Loud Thinking

Archive for the ‘Pakistan’ Category

Congratulations to Mr. Imran khan that our cricket team has also joined your call for the CDO movement and firstly, MISBAH chose to bat under favourable bowling conditions and later on, team got all out for 102 in 32.1 overs.

Some other interesting statistics of the Pakistani innings played under Civil Disobedience Movement called by the PTI.

Total balls of the innings 193
Scoring shot balls 58
Dot balls played. 135
Total boundaries x4. 7
Boundaries behind the
Wicket. 6
Boundaries in front 1
Innings sixes 1
Scored 19 runs for 3 wickets in 10 overs, which may well be a sort of a record for the power play overs, when only 2 fielders are allowed outside the circle.

Now, Pakistan is truly reaping the fruits of the over one year’s PCB chairmanship of cricketing and administrative wizard and darling of Mian Nawaz Sharif, Mr.Najam Sethi ( who is still the most powerful man in the board relegating the chairman Shahyar Khan as just a figure head) wherein, against the Sri Lankan team, we lost Test series 2-0 & ODI series 2-1, in a most ignominious manner.

In this regard, Prime Minister, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, must remember that the history will never forgive him for the fact that he was informed and forewarned many times in writing that cricket was NOT the cup of tea for the nincompoop Najam Sethi, but he supported him to the hilt, by compromising the national interest, for the reasons best know to Mian Nawaz Sharif and the world at large, as well; easily forgetting that the constitution of Pakistan, strictly prohibits nepotism and favouritism.

In fact, in this case the constitution of Pakistan, was flagrantly violated and then people had the guts to criticise the past dictators, for saying that constitution was just a piece of paper.

PTI and PAT must add another condition to their demands that the alleged 20 Crore Rupees distributed amongst the 16 TV channel anchors must be returned back to the national exchequer either by the anchors or by Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

Moreover, the names of the anchors who were given this huge national wealth must also be published.#AzadiMarchPTI

Hasan Nisar wanted at PTI Dharna..!

Imran Khan must invite Mr. Hasan Nisar at PTI Dharna.

In Pakistan, there is NO better intellectual fiery speaker than Mr. Hasan Nisar, who is a one man demolition squad and turn the tables in just one speech..!

Why can’t Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Syria and the TALIBAN announce to send their troops to Gaza, to secure the Muslims from the genocide being committed by the Israeli forces, who have not even spared the UN safe heavens and hospitals in Gaza.

These Muslim forces should also ensure breaking the years old Gaza blockade by the Israeli Navy, in effect since many years, which has never happened in the entire history of the mankind.

What can Israel do against the Muslim forces?

Israel will immediately beg for a cease fire, even on the announcement of this Muslim forces plan.

Pakistani military commander should get the honour to be the Commander in Chief of these Muslim forces.

An article of the century..!

A part-time leader.

By Zahid Hussain

Published about 5 hours ago

The writer is an author and journalist.

“The most important quality in a leader is that of being acknowledged as such.”

— André Maurois

UNFORTUNATELY, our third-time prime minister does not fit this criterion. While our troops are engaged in the most critical battle against militants and hundreds and thousands of people have been displaced from their homes in North Waziristan and are facing severe hardship, our leader is off to Saudi Arabia for his annual spiritual retreat for 10 days.

There cannot be any objection to his religious zeal. But as a leader he is also expected to focus on the job for which he has been elected. It is certainly no ordinary situation for a country in the midst of a conflict and looming humanitarian crisis.

Being away from the country for so long at this critical time and on a private trip illustrates how low governance is on his priority list. Should our leader not be dealing with the vital issues of national security at home rather than seeking his own salvation?

In any other country, a leader would have preferred to stay with one’s own people in times of tribulation. But this is not the case with Nawaz Sharif who is best described as a part-time leader with minimal interest in running the affairs of the state. Not surprisingly, the approval rating for his party has plummeted in a short period.

As a leader, the absent Nawaz Sharif is expected to focus on the job for which he was elected.
Surely, it is hard for any incumbent to maintain the same level of popular appeal that brings one to power. Yet the plunge in Nawaz Sharif’s approval ratings within the first year of his third term in office is astonishing even by Pakistani standards, if opinion polls are to be trusted.

Trailing far behind the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, the party has now fallen behind even the PPP in public approval ratings. According to the latest Herald/SDPI opinion poll, only 17pc of respondents said they would vote for the PML-N if elections were held today compared to 33pc for the PTI and 19pc for the PPP which was routed in the last election.

Such a low popular standing does not come as a surprise given Sharif’s dismal performance and style of governance. His is more of a family limited company than a functional institutional democracy. All power is concentrated in the hands of a few members of the family. And now the ‘gifted’ daughter is being groomed as heir apparent. There is no party organisation and all decisions are made by Sharif alone. The exclusion of others has created serious misgivings among senior party members.

For once, Asif Ali Zardari was right when he said the people had voted for Sharif to be prime minister, not a monarch. And that monarchy is run from Lahore where Sharif mostly stays when not out of the country. The rest of the country does not seem to exist for him.

A frequently asked question is how different is the current Sharif government from the prime minister’s previous ones. The answer is simple: it is far worse. Sharif is more indecisive and as one political leader said “he has no fire in the belly”.

Yet there is no deficit of hubris of power. The Model Town carnage and police brutality is the hallmark of Sharif’s rule. The panicky reaction of the administration on the arrival of Tahirul Qadri is a manifestation of the increasing political alienation of the Sharif administration.

It has been a disappointing first year in power. There have been fewer examples of such a lacklustre leadership devoid of any foresight. His disdain for parliament is demonstrated by his rare appearances in the house in the past 14 months. Not surprisingly, parliament has been reduced to a dormant forum with little debate on substantive policy issues.

Sharif returned to power with a promise to take Pakistan to the path of economic revival and improved governance. But his vision of progress has been limited to metro buses and motorways. Certainly, his government has achieved short-term economic stability, but in the absence of fundamental structural reforms the long-term scenario does not look so encouraging.

The health of the economy is interpreted through the narrow prism of foreign exchange reserves and appreciation in the value of the rupee. It is scandalous the way the finance ministry apparently manipulated the economic growth rate to portray a positive picture of the economy. The distortion was exposed when the real figure was provided to the IMF.

A major reason for the erosion in the approval rating of the PML-N is the utter failure of the government to deal with the power crisis. There has not been any respite from load-shedding despite the government’s claim of substantial increase in power generation. The unresolved problem of circular debt is said to be the major reason for the widening shortfall in power supply. The government has done little to improve the working of the distribution companies or to collect outstanding bills.

After much dithering, Sharif has finally given the go-ahead for the military operation in North Waziristan. But he is still not willing to take complete ownership of the critical campaign. Even the responsibility for displaced persons has been handed over to the military. What is most alarming is the government’s decision to call in the army to guard important public installations in major cities. There is also a plan to give wider power to the armed forces under Section 245 of the Constitution. It is tantamount to a complete abdication of the civilian government’s responsibility.

Getting the army involved in maintaining law and order in the cities can mean a gradual military take­over. It is almost a repeat of 1998 when the Sharif government used the troops for everything starting with electricity meter readings. It is apparent that no lessons have been learnt from the past. A part-time leadership cannot deal with the grave situation confronted by the country.

The writer is an author and journalist.

zhussain100@yahoo.com

Twitter: @hidhussain

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2014

Why we bother the honourable US citizens with few minutes arrest if we can’t even hold them for few hours?

Why we insult ourselves again and again?

I know for sure even if these US citizens are caught carrying LOADED machine guns to the plane no body dare touch them in Pakistan?

Detained US embassy official at Islambad airport released

By Dawn.com
Updated about 2 hours ago

— File photo
ISLAMABAD: An employee of the US embassy, who had been detained at the Benazir International Airport in the federal capital late on Thursday for carrying 9mm loaded pistols, was released today, DawnNews reported.

According to airport sources, William John who is serving as a trainee at the US embassy in Islamabad was scheduled to fly to the United States via Abu Dhabi.

He had been detained after ASF personnel recovered 9mm pistols with magazines and 15 bullets during baggage checking.

Later, ASF personnel had handed the man to police for investigation. A case had been registered against him.

Why the general public is fed up with the government so soon..?

Respected Ahsan Iqbal Sahab,

AoA.

Sir,

The ground realities of the last 14 months, absolutely negates your statement of joy, over the news about the improvement in the ranking of Pakistan, by the Moody’s.

As such, it is very difficult to believe your words, to wait for another 4 years, for the turnaround of the country, under the PMLN’s rule.

The proof of the pudding always lies in its eating.

The mother of all questions is that what is the difference and change of the power load shedding situation, comparatively prevailing between the PPP and the PMLN’s governments?

The answer is that we are getting the same amount of electricity as before, but at the 100% increased rates.

Moreover, the new addition of torture, which was not prevalent in the PPP rule, is that throughout the country, the power is supplied at, as low as 170 Volts, under PMLN’s 14 months era.

Further, the FM has already committed with the IMF, to again increase the power rates to almost another 100%.

Perhaps, the main reason for the extremely high utility rates is; that the government after lacking the will and utterly failing in recovery of outstanding bills, has decided to go the easy way, of putting further burden on those honest citizens, who pay each and every penny of all of their utility (inflated) bills.

Now, this wrong policy has created so much public anger and hatred against the government: that if there was an overnight change, rest assured, the whole nation will distribute the sweets….. again.

So, please don’t live in the cloud nine and come to the ground for God’s sake; and see the mood of the general public and its perception about your government, which is badly defamed for extravagant expenditures of Crores of Rupees on purchases of latest model BMW’s, highly costly foreign tours, purchase of expensive dogs, almost free five star meals being served to the parliamentarians in the NA cafeteria, dishing out very expensive and absolutely unnecessary jobs to the favourite people in the government organisations, etc. etc.

What is revealed from the above facts?

The answer is simple and straight forward…that there is a total disconnect from the problems of the voters and the general public, of the ruling elite of Pakistan.

This disconnect is proved by the daily mantra of the PMLN’s leadership, telling the public to be patient and give them the chance to rule for another four years; to set the things in order, which is akin to the famous quote of the French princess during the French Revolution, when she said if the people were hungry and they don’t have bread, why can’t they eat the cake? Hope you also remember that once Pervaiz Musharraf said the same thing that if the vegetables were costly, why can’t the public eat the chicken? Pervaiz Musharraf also said at the peak of the lawyers agitation that he was unable to see the huge crowds of the agitating lawyers, from the president’s house.

Now, the same type of talk is being done by the PMLN’s leaders, which is a classic proof of their disconnect from the general public.

The biggest problem with the disconnect is that it is never ever visible at the far end to the rulers; and they are always surprised that if people are not getting the bread, why can’t they eat the cake?

Sir, the people will be happily ready to give you not only the next 4 years, but the next 40 years, as well, but just inform the public what tangible sacrifices the leaders are giving for the public? People will never buy the argument of Metro Bus or other mega projects, if they are sleeping hungry, ill and without gas, water and electricity. Yes, public will allow you to lead them, if they see two stones are also tied up with the empty bellies of their rulers.

Always remember genuine leaders rule by example, not by hollow slogans.

All the vibes coming from the PMLN leaders confirm that it was no more a party of the poor. Rather, very sadly, it looks to be a party of the super rich royalty, totally devoid and detached, from the issues being faced by the general public.

Perhaps, due to this very reason, the sensible political parties keeps the party and the government positions separate.

It is hoped that you will not take the above bitter realities, explained by me as an offence, but as they say, it will be considered as an honest and free customer feed back, worth weighing in the gold.

As they say in marketing jargon, the customer is always right.

With best wishes,

Yours truly,

Nayyar

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad

Lahore.

Sent from my iPad3 4G LTE

Modi government committed to lower taxes, finance minister Arun Jaitley says

Surojit Gupta & Sidhartha,TNN | Jul 15, 2014, 01.40 AM IST

BUT PMLN’s GOVERNMENT IS NOT ONLY COMMITTED TO INCREASE TAXES AND RATES OF UTILITY BILLS WHICH IT HAS ALREADY VERY HAPPILY DOUBLED IN JUST FEW MONTHS OF ITS RULE AND NOW HAS COMMITTED WITH THE IMF TO FURTHER DOUBLE THE RATES..!

However, BMW’s and dogs worth crores of Rupees will BE purchased from the tax payers money as usual, for their own comfort and security of the rulers..!

LET THE GENERAL PUBLIC GO TO HELL..!

On the one side the government is advising public, to give more and more financial sacrifices; and on the other hand, it is obliging favourites, as if milk and honey has started flowing in Pakistan, under PMLN : Loot more Pakistan..!

Baber Ayaz appointed media consultant at CAA (Jang Report).

As they say eat more sugarcane. I will say LOOT more Pakistan.

This man will get Rs.5 lac+perks and govt wants us to pay more, every now and then, on utilities and every second item.

Mr. Ishaq Dar told us Rs. 22 crore BMW was for those Arab friends who gave us Rs.150billion. Please also tell us what this man gave to the nation for which he deserves Rs.60 lac/annum + perks???

My comments on the below mentioned news:

If I were the PM, would first replace the finance minister before giving the go ahead for any mini budget.

Unfortunately, this FM has neither the vision nor the will to act upon any out of box thinking.

He can only think the easy way of taking loans (on harsh conditions) and increasing the burden on general public (which pays the power and gas bills honestly) by increasing the utility charges one way or the other.

Our present government has also miserably failed in curbing the massive corruption in the country, which has the magnitude almost equal to the budgeted expenses of the year 14-15 i.e., Rs.4 trillion; which also means that the size of our black economy is equal to the white economy. And perhaps this size of corruption (Rs.12 billion/day according to the former Chairman NAB) may not be prevailing in any other country, where white and black economies are almost equal; and still the government is still looking the other way….but then the question arises why the government is silent over this massive corruption, tax evasion and utilities theft; which is eating away the very foundations of the country’s economy?

As such, the PMLN’s government which came into power on the promises of rooting out the corruption and bringing back the looted money, is giving an incentive to the dishonest and punishment to the honest citizens by increasing taxes and rates and not cracking down on the dishonest people.

News item of Express Tribune:

$6.7b IMF bailout: If needed, Pakistan may introduce mini-budget

By Shahbaz RanaPublished: July 8, 2014

Loan conditions: Rs1.4tr is IMF’s budget deficit target for Pakistan for 2014-15. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD:
In a bid to keep the $6.7 billion bailout programme afloat, Pakistan has assured the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that it will introduce a mini-budget and slow down development spending to create a cushion of Rs145 billion in case problems arise in delivering the budget deficit target.
“To help ensure programme targets can be met, the [Pakistani] authorities have identified several contingency measures that can be implemented if the expected fiscal adjustment begins to fall short of the objective,” an IMF report revealed on Monday.

The objective IMF mentions is keeping the budget deficit – the gap between income and expenses – equal to 4.8% of the country’s GDP or Rs1.398 trillion. This is lower by 0.1% of the GDP – or Rs32 billion – than the target approved by Parliament.
According to the written assurance, the government, on the revenue side, plans to eliminate statutory regulatory orders (SROs) in fiscal year 2015-16 if tax revenues fall below the level envisaged in the programme. For 2015-16, the government has already given an SRO-elimination plan that promises slating the orders equivalent to 0.3% of the GDP or Rs81 billion at the current size of the economy.
These Rs81 billion measures will be over and above the Rs231 billion net new taxes that the government imposed from July 1. For the new fiscal, the government has set a Rs2.81 trillion tax target that many, including the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), privately admits is unachievable.

“The chances of a mini-budget are high as FBR cannot collect more than Rs2.6 to Rs2.65 trillion in this fiscal year … this is what I told the finance minister before the finalisation of the budget,” said Dr Ashfaque Hasan Khan, a renowned economist and member of the Economic Advisory Council.
“On the expenditure side, we will again reduce expenditure allocations in the first nine months of the year compared to the budget to create a reserve against any shortfall,” Finance Minister Ishaq Dar assured the IMF. This policy is consistent with a contingency plan that the government adopted in the previous financial year, which led to a severe under-spending on the development side.
Pakistan has assured that these measures could yield savings amounting to 0.5% of the GDP or Rs145 billion. “In any case, we stand ready to take compensatory measures as needed, including adjustment on the revenue side, to reach our fiscal target,” the finance minister told the IMF.
According to independent economists, such policies are anti-growth and will adversely affect the current fiscal year’s economic growth rate target of 5.1%. Apparently, the IMF doesn’t trust the government will achieve this target. “For FY2014-15, the economy is forecast to expand by around 4%,” the international lender noted in its report.
New surcharge
Pakistan has also assured the IMF that it will slap a new surcharge on electricity consumers to recover the circular debt if the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) rejected its plan to recover circular debt from consumers by increasing tariffs. The report puts the total circular debt at Rs500 billion.
New conditions
The IMF has imposed four new conditions on Pakistan after the government showed reluctance in reforming some of the critical areas. These conditions, known as structural benchmarks, are steps to give real operational independence to the State Bank (SBP).
The second new condition is filling vacancies in the NEPRA board by end of current month. The third condition is offering minority shares in UBL and PPL to domestic and international investors, which has been met.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 8th, 2014.