Loud Thinking

Archive for October, 2021

The present downward slide could result in such an exchange rate collapse. But before that, hyper inflation generated by the precipitous depreciation of the exchange rate could destabilise the political system and become a major national security problem, God forbid. It is essential therefore that we take urgent measures to prevent such a disaster. The essential reason why the exchange rate is depreciating is that debt servicing has become so high that it cannot be financed from our meagre foreign exchange earnings. This means that we are borrowing at high interest rates on short term to finance servicing on past debts. But in the process further increasing the level of the debt stock and changing its composition towards high cost debt.

The way to address the problem is two-fold:
First, in the short term, repay the about USD 120 billion debt in one go from the earnings of leasing out under utilised urban government land in Lahore, Faisalabad and Islamabad, to property developers in the Middle East, US and China. This will quickly provide the fiscal space to chart a new course whereby we restructure the economy to work for the people rather than the foreign debtors.

Second initiate medium term policies to develop a people centred, high growth economy and diversify exports towards knowledge intensive, high value exports. ( See my paper in Strategic Thought, the NDU journal). This would liberate us from debt dependence and create an economy for and by the people. This would also create the economic underpinning of a sovereign state.

Dr Akmal Hussain

Dear Mr. Imran Khan Sahab.

AoA.

Sir,

During the eight year period between 2015 and 2023 Pakistan, Australia, WI, SA, NZ, SL, BD will receive from the ICC $120m and England $135m and India $415m.

From BCCI’s share, Mr. Ehsan Mani as Chairman ICC Finance & Commercial Affairs Committee, blocked approximately $25m due to a tax liability for which BCCI failed to provide a government tax waiver for an event in India.

Indian companies buy approximately 65% -70% of ICC media and commercial rights, and they exploit those rights to promote their own businesses, detailed as below.

Pakistan’s matches in ICC events are the second most followed matches on TV and digital media.

The single most watched match is always Pakistan vs India. A 10second advertisement slot is sold by Star for $35,000 vs about $20,000 for the next highest match. Star can generate $18m-$20m in advertising revenue from a single Pakistan / India match.

Raja’s allegation that Pakistan does not contribute to ICC revenues is completely incorrect. In fact, Indian Star TV earns approximately $18m-$20m in advertising income from a single Pakistan / India match, which proves that India earns almost PKR 3.40 billion from a match played with Pakistan, which in turn proves that Pakistan is a very lucrative financial vehicle for India and if seen in the context of Ramiz Raja’s statement at the Senate of Pakistan, it was the Pakistani PM who has the power to cut off this income for India; rather than the Indian PM having any authority to financially strangulate the PCB (as stated by Raja).

If there are 8 ICC events, Pakistan and India will play 8 first round matches. Assuming that they both qualify and play each other in 2 additional matches, over 8 years, Star will gross at least $200m (approximately PKR 34 billion) from Pakistan vs India matches.

Pakistan’s contribution is 50% plus advertising income that the broadcasters generate from other Pakistani matches.

Pakistan generates over 2-3 times more for the ICC commercial partners than it receives from the ICC and Ramiz Raja had the guts to glorify Indian role and disgrace and scare Pakistanis in the Senate of Pakistan, which needs strongest possible action against him, as honour and dignity of Pakistan was so badly tarnished in front of the Pakistani Senators that immediately the Indians taking cue from the false and pro India statement of Ramiz Raja, issued a video further insulting Pakistan which has gravely hurt the sentiments of all Pakistani patriots world over.

Submitted for your favour of an urgent action to minimise further humiliation of the sacred integrity and honour of the motherland.

Kind Regards,

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

Sir,

The following statement quoted below (reported by www.dawn.com) of the chairman PCB Ramiz Raja is absolutely absurd, an insult of Pakistani nation and above all devoid of facts:

Quote. “He said that if the Indian prime minister decides to stop funding at any point, the cricket board could “collapse”. Unquote.

The fact is that PCB is not getting any charity from India and ICC as per its rules, auctions media/adversing rights of its tournaments and this income is distributed among member countries.

As such, even the father of Modi has no power to seize the ICC’s payments of Pakistan’s due share, which could (God forbid) result in the collapse of the PCB.

In view of the foregoing derogatory and incorrect statement of Ramiz Raja which has insulted the entire Pakistani nation and severely hurt the sentiments of Pakistanis, all over the world, as well as demoralised and undermined the honour of our nation, the Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Imran Khan is earnestly requested to immediately remove him from his post and issue necessary orders for an appropriate/strict legal action as per relevant laws of the land, for defaming our motherland, while sitting on a very high post.
Link:- https://www.dawn.com/news/1650640/good-news-in-the-offing-new-zealand-rescheduling-pakistan-tour-ramiz-raja-tells-senate-body

An early action shall be highly appreciated in the length and breadth of Pakistan.

Kind Regards,

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad
03219402157
Lahore.

8 October 2021

Dear All in the Government of Pakistan
Dear All in the Parliament of Pakistan
Dear All Pakistanis in Pakistan and Abroad

AoA.

Nations (big or small) are known for their honour, dignity & self respect.

65 countries (including Pakistan which had no direct conflict with the USSR) boycotted 1980 Moscow Olympics & 14 countries boycotted the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics on principles. Similarly, in 1996 cricket World Cup West Indian and Australian cricket teams forfeited their matches and refused to play in Sri Lanka.

Another World Cup co-hosted by three countries and there was more controversy. This time it was Zimbabwe, under Robert Mugabe’s regime, that was facing heavy political unrest. In such a scenario, then British Prime Minister Tony Blair ordered England to not travel to Zimbabwe. He, however, requested the ICC to consider altering the venue which was denied. Zimbabwe were awarded a walkover and four points. However, unlike Australia and West Indies in the previous edition, the result had a huge bearing on England’s fate.

Both England and Zimbabwe finished with three wins each and a washout in Zimbabwe’s final game against Pakistan meant they qualified for the next round alongside Australia and India.

Similar to England, New Zealand too were apprehensive about travelling to Kenya owing to the security concerns. After multiple meetings with top officials, the New Zealand Cricket board decided to not send their team to Kenya.

As a result, four points were awarded to the African nation. New Zealand did qualify for the Super Sixes but because of the walkover, the Kenyan side had a four-point advantage over the Kiwis. As the format had points carried to the next stage, by the end of Super Sixes, Kenya were placed third with 14 points while New Zealand finished fifth on eight. That meant Kenya qualified for the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time.

Pakistan is a giant cricket playing nation having won Champions Trophy 2017, ODI & T20 World Cup winners in 1992 and 2009 respectively and # 1 ranked Test Team in August 2016.

Since, we have tangible proof of FAKE Indian email sent to sabotage entire schedule of foreign team’s visits to Pakistan for many years to come, the honour, dignity and self respect of our motherland demands that we must boycott ICC T20I World Cup matches versus India (for indulging in state sponsored cricket terrorism in Pakistan), New Zealand (for cancelling the tour on baseless and fake threat and NOT cancelling the tour of England by NZ’s Women team despite having received the same type of threat almost at the time in U.K.) and England’s team (for cancelling Just two T20 matches tour without any threat or cogent reasons).

Our boycott will shake up the ICC and SPECIALLY the Indians, who are certainly bound to lose MAXIMUM media related revenue, proof of which can be gauged from the fact that yesterday, when online tickets purchase was sold out within two hours, for the India vs Pakistan match of the ICC T20I World Cup.

Last but not the least, playing the World Cup matches in the UAE with India, New Zealand and England will irreparably damage our dignity, honour and self respect; and in future NO team worth its name, will visit Pakistan, again, in the near and the long run. As such, we all Pakistanis are OATH bound to defend the HONOUR of the motherland must decide against any compromise (for whatsoever reasons) to the contrary.

PAKISTAN PAINDABAD

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad

Lahore.

Pakistan
6 October 2021