 28 billion USD compared to 24 billion USD last year and imports were 39 billion USD, reducing the trade deficit. Indian Ports of Kandla and Cochin handled 70 million ton each imp/Exp against our total 70 million ton Imp/Exp from our two ports.

China’s XI Jinping, India’s Narendar Modi and Japan’s Shinze Abe are simultaneously sketching out vague – but – promising plans to revitalise their rigid economics. It is not a co-ordinated process – more of a serendipitous coincidence, driven by a dire need for change in all three nations. Still, the possibilities are enticing. A truly dynamic and innovative Asia would raise living standards for billions and fresh hope for a world wondering where all its big growth engines went. India and China trade is 80 billion USD, likely to triple, where as our trade with China hinges at 6 billion USD, tilted in favour of China. China is said to be helping India to explore 80 billion tons of untapped mineral resources. Bangladesh too has signed agreement with China to develop deep water port near Cox Bazar to boost their economy. Interestingly Bangladesh has 21 billion USD reserves..

With Asia’s giants forming a new group from “BRICS” to “CIJ”, they are in grip of reformers, prospects have certainly improved. Not only India and China now led by men that have spelled out so ambitious reform agenda, removing red tapes and firing slow civil servant golfers, but so in Japan, with abenomics ticking away background too “whilst the challenges and macro structure of China and India are different, if both leaderships deliver a long awaited reforms, the resurrection of the “Chindia” reconstruct may provide a surprisingly compelling boost to the emerging markets story, at just the point when many in the markets have dismissed the opportunity. The South Korean Leadership is committed to wholesale turn around, whilst we remain in deep slumber sleeping on pillow of “MoU” only.

If leaders may deliver by combined efforts, it may offer a tremendous boost to world economy. The need for change is broadly accepted across their populace excluding us.

It will also offer a striking counterpart to the USA and Europe, where reform fatigue rules debate from Washington to Brussels. Now West will learn from Asia and its growth reality China is bent upon holding 7.5 percent GDP Growth, whereas Modi may face tough resistance from civil servants who are slow and said to be corrupt and not receptive to innovation or change axis of reform is worth watching, as it may become growth driver of the world economy.

The Middle East is in serious turmoil as Iraq is heading for new demography as Libya, Syria etc. Capacity in the seaports and airports in the Middle East is growing faster than regional trade, potentially jeopardising the viability of billions of dollars worth of new investment in transportation infrastructure. Gulf countries investment in logistics based on logic of carrying out niche as trading posts between Africa and Asia. Dubai Jebel Ali Port accounts half of the regions seaport capacity, but many other gulf countries are copying Dubai template thus capacity will increase from 40 million TEU to 100 million TEUs incoming decade, the trade is not growing by 10% to fill the increased capacity at gulf ports. The capacity planning in Middle East is dysfunctional, not co-ordinated and mismanaged. The risk of over-capacity in Middle East is so imminent, as deep water port of Colombo built and operated by China Merchants will induce most of the Indian trade from Middle Eastern hubs. The over-capacity in Middle East gulf of states is at serious risk as investment in ports have long gestation period, and if remains unutilised, the Gulf States like Koreans may use the new capacities for entertainment not for logistics.

The new deep sea port of Colombo is able to berth and service the new mega size Class-E and Class EEE container ships with carrying capacity of 13000 to 18000 TEUS. The growth in Asia will support movement of containers on super ships for the sake of economy of scale and Colombo being on main East and West route, all mother ships will call, thus feedering to Indian and other regional ports. The Colombo Port handles 70 percent transshipment cargo and handles only 30 percent captive cargo and presently handling 7 million plus TEU likely to attain 10 million. Indians are worried due to feedering cost from Colombo thus may opt for barges being pushed by tugs for feedering to shallow draught ports on Indian coast thus copying the Mississippi river as pattern of pushing barges, cutting the cost.

Sadly Pakistan’s ports only handle captive cargo except some transit cargo to Afghanistan. The delayed Pakistan deep sea water port may be functional by 2015 due to lacklustre attitude of Karachi port management, it was conceived in 2006 to be completed by 2009, but now it may be partly functional by 2015. We are planning energy by using coal, the only Pakistan bulk terminal of marine services group, which too is delayed may handle 5 million tons, against our prospective requirement of 15/20 million tons of coal. Gadani Port is still to take off to cater our coal handling. Sadly despite handing over Gwadar to new concessionaire, nothing is visible on the ground, even no road link via Surab to National highway. We see many inaugurations but sadly ground reality is different. Why can’t we make efforts to induce land-locked Central Asian State cargo to our ports and become hub of land-locked countries? I feel our planners may seriously ponder on transshipment cargo rather captive cargo only. PNSC is the only silver lining in our maritime industry making profit being in public sector. Planning Commission is well advised to take serious note of growth in Asia and work seriously to get a slice out of it, so that our youth may find new avenues as population continuous to grow. Let us target min 6 percent GDP growth and pay full attention to our Maritime Sector for accelerating and giving a kick start to our economy. It saddens me, when I read growth studies in Asia, excluding Pakistan.

(The writer is adviser to Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry)

Copyright Business Recorder, 2014

“Treat your password like your toothbrush. Don’t let anybody else use it, and get a new one every six months.”

— Clifford Stoll

Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Sahab hope you remember your thunderous claims in the election 2013 public rallies that you will bring all the looted money of the country stashed abroad.

Anyway your government has not moved an inch on this vital national issue, but Narendra Modi, the Indian PM who has hardly collected 30 days in office is moving like an express train towards his goal of bringing back black money from Swiss Banks.

Please just read this TOI news item published today.

Sir, for Pakistan is the status quo its fate???

India writes to Switzerland seeking information on secret accounts

NEW DELHI: India has made a fresh request to Switzerland seeking bank details and names of Indians having unaccounted money in Swiss banks, as the government expands its efforts to combat the menace of black money.

The latest request has been made by the finance ministry after a Swiss government official recently said that Switzerland was ready to cooperate proactively with India to share details on a ‘spontaneous’ basis about persons and entities suspected to have untaxed assets in Swiss banks.

“We have written to the Swiss authorities seeking details in this regard. Finance minister Arun Jaitely had promised that such a step will be taken,” a senior finance ministry official told PTI.

READ ALSO: Switzerland to share list of account holders with India

The official said that the request letter has cited the existing bilateral treaties and global protocols applicable to the two countries for getting information about bank and other details of Indians holding untaxed funds or hidden wealth.

A spokesperson for Switzerland’s Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF) later said that Swiss authorities were in touch with Indian and “Switzerland looks forward to working together with the new government of the Republic of India in its fight against tax evasion.”

The Swiss government has been reluctant to share details about the Indians named in a so-called ‘HSBC list’, which was reportedly stolen by a bank employee and later found its way to tax authorities in various countries including India.

Despite repeated requests from India, including through at least four letters written by former finance minister P Chidambaram, Switzerland has maintained that its local laws prohibit administrative assistance in matters where information has been sourced illegally, including through stolen lists.

A must read for miser (a person who lives in wretched circumstances in order to save and hoard money)
HUSBANDS..!

*Giving Up Wine*

*I was walking down the street when I was accosted by a particularly dirty
and shabby-looking homeless woman who asked me for a couple of dollars for
dinner. *

*I took out my wallet, got out ten dollars and asked, ‘If I give you this
money, will you buy wine with it instead of dinner?’ ‘No, I had to stop
drinking years ago’, the homeless woman told me.*

*’Will you use it to go shopping instead of buying food?’ I asked.’No, I
don’t waste time shopping,’ the homeless woman said. ‘I must spend my time
trying to stay alive.’*

*’Will you spend this on a beauty salon instead of food?’ I asked.’Are you
NUTS!’ replied the homeless woman. I haven’t had my hair done in 20 years!’*

*’Well, I said, ‘I’m not going to give you the money. Instead, I’m going
to take you to dinner with my husband and me tonight.’*

*The homeless Woman was shocked. ‘Won’t your husband be furious with you
for that. I’m dirty, and I probably smell pretty disgusting.’*

*I said, ‘That’s okay. It’s important for him to see what a woman looks
like after she gives up shopping, hair appointments, and wine.’ *

Gathering storm over Pakistan’s political horizon..!

If I was the PM Pakistan…would have invited the entire core leadership of the PTI to a Iftaar meeting, to find the ways and means to resolve the political log jam in the country….not for my personal continuation of the rule…but for the sake of Pakistan….to avoid any turmoil or further bloodshed in the country.

Leadership has to be proactive..! additionally, national leadership of a NUCLEAR power nation has to be ABSOLUTELY selfless, very sharp and full of wisdom, which MUST be able to gaze in the future.