Loud Thinking

Archive for the ‘Pakistan’ Category

The Pakistani cricket team’s Madness in Mohali Semi Final world cup 2011 match has shell shocked the nation. Reason being that every body could see that the situation was under control and target very achieveable. By snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, captain Shahid Afridi and other team management members proved, how badly they lacked management abilities of a thinking mind and leadership qualities.

Management is doing  things right; Leadership is doing right things. Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; Leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall.

Now, if we analyse the management and leadership of Pakistani cricket team, during the semi final match of 30 March 2011, the following glaring examples, speak out for themselves.

1. Shahid Afridi kept on giving overs after overs to Omar Gul, even when he was the most expensive bowler of the team, without utilizing the most economical bowler Abdul Razzaq. This was the master stroke of genius Afridi, who was also not given any advice by the other senior members of the team or the more genius members of the management team, sitting in the pavilion.

2. Genius Afridi, removed Wahab Riaz from bowling, precisely at the time, when he was about to run through the Indian batsmen.

3. At a time when Pakistani openers gave a very positive start to the innings & then got out, Abdul Razzaq, Afridi or Omar Akmal should have been sent in, to maintain pressure of runs in the 1st power play of ten overs, when only two fielders are out side the circle. But what happened was, that Younis came in and later on Misbah. Both batted so lazely that it dragged the momentum of runs created by the openers, to such an abyss, from where the innings never recovered.

4. It looks that the entire team and its management, forgot to take the last batting power play, till the time the sand had slipped from the hand. This is an un pardonable blunder. The best time to take the 3rd PP was, when Afridi and Misbah were togather at the crease.

5. Nobody advised the batsmen to keep on taking singles, rather than blocking exceptionally high percentage of balls for no run.

The nation is shaken not by the defeat but the way our team management snatched defeat from the jaws of the victory. Now the way forward for the PCB is to either its chairman, take the full responsibility and resign or take the following steps.

a) Dismiss M/S. Intikhab Alam, Waqar Younus and Aaquib Javed from their respective positions.

b) Sack Afridi from the captainship of the national team.

c) Younis, Misbah and Abdul Razzaq should never again be considered for ODI or T20 teams and Kamran Akmal should also be sacked from any version of the national team. He is not an ordinary player rather, a below ordinary level player. 

d) Hafeez should be appointed the future captain of ODI & T20 Pakistan teams, with Wahab Riaz as his deputy.

e) Youngsters like Sarfraz Ahmad, Naveed, Shoaib Khan etc should be inducted in the ODI and T20 teams.

f) A full time fielding coach must be appointed for Pakistan team, without any further delay.   

Honourable Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani.

A.O.A.

The whole Pakistani nation salutes you for sacrificing fatherly love over your duty to the national cause, by deciding to visit India on the invitation of Dr. Manmohan Singh, to meet him at Mohali, on the occasion of semi final ICC Cricket ODI World cup 2011 match.

Mr. Prime Minister, this decision will always  be remembered in the annals of history as a monumental choice of duty above parental love.

Here I am reminded a very famous quote whose first part aptly applies on you, ” A statesman is a politician who places himself at the service of the nation. A politician is a statesman who places the nation at his service “

While thanking you for this high act of patriotism, we pray for an early recovery of your son from his illness as well as, total success in your voyage of peace to India.

 
A vast majority of the peace loving people have  welcomed the news of Indian Prime Minister’s invitation to the Pakistani leadership  to visit India, on the occasion of cricket world cup semi final match, between Pakistan and India, to be played at Mohali on 30 March, 2011. It is earnestly hoped that this meeting will not only be a harbinger of peace between the two neighboring nations, but will also be a huge performance incentive for both the cricket teams, playing what is being billed as ‘Mother of all matches’.
 
Moreover, it is hoped that this historic opportunity of meeting, between the two democratically elected prime ministers, will also be utilized as a turning point, for genuine and authentic progress towards peace and harmony, between 1.5 billion human beings of two nuclear armed neighbors. It must be absolutely clear to every person that both of us have no choice except peace, whether we accept this fact today or 100 years hence. However, movement towards peace needs taking small but meaningful steps.
 
In this regards, besides other major issues of Kashmir, water, Siachin, Sir-Creek and anti-terrorism cooperation, the following smaller issues may also be given due importance, to show tangible progress in relations between the two neighbors.
 
1. Visa regulations to be changed to allow visit of people to any city, without restrictions, in both the countries.
 
2. Trade between both the nations should be given top most priority.
 
3. Relatives of prisoners should be given preferential visas.
 
4. Exchange of cultural, educational, trade/business and sports teams should be accorded top priority, for strengthening the people to people bonds.
 
5. Indian cricket team must visit Pakistan immediately after the world cup, to play a series of T20 matches.
 
6. As promised earlier,  BCCI must use its influence on ICC, to restore visits of foreign teams to Pakistan. And to show its resolve, a T20 tournament should be held ASAP in Pakistan, to be played amongst Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka national or A teams.
 
7. Direct air, rail & road traffic to more Indian and Pakistani cities should be opened without delay. Moreover, people wanting to visit both the countries by car, may also be allowed to travel by own transport.
 
8. Telephone rates are very high between the two countries, which should be rationalized according to the international tariff.

9. All television channels news papers & magazines should be freely available in both the countries, without any restrictions. 

Wishing & praying for a historic success to peace and cricket,  on the occasion of this highly awaited sports event of the century, which demands declaring of a holiday in both the countries, for its people to enjoy the witnessing of this mega event, in company of  their near and dear ones. 

Thank you Pakistani cricket team, for giving so much joy and happiness to the terror stricken Pakistani nation, through a fabulous cricket match victory, in the ICC ODI World Cup 2011 Quarter Finals Vs West Indies.

In fact, this is a sort of victory which will strike terror into the hearts of the opponent teams, for the remaining world cup 2011 matches. 

We Pakistanis, firmly believe that today our cricket team has laid the foundation of the final match victory, to be played on 2 April 2011.  

May Allah also Grace you with roaring victories in Semi-Final and Final matches,  as well. Pakistan Zindabad.

The following poem written by my late father, Syed Shahab Uddin Ahmad (1919-2000) former Lecturer of Chemistry, Aligarh Muslim University,  Principal, Charmical Degree College Rangpur (East Pakistan), Academic Registrar, Rajshahi University (East Pakistan), G.M. Lyallpur Chemicals & Fertilizers Limited (PIDC & NFC) Jaranwala & General Manager, National Fertilizers Corporation of Pakistan,  was originally published in the DAWN in early 40’s. Later on, this poem was also published by Syed Sharif Uddin Peerzada,  in a book titled ” UNPARDONABLE CRIME OF JINNAH ” in October 1942. One of the rarest copies of this book is with me.

” P A K I S T A N “

They say  ’tis  “vivisection”

Of the Indian nation

In an unknown fashion.

It is an idler’s dream,

A confused scream

For a selfish scheme.

‘Impracticable’

‘Unimaginable’,

Is how they babble.

And when meet their seers,

With crocodile tears

They expose their fears.

But these are morbid libels

From sworn but feigned infidels,

Wearing varied labels.

Preposterous, pretentious,

Hypocritical notions.

Disguised resolutions.

Phantastic desire.

To be India’s sire.

Is what they aspire.

In the name of democracy,

With numerical supremacy,

Is their game of diplomacy.

But we can’t be daunted

By sarcasms taunted.

Or vain fears haunted.

We want India’s deliverance,

To save it from decadence.

And without a vengeance.

A home for us secure.

Also for them quite sure.

Without a basely lure.

On justice, fairplay, equity

Behold Pakistan’s quality

Won’t it stand till eternity?

Insha-Allah the following situation will emerge after the Quarter Finals for the Semi Finals line up of ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2011 matches.

1. Pakistan. Proved correct. Pakistan won.

2. Australia. Proved Incorrect. India won.

3. Sri Lanka. Proved correct.   Sri Lanka Won.

4. South Africa. Proved incorrect NZ won.

           Winner of Finals. (Proved wrong)              PAKISTAN

            WINNER OF FINALS :-  SRI Lanka (Proved wrong winner I N D I A)

Pakistan passed the 100 million subscriber milestone in Oct 2010, with five operators fighting for the market share day in & day out, but  still waiting for the introduction of 3G WCDMA technology (High Internet Speed Mobile Access with International Roaming),  to take the telecoms market to the much needed next level.

The 3G Licenses auctioned last year in our neighboring country fetched multi billion dollars, in license fee in addition to a similar amount of foreign direct investments, creating a spree of jobs for not only the highly educated, but also for the less educated  skilled hands, working on things like tower construction.

The question remains why we are shying away from this golden opportunity, to give the much needed life saving shot to our economy?

May be the reason lies in the situation, where the current operators are shying away from the investments that they would have to make, when the licenses are made available and are just keeping a few individuals at the right places “happy”, so that it is deferred, as long as they wish.

With the 3G services available in most of the countries of South Asia and even Africa, why  we are being deprived of the technological and economical benefits and playing the catch up game?

The 3G License or Spectrum auction, which is just like selling “air” is the easiest way to slightly mitigate the ever increasing unemployment rate in the country. Our peoples representatives in the both the houses should take this up seriously, to expedite the ever delayed process.

                                                                                        By A. Muiz Khan

                                         An update by the writer

Although, 100 Million subscribers may seem a big figure in absolute terms yet, in the backdrop of Pakistan, this amounts to only about 60% Mobile penetration; which is far from saturation, with some developed countries having around about the 100% mark. These figures are obtained after the implementation of the standard active subscriber definition in the industry, which has forced the operators to adopt data cleaning process, so the data comes mostly from the active subscribers, hence, a fairly accurate estimate.

Now, the point of adopting 3G is not necessarily to add new subscribers. But if 60 people out of 100 have mobile connections, then to make lets say initially, 15 people out of the active 60, to switch to using the new technology. This will generate new high profit margin revenue streams from data intensive applications, like video calling & HD Video streaming etc.

Now, we as a country can benefit from this situation, by putting the technology on the table for Sale. Surely the existing operators cannot shy away from spending on the candy bar, which will ensure a greater revenue stream for them. However, their aim is to delay it as much as possible, so that they do not have to take out cash at this moment of the financial crunch.

Once we put the technology or as stated in the article “AIR” on sale, we will get instant payments from the operators on acoount of license fee and as the race to launch the first 3G network kicks off to obtain the First-Mover advantage, huge FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) will take place in modernizing and building the network infrastructure, resulting in effective billions of dollars in earnings and creating thousands of jobs in the process.

In the recent auction of the 3G licenses in our neighboring country, only the licenses fee fetched close to USD 15 Billion, which is a huge amount in itself, excluding all the FDI and other positive impacts on the economy, like reduction in unemployment rate.

                                                                                       By A. Muiz Khan

The Cabinet Meeting was to be held – the ADC inquires, “Sir what will be served in the meeting…Tea or Coffee?”
 
Sir (Quaid-e-Azam) looked up and replied sternly…the ADC was taken aback!

“Whichever of the Ministers wish to have tea or coffee should drink it before leaving his home or when he returns home. The Nation’s money is for the Nation and not for the Ministers!”
 After this instruction – as long as he was the Head of the nation …nothing except water was ever served in the Cabinet meetings. 
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Some items amounting to Rs.38.50 had been purchased for the Governor General’s House. He asked for the bill; a few items were purchased on Mohtarima Fatima Jinnah’s request; he gave instructions that the amount was to be deducted from her account. A couple of items were for his own personal use…their amount to be deducted from his personal account. The remaining items for the Governor House, he said, may be charged to the Government. Instructions were issued to check and make sure what may be charged to the government in the future. 
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When the brother of the British Emperor – Duke of Gloucester was going to visit Pakistan – the British envoy requested that he receive him at the Airport. He replied, “if I do so then the British head of state (King) would have to reciprocate when my brother would visit London”.
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Once the ADC placed a Visiting Card before him…he took it and tearing it said, “Tell him not to come here before me, in  future!” the card was his brother’s and his fault..? Printed under the brother’s name was…Brother of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Governor General Pakistan. 
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During the severe winter of Ziarat, Col. Ilahi Bukhsh offered him a pair of socks. He liked them but inquired about the price. On learning that the price was Rs.2/-, he said the price was high. Col Ilahi Bukhsh replied that “the socks had been purchased from your account” to which the answer was that “even my account is a National trust…the Head of a poor country should not be so extravagant!” With that he rewrapped the socks and returned them to the Colonel. 
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He was impressed with the work of a particular Nurse in Ziarat and asked if he could do something for her. She said that she was from Punjab and all her family were there, she was alone in Quetta; could he could have her transferred to Punjab. He answered rather regretfully, “I am sorry…this is in the hands of the Health Ministry and not the Governor General’s jurisdiction.”
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He ordered a writing table to be installed in his plane…when the File reached the Finance Ministry; the finance minister sanctioned it but sent a written note stating, “The Governor General must ask the Finance Ministry before issuing any such Order”. He gave a written apology and withdrew his previous order.
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There is the incident of the Railway track barrier/gates which is well known. When Gul Hasan (his ADC, later C-in-C Pakistan Army) requested the railway track gates to be opened so that his car may pass over unhindered, his face turned red in anger and he ordered the gates to be shut saying, “If I do not obey rules – who else will!” 

The recent statement of US ambassador to Pakistan that :(ISLAMABAD: US ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter has said that the United States has right to interfere in Pakistan’s economic and governance affairs as the former provides funds to it, Geo News reported.

Addressing a ceremony here, Cameron said that the United States provides largest aid to Pakistan, therefore, it has right to interfere in economic and governance affairs.http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=8937)  has clearly laid bare the American mind set towards Pakistan.

Although, US president calls Pakistan as an enormous country and an ally of America, who has given tremendous sacrifices in fighting the menace of terrorism, yet, Mr. Munter has the audacity to tell us that America has a right to interfere in our internal affairs, just because we are receiving their aid. By this analogy, can the US ambassador to Israel, give the same statement, because that country is the biggest recipient of US aid?

I will ask Mr. Munter, if helping another country is the criteria for interference in its affairs, then Pakistan has all the right to meddle in the affairs of your country. Hope, you remember our greatest favour,   in making America the sole super power. So, before uttering such statements, just weigh our favours to America in monetary terms, and calculate how much you still owe to us, in return of Pakistan’s just one favour to America.

Mr. Munter,  should also know that there is a long list of our favours to his great country, starting from permitting U-2 flights over USSR, facilitating Kissinger’s visit to China, saving American soldiers’ life in Somalia etc. He should not force us  to think that to  call him and his country a friend, is a mistake. Perhaps, he only understand one language taught  by the brave people of Vietnam, Iraq & Afghanistan. True friendship, has no meaning in any of his dictionaries.

The government of Pakistan must immediately take notice of this blatant interference in its internal affairs by the American ambassador and send him back to his country. This punishment will restore the sanctity of our integrity and shall be remembered by Munter, throughout his life. This will also send a message to the world, that Pakistan is an honourable nation and it will not offer other cheek, if slapped on one.

Actually, every individual and nation must understand that, one can only be insulted to the extent, it is permitted. In other words you can’t be insulted, more than you allow.