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Showing posts from 2010

Obma's visit to India

If it was any head state it is doubtful the Indians would have been out of their way to so excited about his visit. The USA fascinates India - everything about it. Though Indians may try to be the same as the USA will never ever be, because the fundamental problem in India is i tolerance. India can never have something like the First Amendment of the US Constitution -which assures the right of every citizen of the USA the freedom of expression and thought. India looks up to the USA but still has hard time understanding why the USA is the leader amongst nations. Only when India drops all of its censorship laws,becomes increasingly tolerant will it be able progress.Indians have change,relax many of its laws which are essentially against individual freedom. Development starts when the state exacts less control on its people.

Online from the beginning

No sooner is a baby born, it starts being photographed by digital cameras. Its pictures are immediately online, sent to family members and friends all over the world. Not only still pictures - but movies with sound. When one thinks about that this was inconceivable this was more than a decade ago just thinking about it is astonishing. Some mothers are so excited about pregnant, they send the ultra-sounds of the baby they are going deliver. So a person on the Internet even before being born. Will remain alive in cyber-space long after he is no more. Emails accounts he sent photograph of himself sent it to all the people he knows. His voice would be preserved too. The ones taken when he was baby and a child were beyond his control, but those too would be floating around in cyberspace. He cannot control that information, because it is in someone else's account elsewhere. Perhaps that someone has deleted that information. While others may have kept around. The truth is that the...

Transparency International fraud

It is really strange that the countries which are absolutely squeaky clean are the USA, Canada and the members of NATO; Whereas the rest of the world is absolutely corrupt in varying degrees. Some of the world's poorest countries are listed. The factors which lead to corruption are the following: Hunger Poverty Unemployment Prostitution Slavery Drugs Racial discrimination Religious prejudice No country in the world can ever claim to have gotten rid of these. The countries which claim they have are lying. The world's richest countries also have slums and tent cities. Just because beggars are not seen on the streets in these First World Countries, it does not mean that absolute poverty does not exist. These people are removed from plain sight. The corruption stories run rampant, the purpose is to make people miserable about their own countries and consider immigrating. The purpose to offer something better to the immigrants, the purpose absolutely criminal. The First World C...

Bomb Pakistan if it does not comply

The new - old US policy - is 'bomb Pakistan if does not comply'. The same theme which President Bush had. "Are you with us, or are you against us". Someone called Armitage said - 'We will bomb Pakistan into the stone age". The USA has used Pakistan, ever since General Ayub Khan was made the first military dictator of Pakistan by the USA - to do all kinds of things. The Peshawar air force base was used to launch U2 spy planes to spy on the former Soviet Union. Pakistanis have never liked dictators and General (Field Marshal) Ayub Khan was removed. The USA was terrified the prospects of democracy completely taking over Pakistan. So quickly General Yahya was made the new military dictator. Bhutto the first civilian to take power was hated and feared by the US establishment, they waited on the sidelines to make a single mistake to have him overthrown. General Zia-ul-Haq took over with the blessings of the USA and blown away after he ceased to be of any use. Pakis...

Facebook a social networking site, rubbish!

Facebook the social networking site requests its users to add friends or have a circle friends. Yet as it is the nature of those who absolute hypocrites - the purpose is not enable people to come together, it is deny them access to any social contact. Say one thing, do exactly the opposite. Facebook should enable adding people not denying it. It has happened so often that it has become irritating, what is the point of Facebook, make enemies and manipulate them or make friends? For all intents and purposes Facebook hopeless in the task of Social Networking. Instead of encouraging people to meet people it is doing exactly the opposite. Perhaps there is language barrier and huge cultural difference. If choose add people, that is precisely what I like to do. In Facebook and chat sites that I have seen, the purpose is not exchange ideas and points of view, it is dead silence and indifference. This is a sign of a disastrous social attitude. Meeting people for the sake of meeting them is so...

Floods and the military budget

The floods could be a blessing in disguise. Under military rule - ever since General Ayub took over the military expenditure expanded and it was set in stone that it should remain 80% of the annual budget, come hell or high water . That leaves the government with 20% -10% for attempting to pay back the loans given by the World Bank, IMF and other organisations. The remaining 10% is left development, infrastructure, education, health and to run the government. Since the military is unwilling to let government have more money for Pakistan all kinds of problems have arisen. The washing away of roads and bridges is because the miltary is not concerned with progress and prosperity of Pakistan. What the military does not realise is that unless Pakistan prospers - the miltary will also not be survive. Military budget allocation has to be sensible. Despite this allocation - Pakistan lost most of Siachin to India. In the 1965 War, there was a chance to win back Kashmir. General Ayub was afrai...

A beggar at the bank

“Get out of here” The banker screamed, when the beggar came in. “Why” Asked the beggar. “Because you’re beggar” The banker says “Of course I’m one” The beggar said. “Then go” “No” “Do you want me to call the police” The banker shouts. “No, I want to open an account” “Don’t talk nonsense, you’re beggar” “I know, but I still want to open account” “You’re a beggar and you cannot possibly have anything” “You'r wrong I would not say that, I have enough to open account” “How much?” The beggar shows him a Rs 100 note. “Where did you get that? “Someone gave it to me” “Who?” “I don’t know?” “you don’t? “Yes” “Someone gave you money for what?” “nothing” “Why? Why would any one give you money for nothing?” “Because…I’m…a…beggar?” “I knew what you’ll say that. You really want to open account?” “yes” “Well, sit down, you will have to answer some questions” “Ok, ask them” “Where did you get money from” “From begging” “Do you have...

The Great Flood is here and now

For the followers of religion and the true believers, the Great Flood has returned. It was revealed that when Noah encountered the Great Flood, he built the ark to save people. It was a new beginning, order had to be restored. Mankind faced the greatest peril at that time and Noah was their saviour. Noah’s name is in the religious books. The Great Flood was to tell the world about the great power of God and his unification. Only true believers would this Great Flood portends. Mankind has again reached the edge of the precipice. Like the rivers change their course, mankind can also avoid the course it is has adopted. This time humanity has been left to choose the direction it wants to go. Instead of going the way of Matually Assured Destruction and the Nuclear Holocaust. This can be avoided and humanity will saved. Otherwise this Great Flood is the Great Flood of apocolypse and the beginning of the End of Days. The Great Flood is year zero. From this year onward humanity can avoid ...

Zardari going to UK?

Zardari is visiting the UK despite the fact that he had condemned and snubbed by the British prime minister. "God! has the man no shame?" He is also going at the time when Pakistan is suffering the worst flooding since 1929. He should have some consideration for the people of Pakistan at this time. Up to 600 people have died because of these floods. No relief is forthcoming. Which is something he probably can never do, unless there is massive bribe for him somewhere. The fact he is going only to Britain is not for the benefit of Pakistan, but check out all the loot he has gathered in Britain. He is also going in an official plane filled with his lackeys and his 'friends'. This will cost Pakistan about $500 million. Money which could be used to provide relief to those who are starving because of these floods. But does President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari care? Not one bit. The USA is not too happy with existing government and Pakistan on the whole.

Idiots!

No one in Pakistani TV channels has studied journalism. They do not know the first thing about it. The concept of Redundancy is an essential aspect. Redundancy is a mass communication term, those who do know what this term means, need not bother. But for those who do, yesterday was example of Redundancy gone amok. Every single channel was reporting the same thing throughout the day. The air crash was a sad thing to happen, but it does not justify any sensible news organisation go on telecasting it. The weirdest part of it was that, none of them had any facts with them. They were stuck with the plane had crashed and an attempt to rescue any survivors was going on. What many people missed the point that why had so many people showed up at where the plane had crashed? None of these news organisations have the questions Five Ws and the Single H. Because do not know how to ask and what to ask and who to ask. They are incompetent in every aspect of the field of journalism. This is not jo...

PML(N) is fake

I sent emails to PML(N) and this is what I got: I'm sorry to have to inform you that your message could not be delivered to one or more recipients. It's attached below. For further assistance, please send mail to postmaster. If you do so, please include this problem report. You can delete your own text from the attached returned message. The mail system : Host or domain name not found. Name service error for name=pml1.org type=A: Host not found From : nadeemrafat@lycos.com Subject : Policies of PML(N) To : drluqman@pml1.org, pmlisb@hotmail.com Cc : webmaster@tribune.com.pk Thu, Jul 01, 2010 03:26 AM Dear sirs, I would be interested in knowing where you stand on the following issues: 1. Should the government should provide 90% subsidy all food items and not impose Valued Added Tax? 2.The government should be responsible for price control 3. Banking secrecy, the money saved or withdrawn from a bank should not be the business of the government. The existing ...

Bread will cost more

The government has announced wheat exports to Afghanistan. This will only one thing for the people in Pakistan, the price of bread will go up. There was a time when bread use to cost 25 Paisas now it 6 Rupees. Meat use to cost 80 Rupees per kilogramme now it costs 450 Rupees per kilogramme. The reason for the exorbitant increase is that meat is being exported. The existing government has complete failed keep a check on prices. There is no price control system in place or even a system of subsidise the cost of food. The government does not feel obliged to benefit people in any way at all. Companies and shops are doing exactly as they feel like they just keep on increasing the cost of their products. Retailers are fed up and all are seriously considering closing shop. Any government which fails to lower the price of food, is doomed. Such a government is intolerable. The first thing the government should do is impose price control on everything which is being sold particularly all...

Do we really need a government?

The way things are going on in the country, one is forced to wonder about the relevance of the government. What has it done for the country and the people - absolutely nothing. The economy is perpetually at rock bottom. After the last time when people had foreign currency accounts, the government ended them. Now no businessman in his right mind ever keeps his income from exported items in any Pakistani bank, because now no one trusts the government and there is no reason to. No one wants to make the same mistake. Once was more than enough. A top priority is banking secrecy. The government should never question why someone is depositing a a large sum of money in any bank or withdrawing. No one should know. The government should interfere in bank deposits and withdrawals. But government wants to make its business. It strange when someone wants to buy a new car, unless there is proper documentation on the money which is being paid for its purchase. Why does the government want such r...

I cannot 'live' in Pakistan

I cannot afford to live in Pakistan unless I am equally rich as Zardari is. I can longer afford to pay for my food, I can no longer afford to buy petrol for my motorcycle, I cannot afford to pay for heating my food. I cannot afford to light up the single light bulb in my house. I keep it off any way. I am told there is no electricity but I no longer know about that I have kept my light bulb off. I am told the light bulb I occasionally switch just to see where I am going for finding something is going cost twice as much to switch on, whenever I do. Once or twice people from the KESC came warned I should stop stealing electricity. I told them I do not what they are talking about. They told my meter reading is too low and I am possibly stealing electricity. They said will come to keep an eye on me. I have forgotten what electricity is. When my friends and neighbours tell it will cost me twice as much I am surprised. How it that something I am not using cost me twice as much? I do not wha...

Rising prices and the war in Afghanistan

In Karachi the norm was that electricity load shedding never took place during winter months, because people had stopped using air conditioners. But strangely enough load shedding started in late 2001 when US forces arrived to invade to Afghanistan. Then food and fuel prices started rising as the war has raged on for almost 10 years. The cost of electricity has risen but the load shedding has not stopped. The cost of food prices, fuel prices have gone up. There can be only one logical explanation for this, the US forces need to be fed and they should be comfortable in the bases provided in Pakistan and in Afghanistan. This war is costing the USA a great deal of money. Special weapons and equipment require to be kept at specific temperature. The US has increased the number of its soldiers in Afghanistan - hence more demand for food, electricity and fuel. The people in Pakistan are suffering this outrageous price increase. Meat used to be Rs 80 per kilogramme now it has become Rs...

Again an oil and gas price hike

The present government is again increasing the price of oil products and of gas. It seems that the government does not have any source of income other than this. Why should this be the case? There are so many sources of income, but the government does not want to impose taxes on them or is not allowed to. Why impose income tax on the feudal lords (Zamindars, Waderas), impose land tax on them also. Impose income tax on the owners of brick kiln owners? The government does not want to touch those people because they are the people who run the government. Impose income tax tribal chiefs. This government all others before it impose tax on oil, gas and imported vehicles nothing else. There is complete of understanding. There are so many sectors where taxes can be imposed. One of the primary reason why tax is increased, is not because the government has run out of money, it is increased because all the greedy pigs in Islamabad take all that money away, so there is no money left for the go...

Electricity crisis another total breakdown

The total electricity breakdown in Karachi is not a new thing, it has been happening regularly. Electricity appears to be benefit of the privileged few. These largely are government officials, civil servants of every rank and file. They receive electricity free of charge. The myriad government departments consume the most electricity and electricity has to be supplied to them even if they never pay anything. In any case electricity should not be a Federal matter it should be a provincial issue. Provincial governments should be responsible for the supply and tariff of electricity. The Federal government has no business taking the money of different electricity supply organisation. There should be no authorities and organisations run because all of them are run by most asinine and absolutely corrupt people. At least when provincial governments are solely responsible they will much better than the Federal government. Federal government offices in different provinces will not be su...

Foreign media in Pakistan

It is very curious that international newspapers, magazines and other publications are not allowed in Pakistan. If Pakistan international banks, multinational companies in most businesses are allowed , why is foreign investment not welcome in the media business? When foreign investment sought - that such investment would increase employment opportunities and bring in much needed foreign exchange. But when it comes to the media the government does not say anything. Compared to Pakistan, India has allowed international investment in the media which. Foreign advertising agencies are not allowed to operate. There is no clear explanation as why this is the case. Just as foreign investment in other fields improves the income of different professionals in other fields as compared to local companies which prefer not to pay anything at all or no rules of management or anything resembling a modern business; foreign investments bring some order where there is absolute chaos. Journalists wou...

Electricity shortage, food shortage in Pakistan

There has been a 200% increase in electricity shortage in Pakistan. At first people thought it was because of sheer incompetence of  the government. The real reason is that the US military bases in Pakistan and those which are in Afghanistan require electricity and they are stealing it from Pakistan. Food prices have risen 400% and so have fuel prices. Since Afghanistan does not generate electricity, does not grow food - so Pakistan is required to supply them. All the food which is being transported from the USA to the USA's military in Afghanistan is destroyed by the Taliban.  All food, water is cut off. The USA cannot afford air drops of food and water because such planes are likely to be destroyed besides it would be very expensive to do so. Already the war has cost too much. Bankrupted the USA, but the policy makers in the USA do not care. It is war at all costs, whereas its purpose is not known. For practical purposes, Pakistan has to supply everything to the US military. Even...

The last straw

The government's electricity policy has collapsed. Now the shopkeepers, mills and different businesses are striking against the contnued absence of electricity. The price of food items have skyrocketed. The government's absolute corruption is responsible for the prevailing state of affairs. Time will tell when this government quits. People fed up with the current state of affairs. Overcharging on electricity will make no difference, when it is not supplied.