Budget – Mystery or History

Budget’s out, public’s in while the politicians are having a bash yet again. They rule the graveyard; while the grave dwellers aren’t getting any light either. Loadshedding, KESC, mudslinging, infrastructure, terrorism, foreign policy, everything and everyone is in a squander. A shabby one.

The Finance Minister is just another face-change, loyal employee who came up with the budget on time. Something in Pakistan is on time. Trains are never. While security lapses would never be. To be or not to be.

But where is our international relationship heading for? Anyone gave serious thought. But no, don’t. If the Governments hears this, expect another ministry with 10 pseudo ministers would be heading 10 or so committees solely to study and research the plight, the flight of overseas Pakistanis and their status quos. So please, let Pakistanis live. No more tax cuts for such an idea.

International relations are always built on..?? Bulls or bullets or billets..?? Commerce, economics, MOUs and technology sharing and power sharing. Has anyone heard or seen any Pakistani conglomerate, or business group ever coming up with a rock solid idea? An idea to boost and promote Pakistan. Any at least body formation? Council, team..? Nothing. On the ground. No willingness. No seriousness.

To better international relations, we need business representation. Better relations. Better access. But please don’t export LABOURERS. They aren’t living a good life outside Pakistan even. They work 18 hours and are underpaid and underfed. Export your mangoes and more. Export quality, finished goods, business entrepreneurs but not jobs. Much of it has taken flight.

A body to reform the export policies and procedures should be in place, starting with Sialkot, which has the camaraderie of having its own private airport. Access should be made to international publications to promote skills, industries and products. Export policy, on freelance mode, should be taken up at universities in Pakistan. International relations offers wide array of customer base. Invite and be invited. GEO or JEENAY do. Give and take.

But be honest. What you have, offer..!! Don’t over commit. Explore and connect. How difficult?
Further to such initiatives, a rapport building and supporting group should be in place to have a check.

Have I started to sound boring..? Yeah. As nobody has ventured into this arena ever. Non-taxable countries are hubs and nearest to Pakistan but entrepreneurs are again scarce. Scary statistics, expensive visas, stricter policies. Multiply and quadruple your money, Governments are interested in that. India is doing the same, exporting products and business owners.

King of Fruits - Politicians

Pakistan produces mangoes, which are exported. It also produced politicians, never exported. That is the problem. Let American Senate, the respected Senate, have 2-3 Pakistani politicians, only provincial members (MPAs), to be selected in their House. I bet, no green patch or forestry shall exist in America. Even South America might sanction import of carrots. Sticks are history.

Business Circle

International relations can be given a boost if business circles are encouraged to invest in sports industry. Teams should be represented in every sport, Tempest freerunning is a good emerging sport. Some Pakistani should read and take the cause ahead.
Education, representation, Business units, exports and lesser imports should pave the way for better international relations.

Political class is just crass. Undependable. So why not a civilian movement. Why not a behemoth move that of Sir Syed of innovating the status quo. No rocket science involved. Public opinion should be given a formal voice and draft of action. Action is what missing from the scene. Negative action is all around. Positive action..? No actors.

Is anyone listening..? PTI’s sit-in in Multan is coming on 25th. Summers, heat, terrorism, bomb blasts, prayers, Ramazan approaching fast. Better gear up for more mangoes.

Protest in Pakistan

Murder, go Protest. No Electricity, go Protest. No Gas, go Protest. Corruption, go Protest. Low salaries, go Protest. Teachers, go Protest. Poverty, go Protest. America, go go Protest. Qazi, always Protest.

But Protesting without action or strategy is just like pumping the dead body with lots of High grade Oxygen. The dead man doesn’t want to come back, but still PROTEST..!!!

Pakistanis – Remittances are not the ONLY Answer..!! VIVA – Vote is Voice of Allah

6 million Pakistanis around the globe. Majority residing in Middle East. Most of them don’t know how to use the internet. The message is intended to be read and spread. Word of Mouth.

Pakistan, today, is the crossroads of history. Never, unprecedented, has any nation ever faced such multitude of dilemma, dichotomy amid its crumbling system. Examples are there but with such odds and negatives playing totally against the public, now the Army and the intelligence a.k.a ISI also joins the coterie and shares the grunt and the brunt. The global abuse. The media abuse. You Pakistanis have unfolded this unto yourself. One by acquiesced and silenced acceptance of the status quo and disowning your own country with no innovative sense and want of change. Hence hounds make rounds of our fates. Secondly by NOT voting. Vote or Note. Your choice.

No dictator, no leader, no councilor has ever stopped you from voting. Vote is power. Vote is language. Vote is right. Vote is Voice. Vote is better than watching Priyanka Chopras and Katrina Kaifs. Forget Saif and Shahrukh just for an hour’s sake and vote. Vote and just Vote.

Overseas Pakistanis are people who had talent but ON SALE..!! Yet they were limited in their visions. Instead of procreating opportunities at home through business ownership or roadside career initiation for the purpose, overseas Pakistanis saw 1 dollar to 86 degraded Pakistani Rupees as a better option.
But at what better price..?? At the cost of fading memories and their own people. Overseas Pakistanis thought, better metalled and black solid roads are way to making fortunes but nonetheless, dreams can only be achieved if Pakistan is on the top of the dream list.

With a 12 billion dollar contribution to Pakistan, the duty doesn’t end there. But its otherwise presumed. What have you done to Pakistan and for Pakistan. Your wife adorns the best of lawns and you consider that riches..? Your child takes a spider-man flashing on his backpack would make him stand out..? Would upgrading your wheel caps of your car bring you additional praise? You are most scorned than otherwise, but if you realise.

Show offs, over stretching yourself for the social status quo only lasts for 15 minutes on an average in any event. Your wife’s jewelery is only talked about that long. Your child’s Nike shoes are history when they get soiled. What are you running after..? Money..? Security..? Peace of mind..? Do you have it all yet..?

To stand out, to make it, you have to think out of the box, think but not like women. Think of giving back to have it back.
To start with the first step. How many Pakistanis have you endeared and touched their lives upon..? How many unemployed Pakistanis have got employment letter through your efforts (not to be read as reference)..? How many languages do you speak..? How many businesses have you opened up..? Are you trustworthy even to sell socks by the roadside..? How big is your unseen ego if you want to open up a roadside Fruit Chaat Shop (given if you are a graduate and a postgraduate)..? You want ego or money..? How good are you in public relations..? How often you mingle with people..? Do you often talk about mobile apps in a get together..?? If so, they you are a waste and your 12 billion dollars are just a pretext to acquiesce your own conscience.

Do you even smile without this this occurring to you that this person might ‘ask’ you for something. How many lives have you touched..? How many roads have been repaired with your own hands..? How many streets remain clean in your locality with your connivance..? Have you ever thought, the trash and waste your household in Pakistan disposes on daily basis, accentuated with the number of households by at least 50 times would be enough to generate electricity, if that project is on your mind ever..??

Are you really making a difference as a PAKISTANI..?? Are you really business minded for other Pakistanis..?? Have you ever thought that by recruiting Pakistanis in your own organisations will just empower you (provided a common vision is agreed upon, which again is unlikely)..??

Where do you stand..?? Economically..? Or are you just made to fill the coffers of the foreigners and make your own boss richer by the day and stay satiated with peanuts yourself..?? Justice or corporate bigotry..??

Now do you see the big picture..??

Do you want a change in Pakistan..?? Not the Theepa change but REAL change.

Then add this little thought of contributing VOTE on the election day. Make a difference. Don’t leave it to the hounds and dogs of the Parliament. Oh Hazrat Parliament.!!

Do you leave your children and wives at the mercy of the Police Wallahs when you travel abroad. Do you entrust the local councilor to take care of the daily chores of your household..?? Do you leave your property papers with the Patwaari..?

If not, then why the bloody country is left upon them..? 12 billion dollars is what we just DON’T want. We want your voice. The freedom of having complete justice. Voice your concern. Stick with the truth. When was the last time you spoke only and just only truth..?

Politics of Pakistan is an abandoned child. More worse than that, you abandoned it in the darker and filthier streets of degradation yourself. So why blame the already corrupt. You gave them the way. History.

Now what..?? CHANGE..!! With action and just action..!!

But are you ready for it..?? Are you serious about it..??

Pakistan Pa’aindabad.

Sialkot and Pakistan need a Ghenghis Khan before Eid

Ghengis Khan

Sialkot episode is the bloody perspective of the Pakistani community, so to say. The moral, social, economic, intellectual structure or infrastructure lays bare to rot and just rot.
Every other person in Pakistan needs a catharsis, so they got it. Police assumed this might not make headways to the public attention. But it did. Now, change of plans. Some serious change of plans.

Forget Ramazan, forget anything that is just so near to Islam. This is just my territory and no big force has ever intruded for the past 62 years. That is a fact and would remain so for the next 10 generations. That is my culture. And nobody dares comes near it.
Imported culture, imported lifestyle coupled with illiteracy and a patch of lands which extends quite a few and a half acres with local cattle to do the grazing all year round.

63 years and nothing left to moan and boast about. Unemployment has corrupted many minds and led the hands to slavery and short cut business – Kill for Money. But Sialkot event was not for money but vengeance. Vengeance of ignorance, against the system. The victims, the brothers were convenient scapegoats caught at the wrong place (a kilometre and a half far from their village). Vengeance against every other calamity that has struck our society and lifestyle.

From torching the lamps on the streets to tearing down banks, from mutilating bus seat covers to the lynching like these, our society is just there caught up in between, in a quandary, withered, clueless and leaderless. Did Muneeb and Mughis had to anything with these ill forms begotten our society?

Posterity and austerity, both stay in exile in the West and it prospers maintaining these. Alas, we were Turkish, they are better off.
We have gone a league ahead of animals in savagery. The lions attack one from the herds and go for the jugular to reduce the time lag of the marriage between life and death. We as Pakistanis have just found out a way to bliss in mercilessness.
Brutal, blatant, unmoving, undead compounded with 150 and we have self-gratifying achievements on streets but some have to forego much.

Sialkot episode will never fade away that easily. The blatant act, the gory scenes, the endurance of one of the victims gave it an unforgettable patch of trauma in many’s lives and minds for days to come. And it shall go away unremembered too.

As the days pass, more news replace the older ones. After all, the media has to earn the bread too. Now its the cricket match fixing scandals in attention. Why is it has to be Pakistan all the time. Don’t you players earn much already. Lesser than you are fortunate enough to go around the world like you. Why drag your national signature all the time. Where is your collective conscience?

From floods to Sialkot to the political crass. Everything’s just so in a rut and in utter confusion.

Notable however was Imran Khan’s appearance which has been taken seriously, the first time? Not once but this time the Providence has buckled up and pushed the Khan to answer the call. Angelina Jolie is fortunate enough to be called our Bhabi of the East. Not East Pakistan..!! That’s gone and bygone.
Perhaps Imran’s is causing ripples which made Gillani to sit up and voice his concern over the financial aid at risk of all being usurped by NGOs. And what about your Government. Cover Imran for 2 days and your ranking and Government would tank. Guaranteed. Take a risk, but you aren’t commando.

We just await the Ghenghis Khan’s silver lining. This time he should have a Pakistani passport and mongolian paraphernalia of war.

2 cents.

Jay & Jay Co. (Jiyaala & Joota Co.) and the Hidden Agenda

And that Zardari sahab received a not so standing ovation. And why would he have? The French Chateau, the private visit, the jeans, the T-Shirts and the bloody floody situation back in the country, the falling Fauzias, Gondals and Kairas, nothing seemed to be in place and Providence wasn’t really happy about it.

But don’t forget the Airblue disaster meanwhile.

In the name of ethics, nearly every sane person everywhere opposed this visit. And why did Zardari have to take a walk in France and Britain? What a leadership. Immaculately selfish and devoid of sympathy. The leadership standards are just not so well understood at both ends.

The likes of Kaira, Fauzia Wahhab and Ph.D Babar Awan are on their toes but they too are prepared to defend the step taken by Zardari. Foreign but old whiskies are indeed enlightening.

What was the need? One must think. Zardari leaves at the height of disaster striking the central and North West part of Pakistan. Was it really a disaster? Perhaps, the water could have been set loose, to avert the attention of all and many from Airblue. Rumours are building up that Airblue was hijacked by Blackwater and that the Nuclear research center, Kahuta, the thorn in the West’s throat was the target but ‘averted’.

Averted or say jammed by the Pak Army which stays alert and keep an eye on the crawling insect around Islamabad. The Army was swift enough to have controlled the aircraft well before it made headway for Kahuta, as it had change course; a concern which shouldn’t have been let go without notice. One may wonder and why should I, Uncle Sam wonders why can’t they find any Zardaris, Kairas and Awans and Chaudhrys in Pak Army? Answer – Pak Army go to Universities, the Defence University. While Dastis are mere drop out who aren’t welcome, neither at the airports or the immigration.

While, if Airblue was hijacked and jammed by the Army or say latter wasn’t, the Head Pilot might have gone for the extreme nationalism and embraced martyrdom along with other 151 (152-1), the one who could’nt make it was the one who might have done the act for Sam. But couldn’t pull it through at the right time.

Then Zardari heading off immediately, could be apology visit for not accomplishing the Airblue feat gone sour. And perhaps, Indian RAW, American Blackwater might have received Zardari at the French Chateau. Who knows. The maintenance charges were due and the creditors wanted an answer. It was rush hour. An apology was necessary, Sam was fuming. While the majority of the populace was entangled and made busy. While the whole world lambasted Zardari and his ilk, the inside story was efficiently covered up. Peel it off.

It wasn’t 152 victims in the airplane disaster, it was the whole country. Cable operators are controlled by yet another mafia which has roots in England. Burning of newspaper was planted. Papers are harder than stone. Remember the game Paper, Rock, Scissors?? While internet is publishing the newspaper. Send Jiyaalaaz to Hong Kong and Dubai to tear down the servers. Pull the juice on the servers.

Zardari+Joota+Jiyaala+Jeneral+Judiciary+Journalist+Jamat e Islami = Pakistan.

While GEO and ARY are fuming and seething over the closure. Musharraf’s legacy lives on. Musharraf, no need to come back.

In-Kill-aab – Imran Khan, Wake Up to the History’s Call!!

Ramazan’s approaching fast and prices are rising faster. Welcome Ramazan..!! Let’s hope Ramazan isn’t fortunate enough to evidence more imploding-from-poverty oriented suicides and improvised suicide attacks. Let’s hope and just hope.

The collective conscience of the public is DEAD..!! From yesterday’s Nurse’s episode, we had another on coming up from Jacobabad. The veracity, the non-callousness, the abrupt abuse of silence and injustice is so rife that a Divine intervention like Ghenghis Khan awaits this nation to be placed in rigorous cleansing mode. The abject absence of leadership and electricity, umm, does that sound familiar..? Perhaps, as Raja sahab isn’t the fit and misfit to run this electric chair.

Bilawal - Walking the trail which others did already

From Pakistan to Zombistan. Where do we head to next..?? Bilawal or Bakhtawar..? Naheed Khan, perhaps your office might re-open again, next to PM’s pretty soon. Start dusting it. The end seems nowhere as Army or Democracy is a circle of nuisance and oblivion infested with system and schemes of corruption. Kiyani gets the extension, while Zardari, Gillani & Co are counting their extended ‘bonus’ time till 2012 or 2013? Again the people’s movement or people altogether have been let to the dogs again.

Retired Army men are singing the tunes which no one wants to listen. Hey Ho! Javed Hashmi lands in Hospital while the Minister of NWFP (yeah its still NWFP for me as Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa doesn’t improve my country men’s economic situation), loses his son to the eternal homeland. Everyone has to end up there, but where does posterity or audacity point our priorities to? IMF and World Bank are another begging bowl while the foreign bank accounts are already brimming but no one to question or be brought to justice.

The Judiciary is treading cautiously; the sensitive issue of misplaced and missing persons is not being taken. Zardari has his cards adeptly placed and dealt to avoid the missing persons to be noticed. Swiss cases or Swiss watches, the Judiciary has to play the sweep deftly but people can’t wait. They grow impatient with the rising temperatures while the rain water drains the electricity from the poles and electrocuted the WAPDA workers but cannot electrocute the Rajas and my Split air conditioner.

While Karachi has the same old 90’s story being re-enacted again. Nobody to take notice with the splash of dozens of media men who have grown their harvest of arrogance and consider themselves invincibles. Hence everyone or anyone searching for survival has to be a part of any cartel or conglomerates. ANP another bunch of living zombies are out there to lose every part of the Railway. The railway tracks have to be declared as national treasures. Linking Afghanistan and India was upto Islamabad and railways was always the good backbone to support such a scheme. Scheme it is as it shall be merrier for a counted 2% ruling elite of the country.

Karachi - Festering grounds of easy money, and blood

The Army given the carrot, while the public still kept under open arrest with dearth of issues of electricity, gas, power, flour, mango issue (perhaps could be stocked as Ramazan is approaching but mangoes need larger cold storages for which separate rental power plants would be needed to be installed in Gilgit or they get overheated and noticed.), sugar cane issue, police caning issue, education problem, infrastucture problem. Any remaining percentage of people who deceive or escape the above doctored calamities, are then fed efficiently as fodder to the suicide bombers. Americans get bombed on the other side, while anti-Americans on this side. Either the police should be replaced by Afghan refugees or Pakistani nation should get a new name for itself – United States of Pakistan (USP or USB – United States of Buffer Zone..??)

The nation is in a turmoil instead, although the children are on vacations, the roads would have been then. No economic policy seems to be fit or be introduced. The ruling elite counts its days and Bilawal wants to jump leagues of miles on his birthdays to see himself as the (Lord Forbid) PM. Well, Bilawal, remember Mujeeb ur Rehman?? He had his daughter studying then before being shot. So you should leave some Bhutto (or Zardari) legacy back in the UK.

Imran Khan - The unscathed option?

Imran Khan has been dealing, without deliberate notice, with the national status-quo but media are wary of his approach and vision. The youth of Pakistan side with him but nonetheless, the projection is missing. The team is there under the feathers of Khan but then again a great uprising or uprooting has to be either staged or else expect a comeback. But opium drained or opium injected nation is in deep slumber. A push, what push is needed. Imran are you upto the task? Your connect is just missing. You aren’t media’s favourite child. Although Dr. Shahid Masood covered you comprehensively and majority of anchors favour you but then again the spark seems missing. Either sit down with the top echelons of your party and brainstorm where things need repairing and listening. PP160 was a feat but what next? Where are we heading down to?

Shouldn’t you consider a mindset counselling of the JI first. The jawaans and the youth of JI are organised, charged and theologically attached to your concept and vision. We need serious regrouping. Going solo is brave but for how long. We need an army of civilians to take responsibility and control. Only and only attitude change can bring a major shift in the politics of Pakistan. Reach them to their very attitudes and address them. Regroup the youth in their localities to take care of everything. Make them see their localities not only growing but peaceful and much more cleaner. Our blunderous votes have limited the retarted and discarded class to Islamabad enclave. That is their reach, not further. Let’s forget them but also our localities and societies cannot be left to such hounds. Expecting beasts to milk the sheep? Is it? We need a social pilot project.

Imran, people hear you but want to see you too.

NADIA KHAN SHOW – SIMPLY SLOPPY

Nadia Khan - Pinnacle of Live but Stupid Dancing

Dear Nadia,

It’s good to see you as a Brand. But what is the benefit to the watchers..??

Following is a summary which I’m sure will not be read and broadcasted; but it’s good to suggest which would be constructive.

• Firstly, your program is so unproductive. For almost 2 and a half hours, we don’t get to learn or be aware of something important. And yes, dancing or singing or Happy 2 You isn’t a productive informative part.
• Most of the people who are invited don’t reflect the direct issues of Pakistan. Media and dancers and music makers aren’t our direct and noble culture and representation. Musicians, drummers and guitarists are only important in one corner of any event or marriage and nobody gives the importance that your programme seems to give.
• The dancing and music part of your programme is just another pain in the neck and unbearable. If you remember, you invited Syed Mustafa Kamal and you couldn’t actually pull up your act of being entertaining. It seems, music means more to your survival rather than the program’s.
• And look at your sets, its just sloppy, heavy, expensive and just dominating everywhere. The colour scheme is such gothic and pessimistic that it cannot be imagined to be near decent. Waste of money and time.
• And a definite show failure is HAPPY 2 YOU part. Is it really important to dance to your tunes while someone is being greeted by his / her own sibling living with them; they could greet the birthdays to them without going through your show..? They can manage that, but you should arrange and introduce something more useful. Suggestions are coming through in the next part of this mail, provided you are still patient and surviving till this part to take this much criticism.

Suggestions –

• Invite people from intellectual / productive circles;
o professors,
o business intellects,
o sportsmen,
o SMB business leads,
o innovators and inventors,
o School / University students,
o deserving patients / doctors / achievers,
o deprived but educated class,
o Freedom Fighters,
o retired Army men,
o Historians,
o IT heads who accomplished much in Pakistan and abroad,
o Business and Civic planners,
o Writers,
o Bloggers,
o Columnists (you haven’t invited greats like Haroon Rasheed, Hassan Nisar, Javed Chaudhary, Raoof Klaasra, Munnu Bhai, Abdul Qadir Hassan, Zaid Hamid and many more),
o Artists (not dancing artists please..!!!),
o Teachers,
o Technically Skilled greats,
o Idea hunters,
o Head Hunters,
o Networkers,
o Professionals,
o less than ordinary people who are often ignored by us and specially by your programme,
o Policemen who struggle to make ends meet,
o degraded class of our society,
o Honest Leaders like Imran Khan (although he was there but more and more is needed)
o Brain stormers
o Creative teams and groups
• Sayings about greats like Saadi, Iqbal, Rumi, Oscar Wilde, Robert Kiyosaki, Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Quaid, Syed Ahmed Shaheed, Tarek Bin Ziad, Hazrat Ali (Razi Alla Taála Anhu), Hazrat Omer (Razi Allah Taála Anhu) should be published and discussed. There is so much to discuss and think about but you just stick to movies, songs, dance competitions. GROW UP..!!! Your idea isn’t selling enough..!!
• Topics which need special treatment and larger than life attention and coverage would be
o Civic and Infrastructure repair emergency – Ideas should be suggested and discussed. A new movie cannot feed a single needy. While an idea cannot be stopped, armies can be.
o Educational emergency – the utmost important topic which no channel is so brave enough to take up.
o Business Emergency – markets which are open to Pakistan should be brought to light. Products which are still not in focus should be introduced. Small markets and products which can be regulated should be shown to the public. Your programme is just a fodder to the already gossiping women of our society. Time free and gossiping women in our society are just another waste and menace to the male circles. Conspiracy most of the time comes in from the Feminine circles. Keep them busy.
o Image Emergency – what kind of image is being projected for Pakistan..?? Have we ever thought how a Pakistani conducts himself / herself in the foreign countries…? what steps would be appropriate to re-order the population on one stead. How they should wear, walk and deal in the Public Relations area.
o Unexplored Industries – Children and youth have to be channelled through newer industries. Your programme seems to project that ONLY and ONLY MEDIA is the only remaining industry in Pakistan which can survive.
o Job hunt industry / portal – many Pakistanis are searching for jobs in and around Pakistan. Create awareness in Pakistanis that the other Pakistani wouldn’t be scouring and hunting other Pakistani’s job. This is common but sick mindset in our culture.
Our duty was to bring our opinion and suggestions to your notice. But you tend to be paid by those who might not stand this CHANGE AGENT voice to be effective.

We can’t pay you and its not necessary to listen our voice too. But we don’t want any more nuisance, please..!!

(This was in response to yesterday’s (22.JUNE.2010) broadcast of Nadeem Ahmed Saify’s interview. The whole content of it was so unrelated and illogical.)

Afghanistan sitting on a gold mine

The USGS estimates there are about 700 billion cubic metres of gas and 300 million tonnes of oil across several northern provinces.

KABUL — Afghanistan is sitting on a wealth of mineral reserves — perhaps the richest in the region — that offer hope for a country mired in poverty after decades of war, the mining minister says.

Significant deposits of copper, iron, gold, oil and gas, and coal — as well as precious gems such as emeralds and rubies — are largely untapped and still being mapped, Mohammad Ibrahim Adel told AFP.

And they promise prosperity for one of the world’s poorest countries, the minister said, dismissing concerns that a Taliban-led insurgency may thwart efforts to unearth this treasure.

Already in the pipeline is the exploitation of a massive copper deposit — one of the biggest in the world — about 30 kilometres (20 miles) east of Kabul.

“There has not been such a big project in the history of Afghanistan,” Adel said.

A 30-year lease for the Aynak copper mine was in November offered to the China Metallurgical Group Corporation and the contract is being finalised.

“It is estimated that the Aynak deposit has more than 11 million tonnes (of copper),” he said, citing 1960s surveys by the Soviet Union and a new study by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

“With today’s prices, it contains an 88-billion-dollar deposit,” he said.

The mine is expected to bring the government 400 million dollars annually in fees and taxes, Adel said.

That is on top of an 800-million-dollar downpayment from the developer who has also committed to build a railway line, a power plant and a village for workers, complete with schools, clinics and roads.

About 5,000 jobs will be created and mining is expected to start in five years. “Up to 40 percent of the income will pour into our pockets,” Adel said.

The colossal Aynak project represents, however, only a fraction of Afghanistan’s unexploited resources, he said. The scale of the deposits is still being charted.

The USGS is carrying out a nationwide survey of mineral wealth and oil and gas deposits that is expected to be completed in a year, Adel said.

Studies of only 10 percent of the country have discovered abundant deposits of copper, iron, zinc, lead, gold, silver, gems, salt, marble and coal, the ministry says.

The USGS estimates there are about 700 billion cubic metres of gas and 300 million tonnes of oil across several northern provinces.

A Soviet survey estimated there are more than two billion tonnes of iron reserves, the ministry says.

One of the best known iron deposits is at Haji Gak, 90 kilometres west of Kabul.

“If everything goes as we desire, Haji Gak requires two to three billion dollars’ investment,” said the minister.

“Another 100 million to 1.5 billion dollars is needed to explore the gas and oil mines.”

The government plans to offer more projects for private sector tender next year, Adel said.

There is already some mining underway such as ad hoc emerald extraction in the Panjshir valley region northeast of Kabul, where dynamite is used to blow gems out of the ground.

And the ministry has handed two coal mines to private Afghan companies, although they lack standard equipment.

The site for the mine at Aynak, 60 km southeast of Kabul contains the world’s second-biggest unexploited copper deposit with the potential to generate revenue of $1.4 billion a year. Of greatest danger is the threat of toxic waste which has led to environmental damage around copper mines in several countries.
Reuters, Dec.12, 2007

The Aynak contract will be a model for others, with developers expected to put in basic infrastructure as Afghanistan’s power grid is weak and its transport network limited.

There is also the challenge of the insurgency, which overshadows development and has made many areas off-limits to foreign companies.

Writer and analyst Waheed Mujda warned there could be no mining in Taliban-held areas, which are mostly in the south, without the permission of the Islamic extremists.

“Any kind of agreement with Taliban will have to involve money and that money obviously would finance the insurgency in part,” Mujda told AFP.

But Adel is not concerned. “We can provide security for mining sites simply by hiring a private security company,” he said.

Most of the deposits that have been discovered are in the relatively stable north. There are, however, uranium reserves in the southern province of Helmand, one of the worst for Taliban attacks, the minister said.

The minister’s sights are firmly set on mining bringing his impoverished country a brighter future.

“In five years’ time Afghanistan will not need the world’s aid money,” he said. “In 10 years Afghanistan will be the richest country in the region.”

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iFrOtnNs42obPsi8ul_AHEXmOGzQ

With Thanks to
Kindest Regards
Hassan Saleemi
External Relations & Media Manager
City Muslims
Mobile: 07956 574066
Landline (evenings): 0208 1234264
Hassan.Saleemi@CityMuslims.org
http://www.cityMuslims.org

Kindest Regards
Hassan Saleemi
Landline (before 2pm UK time): +44/0 208 1234264
SMS Text: +44/0 7956 574066
External Relations & Media Manager
City Muslims
Hassan.Saleemi@CityMuslims.org
http://www.cityMuslims.org

The Boon, The Bane, The Tali-bane

What a lifestyle. This piece of writing is influenced after viewing a not so earlier watched video clip of how Tali-bane have slaughtered numerous people whom ‘they’ or their esteemed and advanced ‘intellect’ deemed as spies, spying for Allied forces.

But have they ever thought why would one risk his / her life to spy for someone who carries a spotless record of being brutal and ruthless and that if compared with Gitmoz, wouldn’t even come near down to it? The latter seems civil then.
Economic disparity which even the Tali-bane seemed never to have given a thought ever and wouldn’t even ever like Ghenghiz Khan and his ilk.

Had this been the Islam 1400 years back, it would have vanished right after the demise of the Messenger (Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam) and wouldn’t have crossed the twin Holy cities. But where do they get the logic to interpret what they have left practically centuries back and re-incarnating what is just a merely enough to be labeled as Muslims? Where is the justification, without appropriate backup of knowledge and research, to carry out a decree such as this? So inhumane and barbaric, reminds of the stone age.
The intellectual development is absent in the Muslim world. Period. And there is no sign of it being revived. Also it’s highly politicized. And with the population explosion, what we have are herds of sheep which don’t think, but this time these sheep have claws and jaws, a serious mutilation of genetics of the Zombie class.

Rule is not to spread hatred and bigotry flowing from the pen, but this piece is indeed aimed at doing it. Such a class is thriving between us deserves to be ignored socially and left to implode. The self-professed and mastered theology has beaten all odds and likes of savageness.
There are plentiful videos to see and witness it by one.

A note to Tali-bane
Either you are demented (which you say brainwashed); as you’re easy to be and vulnerable; you oppose education and consequently ravage the fraternity of the society. You are unwelcome and unclean in your intent. Illiteracy and sick mentality is your forte. We as educated class reject your concept of religion. This isn’t by the way.
With this state of your mind which is worth research again like the Pharoahs of Egypt, no Virgin of Heaven would dare betroth you; rather would opt for a mass suicide. Do you also know that you need a nationality to cross into Heavens? Rules have changed up there too; the passports explicitly mention, all countries except for Tali-bane. You exist as Hell’s reject.

Also if you find this demeaning to your stature, kindly arrange for a discourse, not execution at the moment and send educated members, if you have managed some within your ranks. Otherwise don’t bother as the rest of the work to eliminate you has already started and your history wouldn’t be carried ahead as legacy but rather diminished under the weight of the pen which you don’t accept to infuse it within you, although that is the first word ordained by your Lord in your Book.

Iftikhar Choudhary – Individual still or Institution

Heralding the release of Choudhary Iftikhar; one is prone to think whether the current corruption-riddled society and system would digest him, when its convoluted state couldn’t handle the birth pangs of justice and had to throw up on November 9th? Wary does it sound and it is. But the quandary is to be shared with all and sundry. The maximum risk one could envisage is the Political camps; the army has decided to call it off, after grueling 8 years though sparsely productive financially in remittances and American aid to keep the inflated balloon intact and braving dissent in the recent years, the hegemony at the top are thinking wisely; the army knows the exit route to save face.

What if politicians don’t deliver again this time? Odds are high though; and the political past is nothing to be proud of. Media matured, public even more. Politicians have started to feel the heat. Fluke or fumble and public outpour is not going to spare anyone. 8 years of tremendous patience and paltry values in the foreign representation and stature, public is hurt and wounded. Adding insult to injury with rising and spiralling inflation and unemployment with imposed ‘terrorism’ from which the whole world seems innocuous and unprepared and unheard about but Pakistan is the focal and favourite spot for the ‘terrorists’ to play and practice with not-for-children-below-3-years-of-age toys.

Alas, the public has been given a voice to speak and delinquently they are vehemently using it, irking the Government every now and then. The very voice rung the highest walls of conspiracies that Richard Boucher seems to be going empty handed whilst trying to convince Nawaz Sharif to aid the American cause in Afghanistan.

Does this mean, the story of Afghanistan is nearing an end. Karzai is to meet Shaukat in London and play golf and their wives sip tea? Too early to say.

While Musharraf seems to be going the brave way of seeing things happening not his way, though, but accepting it is commendable equally. With the king’s party counting its lost card and gritting by sitting in opposition, the game is far from over. Unapparent is still the policy the new political facade is to follow. Pakistani Nation is prone to short memory, a 5 year plan and target should be memorized and spoon fed. Current years plans? Economic recovery, educational reforms, Judiciary and what not. The whole field lays bare but inundated by wild fires and mushrooms. Tread cautiously, ravines on either sides don’t allow faltering feet a second chance.