Twenty Thirteen!

This post is dedicated to a very dear friend, Zehra!

So the 2013 is about to end; more interested in reviewing the year that was than focusing on the year that will be!

A great year in terms of learning. My 25 years of learning equals the learning I had in last 12 months; both personally and professionally. There were ups and downs. The 2013 elections and all the hype around it was something extremely special - I guess every single person I know particularly my friends from university (IoBM) will remember it all their lives.

This year will always be an important one for me as it changed my perception about friends and friendship. I have realized the importance of friends a lot more then I used to in past. I stopped focusing on friends/people who moved on with their lives and don't care much about me. Most importantly, I have realized that time is limited for all of us - we cannot afford to waste by holding grudges for each other.

While there were many great happenings in 2013 for me, the most disturbing and unfortunate event took place in the August of twenty-thirteen when I received a text message of Zehra's dad that she expired due to thalassemia. It was devastating for all us friends as nobody knew about her illness.

It is difficult to understand Zehra, we were certainly not the best friends, at times we didn't speak for months; because she dropped university after two semesters - it wasn't that frequent with Zehra like it was with other friends. But for some reason she never rejected any of my invitations - be it iftar scene, my cousin's mehndi and wedding or wedding of another frd's brother. I never saw her depressed. I never saw her in misery. We conveniently joked with her all the time - sometimes getting carried away too; however, she always took it in the right spirit and always laughed along us.

The reason behind her fun-loving personality was that she knew her time was limited and she couldn't afford to waste it by holding grudges or turning down invitations for the times we left her out. Whenever, she had the opportunity - she grabbed it with both hands to have quality time with her friends. There was no ego - no attitude - no hard feelings; the only thing she had was her cute chubby smile which still lives in our hearts.

At times it is difficult to determine who's really lucky? Zehra, for she knew that her time was limited and hence, managed it wisely and nicely or US-taking everything for granted; weighing our ego over our friends.

Before I started writing this post there was no intention of discussing everything in detail and year twenty-thirteen was not only about this one thing but perhaps it has superseded all other events. Certainly, there were some very good times including my most beloved sister's engagement and my parents performing Hajj.

Life moves on and we keep moving ourselves forward but it is important not letting go things we love especially our friends and family.

Stay blessed everyone! Happy new year! 

The corporate looters! WARID TELECOM

Sometimes I feel all corrupt, thieves and looters from all over the world have came down and settled here, making my country an uglier place to live.

The sad part is everyone is looting in their own way. One of them has guns and they go on streets, put gun on victim’s head and take away everything they have. The other flicks away money when nobody is noticing. Then there are few, who spend millions of rupees feeding corrupt politicians hoping that someday they would come into power and will multiply their initial investment by hundreds of times.

I have been a victim too. One of the leading telecom companies by the name of Warid Telecom is busy cheating and looting money from its so-called ‘valued’ customers. I have been using the network for over 9 years now and I have never made any deferment in payments. My payment record has always been a decent one. Around 8 months back I switched my plan from prepaid to postpaid.

Things were well; I had no trouble with Warid until this month, when I was charged with an amount much higher to my credit limit.

I am using Warid 250 postpaid package plan and as per the policy I am assigned a credit limit of Rs. 1,500. Exceeding this amount means temporary disconnection of my plan. Until this month I regularly received Warid’s notification on 70% usage (amount exceeding PKR. 1050) and 90% usage (amount exceeding PKR. 1350).

On 8^th November without any prior intimation my connection was disconnected. As per routine, without inquiring about my bill I paid PKR 1500 through my ATM. Despite prompt payment, my connection remained blocked and upon inquiring I was told that my payable amount was PKR. 4000 and as I have made a payment of PKR 1500, the amount outstanding is PKR 2500.

I will cut the long story short; during past 10 days I presented my case on every forum – their helpline, their facebook page, their customer service center and also e-mailing @ postpaidsupport@waridtel.com. Much to my aggravation, they all agreed that I am being victimized and it is because of their system error that my connection wasn’t disconnected at reaching credit limit BUT there is nothing they could do. They don’t have authority and ultimately I have to pay the amount.

Unfortunately, in our country the rule is simple, “the bigger the criminal – the better will be served”. I would hate to make this payment to Warid BUT to my misfortune, I cannot afford to change my number. Firstly, I don’t want to have any default payments to my name regardless of the reasons. Secondly, I am using it for more than 9 years, everyone in my circle has this number and it would be a big hassle for me to redistribute my new number. After a lot of consideration, I have decided to make the payment but soon I will be switching to a much better network.

The supervisor at Service Center (Sharah-e-Faisal) informed me that I am not the only one who is being charged like this; and this is the reason why I am sharing with this post. I am also attaching few cuttings from my itemized bill to bolster my argument.

Ironically, the credit limit is PKR 1,500 and I am charged PKR 4,004.48.

P.S. I was using my calling service, text messaging, edge and other value added services with the impression in mind that I won’t be charged more than PKR. 1,500

I have been charged for using GPRS (I had 1gb package activated) and its record hasn’t been shown to me. Not that I disagree the usage but I was under impression that I have not crossed my assigned limit.

The twenty rupees mafia!!

Mafia(s) everywhere! But the question is which is the most dangerous one? Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know. We are aware of certain mafia(s) and so do we know how to stay away or tackle them. There are mafia(s) we try to stay away from, such as the drug mafia; then, there are certain mafia(s) we know how to tackle or take care of, the beggars mafia; finally, there are certain mafia(s) we hope and pray we are never encountered with, the terrorist mafia and likewise. But there is also a fourth type of mafia and probably the most dangerous one, they remain silent, they are accepted by general public and they are not perceived as mafia.

One such mafia can be found on every busy road of Karachi; be it Saddar, Tariq Road, Bahadurabad, Clifton or any other road. I call them - The Twenty Rupees Mafia also known as charged car parking. Of late, I tried a bit to investigate if they actually come under any authority? On paper maybe, but in reality not! Where are my twenty rupees going? Why should I pay them? Are they being used by city administration for developmental purposes? Few of my unanswered questions. In most cases, they don't carry a parking slip book either. 

Who will stop them? How much on an average a person pays on parking slips? 

All friends looking around for a tax free income - become a part of twenty rupees mafia!! 

PML(N) ki Metro Bus ki Siyasat aur Intikhabi Muhim

Already rated favorite by many analysts, PMLN finally started their Intikhabi Muhim (electoral campaign) today from Mansehra. By all means, the Jalsa was a big hit with a large number of supporters waving PMLN's flag and chanting Nawaz Sharif - Nawaz Sharif. 

Kicking off his campaign with a little bit of drama when Nawaz Sharif asked his karkuns (workers) to remove the bullet proof glass from podium. My instant question to that was why is it there in the first place? Anyways, such gimmicks are played everywhere in the world so its really not a big concern. In his 30 mins speech Sharif talked mostly about motorways, metrobuses and expressways. What we did in the past and if given chance we'll do it in future. Surprisingly, he had nothing much to say except the ease of transportation he created in Lahore and in Punjab. 

Metro bus is like an Indian mega hit movie, released just before the end of the season, that sweeps all the major awards. I believe his entire intikhabi muhim will largely bank on this one particular project. Certainly, the former govt. of Punjab is all prepared to take full advantage of people's ignorance and unawareness toward many facts against metro bus. 

I will abide by the figures stated by former CM Punjab Shahbaz Sharif on the spending of Metro bus system which they claim to be PKR 30 billion; very proud on their achievement, time and again, Mian Sahab & his men have stated that it is an ideal project as it has been very successful in Turkey. Mian Sahab reminds me of Abraham Lincoln's famous quote: "You can fool some of the people all the time, and all the people some of the time, but you can not fool all the people all of the time".

Khadim-e-Aala do talk about how big success this project has been in Turkey but never mentioned its ground realities. The most eminent of all is that Turkey can afford it; they can even afford to launch a train that travels 2000 ft above the ground. Here is a slight comparison of my own:

Per Capita Income (PPP):

• Turkey - US$ 14,700; ranked 86 out of 226 countries
• Pakistan - US$ 2,800; ranked 173 out of 220 countries 

Health Expenditure: (% of GDP)

• Turkey - 6.7%; ranked 88 out of 188 countries
• Pakistan - 2.6%; ranked 181 out of 188 countries

Literacy:

• Turkey - 87.4%; ranked 132 out of 205 countries
• Pakistan - 54.9%; ranked 189 out of 205 countries

Industrial Production Growth Rate:

• Turkey - 9.2%; ranked 17 out of 164 countries
• Pakistan - 3%; ranked 99 out of 164 countries

After looking at the above indices, I feel embarrassed to have a luxurious Metro bus system in my country. Furthermore, there was no talk about the running cost of Metro system, according to an estimate, the Metro Bus System will incur minimum of PKR 1 billion annually. Personally, I believe cannibalization rate would be so high that it would hardly minimize any traffic. 75% of the population in Lahore uses private transportation and unfortunately I don't think we will see any substantial decline in this rate. The target market of Metro Bus system will be by and large the labor class which previously used the public transportation. So if 30 billion rupees were spent on transportation plus an additional billion every year that would ultimately bring no improvement in traffic system and only giving relief to few hundred travelers; I think its insane. 

Mian bradaran ruled 205,344km of Punjab with the population of 91.3 million people but unfortunately their entire siyasat and intikhabi muhim is based on the 27km and few thousand people of Lahore. And now that Mian Sahab has announced few more Metro bus system in Mansehra, Karachi and probably everywhere he will go; I can only pray to lord that "Dear Allah! Please save us from Metro bus service"! 

Other note able facts:

• Approximately 50% of Punjab infrastructure development budget is spent on the 27km long Metro bus service. This doesn't include any other bridge, underpass or roadways built in Lahore. 
• The annual budget did not include any plan for Metro bus service. Most of his projects were never discussed in assembly and were largely based on unilateral decision making. 
• Approximately 20% of Punjab's educational budget was spent on Free Laptop Scheme.
• Sasti roti scheme was scrapped after bank default of PKR 7.8 billion.
• Punjab govt only financed 12% of their expenditures through provincial tax revenues. They heavily relied on federal transfers.

References:

• http://www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?t=0&v=39&l=en
• http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/16050/the-economics-behind-the-lahore-metro-bus-service/
• http://www.saach.tv/2013/02/10/please-dont-solve-our-transport-problem-in-this-way/

My sorry Pakistanis

On Monday morning, millions of Pakistanis felt so proud when for the first time Pakistani film maker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy won the 'Oscar for best documentary' for her film "Saving Face". My facebook and twitter feeds were full of people praising Sharmeen and how she made all of us so much proud; for some it was a dream come true. 

To be very honest, my first question was "Who is Sharmeen Obaid and why did she win the Oscar?". So I asked couple of my online friends who recently updated their status about her and how proud they felt. Funny story, 90-92% of them had no idea about Sharmeen and the only reason they felt so proud was due to the fact a Pakistani filmmaker won the Oscar. 

My next question to all the readers is that how many of you had seen 'Saving Face' before the movie won the Oscar? And what if Sharmeen had won just Lux Style Award for this movie and nothing else? 

Honestly, I feel terrible and extremely sorry for Pakistanis; how complex nation are we? To feel proud or to appreciate any Pakistani's good work - we need an American label to it. Nobody would have been bothered about Sharmeen or Acid Attacks had Oscar jury ignored the Pakistani film maker. 

Not a single person is proud on her talent; but people are going bizarre on her achievements. Criticize American aid, criticize American policies, criticize American attacks, criticize all the favors our government is taking to kill our own people; but love, respect and appreciate OSCAR. Is this the reality of an average Pakistani person?

I don't have any issue with Oscars - I know its a great thing. And my best wishes for Sharmeen and other filmmakers to win more such awards and continue more good work. They are changing the image of Pakistan and there can be no better work than this. But I don't think its something that I am really proud of; I mean how can I be proud of something I haven't seen or I didn't even know it existed in the first place?

I would have been more happy to see this film being released on national televisions, critically acclaimed by Pakistani entertainment industry and creating and leaving an impact in the hearts of millions of Paki viewers before winning the OSCAR.
When Lagaan (Indian movie) was nominated for Oscars; it was a super-duper hit in the home country.

I would hope to see Pakistanis realize how complex are they and try to change themselves. We need to own, love and respect our belongings - and we must not seek for a foreign endorsement to appreciate it.

P.S. I have never considered anyone more Pakistani than myself; so if I say Pakistanis it definitely includes myself. This blog did not intent to hurt anyone's feelings and I hope it will be taken in the right spirit.

Thank you for reading! 

Jinnah, Ideology and Two Nation Theory (Part I)

The saddest story of Pakistan is that every person has their own version of history. From drawing room to television talk shows - you can never get one point of view. Readers, even I have a version of my own and I am sure quite a few people will have reservations with this version as well. I decided to bring 3 disputed topics in the discussion:

• Jinnah - Theocratic or Secular?
• Ideology - Islamic Ideology or Muslim Ideology?         (Part II)
• Two Nation Theory - Relevance and Contribution?    (Part III)

Jinnah 

The founder of the nation is often criticized by many that he was a part of the conspiracy theory against the oneness of Hindustan. They believe in it because they say that Jinnah's words contradicted his actions  - he raised his voice for Islam but never offered prayers in Public. Secular personality calling for Muslim independent state. 

Jinnah never raised voice for Islam - his agenda was the protection of the (secular) rights of Muslims in the South Asia - A big difference in the two. He wasn't very religious and he never pretended to be one. He was an honest and straight forward person. 

Now my argument is that why it is so difficult to digest that a secular person can fight against injustice? Why can't people broaden their vision from religion/secularism to justice and equality? Quaid's war was against social injustice and inequality - from where did his personal believe came in? 

I have never met a person who said that Jinnah was secular but he stood for rights of the Muslims. Either people say that he was very religious and  pious Muslim and thats why he fought for independence OR people say that the division of sub-continent was a conspiracy and Jinnah was the integral part of it. 

The reason why I don't see Jinnah's struggle as theocratic is that only 2 out of the 14 points of Quaid-e-Azam  were supported religious empowerment - rest of them were based on the secular rights for Muslim nation. I find it total non-sense when people criticize  Jinnah's intentions - one should be thankful to him and all the other leaders because of whom we have this beautiful country. 

The next two posts will be the continuation of this blog where I'll share my views on the ideology of Pakistan and the contribution of two nation theory. 

14 Timeless Ways to Live a Happy Life

How we achieve happiness can be different for each one of us. Our passions, expectations, life experiences, and even our personalities all contribute to the level of happiness we experience in our lives. Some find happiness in their careers while others prefer the bliss found in their marriages or other intimate relationship.

No matter how you define happiness for yourself, there are certain universal and time-proven strategies to bring, and sustain, more happiness into your life. The following 14 ways to live a happy life can be adapted and even customized to fit your needs. Over time, these strategies will become positive and life-changing habits that will begin to bring more happiness, joy and peace into your life.

1. Notice What’s Right

Some of us see the glass as being half-full, while others see the glass as half-empty. The next time you are caught in traffic, begin thinking how nice it is to have a few moments to reflect on the day, focus on a problem you have been trying to solve, or brainstorm on your next big idea. The next time you get in the slow line at the grocery store, take the opportunity to pick up a tabloid magazine and do some “guilty pleasure” reading. Take all that life throws out you and reframe it with what’s right about the situation. At the end of the day, you will more content, at peace and happy. Take the time to begin to notice what’s right and see the world change in front of your eyes.

2. Be Grateful

How many times do you say the words “thank you,” in a day? How many times do you hear these same words? If you are doing the first thing, saying the “thank yous,” the latter will naturally happen. Learn to be grateful and you will be open to receive an abundance of joy and happiness.

3. Remember the Kid You Were

Do you remember how to play? I’m not referring to playing a round of golf or a set of tennis. I’m talking about playing like you did when you were a child – a game of tag; leap frog, or street baseball when the bat is a broken broom handle and the bases are the parked cars. One way to find or maintain your happiness is to remember the kid you were and play!

4. Be Kind

There is no question that by merely watching acts of kindness creates a significant elevation in our moods and increases the desire for us to perform good deeds as well. Kindness is indeed contagious and when we make a commitment to be kind to ourselves and to others we can experience new heights of joy, happiness and enthusiasm for our lives.

5. Spend Time with Your Friends

Although an abundant social and romantic life does not itself guarantee joy, it does have a huge impact on our happiness. Learn to spend time with your friends and make the friendships a priority in your life.

6. Savor Every Moment

To be in the moment is to live in the moment. Too often we are thinking ahead or looking ahead to the next event or circumstance in our lives, not appreciating the “here and now.” When we savor every moment, we are savoring the happiness in our lives.

7. Rest

There are times when we need the time to unwind, decompress, or to put it simply, just “to chill.” Life comes at all of us hard and fast. Time, as do the days on the calendar, keeps going forward at its own natural pace, which is not always the pace we would choose. Fatigue, stress and exhaustion may begin to settle in on us faster than we may think, or notice. The best remedy for this is indeed rest.

8. Move!

The expression a “runner’s high” does not infer an addiction, but a feeling or a state of mind – a state of euphoria. There is no question exercise, or any physical exertion, elevates your mood and enhances a more positive attitude as well as fosters better personal self-esteem and confidence. Indeed, one way to increase your happiness is to move!

9. Put on a Happy Face

Sometimes we have to fake it until we make it. I’m not suggesting that we not be honest, real or authentic, but I’m suggesting, sometimes, we just need to put on a happy face and keep moving forward. Researchers claim that smiling and looking like we are happy will indeed make us happier. Studies further show that if we act like we are happy then we can experience greater joy and happiness in our lives.

10. Pursue Your Goals

The absence of goals in our lives, or more specifically avoiding to pursue our goals, makes us feel like we are stuck and ineffective. The pursuit of goals in our personal lives, in our relationships, or with our careers, is the difference between having a mediocre life or a life full of passion and enthusiasm. pursue your goals and watch your happiness soar.

11. Finding Your Calling

Some find meaning in religion or spirituality while others find purpose in their work or relationships. Finding your calling may be much more than accomplishing one simple strategy for increasing your happiness, but having a sense of purpose – of feeling like you are here for a reason – can perhaps bring the greatest joy of all

12. Get into the Flow

Flow is the form of joy, excitement and happiness that occurs when we are so absorbed in an activity we love that we can loose ourselves and time seems to stand still. What creates flow is unique to each one of us. To find and sustain true happiness in our lives, we must get off the sidelines and get into the flow.

13. Play to Your Strengths

One way to achieve flow is by understanding and identifying our strengths and core values, and then begin to use these every day. Once we aware of our strengths and we begin to play to your strengths we can better incorporate them in all aspects of our lives.

14. Don’t Overdo It

Know when to say when. What gives you joy and happiness the first time may not work the second time. Too much of a good thing may begin not to feel as good if the “thing” becomes more of a routine, or an expectation. Set healthy and reasonable boundaries for yourself and don’t overdo it.

This guest article was written by Alex Blackwell. 

I read this article on a website & find it very meaningful. Great article by Alex Blackwell - I hope you guys had a good time reading it. Enjoy =)