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India More Poor Than Africa

Omar Rehman — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 12:40:29 +0000

Eight Indian states account for more poor people than in the 26 poorest African countries combined, a new measure of global poverty has found.
The Indian states, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, have 421 million “poor” people, the study found.
This is more than the 410 million poor in the poorest African countries, it said.
The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) measures a range of “deprivations” at household levels.
Developed by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) with UN support, it will feature in the upcoming UNDP Human Development Report.
The measure assess a number of “deprivations” in households – from education to health to assets and services.
“The MPI is like a high resolution lens which reveals a vivid spectrum of challenges facing the poorest households,” said OPHI director Dr Sabina Alkire. Source

Speech Of A Pakistani Child

Omar Rehman — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 05:51:41 +0000

Sharing a heart touching speed of a Pakistani child. Very confident and presented an important topic very beautifully. Thumb up to the children of Pakistan – The future of Pakistan. Long Live Pakistan.

Hindu Extremists Angry On Sania Mirza – Shoaib Malik Wedding

Omar Rehman — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 05:22:39 +0000

MUMBAI – Hindu extremists have a plan or two up their sleeve for Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik.
The Indian tennis star has decided to marry the ex Pakistan cricket captain and this has not gone down well with Hindu extremists such as Shiv Sena, which has organized protest rallies all over India in which posters and effigies of the bride and groom were set alight.
Though the Sena does not have a good enough presence in Hyderabad it is doing everything possible to make its presence felt on the Day of Sania’s marriage. It is believed that there would be a protest organized by the Sena in conjunction with many other Hindu extremist groups near the hotel where the marriage would take place.
Bal Thackeray is said to be fuming ever since the news of the marriage broke in the media earlier this week.

‘They are attacking us with their terrorists, they are kicking us out of Afghanistan, they are sidelining us at major global summits and conferences, and now they are stealing our women? Is India a land of neuters that she has to go find a man in Pakistan to marry? (India mai kya hijray rehte hain jo woh mard dhoondne Pakistan gaee hai)’, Said Bal Thackeray this morning.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) which is known for its violence against North Indians in the state of Maharashtra has also joined in the chorus.
The MNS is headed by Raj Thackeray, nephew of Bal Thackeray, who had split from the Shiv Sena in 2006.
‘We’ll see how this Pakistani takes our girl. This is an insult and we will not let this happen at any cost’, Raj Thackeray is reported to have said.
It is believed that Sania and her family will be enhancing the security arrangements of the marriage as Shoaib’s family from Pakistan could be targeted.

(Source: Lirpa Phool Chandrasekaran | Exclusive to PKKH)

Impact Of Indian TV Channels Star Plus On Our Children

Omar Rehman — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:39:12 +0000

I want to highlight a very important issue in my post, and I know there are people who realize this but still many don’t realize it yet. The problem that we need to discuss here is The Impact of Indian TV channels, specially Star Plus on our children. There is a large percentage of women and children viewers in Pakistan watching Indian TV channels and dramas at home. These channels and dramas are proving a slow poison for our children. They are destroying their moral character, their faith and innocence. This is the time to realize, revise and remember the reasons that despite living together over thousand year why Muslims and Hindus didn’t merge as one nation. This is the time to remember that we are two separate Nations with different faith, culture, religion and festivals etc. This is the to tell all this to our children before it too late. We don’t have to wait for Government to take an action, we have to start it from our home. Prevent our children and women from watching these unrealistic Indian TV channels.

Ashfaq Ahmed About Pakistan

Omar Rehman — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:51:24 +0000

Ashfaq Ahmed, was a distinguished writer, playwright, broadcaster, intellectual and spiritualist from Pakistan. His prime qualities of heart and hand earned appreciations across the borders. He was regarded by many as the best Urdu Afsana (short-story) writer following the publication of his famous short-story “Gaddarya” (The Shepherd) in 1955.

I am a big fan of Mr. Ashfaq Ahmed and love watching his program “Zavia”. Here are a clip from one of his programs about Pakistan. What a beautiful thinking about Pakistan he has. I totally agree with him and strongly believe in the view presented in this clip by Mr. Ishfaq Ahmed.

The God Gifted Nation – Pakistan

Omar Rehman — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:29:00 +0000

When Pakistan came into existence in 1947, we had nothing. People used twigs instead of pins, etc. Plus we were at war within our first year of independence with our more powerful neighbor (due to unfair division of means and resources, a departing gift from the British) over Kashmir. We had witnessed the highest migration the world has ever seen about million people in that process had been lost. All we had in 1947 was one university, one dysfunctional textile mill, and a brand new nation.
In a short period of over 60 years we have come a long way and will go further. Today we have the 40th biggest economy in the world in terms of GNP. We are recognized the world over and Pakistani Products be it fruits, textiles or engineered goods are known for their good quality. We have earned all this in 60 years and in that duration we have fought three major wars with India. Despite the political instability, we planned and led the Afghan Jihad, crushed the USSR, a super power of its time and broke it into smaller independent states.
Why be proud? Be proud because Pakistan has all the ingredients of being the greatest country on the face of the earth. We have 850 trillion Cubic Feet of coal located in Thar. This is more than the oil of Saudi Arabia and Iran put together which is 375 Billion barrels. The coal is worth 25 trillion USD and only 2% can generate 20, 000 Mega Watts of electricity for 40 years without a single second of load shedding.[1]
In a small place called Riqo Dik near Chagai, we have the 5th largest gold and copper deposit in the world. The surface only has gold worth 60-100 Billion USD.[2] According to Renowned Nuclear Scientist Dr Samar Mubarakmand the worth of Gold and Copper in Pakistan is about 1 trillion USD, while the total debt on Pakistan is 50 Billion USD.[3]
In Jan 30 2009 the senate was informed that Pakistan has 326 million[4] barrels of oil while in June of the same year the Petroleum Ministry stated that Pakistan has 27 Billion Barrels of oil and 280 trillion cubic feet of gas and so far Pakistan has only 3.4% of oil and 19% of gas has been discovered.[5]
Pakistan has the largest irrigation system in the world consisting of river Indus and its tributaries. The total length of the canal system exceeds 58,000 kilometres; there are an additional 1.6 million kilometres of farm and field ditches.[6] Pakistan is the second, fourth, fifth sixth and tenth, largest producer of milk, cotton, sugar, wheat and rice respectively [7][8][9][10][11][12]. All of this is possible because of the complex system of Dams, Barrages which includes the world’s largest dams like Tarbela and Mangla. While Dams like Kalabagh and Daimer-Bhasha will be constructed.[13][14][15][16]
Pakistan is also home to the ninth wonder of the modern world, the Karakoram Highway. It is the highest paved road in the world. We also have the beautiful Makran Coastal Highway. In the 1980’s we were home to the world largest ship breaking Industry located in Gadani.[17][18]
Not only are we blessed with abundant natural resources, the Northern areas of Pakistan also have tremendous and unique natural beauty. Pakistan is home to the five of the top fourteen peaks in the world including K-2 which the second highest in the world.[19] It has beautiful valleys like Naran and Kaghan and hill tops like Murree and Shugran. All this is just the tip of the ice berg. Do not fall in the trap of the Turner-Murdock media; look at Pakistan with your own eyes.
As Zaid Hamid puts it, Pakistan had reached the top in any sport it has played. We won the 1992 Cricket world cup and more recently the 2009 T20 world cup. We have immense records in this game. In Hockey we have won four world cups, three gold medals in Olympics and many other titles. Having the highest titles in squash should make us proud. These are only few of many laurels Pakistan has won in the field of sports.
Pak Armed forces is one institution which single handedly makes all Pakistanis Proud. This institution has been the most solid wall of defence for the Pakistani nation in many wars and against bigger , much stronger adversaries. They not only defended the nation against the soviets but stalled it in Afghanistan. It also produced killer machines like Al-Khalid, JF-17s, UAVs and many other technological break throughs. The list goes on and on. We also contribute the largest number of troops to UN peace keeping mission. Our army has protected fellow Muslims in Bosnia and during the Arab-Israel wars.
To date, the biggest achievement of the Pakistani nation is that we became a nuclear power when the whole world was against us.
In terms of Human Resources the people of Pakistan are unique. We as a nation started with nothing, yet today we have accomplished so much that no other country has. Though many countries which became independent after us have a better economy and defence but we must remember that almost the whole world is against us prospering. The West puts anti-dumping duties and other tariffs against us and we have disadvantage in trade but still look where we stand today. We as a nation have come a long way and has to go even further. Be proud of what this nation has given you and walk with your head held high. Feel honoured that you are a Pakistani.
On a lighter side we have one more thing which distinguishes us form any other country in the word and that is our politicians. We have the most corrupt leaders in the world. A guy known for corruption worldwide gets to be our president. This happens only in Pakistan.

References:

[1] http://seenreport.com/report/2009-08-23-thar-pakistan-coal-reserves/
[2] http://www.insaf.pk/Forum/tabid/53/forumid/40/postid/32272/view/topic/Default.aspx
[3] http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Lahore/03-Jan-2010/Pak-has-gold-reserves-worth-trillions-of-dollars-Samar
[4]http://www.defence.pk/forums/economy-development/20756-pakistan-has-326m-barrels-oil-reserves-senate-informed-2.html
[5] http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/53-blocks-offered-to-exploration-companies-479
[6]http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-9832.html
[7]http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-9832.html
[8]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton
[9]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat
[10]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk
[11]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugarcane
[12]http://internationaltradecommodities.suite101.com/article.cfm/top_rice_producing_countries
[13]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangla_Dam
[14]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamer-Bhasha_dam
[15]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarbela_Dam
[16]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalabagh_Dam
[17]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karakoram_Highway
[18]http://www.pakistaneconomist.com/issue2001/issue17/i&e1.htm
[19]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest_mountains

Source of this beautiful most

India’s Pokhran Nuclear Test – A Failure Claimed Indian Scientist

Omar Rehman — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:34:44 +0000

NEW DELHI: The 1998 Pokhran II nuclear tests might have been far from the success they have been claimed to be. The yield of the thermonuclear explosions was actually much below expectations and the tests were perhaps more a fizzle rather than a big bang.
The controversy over the yield of the tests, previously questioned by foreign agencies, has been given a fresh lease of life with K Santhanam, senior scientist and DRDO representative at Pokhran II, admitting for the first time that the only thermonuclear device tested was a “fizzle”. In nuclear parlance, a test is described as a fizzle when it fails to meet the desired yield.
Santhanam, who was director for 1998 test site preparations, said that the yield for the thermonuclear test, or hydrogen bomb in popular usage, was much lower than what was claimed. Santhanam, who was DRDO’s chief advisor, could well have opened up the debate on whether or not India should sign CTBT as claims that India has all the data required and can manage with simulations is bound to be called into question.
Based upon the seismic measurements and expert opinion from world over, it is clear that the yield in the thermonuclear device test was much lower than what was claimed. I think it is well documented and that is why I assert that India should not rush into signing the CTBT,” said Santhanam.
He emphasized the need for India to conduct more tests to improve its nuclear weapon programme.
The test was said to have yielded 45 kilotons (KT) but was challenged by western experts who said it was not more than 20 KT. Watch video by Time of India.

Moreover, its interesting to know that India only has one tested Missile as far as India’s Missile Technology is concerned

Source

Pakistan a ‘Rising Star’ in Research

Omar Rehman — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:04:06 +0000

Pakistan has been rated a ‘Rising Star’ in research multiple times over the last couple of years by ScienceWatch.com, a Thompson Reuters website which tracks trends and performance in research by analyzing its database of scientific papers and citations. The ‘Rising Star’ rankings are published every two months to acknowledge new entrants, by identifying the scientists, institutions, countries, and journals which have shown the largest percentage increase in total citations. In the May issue of the ratings, Pakistan was named a ‘rising star’ in two areas, ‘Materials Science’ and ‘Plant & Animal Science’. Amongst other countries of the region, Bangladesh was also listed as a rising star in ‘Computer Science’ and ‘Pharmacology & Toxicology’. Iran was named in four categories, and Qatar and UAE in one category each.
This is not the first time that Pakistan has been named in these ratings recently. In fact, Pakistan’s record has been very consistent since
March 2008, the earliest ratings that are available on the website. Here’s a listing of Pakistan’s mention in the ‘rising star’ ratings:

March 2008: Engineering, Mathematics
May 2008: Materials Science
July 2008: Engineering
September 2008: Computer Science, Engineering, Materials Science, Mathematics, Plant and Animal Sciences (5 areas!)
November 2008: Engineering
January 2009: Computer Science
March 2009: Computer Science
May 2009: Materials Science, Plants and Animal Sciences
July 2009: None

Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad, the country’s top university in terms of the number of publications per year, has also been recognized as a ‘rising star’ institution, in Jan 2009 and July 2008 issues, both times in the area of ‘Engineering’.
The ratings are based on the largest percentage increase and not the absolute numbers, and therefore, cannot be used to quantify research productivity in absolute terms. However, they definitely demonstrate the trend of a substantial increase in international publications from Pakistan compared to previous years. It is very healthy that a number of different areas are covered in these past two years, showing an across the board enhancement of research productivity.
While there has been a lot of debate on the effectiveness of HEC’s reforms in higher education, at least one thing is clear: the increased emphasis on research, largely due to HEC’s programs, has started to bear fruit. These are hard numbers here, based on data by the company that maintains the largest scientific citation index in the world, and cannot be easily refuted by the nay-sayers.

Source

Pakistan Provided Evidences Of Raw Involvement In Terrorist Activities

Omar Rehman — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:11:18 +0000

ISI Chief Shuja Pasha has summoned his Indian Counterpart, K C Verma for a meeting through the Indian defense attaché in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
The Indian government has not responded to ISI’s request yet, and is reportedly assessing the implications of a possible meeting carefully.
After the July 16 Sharm el-Sheikh joint statement between India and Pakistan, India fears that Pakistan would use this meeting as a forum to expose Indian connections with two terror leaders and their foreign-funded terror armies: Brahamdagh Bugti and his BLA [Balochistan Liberation Army] and Baitullah Mehsud’sTehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
Pakistan has piles of evidence against Indian consulates in Afghanistan being used to fund terrorism in Pakistan through the TTP as well as the terrorists who claim to be self-styled representatives of Pakistan’s Baloch vast Baloch heritage.
Pakistan’s DAWN reports that a dossier containing proof of India’s involvement in “subversive activities” in Pakistan was handed over by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh during their meeting at Sharm el-Sheikh last week.
The evidence has also been shared with the US and Afghanistan, with Kabul being asked to prevent the use of its territory for disruptive activities against Pakistan.
“Although the information given to India is being kept highly secret, broad outlines of the dossier available with Dawn reveal details of Indian contacts with those involved in attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team and the Manawan police station,” the newspaper said.
“Operatives of RAW who remained in touch with the perpetrators of the attacks have been identified and proof of their interaction has been attached,” it added.
A description of Indian arms and explosives used in the attack on the Sri Lankan team has been made part of the dossier, besides which the names and particulars of the perpetrators, who illegally entered Pakistan from India and joined their accomplices who had reached Lahore from Waziristan, have been mentioned, the report said.
The dossier is also said to list the safe houses being run by RAW in Afghanistan where terrorists are trained and launched for missions in Pakistan.
“The dossier also broadly covers the Indian connection in terror financing in Pakistan.

A substantial part of the shared material deals with the Balochistan insurgency and Indian linkages with the insurgents, particularly Brahamdagh Bugti, Burhan and Sher Khan,” Dawn said.

Photographs of their meetings with Indian operatives are part of the evidence, which also describes Bugti’s visit to India and the meetings he had with Indian secret service personnel, it added.
The dossier also mentions an Indian-funded training camp near Kandahar where terrorists claiming to represent Pakistan’s Balochistan, particularly supporters of politician-turned-terrorist Akbar Bugti, were being trained and provided arms for sabotage activities in the Pakistani province. The elder Bugti was involved in recruiting and sending young Pakistanis from Balochistan to become terrorists against their own homeland.
Dawn quoted its sources as saying that Manmohan Singh had agreed to “look into Pakistani claims” and to take “corrective action” if proven. He is said to have assured Mr. Gilani that India is against interference in other countries and Pakistan’s stability was important for them.
“Yes, these issues were discussed,” Foreign Office spokesperson Abdul Basit said when asked about the meeting.

Pakistan – A Superpower By 2050

Omar Rehman — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:53:58 +0000

Pakistan

Pakistanis are a brave, resilient, and highly intelligent people who, under a strong, determined, and patriotic leadership, can surmount any crisis. Furthermore, there are many reasons that Pakistan could become a global superpower within few decades.
Of course, in the sublime sense, the only superpower is the Almighty Allah. However, in more mundane terms, a superpower can be defined as having the ability to influence events and project power on a worldwide scale. Unfortunately, the traditional definition of a superpower represents a raw and crude psyche that only exacerbates violence, environmental decay, inequality, tyranny, and instability.
We must then redefine “superpower” to emphasize morality, international cooperation, world peace, clean and healthy environment, eradication of poverty, and promotion of equality among nations. Pakistan can take up the challenge under a two-pronged doctrine, namely possessing an effective and successful deterrence against aggression and the will and the means to enhance international cooperation, peace, and prosperity.
The defeatists, uttering doomsday scenarios, will question our proposition. These elements have always infused distress, despondency, and despair among the masses. Pakistan has survived many odds since its birth. To the dismay of its detractors, Pakistan has achieved a reasonable degree of self-sufficiency in food and other essential commodities. The poverty level has declined to 25%, while wealth distribution has been relatively much better compared to many developed and developing countries.
In the vital fields of agriculture, science and technology, industry, medicine and engineering, nuclear technology, art and architecture, as well as in sports, cultural, and the literary world, it has won a respectable place in the community of nations. The Pakistani people have courageously defied what the proponents of gloom and doom had wished. At the time of its inception in 1947, the country lacked the basic infrastructure for development, but it had the romance of youth, the diversity of its people, and a kind of mysticism for survival. The birth of Pakistan in less than ten years since the idea of nationhood was conceived in the 1940 Resolution is truly a gift of Allah to the Ummah. And its survival is a miracle.
Many serious analysts believe that with proper management and governance, Pakistan can become the sixth biggest economy within the next fifteen years and one of the most developed economies by 2050 AD. (Adjusting for unreported economic activities and comparative prices, the current GDP estimates can actually be four times higher putting Pakistan in the middle-income category.) Moreover, with an estimated population of 350 million by 2050, it will be fourth largest country in the world. Similarly, the literacy rate, 52% at present, is expected to reach 90% in next twenty years.
However, Pakistan’s biggest asset is its 100 million people below the age of 25, a highly productive age, which can play a vital role in the economic development of the country. These young people have entered the phase of their economic life cycle, whereas in many other countries most of the population is aging. Moreover, some ten million overseas Pakistanis, with estimated assets of $500 billion, constitute a huge reserve and strength as well as a source of considerable remittances and investment.
On the geo-physical scene, Pakistan has adequate natural resources. For example, of a total land area of nearly 882,000 sq.km. (ranking fifth among the developed countries while it is larger than France, Germany, Britain, Japan, and Italy), it has over 30 million hectares of land under agriculture. It has rich soils, favorable agro-climatic conditions, one of the most extensive irrigation systems in the world, and a hard-working farming community. Pakistan also has a large population of cattle, buffalo, goats and sheep, camel, and poultry while it ranks among the highest producers of meat, milk, and animal products.
In addition, the country has tremendous opportunities for developing fresh water and sea fisheries. With the introduction of improved farming techniques, the country can produce at least 60 million tons of food (wheat, rice, and maize) — enough to meet the nation’s food requirements and for exports. Pakistan can also boost its existing significant production and export of fruits and vegetables. The potential exports of food products alone to the Middleast are estimated at $200 billion per year. Development of the agriculture sector could also release surpluses of income and manpower for the industrialization of the country.
Pakistan has been bestowed with huge deposits of mineral resources and stands among the top ten nations in the world in vital mineral resources such as gold, copper, silver, gas, precious stones, and coal. In the case of energy, the country has immense hydroelectric power generation potentials as well as solar, wind, nuclear, and thermal power and can boost electricity production several times its present levels. For example, Pakistan has the world’s fourth largest coal reserves equivalent to over 600 billion barrels of oil, which can be developed for electricity generation both for domestic and export markets, coal byproducts, gasification, petrochemicals, and many other chemicals.
In terms of its geography, Pakistan enjoys a unique central and strategic setting. It is also a potential hub of trans-regional trade and commerce, and scientific and technological linkages. In addition, its over 1,000 kilometers of coastline has many suitable sites for developing the most modern ports linking all five continents. Pakistan’s proximity to the Islamic world, accessibility to the Indian Ocean and to the markets of East Asia, steadily growing economy, and principled stand in international affairs, good relations with other important neighbors, the PRC, Iran, and Turkey, and its emerging relations with the Central Asian countries and Russia should be a positive force in bringing peace, stability, and prosperity to this region.
It could also help integration of the region with the rest of the world, and promote international peace and cooperation. Pakistan could benefit from increased exports to these countries of agricultural, textile, engineering, and steel products, as well as advanced weapons, fighter aircrafts, tanks, UAVs, and ships, electronics, mobile phones, chip, and computers and software.
Pakistan’s armed forces have attained global dimensions since the end of the Cold War. It has a million strong, fiercely patriotic, battle-hardened, and highly mobile professional armed forces equipped with advanced weaponry. The country has nearly achieved self-sufficiency in production of arms and ammunition while its nuclear weapons and short and long-range missiles are awesome. For many years, Pakistan’s armed forces have played an important role in the security of its friends and under the aegis of the UNO. While they are capable of deterring any aggression, they could become a force for peace and stability for the region and the world.
Finally, Pakistan’s cultural and historical diversity and a challenging topography truly offer a delight to those seeking the most exciting adventures. The country is blessed with terrain ranging from coastal areas with attractive sea spots to the highest mountain summits. In terms of the beauty and magnificence of its landscape, Pakistan can also rightfully claim to have at least five of its mountains rising above 8,000 meters. There are many other spectacular mountain panoramas, glaciers, treacherous rives, valleys, and gullies containing some of the most dangerous cliffs in the world.
Its soil contains the ruins of the Gandhara University, unique historic places such as Mohenjodaro and Taxila, and sites in Balochistan with the oldest civilization (estimated to date back to 4000 BC) known to-date. Its colorful cities, with a beautiful mix of ancient culture and modern habitations, beautiful architecture, mosques and shrines, and cuisine are of great interest to visitors. Finally, Pakistan’s free and vibrant media can play its role in projecting the country’s true image to the world.
In conclusion, there is no doubt that Pakistan can become a superpower by 2050. China, which at the time of its independence in 1949, was behind Pakistan in many vital sectors, has made it to the superpower status. Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, with sheer intelligence and will power, created a homeland for the Muslims of the region in less than ten years since the 1940 Lahore Resolution.
The greatest strength of 170 million Pakistanis is their strong faith in religion, their glorious history, their culture, their beautiful geography, and their immense natural resources. The birth of Pakistan was the first step; for it to become a formidable force in the world is the ultimate objective of its birth. Much hope for the present and the future rests upon the steely will of the people. With “unity, faith, and discipline,” the people and the leaders of Pakistan can transform the country to its fullest capabilities and superpower status.

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