Gwadar, Can we handle it?

Asalaamu-Alykum

With Gwadar port almost ready, and it's anticipated that first ship will anchor there on March 15(1), Pakistan is set to embark upon another journey. A journey that many believe will bring good fortunes, and success to Pakistan, but when I see Gwadar, I see a totally different story. I not only sees promises of success that control of Straits of Hormuz will bring our beloved nation, but I also see it as a mishap just waiting to happen.

Gaining control of such a popular route of trade, through which 40% of the world oil is transported(2) will give Pakistan a a great deal of power, and, with great power comes great responsibility. Even more important than that great responsibility is the enemies that we can make or have made.

These "enemies" or should I say enemy, is India, Same India that broke Pakistan in 1971 under similar conditions. East Pakistan was contributing a lot of resources to federal government but was deprived of proper royalties. India silently ignited the instability which led to the breaking of Pakistan and the birth of Bangladesh.

Now India are starting a similar outburst of instability in Baluchistan, the outcry from the Baluchi public brings backs the memories of the tragic events of 1971. It is the same struggle just 40 years later and in the opposite corner of Pakistan. Indian Military has already been expressing concerns over consequences that Gwadar port can have o India, Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Indian Naval chief said "Gwadar, being bulit in Baluchistan coast, would enable Pakistan take control over the world energy jugular and interdiction of Indian tankers"

This time around India not only has the local political instability, but also a constant threat from vulnerability of the security situation in Pakistan. Theoretically speaking It would not be hard for India (assuming they already haven't done so) to hire suicide bombers to threaten the success of ports or the web of highways and railroads that will accompany the port.

In order to make sure Gwadar is big of a success that Pakistan wants it to be, Pakistan needs to settle the disputes of the Baluchi people as soon as possible. Another thing that is mandatory is the security of the ports and the areas surrounding the port, to make sure that the events that took place in Karachi during the 80s do not repeat.


Abu Abdullah,
The Doctor of Truth

1.http://www.pakistantimes.net/2008/02/27/top16.htm
2.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6729371.stm
3.http://www.countercurrents.org/ghazali080208.htm

Jinnah House

salaamu-Alykum,


A white mansion in mumbai, where the founder of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Quaid-E-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah lived, worth by some estimated around USD 15 million, has been in the news for quite some time now. Pakistan, India and Jinnah's dosowned daughter Dina Wadia has claimed it.

Dina Wadia, who wants this property for herself has filed claims for the house which Indian government has rejected citing that Muhammad Ali Jinnah clearly willed the house to his sister Fatima Jinnah, Who died in 1967 and she did not have any children.

Pakistan, who has also claimed the Jinnah House for sentimental purposes, want the house so that it can be turned into a consulate. Jinnah after the partition became the Governer General of Pakistan and left the mansion. After leaving the mansion he requested that his house be turned into a consulate, since he passed away only about a year after the partition he deal was never finalized .

India, who claims that the property belonged to Fatima Jinnah, and since she passed away in 1963 and did not leave a living will the house is considered abandoned and becomes property of the government.

Jinah also in his will states that if upon his sister death she did not have any children then his estate will be split between Alighar (sic) University, Islamic College in Peshawar and the Sindh Madressa in Karachi, All these facts in mind the solution to this generation old problem is that I believe will make all happy, all except for Quaid's disowned daughter. I think the house should be turned into a Pakistani Consulate and Pakistan should pay a rent that should be split between Alighar (sic) University, Islamic College in Peshawar and the Sindh Madressa in Karachi evenly or If Pakistan prefers to buy the place then they must pay a fair market value for the house and the revenue should be split between the universities too. India turning the house over to Pakistan will open new gates of friendship between the two nations, and as for Dina who left her father for Neville Wadia, and was disowned by her father should not be given his house that he loved so much.

Abu Abdullah,
The Doctor of Truth

Pakistani economy Compare, Contrast and Analyze.

Asalaamu-Alykum,


I was recently wondering about Pakistan's Economy, so I decided to do a little research and I found some completely obvious and some utterly amazing answers.

Starting out with probably the least surprising is Pakistan's GDP per Capita, which sits at around $2600.00 per person as opposed to India's $3800(~150% of Pakistan's) or U.S.A. $44,000(~1700% of Pakistan's). But surprisingly India's GDP is not only 1.5 fold that of Pakistan but it is also growing at rate that is 139% of Pakistan. Pakistan GDP is growing at about 6.6% while India which is already ahead, is zooming at the rate of 9.2%. Not only India has achieved a greater economic success but it is en route to achieve some more. While America's GDP has reached near saturation and is growing at a mere rate of 3.2%

Another surprising fact is that Pakistan has a lower unemployment rate and poverty rate than India. India's unemployment rate is 7.8% while Pakistan is slightly behind at 6.5%. India has 25% of its population below poverty line while Pakistan has slightly less at 24%. Another major difference is the gini index(measure income inequality) of Pakistan is 41% while India is 32.5%. It means that there is a higher difference between income classes in Pakistan than in India. Pakistan has more rich-poor gradient than India.

Looking at all this you are probably wondering is that a solution to all this, Can Pakistan's Economy ever blossom? Well, the answer is always yes, but How? First of all Pakistan need increase it GDP growth rate, which can be accomplished by one of two ways. First Pakistan needs to increase exports and increase the income from outsourcing. The west has recently gotten a recent urge to outsource it programming and customer service contracts. India took a huge advantage of that and has made a lot of money from it while Pakistan is yet take advantage of it, primarily because India has a literacy rate of 61% while Pakistan only 50% that means India had more educated, English-speaking and unemployed people that Pakistan. But If Pakistan had a lower literacy rate than India therefore it must have a higher labor force, and since Pakistan has a higher gini index means there are a lot of rich people in Pakistan. Rich people+Poor labor force=Factories-->Jobs-->Exportable Goods-->Pakistan Success, Simple equation, basically rich gets richer, the poor get rich.

How do we get these Lazy and Rich people to make factories, simple TAX, if they have money that is not being used, they have to pay luxury-tax on it, any reasonable person will invest his money to make more money rather than give it away.


Abu Abdullah,
The Doctor of Truth

*All facts came from the CIA website.

Bollywood premier's in Pakistan

Asalaamu-Alykum,


A few months ago President General Pervez Musharraf, lifted the 41 year ban on Indian movies in Pakistan by allowing the premier of the Mughal-E-Azam to be held in Pakistan. The move itself can the center of a controversy, but if he chose to send a message of peace to India by allowing the release of Indian films in Pakistan He could've done it more productively.

Musharraf should've have allowed the Bollywood to release their film in Pakistan and also should've allowed them to shoot some of their films in Pakistan, but conditionally. he should've chosen the conditions wisely enough that Bollywood still would've been interested in released the films in Pakistan as well as the Government of Pakistan along with the film industry of Pakistan would've have benefited from it in great deal.




How could the Government of Pakistan would've benefited from the release of the Indian movies in Pakistan? The answer is a simple three letter word, TAX. Musharraf should've taxed the revenue, not profited, but revenue that Bollywood is going to make is Pakistan. As this way they could've added other expenses later on and have had no effect on the amount of tax they would've received in Pakistan. Tax amount can be as high 50% and Bollywood still have agreed to it. This additional money would've been a Major help to economy of Pakistan, a piece of the World's biggest film industry can mean new roads, more electricity, better food and permanent housing for our beloved Pakistanis that were devastated by the earthquake.

How could Lollywood, the Pakistani film industry have benefited from the lifting of the ban? Well all they had to do was to say that films shot at least 60% in Pakistan would've been received a tax deduction of 30% so if the original Tax was 50% now it's only 35% and any movies shot in Pakistan must involve the local directors, cameramen & etc. Now that is a Win-Win situation. Our film industry get experience, money, credit and advertisement so soon our own Film industry can start competing with them and yielding more profit, and then you can ease up on the taxes and restrictions.

Abu Abdullah,
The Doctor of Truth