Posts Tagged ‘India’
$10 Billion Impending Scam – An Open Letter to PM
February 5th, 2012 | 
Author: Honourable Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani,
AoA.
It will not be out of place to begin with a news item published in the news papers today i.e., Wednesday 1 Feb. 2012, stating that the Indian Supreme Court warned on Tuesday that corruption posed a “grave danger” to the world’s largest democracy quoted as below.
Quote ” Today corruption in our country not only poses a grave danger for the concept of constitutional governance, it also threatens the very foundation of Indian democracy and the rule of law.” Unquote. The above was said by Justice A.K. Ganguly, while delivering a ruling in connection with the alleged underpriced selling of telecom licenses, which the national auditors says may have cost the country up to $39 billion.
An excerpt from a Times of India news published on Wednesday, 2nd Feb. 2012 is also given below for the information of Mr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Finance Minister of Pakistan, who says he expects only $800 million from the COMBINED telecom auction of 3G, (4G LTE) and (5G LTE-A.) (India got $69 billion for ONLY 3G, exactly two years ago, as per TOI news quoted below.
“The 122 licences were given by Raja for over Rs 9,000 crore, while 3G auctions for a smaller number of licences had fetched the government a sum of Rs 69,000 crores.”
In the same context of selling of telecom licenses in Pakistan, a mega scandal is also brewing, for which your kind attention is invited to immediately intervene, so that the nefarious designs of unscrupulous elements to defame the PPP and its government, is nipped in the bud.
DETAILS OF THE CASE
With the recent publication of the advertisement of PTA in the news papers for “Invitation for Expression of Interest” (EOI) with application for AUCTION of Mobile License/Spectrum (3G/4G/LTE [long term evolution] etc), the following questions needs answers to safeguard the national interest by all and sundry.
1. Why the LOW base price of US $ 155 Million for one Mobile Cellular License/Spectrum (800 MHz), when this license was sold for 291 US $ Million eight years ago in the year 2002? OK, it is being auctioned for 8 years instead of 15 years, but is there no premium for above 68 % mobile teledensity which was not there eight years ago?
2. Why the license will be technology neutral? Which means no licenses will be required for any future launches of 4G, 5G so on so forth. this also means selling all future long term evolution inductions free of cost. This happens no where in the world. Even in Pakistan when 2G was sold in 2004, it was not permitted to launch 3G without fresh license. So why now 4G onwards is being sold free of cost?
3.i. Why the LOW base price of US $ 210 Million for the auction of Three Mobile Cellular Licenses/Spectrum (1900/211MHz/3G/4G/LTE etc.)?
3.ii. Here it should be noted that 2G license was auctioned by PTA in 2002 at US $ 291 Million, when there was much less teledensity than 68% as of now and in the next 15 years (the period for which new licenses are being auctioned), it will obviously increase to higher levels.
3.iii. And above all this auction is technology neutral, which means license for 3G is also valid for FREE for 4G, 5G onwards. Under this situation this base price of US $ 210 Million is ridiculously low.
4. As per IM (Information Memorandum) on PTA website all three telecom companies winning the technology neutral AUCTION of Mobile License/Spectrum (3G/4G/LTE [long term evolution] etc) will be required to pay half of the bid value within 30 days in USD or PKR. Also Rest of the amount can be paid in USD or PKR in five equal yearly installments. This virtually means that Telecom companies will NOT bring any fresh foreign investment and also the remaining 50% amount will be deposited on PAY AS YOU EARN basis. This tantamount to robbing the nation of valuable FDI in the garb of auction terms, particularly when bidding is only allowed in minimum 2 million USD and maximum 10 million USD. So when bidding is in USD payment should also be in USD.
5. Why PTA has shown less figures of total Teledensity of Pakistan (68.39) in 2010-11 at para 3.7 of (IM [information memorandum] on its website) whereas, according to its own figures in the graph shown in the para 3.7, the total comes to (68.43)?
6. Why the PTA advertisement published in the news papers of 24 January, 2012 states mobile teledensity as 62% against the figures of 64.9% shown in IM at their website?
7. India is not 70 times bigger than Pakistan in economy or any way, but it got $69 billion, that too, two years ago, from it’s auction of ONLY 3G. Why our Finance Minister has kept a budgeted amount of ONLY $800 million as expected income from the auction of NOT only 3G but 4 & 5G as well?
Submitted for consideration and immediate corrective action before it is too late.
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It was reported recently on a TV channel, that Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Sheikh expects 800 million USD revenue, from the auction of 3G (fast Internet) license to telecom companies.
It is reported that government has fixed the base price for auction to held on March 28 and 29, 2012 for 3G and 4G as 210 million USD. Whereas, 8 years ago 2G was sold at 291 million USD. (Please check and confirm this data from PTA).
Here, I must forewarn all and sundry, that under no circumstances, the worth of this auction amount can be less than 10 billion dollars. India got 69 billion USD from the same auction in April 2010 i.e. two years ago. Details are available at link:- https://www.snayyar.com/3g-telecom-technology-pakistan-can-earn-billions-of-usd-by-just-selling-air.html.
It will not be out of place to state that as reported today i.e., Wednesday 1 Feb. 2012 the Indian Supreme Court warned on Tuesday that corruption posed a “grave danger” to the world’s largest democracy quoted as below.
All patriotic citizens and institutions must be alert, lest we may not be cheated again, by those who sold our valuable national assets, for even less than the peanuts, in Musharraf era.
How to Stem the Rot in Sub-Continent Test Cricket?
Change in the game of cricket is here to stay, whether we like it or not. T20 and ODI’s are definitely going to churn out more and more money, for all connected with the game. Now, there is no use criticizing the evolution process.
Adaptation is the secret of success. Building a Test team is no rocket science. One has to be just one step ahead of the competition. Just closely watch how England and Australia are focusing their time and energy, on keeping at top level, in Test format of the game. Moreover, until and unless the sub-continent players are given rigors of sessions of fast and bouncy pitches, with special bouncing balls, to expect our batsmen to perform better than their opponents, is to live in a fools paradise.
Although, Pakistan is not a very strong team against the world No.1 England yet, they did not leave anything to chance and asked English players to practise for months in India and South Africa, to prepare and practise for the conditions, nearest to the UAE pitches.
As they say, practice makes one perfect. And for an ordinary person, it will not be difficult to predict the outcome of the ensuing Pakistan Vs England encounters in UAE, particularly when Misbah ul Haq is a known defensive mind. Last day his comments posted on ESPN Cricinfo removed any doubt about his negative attitude towards the game.
Quote.” It is better to win playing safe than attack and lose.”
On the same web page was posted an advice of famous Indian captain Saurov Ganguly, for Sachin Tendulkar, quoted as below.
Quote” I will tell him, if he thinks about defending, he must try some other sport.” Unquote.
As Viv Richards said “Cricket is a mind game.” And as Imran Khan said “playing for a draw is the best recipe for defeat.” If the objective of any captain, before entering the ground, is to wait and see, rather than nothing but a win, how can he marshall his players to the victory? In cricket you have to impose your agenda, on the opponent team. You have to create opportunities, like they say you have to create run outs. At times you have to snatch victories from the jaws of defeat. In any sport, one team wins and the other loses. There is no harm in losing if you give a good fight. The only objectionable thing is the abject surrender.
Now, someone must tell Misbah that famous saying, quote” In any fight, if a dog is given to lead the lions, all lions will die fighting like a dog. However, in any fight, if a lion is given to lead the dogs, all dogs will put up a fight like a lion, irrespective of the outcome of that fight.”Unquote.
Misbah should be told that offense is the best defense.
It looks Misbah has already surrendered the series, even before a ball was bowled. Anyway, we should pray for the success of our team, as miracles do happen.
Another High Treason Case – Heads Must Roll
An Open Letter to Mr. Barack Obama President of the United States
Dear Mr. Barack Obama,
Salaam.
Pakistan still remembers that you said “Pakistan was an enormous country”, during your last visit to India and now Mr. Leon Panetta, has very rightly said that stable Pak-US relations are critical to Afghan success.
In my opinion, after you Excellency, your Secretary of Defense, is the only man in the world, who can restore the snapped relations with Pakistan, provided he is given the ultimate authority to negotiate new terms of engagements, which in the end, must be a win win situation, for both the parties.
However, it must be remembered that stability of our relations won’t come over the blood of our martyred soldiers. Muslims are never taught to offer the other cheek, if slapped on one.
US and the NATO must understand our psyche, before even thinking of building stable relationship with Pakistan.
The only way to reach out Pakistan, for it’s cooperation and friendship, is to first recognize what it has sacrificed, for the imposed war and then deal on mutual and equal terms. Else, acrimony will stay permanently, even if some ad-hoc measures, diffuse the situation for the time being.
Wishing you, your family and all Americans, a very happy Christmas and Seasons Greetings.
Best regards,
Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad
Lahore – Pakistan.
Thank You America
THANK YOU AMERICA
By: Col Khawar Munir Haroon(Retd),Sitara-e-Imtiaz(Military)
Thank you America, you did what you are capable of doing. You should have done it much earlier. You have unnecessarily put your people, the tax payers, under relentless pressure. Your “war on terror” expenditure has crossed $ 4 Trillion dollars. Expenditure on maintaining your troops in Afghanistan has crossed $ 100 Billion dollars. Your budget deficit is touching $ 1.645 Trillion dollars. You are under debt of over $ 14 Trillion dollars. Your economy is standing on the moving sands. A bubble, which your own economists are predicting, is about to burst. Very rightly so you have put strings to your support to Pakistan.
It is always good to run away from the theater of war. You did it in Korea, then in Vietnam. Prior to that, you buckled in front of Cuba, when Castro and Che Guevara kicked out your prodigy, Batista. You are running out of Afghanistan now. Do it fast, lest your poodle stops wagging its tail. This time your exit should be forever.
Look after your household. Something is rotting out there. Before it gets too late to mend, smooth-en up your wrinkles. I am sure; you must have calculated the risk of losing your good old friends, the family of Sauds. You must be aware of the disasters of delinking of dollar from petro sales. Iran and Venezuela has already shown you the door. What if Sauds lose their hold?
How many of you really know the state of affairs when Pakistan came into being? Indian Government betrayed the Government of Pakistan. British were an accomplice to this betrayal. Funds were stopped; share of equipment including military hardware was not given to Pakistan. There was only one textile mill by the name of Layallpur Cotton Mills at Layallpur(now Faisalabad). There was another textile mill by the name of Mela Ram Textile Mills in Lahore, which was nonfunctional. Today, Pakistan has 450 cotton spinning mills and 35 composite textile mills. The paper manufacturing facility was in East Pakistan at Karnaphuli. The electricity was scarce. The resources were so meager that Acasia thorns were used as paper pins to tag the papers. Lanterns with kerosene oil were the lamps providing light at night or in the dark offices. You must be thinking as to why I’m recalling these old stories. Yes! There is a reason. In all poverty and hunger, Pakistanis remained steadfast. These hardy souls toiled the land and got the results. Despite all the upheavals and deceits by your prodigies, this nation kept on progressing. You killed Liaqat Ali Khan to bring your own pets, but, even then the nation moved ahead. Your blunder was to put Pakistan under sanctions in 1965. Your betrayal jolted this nation. You played blind with India, when she was planning to dismember Pakistan in 1971. Then again in 1974, when India went nuclear, your response was muted. This was jolt enough for us Pakistanis to go nuclear. Not only that we went nuclear, our technology was much more sophisticated than Indians and even yours.
It is good that you passed the Pressler Amendment and again forced the Pakistanis to stand firm on their feet. Figures must be there with you. Sift through and find out that how the Pakistanis developed missiles even better than stinger. It must be in your knowledge that stingers do not function at Siachin. It was the Pakistani technology which broke the backbone of Indian Army Aviation in Siachin.
It is good that you have once again decided to tie the strings with the “Aid”. You know, this nation is unique. Almost blackout conditions do not make them rowdy hooligans. Do you remember the looting of New York stores and shops, when there was electric break down some years ago? The hardy Pakistanis can endure scorching heat and even then do not go naked. By the way, our scorching heat is above 40C and not 28C. More than 70% of our population lives in the rural areas. Out of remaining 30% in urban areas more than 90% is living in equally hard conditions. Therefore, hardship is part and parcel of the majority.
What about you? Your people are not akin to such situation. Your debt of $14 trillion is getting fatter by day. Main contributor to your extravagance, Japan, is now in itself in turmoil. The Euro is dying its own death. China will never bail you out. Do you have the guts to publicize what Gordon Duff is saying? He is one of your citizens, shouting at the top of his voice, warning you to mend your ways. This Senior Editor of ‘Veterans Today’ has repeatedly brought to light your follies. He says, “Afghanistan will have leftover 150,000 American troops killed, wounded or permanently disabled at a financial cost of $1.2 trillion over the next 20 years. This does not include other war costs”. Dare read his latest article, “Afghanistan: An American Rape. Is ‘slow withdrawal’ an answer to rape?”
Run Americans run, it is your fate now, because 2% of your population, Jews, is doing the same thing which 1% of them did in Germany, way back in 1929. You are being controlled by them, the way they were doing in Germany. How naive are you? How oblivious are you of the strangle hold of Israel? Disaster is their fate and so is yours. Save yourself if you can.
Author is presently doing as Principal, Lahore Garrison University, Walton Campus (ex Garrison Post Graduate College for Men), Lahore Cantt.
Cricket – India Wins ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2011
Heartiest congratulations to India on a well deserved and well earned cricket ODI world cup 2011 victory achieved for the 1st time by any nation on its own soil.
Cricket – How The Semi Final Match Was Lost In Mohali
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.
Cricket – An Opportunity For Peace Between India & Pakistan
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.
Cricket World Cup 2011 – Ahmad Shahzad Jonty Rhodes of Pakistan
Pakistani cricketer Ahmad Shahzad has proved with his fielding abilities that he is one of the best fielders among all the ICC ODI world cup 2011 competing teams. In fact, Ahmad Shahzad is Jonty Rhodes of Pakistan. Moreover, Pakistani team management is totally wasting the nuclear weapon of the team Abdul Razaaq. His abilities are being utilized to the minimum advantage of the team. Ideally, either he should open the innings with Hafeez or go as one down batsman to make best use of the 1st ten overs power play, when only two fielders are outside the 30 yards circle.
Prediction for Today’s Match India Vs England Winner INDIA.
A Great Feat By Sachin Tendulkar – An Opportunity For Indo – Pak Peace Through Cricket
(I wrote this article exactly a year ago, is being reproduced for the lovers of the game, on the first anniversary of the world record, created by Sachin Tendulkar)
Many congratulations to Sachin Tendulkar for creating a unique world record, of scoring a double century in an innings of an ODI. It is a well-deserved honor earned by a batsman (Sachin Tendulkar ) adored by the followers of the game, transcending the geographical boundaries of their nations. Without doubt, the feats of Sachin are a testimony to the fact, that he is the greatest player, ever produced, by the glorious game of cricket.
In fact, cricket is truly a game of peace. It is the only game where player of one team, ties the shoe laces of the opponent member of the team. Under the circumstances, millions of cricket lovers of Pakistan and India have been denied, for more than sufficient gap of time, the pleasure of witnessing high class cricket duels between one of the finest cricketers, the game has ever produced.
We the cricket lovers, demand from both the governments and their respective cricket boards, to immediately restore cricketing ties between the two teams. Initially, we can play three tests five ODI’s and two T20 matches series in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai stadiums in the first available slot of time. Both the teams can also experimentally, play a night test match in the proposed series. Thus, turning a new leaf in the annuls of the game.
I am confident that, by the resumption of cricketing ties between Pakistan and India, a lot of animosity will also be removed in their current tension riddled ties. In this regard, it is very aptly said that the most ailing nations have developed a functional blindness to their own defects. They are not suffering because they can’t resolve their problems, but because they can’t see their problems.
The leadership of both the countries must realize that only peace and friendship, not war, can break the shackles of poverty and terrorism, so rampant in the sub-continent.
