Archive for the ‘My Views’ Category
Loud Thinking February 02, 2015 at 04:46PM
February 2nd, 2015 | 
Author: Use Better Metaphors to Win an Audience Over
If you’re trying to engage an audience, using well-chosen metaphors can offer a shortcut to understanding. You just have to pick the right ones. Dig for connections that make an idea clearer in your mind. The brighter the idea shines for you, the more likely it is to resonate with your audience. Very few people, if any, can come up with a brilliant metaphor on the first try. Brainstorm some ideas. Write down obvious choices right away to get them out of your head and to make room for more creative ones. For example, to illustrate partnership, steer clear of the cliché handshake in front of a globe, and go for something like a photo of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. To illustrate a goal, avoid the bull’s eye and opt for something more unique, like a maze. The more unusual the metaphor, the more it’ll stand out in people’s minds.
Adapted from “Finding the Right Metaphor for Your Presentation” by Nancy Duarte.
Loud Thinking February 02, 2015 at 11:02AM
My letter titled “Prices of petroleum products” published today by the the daily “The Express Tribune”.
Prices of petroleum products
By Letter Published: February 2, 2015
LAHORE: Dear Mr Prime Minister,
The three recent steps — the activation of the National Action Plan against terrorism, reduction in prices of petroleum products and the swift controlling of the shortage of petrol in the province of Punjab — initiated under your direct command, speaks volumes about your concerns regarding public welfare issues, for which you deserve full kudos.
In this regard, I solicit your attention towards the fragile economic situation of Pakistan and the golden opportunity available to us, in the shape of an international decline in the prices of petroleum products.
Pakistan’s economy is heavily burdened by the sheer weight of debt servicing which, in the coming days, will keep on increasing.
We must find some out-of-the-box solution to eliminate the debt burden of the country as soon as possible. Considering that the poorest of the poor have had negligible benefit from any trickle-down effect of petroleum price cuts, at least as far as public-sector transport fares are concerned, it is proposed that the financial benefit of any further reductions in petroleum products’ prices (except for kerosene) should be deposited in a National Debt Servicing Fund to meet the most important financial needs of the country.
I am sure many financial wizards will oppose this proposal and bring their own reasons for not accepting the above suggestion. But nevertheless, they should be told that no solution is perfect/ideal and the country cannot shift its focus from its major issues while battling minor problems.
Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad
Published in The Express Tribune, February 2nd, 2015.
Loud Thinking February 01, 2015 at 09:58PM
“The best teamwork comes from men who are working independently toward one goal in unison.”
— James Cash Penney
Loud Thinking February 01, 2015 at 10:25AM
My letter published today by the daily “Pakistan Observer”.
A WAY TO REDUCE DEBT BURDEN
Pakistan Observer
Home News
A WAY TO REDUCE DEBT BURDEN
Syed Nayyar uddin Ahmad
Sunday, February 01, 2015 – Three recent steps (activation of National Action Plan against terrorism, reduction of the prices of petroleum products [sans the lubricants] and swiftly controlling the shortages of petrol in the province of Punjab) initiated under PM Nawaz Sharif’s direct command, speaks volumes about his concerns regarding the public welfare issues, for which you deserves full kudos. In this regards, I invite his attention towards the fragile economic situation of Pakistan and the golden opportunity available to us, in the shape of an international decline of prices of the petroleum products. Pakistan’s economy is heavily burdened by the sheer weight of debt servicing, which in coming days will keep on increasing. We must find some out of the box solutions to eliminate the debt burden of the country soonest possible. Now considering that the poorest of the poor has had negligible benefit or the trickle down effect of the petroleum prices reductions, in at least the public sector transport fares’ segment and also considering that reduction of debt burden of the country is the prime strategic objective, it is proposed that the financial benefit of any further reduction(s) on the petroleum products prices (except of the kerosene oil) should be deposited in a National Debt Servicing Fund, to meet the most important financial need of the country. I am sure many financial wizards will oppose this proposal and bring their own reasons, to resist the above suggestion, but nevertheless, they should be told that no solution is perfect/ideal and the country can not shift its focus from its major issues, due to minor problems.
—Lahore
Loud Thinking January 31, 2015 at 09:11PM
“Until you see fear as an opportunity for growth, you won’t grow beyond your current self.”
— Robert Tew
Loud Thinking January 31, 2015 at 10:29AM
My letter published today by the daily “The Nation”.
An out of box suggestion to reduce debt
January 31, 2015
Dear Mr. Prime Minister, the three recent steps taken by the government such as activation of National Action Plan against terrorism, reduction of the prices of petroleum products and swift control of shortage of petrol in Punjab, initiated under your direct command, speaks volumes about your concerns regarding the public’s welfare, for which you deserves full kudos.
In this regards, I invite your attention to a fragile economic situation and the golden opportunity available to us, in the shape of an international decline of prices of the petroleum products.
Pakistan’s economy is heavily burdened by debt servicing, which, in coming days will increase. We must find some out of the box solutions to eliminate this debt.
Considering that the poorest of the poor has had the trickle down affect of the petroleum prices reductions, it is proposed that the financial benefit of any further reduction(s) on the petroleum products prices should be deposited in a National Debt Servicing Fund, to meet the most important financial need of the country.
I am sure many financial wizards will oppose this proposal and bring their own reasons to not accept the above suggestion, but nevertheless, they should be told that no solution is perfect or ideal and the country cannot shift its focus from its major issues, due to minor problems.
SYED NAYYAR UDDIN AHMAD,
Lahore, January 29.
Loud Thinking January 31, 2015 at 10:23AM
My letter published today by the daily “The News”.
The debt vault
Saturday, January 31, 2015
From Print Edition
New 0 0 0
Our economy is heavily burdened by the sheer weight of debt servicing which will keep increasing. We must find some out-of-box solution to free us of this burden.
Considering that the poorest segments of the society have had negligible or no trickle-down effect of the recent reduction in petroleum prices and that debt servicing is the prime strategic objective, it is proposed that the financial benefit of any further reduction(s) in prices of petroleum products (except kerosene) should be deposited in a National Debt Servicing Fund to meet the most important financial needs of the country.
Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad
Lahore
Loud Thinking January 30, 2015 at 10:38PM
News of the Millennium…!
White House declines to call Afghan Taliban ‘terrorists’
AFP Updated about 11 hours ago
WASHINGTON: The White House on Thursday declined to describe Afghanistan’s Taliban as a terrorist group, prompting consternation from the right, which accused President Barack Obama’s administration of being out of touch.
“They do carry out tactics that are akin to terrorism, they do pursue terror attacks in an effort to advance their agenda,” said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.
“What’s also true though is that it is important to draw a distinction between the Taliban and Al-Qaeda,” he said, pointing to a difference in designation.
Read: US may not target Mullah Omar after 2014
“The Taliban is a very dangerous organisation,” he added.
The Treasury Department has imposed anti-terror sanctions on around 2,000 Taliban fighters, leaders, supporters and financiers.
But the White House’s distinction got short shrift from its political opponents, with Republicans sending footage of the comments to supporters.
“It slits throats, it attacks buses, it drives car bombs into markets and it’s not a terrorist group. Look, you can’t parody this administration,” said conservative commentator Charles Krauthammer.
Also read: US soldier released in exchange for five Taliban prisoners
Others said the White House’s distinction was based more on politics than reality, pointing to the negotiated release of Taliban captive and US soldier Bowe Bergdahl.
The White House says it does not negotiate with terror groups.
Loud Thinking January 30, 2015 at 08:15PM
“Just smiling at someone walking down the street can make the person’s day. It’s all about paying it forward.”
— Mariska Hargitay
