Saturday, August 16, 2008

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY !


Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal’s dream of Pakistan turned into a reality on 14th August 1947. Surely, they did not know that the Pakistan they dreamt about is still far from reality. Though, despite of its socio-political problems Pakistan has done considerably well in the past 60 years but that doesn’t not mean in any regard that the performance has been remarkable.

Since its birth, Pakistan had an agricultural based economy. The reason for this purely was the fertile land where anything and everything could be grown. Surprisingly, in Pakistan you can grow any crop, just name it and we will grow it for you. Moreover, most of the population at the time of independence was into farming. Therefore, Pakistan was the best place for investment in agricultural sector because of three factors - fertile land, cheap and experienced labor and a warm water sea port. Fortunately, we were given these three factors on a plate, we just had to cook these three ingredients properly and we would just have to put the morsel in our mouth properly so that it does not create a supply dilemma.

But, rather than putting a morsel one at a time, we gulped down these three essential which are vital to quarantine hunger at one go. This has brought to us a stage where we could be choked to death because we are unable to digest it. Pakistan was an agricultural based society and it should have always been the preference. The government should have implemented agricultural reforms, where the government had to first introduce land reforms, second it had to provide training and consultation for the farmers which crops to grow and how and lastly it had to provide them subsidies so they could have maximized profits which would help to increase the output gradually. Moreover, the leaders of Pakistan at a too early stage transformed Pakistan’s economy to an industrialized one. This move was the feather which broke the back of the camel. Pakistan was a child in a cradle and not ready for this!

Neither did it have the resources nor did it have the expertise. The best ‘MADE IN PAKISTAN’ products are its food items. People world over are crazy about Pakistani Mangoes than an Adam Motor Company’s Revo(Bet, many don’t know what Revo is! Google about it to find out what it is!). To make things easier we would consider the example of UAE. UAE has an oil-based economy and the realized this fact from day 1 due to the fact it had visionary leaders who thought about long term benefits.
Only recently, the UAE economy has diversified towards commerce and tourism after it achieved self sufficiency. But, still the major chunk of the money coming to them is from the oil sector despite of Dubai being the Capital of Arabia.

Unfortunately, we forgot the ground reality that we are farmers and not big belly industrialists. The reason for the development of this thought was due to the constant power game by our incumbent leaders who were always hunger for power and personal success rather than mutual prosperity. It transformed the thoughts of the majority towards corruption because it brings both power and money rapid fast. The development of this thought therefore has now brought its evil effects which are pinching the pockets of the general public. It feels that the saying ‘What you bow is what you reap,” truly depicts the situation in our country. Moreover another side effect of this thought has made the people very materialistic. People can actually weigh if a man/woman is first-rate or not by the virtue of his/her bank balance.

We need to educate ourselves, and then expect a revolution to come and save us. We need have a proper system of governance which excludes the ‘few with vested views’. No good news will come on TV if we sit at home and wait for the hero to save us because the nation which waits for a hero to come and save them is the unluckiest of all. We have to believe that with mutual support and brotherhood we all can be the HEROES Pakistan is waiting for and then I can bet easily that TV channels would be full of good news! Therefore, we can still fill the gaps left by our self interested ‘servants’ by starting to believe in our capabilities.

On 14th August 2008, Pakistan would be 61 years old which could be personified as a gorgeous man full of young blood but transforming towards ugliness and weakness due to the TERMITES* eating it up. But, can the YOUNG BLOOD* fight and kick out the termites? The answer should be a positive one and come before 14th August 2009, or else it might be just a bit too late.

* TERMITES – The Present Leaders of Pakistan = the so called People of Pakistan.
* YOUNG BLOOD – The Future Leaders of Pakistan = the People of Pakistan.

CHARITY...A SOURCE OF GENERATING HAPPINESS


Charity is the source of spreading happiness in the society by giving basket full of benefits to the deserved ones. This benefit is not just entitled for the person who receives relief but it brings equal remuneration for those who sponsor relief to the poor, needy and the orphans. Charity is essential for the development of society because it provides prosperity and calmness to both the receiver and giver, thus creating harmony in the process.

Moreover, charity invents the widest imaginable smile on the faces of the needy. The cause is uncomplicated; it grants them with the vital requirements in life which includes health, education, clothing, shelter and food. These rations are indispensable to the growth of a person’s character and his livelihood. Hence, the lesson to be learnt for the ones born with a golden spoon in their mouth is that they should be grateful to the Almighty Lord for his generosity. In fact, we are blessed with health and wealth to such a large extent that we should employ these two resources to supply assistance to the people who deserve the most for mutual benefit.

“The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom He Wills. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower.” (2:261)

Interestingly, the above verse from Quran confirms the notion that the ones who contribute from their wealth to the needy will have their wealth blessed and multiplied. Moreover, it will bring prosperity and economic satisfaction in the lives of the giver and receiver because it will open the doors for success and peace to come in as Allah would start showering them with his blessings continuously.

I express my gratitude to the Lord for making me a part of Human Relief Foundation (HRF), a well renowned NGO, which aims to supply assistance to the ones who deserve the most in our society. The organization is dedicated to provide facilities so that the poor, needy and the orphans have the state of art facilities of health, education, clothing, food and shelter. To reach this goal, the HRF has reached the remotest areas in the earthquake hit areas of Kashmir to provide the local people with basic amenities by providing them relief. During Ramadan, food packages are given to the deserved ones so that their oven remains hot during the holy month. Moreover, meat packages are provided at the time of Qurbani to circulate ‘right money’ to the ‘right people’. Additionally, HRF constructed a lot of Shelters for the people who lost their houses during the earthquake and provided them a place to remember Allah – mosque. Therefore, my brothers and sisters give charity to the deserved ones in order to bless your wealth and to spread smiles on the faces of those who are crying for your help – mutual benefit.

Regards,
Abdul Basit Khawaja
Project/Media Manager
Human Relief Foundation

Friday, August 15, 2008

MUSHARRAF SHOULD BE IMPEACHED


Why Musharaf should be impeached?

Unfortunately, people who benefited from the era of Musharraf ask – Why Musharaf should be impeached? - I haven’t heard a sillier question than this in my short span of 22 years. Assumingly, I am ‘sure’ people have become blind due to the illusion he has created with the help of his finance manipulators – e.g. Shaukat Aziz. But that doesn’t mean other senses stop working, especially ‘sense of shame’.

What’s that! (I can hear someone saying that, right now!)

Well, ‘sense of shame’ is essential to live a life with good morals. If ‘sense of shame’ goes into a deep slumber then indulging in evil practices would be deemed noble. Most of the people possess this sense which assists them to avoid indulging in sinful activities, accept their mistakes and take concrete measures to avoid repeating it. The point to mention this type of sense was to make it easy for the ‘gypsies’ in the ‘pro-Musharraf bandwagon’ to understand that he ‘should’ be impeached. Mr. (self proclaimed) President does not have this particular sense and I believe who don’t have this sense are ‘shameless’ and ‘senseless’ i.e. such a person is not fit to represent us. Hilariously, he boasts that he took money for the people he handed over to Americans and did not give them for free. Wow!

When someone is given the authority to do a task that means he is responsible for it too. So it’s silly for Musharraf to blame the incumbent government for the current crises – the crises which started to unfold after his mismanagement which brought dilemmas manifold. Although, Musharaf was not given the authority but people did give him the task to perform well but he failed miserably.

Therefore, the best advice for Mr. President is to avoid indulging in further immoral activities-money making, frauds such as Steel Mill & Stock Exchange, treason and violating the Islamic code and constitution-and quit from his office, stand in the court for a trial and accept his mistakes. I will recommend him to learn from the judges who stood for the restoration of justice and pledged that they would change the sham way of judiciary by not bending their backs in front of the powerful. I would recommend him to stand in the court and accept his mistakes, who knows he might get punished less for his show of bravery and humbleness which he has not showed up till now. And if he does this, I will be the first Pakistani to salute him for accepting his heinous crimes because no one has the guts to do such a thing – What do you say, President?