Loud Thinking

Archive for the ‘My Views’ Category

Yes we can, we have not one but two persons, who can deliver to the nation and the world even more than Steve Jobs, provided they are given the government patronage, proper atmosphere and opportunity for R&D in IT sector; and they are Mr. Umar Saif, world renowned IT genius guru and Chairman PITB and Mr. Jibran Asghar, an IT (software) genius of Pakistan, working for the last 10 years in Bern, Switzerland.

If we watch the Movie “Jobs” which is based on the story of Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple Computer Inc., is a life story of how the Apple Computer Inc. came into being.

It is a story of a man driven by his brilliance. It was as if he knew his life was short and he was given this gift and ordered to fulfill it.

In that quest he failed to make friends, gave up old friends, did not amass wealth, lived a simple life, took some controversial actions that were wrongly interpreted. Yet, he managed to create an enterprise that was valued as the most valuable company in the world.

In that process he made thousands of Millionaires and lifted hundreds of families from abject poverty to a life of affluence.

His mantra was simple, give the people something that they have never used but be honest when you offer that. The net result was he generated an unparalleled following.

Apple sold less cell phones than most of the worlds brands, but made many times more revenue than any other cell phone company. The reason, people trusted Apple to provide the best. Then sacrificed (some even sold their body organs) to obtain their product at any price. Apple delivered what it promised.

That is how legends are made.

Give us 10 reasons for investing in Pakistan, says Danish envoy

My reply to the Danish Ambassador in Pakistan

I will put up few reasons for the Danish envoy and businessmen which will be heavier than 100 ordinary reasons to invest in Pakistan explained as below:

– Pakistan is perhaps the ONLY country in the world from where a foreign investor can repatriate 100% PROFIT of its investment back to his country.

– Pakistan is perhaps the ONLY country in the world where a foreign investor can take back his 100% INVESTMENT.

– Pakistan is perhaps the ONLY country in the world where there is TAX FREE on independent power producers (IPP’S).

Best wishes to any foreign investor in Pakistan.

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad

Pak troops making serious mistake by violating ceasefire, Indian Army warns

A TOI Report

RAJOURI: Sending a strong message to Pakistan over repeated ceasefire violations and BATattacks, a top Army commander on Sunday warned it was making a “serious mistake” and said a befitting reply would be given with “full force” at the time and place of its choice.

“You (Pakistan) are making a serious mistake (with regard to ceasefire violations and BAT attacks)- do not do it,” General Officer Commanding (GOC) 25 Infantry Div, Major General VP Singh told reporters here.

He was replying to volley of questions about what strong message he wants to convey to Pakistan with regard to increase in ceasefire violations, cross border firing and Border Action Team(BAT) attack on forward Indian posts along LoC in Poonch.

India has blamed BAT, which is a mix of Pakistani special forces personnel and terrorists, for the brutal killing of its two soldiers in January, one of whom was beheaded, and killing of its five personnel along Line of Control in Poonch sector.

“…what you are putting across – it is not going to affect, deter us or weaken our resolve,” General Singh said.

He further said that the Army is here to respond to each and every act of Pakistan in which ever way it feels so.

Regarding Army’s strategy in the wake of the BAT attacks engineered by Pakistan, Gen Singh said “as far as BAT action is concerned, we are absolutely aware what kind of response it is going to get – that response will be delivered”.

“It will be delivered in our own time and at the place of our own choosing and with full force, that you shall see.

“It is a military matter – as and when the response is delivered – you will see”, he said, adding “the response would be delivered– we will select our time and place to give a befitting reply to Pakistan with full force,” he said.

Gen Singh said the Defence Minister and the Chief of Army Staff have given his command clear directions that violation of ceasefire or any other act of infiltration from acros LoC will be met resolutelywith power and full force.

“As far as I am concerned, those directions are with me – we are responding and retaliating to the situation as per the requirements with full force”, Gen Singh said.

He further said that Army Chief had also made it clear that Army is free to reply and respond to the BAT attacks as per opportunity and strategy.

“As per opportunity and situation, what is to be done – everybody knows it and reply accordingly will be given.”

At another media briefing at Bhimbher Gali in Poonch sector along LoC, Brigade Commander, 120 Infantry Brigade, Brig A Sengupta said Army has inputs about Pakistan trying to engineer more BAT attacks along the border.

“Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.”

— Pope John XXIII

Mystery of the un-accounted for $20 billions..?

THE NATION DEMANDS THAT THE PREVIOUS RULERS BE IMMEDIATELY ARRESTED AND TRIED FOR PUSHING PAKISTAN TO THE STATE OF BANKRUPTCY.

THE NATION ALSO DEMANDS THAT ALL THE ASSETS INSIDE PAKISTAN AND ABROAD OF THE ENTIRE LOT OF THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT’S TOP FUNCTIONARIES BE CONFISCATED AND THESE PEOPLE SHOULD ONLY BE ALLOWED TO COME OUT OF THE JAIL IF THEY AGREE TO REPAY THE PREVIOUS IMF LOAN OF $7.6 BILLION.

THE QUESTION IS SIMPLE WHY THE PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN SHOULD REPAY THE IMF LOAN OBTAINED AND UTILISED BY THE PREVIOUS RULES FOR THEIR OWN BENEFITS?

THE NATION ALSO DEMANDS AN IMPARTIAL JUDICIAL INQUIRY INTO THE ECONOMIC MURDER OF THE NATION WHEREIN WHEN GENERAL MUSHARRAF’s GOVERNMENT HANDED POWER TO THE PPP OUR LOAN LIABILITY IN THE YEAR 2008 STOOD AT $40 BILLION (PPP GOVT TOOK LOAN FROM IMF WORTH USD 7.6 BILLION SO AT THE END OF PPP GOVT THIS FIGURE SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE UP MORE THAN USD 48 BILLION) AND ONE USD WAS EQUAL TO PKR 60. WHAT HAPPENED TO PAKISTAN’S ECONOMY WHEN THE PMLN GOVERNMENT TOOK OVER IN JUNE 2013 ONE USD WAS SELLING FOR 100 PKR AND NATIONAL LOANS SHOT UP TO USD 67 BILLION?

WHAT IS THE SECRET OF UNACCOUNTED FOR INCREASE OF ABOUT 20 BILLION USD IN LOAN LIABILITIES OF PAKISTAN DURING FIVE YEARS OF PPP RULE?

An interesting letter published by the DAWN

THE PML government had been hungry for power for the past 14 years, the PPP for 12 years. Considering the ratio of hunger and what the previous government did, I only shudder what is in store for us.

Cicero (43 BC) of the Roman Empire wrote the following and it is still valid for today’s world and more so for Pakistan where all of it happens to the extreme.

The poor work and work.

The rich exploit the poor.

The soldier protects both.

The taxpayer pays for all three.

The wanderer rests for all four.

The drunk drinks for all five.

The banker robs all six.

The lawyer misleads all seven.

The doctor kills all eight.

The undertaker buries all nine.

A.M. MALIK Lahore

This has reference to the news item of 01 December 2012, by Mehtab Haider titled “Total debt scales Rs.14.5 trillion mark” published by the daily “The News” link :-http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-3-145837-Total-debt-scales-Rs145-trillion-mark

The gist of the above reveals the extremely precarious economic situation of Pakistan, as below.

1. Pakistan’s public debt and liabilities crossed Rs.13.5 trillion by end-September 2012, as per SBP data released on 30 November, 2012. However, a closer look reading of the data showed that the size of total debt is Rs.14.5 trillion.

2. According to SBP data total debt and liabilities at end of September 2012, touched $66.24 billion.

3. BY THE END OF JUNE 2012, PAKISTAN’S DEBT-TO-GDP RATIO STOOD AT 61.5%.

4. According to the former economic adviser Dr. Ashfaque Hassan Khan. “Even now, interest repayments are consuming 56 percent of the FBR’s revenue. And these unsustainable levels of public debt will be a burden on future generations who will service this debt through exorbitant taxation.”

5. Analysts say that irresponsible fiscal management, sharp depreciation of the Rupee (from Rs.60 to a dollar to Rs.97 to a dollar – in the last four years) and low economic growth have caused the surge in public debt.

In view of the foregoing, it is clearly evident that we have reached a stage, where even alarm bells ringing time has passed. The economy of Pakistan is not sinking, it has already sunk. Foreign exchange reserves are fast depleting.

{This piece was written in December, 2012 and now today (in the year 2013) the government has been forced to obtain loan from IMF to repay its old loan. This proves that we have no money to pay our liabilities. This situation in plain words is called bankruptcy.}

However, what is very alarming and strange that the entire government and the parliament is silent over the issue, as if, they are in collusion with each other, on (God forbid) this virtual economic demise of the country. Otherwise, at least a single person from the entire parliament would have raised his/ her voice, over violation of the binding on the government, for not exceeding the debt-to-GDP ratio over 60%. (Please refer para 3 above).

We should remember that USSR was not dis-membered, due to the violation or collapse of its geographical boundaries. Rather, it was the collapse of its economy, which destroyed a superpower overnight. The USSR broke down without firing of a single bullet, just due to its economic melt down.

If, even at this later stage, patriotic Pakistanis won’t raise their voice, over this virtual economic collapse of the country, then be ready, history will never forgive us, for our collective Harakiri.

No amount of military or nuclear power, can save a nation from its demise, due to the economic collapse. Yes, collective will power of its people, can save a nation from any crisis, but that too if, the people are not too late, as time and tide waits for none.

Although, Pakistan is in a perpetual state of war for more than a decade, yet, the government never acted in a manner, that would reflect even slight realisation on its part, to make its expenses in a more prudent manner. No austerity measures were imposed, to either reduce the size of the bloated cabinet, stop payments of foreign exchange to top government functionaries, who are entitled for such perks, or even restrict purchase of new cars etc.

This is extreme callousness with the nation. On the other side, high and mighty are enjoying benefits, which even a rich country like Switzerland, can not afford to its VIP’s; for example allowing instalment payment of power bills of their factories stretched over a period of 2000 YEARS, YES 2000 YEARS. The Pakistani VIP class is enjoying such facilities and benefits, which even the Queen of England would envy.

Now, business as usual can not be continued.

The economic treason with the state of Pakistan, by all the concerned, looks like a fit case for the patriotic people in the government, opposition (in and out of parliament) and the entire civil society, to demand the immediate formation of a very lean national government, which should impose an economic emergency; and also take necessary action on the question that “why all the concerned remained silent when the debt-to-GDP ratio exceeded 60%, that too, few months back on 30 June, 2012.” Don’t forget, when the same problem was faced by the US government, even the salaries were not paid, till such time, President Barack Obama, got approval from the law makers, for enhancing the expenditures limit.

It will not be out of place to end this note, with quote of the Midwestern tycoon Warren Buffett, who once gave an easy solution to America ’s debt problem on CNBC:

“I could end the deficit in five minutes. You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than three percent of GDP all sitting members of congress are ineligible for reelection.

FRESH TAIL PEICE DATED 17 AUGUST 2013.

THE NATION DEMANDS THAT THE PREVIOUS RULERS BE IMMEDIATELY ARRESTED AND TRIED FOR PUSHING PAKISTAN TO THE STATE OF BANKRUPTCY.

THE NATION ALSO DEMANDS THAT ALL THE ASSETS INSIDE PAKISTAN AND ABROAD OF THE ENTIRE LOT OF THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT’S TOP FUNCTIONARIES BE CONFISCATED AND THESE PEOPLE SHOULD ONLY BE ALLOWED TO COME OUT OF THE JAIL IF THEY AGREE TO REPAY THE PREVIOUS IMF LOAN OF $11.3 BILLION.

THE QUESTION IS SIMPLE WHY THE PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN SHOULD REPAY THE ODIOUS IMF LOAN OBTAINED AND UTILISED BY THE PREVIOUS RULES FOR THEIR OWN BENEFITS?

THE NATION ALSO DEMANDS AN IMPARTIAL JUDICIAL INQUIRY INTO THE ECONOMIC MURDER OF THE NATION WHEREIN WHEN GENERAL MUSHARRAF’s GOVERNMENT HANDED POWER TO THE PPP GOVERNMENT OUR LOAN LIABILITY IN THE YEAR 2008 STOOD AT $40 BILLION (PPP GOVT GOT SANCTIONED A LOAN FROM IMF WORTH USD 11.3 BILLION AND RECEIVED $7.6 BILLION SO AT THE END OF PPP GOVT THIS FIGURE SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE UP MORE THAN USD 48 BILLION) AND ONE USD WAS EQUAL TO PKR 60. WHAT HAPPENED TO PAKISTAN’S ECONOMY WHEN THE PMLN GOVERNMENT TOOK OVER IN JUNE 2013 ONE USD WAS SELLING FOR 100 PKR AND NATIONAL LOANS SHOT UP TO USD 67 BILLIONS?

A BILLION DOLLAR QUESTION:

WHAT IS THE SECRET OF UNACCOUNTED FOR INCREASE OF ABOUT 20 BILLION USD IN LOAN LIABILITIES OF PAKISTAN DURING THE FIVE YEARS (2008-13) OF PPP RULE?

“Take care to distinguish between things you can control and things you can’t, so that you will no longer worry about the things you can’t control and will instead focus your attention on the things you can control.”

— William B. Irvine

1. All the TV channels reported that Sikander was in a rented car.

2. All the TV channels also reported that as per Excise department information the registration numbers on the car were fake.

3. After the operation was over and Sikander and his wife were shifted to the hospital, the IGP Islamabad came over the TV and stated that Sikander snatched the car from the hotel owner.

Now the questions are that:

– if the car was snatched from the hotel owner did he report the incident to the police?

– Was an FIR of this car snatching was lodged with the police?

– Was this crime of Sikendar mentioned in the FIR finally lodged by the police against him under the anti-terrorism act?

Moreover, has the police lodged an FIR against the hotel owner for putting up a fake number plate on his car?

Why criticise media on Islamabad episode?

These days media bashing has become a fashion in Pakistan.

Some people are particularly criticising our TV channels, for the live telecast of the recent Islamabad hostage episode.

However, in my opinion truth and reality must NOT be hidden from the general public, otherwise, it creates and breeds rumour mongering, which is even more dangerous and harmful in such circumstances.