Pakistan

CATCH 22 Situation

Whole world is starting to realize that this epidemic of Covid-19 is here to stay and living with precautions needs to be the new normal.

Currently in Pakistan there is a lock down and forceful enforcement. Business are now trying to open and the situation is getting messier day by day. Govt efforts to enforce lock down are starting to fall apart. Govt does not have effective and trained workforce. The workforce that they have only know how to get extra meat out of the current situation. People have zero trust in them; as every one knows all these Govt enforcement will lead the way to looking the other way with them talking Chai Pani, Mithai, Quid-e-Azam AKA Bribe.

Govt Enforcement

  1. Keep Shops Closed
  • Solution by Traders: Sitting outside or near shops and opening store to provide the customer.
  • Problem Caused: Trader in harms way sitting outside all day. Client going into a close shop with minimum social distance. Law enforcement raid the place arrest people and take them to Jail; where social distance cannot be ensured with over population. Trader is fined; and he is unable to pay the fine as his business is closed and he hardly has money to eat how will he pay fine ? He may go to Jail where again social distancing is major issue.
  • Solution: Make Markets create self vigilance teams and self regulate. Keep it simple. Wear mask clean hands, Use sanitizers , create social distance. Don’t fill shops create marked waiting areas in the lobbies.

2.Transport Closed

  • Solution by Rikshas: Starting to come on the road risking being caught.
  • Solution by Vans: Starting to get on the road risking being caught.
  • Solution by Rent a cars: Starting to get on the road risking being caught.
  • Solution by Pillion Riders: Starting to get on the road risking being caught.
  • Solution by Private Cars: They are hardly stopped anyway else Quid e Azam Zindabad.
  • Problems Caused: Since very few Rikshas, Vans and rent a car on the road; the ones risking getting caught fill up to more than their capacity and hence causing more trouble with lack of social distancing. Again if they get caught they cannot pay fines and are taking to Jail or their cars impounded causing more trouble for the desperate and creating more situations of decreasing chances of social distances.
  • Solution: Open transport with SOPs. Two passengers per Riksha; Riksha People will oblige as this is beneficial for them as they can earn more. Driver plus 3 passengers for 5 seater cars and Driver plus 5 for 7 seater cars. Vans two passengers per bench and one passenger in front. Buses can have one passenger per seat. For Riksha and rent a car it is beneficial for them so they can self impose else here police can intervene; since there will be no shortage of alternate rickshaws less people will break this. For Private cars Vans and Buses police can intervene; again soft reminders to start with; this is not hard to enforce as big vehicle stops are already examined and checked. Private cars should be enforced to follow the SOP. Bikes two passengers are OK as long as they are wearing masks and there are no kids and elderly. Movement of kids and elderly should be enforce strictly.

3. Stay Home Stay Safe: Govt has ordered everyone to stay home and stay safe.

  • Kids Solution: Play outside; hear police siren run in.
  • Adults Solution: Roam about needlessly; give essential grocery run excuse or run in when siren is heard.
  • Problems Caused: Kids are playing freely on roads and causing greater damage as they take less care while playing and are more likely to put their hands in their month carry virus in. Adults needless going about bring unnecessary risk to themselves and their families.
  • Solution: Parents need to be educated continuously via Social Media, Print and Electronic Media. Community Ucs and Streets have to self regulate. Get kids in the house. Adults can come to work during the day and stay in home later. Govt can intact its power to stop anyone going out after 8.

No answer is right but we need to quickly go out to self regulate. Get industry involved, make traders self regulate and make community self regulate. This is the only way forward. I know this all sounds simple and obvious goal of govt but this show off of work by Govt is causing more confusion and anxiety in people. It is abundantly clear any regulation enforced by Govt has short shelf life; due to lack of training and trustfulness of its workforce. Self/community enforcement seems only way forward. This is just my take and you have every right to disagree. I am realist and the situation is very bad; people are tired and are in need; they will risk their lives to feed their families. So Govt has to open up Businesses and transport by Community enforcement rather than using its corrupt work force that will eventually cause more harm.

AGAIN STAY HOME AND STAY SAFE is highly advisable but it is not practical unless there is balance. We are very undisciplined but a one month closure has scared most and this simple threat by Govt that they will close unless community self regulate should suffice for now. People will be out and about like crazy but here getting message to people is important. People will die and get infected way quickly but that will happen regardless. Flattening the curve is important but other developed county have goal set to the amount of patients their health care system bear. Our health care system is as it is at its limits and cannot coup with the influx in normal days. So what is our target for flattening the curve. This will spread and hurt the number of people slowly if flattened to a point but sadly with our health care system number of Deaths will be almost same. With opening things up with self/community restriction we can look for herd immunity which by looks of it our only hope. Again I am not an expert but this is what my view about the situation is. In my view Govt is over estimating its workforces capability and trustworthiness. There are definitely more capable people who are making decisions but people of Pakistan have no trust in Govt enforcers so Govt should work towards getting community enforcement in .

In KHAN we Trust !!! Part 1

On 18th Aug 2018 Imran Khan  (Imran Khan Niazi as his opponents want to call him to create a disconnect from his glorious cricketing and philanthropy past)took oath 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan. Imran Khan made promises that every one who had little knowledge of how Govt functions would thing them to be unattainable. People mocked his ignorance to pertaining security threat and all his talk about protocol and not living in the Prime Minister House. The media darling Imran Khan was not as shinny for the media now that he is in Power. Imran Khan said we will not go begging and get Pakistan on its feet; he went to Saudia and eventually he has given approval to go for IMF. The appointment of Punjab CM and his continuous involvement in embarrassing scandals has made PTI Govt a Laughing Stock.

A country that looted and plundered by its rulers for the past 4 to 5 decades finally has drawn the line on a PM taking protocol, living in PM house, Begging and misuse of power. While it is a positive change; one must not forget who gave the nation the thought of why all these thing are wrong. Imran Khan came to power in a country that had been bankrupt for decades with debt more than entire budgets of other countries. Pakistan is like rusty old machinery whose gears are stuck and need a lot of grease to get to move. Imran Khan and his party came to power for the first time under a magnifying glass that is zoomed to 200. The following image is very apt for this situation it states in Pakistan New Government and newly married couple are expected to give Good News in the very first year.

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To Be Continued …….

Keep Expectations Low Pakistan

Pakistan the land of the pure and the defender of Muslims around the world. This is the Pakistan that most of the Pakistani know and want. It doesn’t matter what I want or how I want Pakistan to be; Majority of Pakistani consider Pakistan as the Fort of Islam; a country built on the basis of Islam and a country that should embody Islamic laws. I have been lucky enough to meet people from different parts of Pakistan, with different economic and cultural background and can safely say with clarity and honesty most people in Pakistan are conservative and believe the notion that Pakistan is the fort of Islam.

I have no problem with this notion and respect majorities opinion being a democrat but the problem arises when people start to give examples of Saudia Arabia, Dubai and Iran. Their implementation of Islamic laws and their way of governance. So here a few nuggets for people to chew on before giving advice or quoting these countries. Lets start with Saudia Arabia

Saudia Arabia: Actually it is Kingdom of Saudia Arabia. Our savior and friends. It has been there to support Pakistan when ever we require assistance and has flourished Pakistan with aid and help. That is the Saudi state I hear about. The Saudia I know is when I went for Umrah in 1997; as a 13 year old all I remember green lights at the Jeddah Airport and an extremely rude Arab man screaming instructions at people on the immigration counter that too in Arabic; If you don’t know Arabic hard luck. That may be just one man but I have heard countless tales by people who visited Saudia of being treated like Dogs. There is a certain uneasiness you feel when there and that should not be the case in a place where you go for inner peace and be closer to God. I wont get into conspiracy theories into who the Sauds are or how they rule but the following documentary by PBS is quite interesting and should be seen by all Pakistanis

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/saud/

Dubai: Ah !!! Dubai the solution to all Pakistan’s problem be more like Dubai; that what I hear a lot !!! It is a Kingdom; that benefited from Pakistan’s inability to see the potential of its money making ports. Never the less give credit where due Dubai is awesome in every sense; modern yet conservative and there are laws (http://www.thatdubaisite.com/thatdubaisite.com/That_Dubai_Site_Dos_and_Donts.html). So why cant Pakistan be more like Dubai;

  1. It is a City not a Country; Entire UAE is not like Dubai.
  2. Its a Kingdom
  3. Population of Dubai is 2.106 million (2013) and Population of Pakistan 179.2 million  and Population of Largest city  Pakistan Karachi is 9.339 million that too according to a census that was conducted in 1998. (These figures are according  to a quick Google search)
  4. Only  17% UAE nationals live in Dubai & the rest 83%  are Ex-Pats who live under constant threat of being deported from UAE even for minor offences. So one has to live by their rules or leave
  5. Dubai has a big brother who saved for rainy day called Abu-Dhabi

Iran: The revolution most people in Pakistan crave for; the uncle who always says you will see there will be an Iran like revolution. So Iran where honey and milk flow from the streams and every one lives happily under the guidance of the supreme leader. Most of Irans’s population is Shiite; so laws and policies are according to that sect. Pakistan has 32% Shiite population while the rest are Sunni; and than there are further divided in multiple sects of Sunnis; so getting all these sects to come under one banner and agreeing on an Islamic law is something I don’t see happening. Iran is oil rich but is under international sanctions due to the bravado they showed during the Ahmed-di-Nijaad’s presidency. Ah Ahmed-di-Nijaad the role model for all leaders; the simple man; who sleeps on the floor; wears simple cloths and is the man of the people. Atleast for me any one who has their pictures taken while sleeping on the floor is fake and a show off.  Please ask Iranians about Ahmed-di-Nijaad  before making him a hero please.

So I have made peace with the fact that when and if we ever eventually become a nation; Pakistan will be a conservative Saudia, Iran, Dubai wannabe state; It does not matter what I want as I am less than 10% of the entire population who dreams of a different progressive path for Pakistan.  Like most Pakistani’s I have a favorite country I want Pakistan to be like; that is Turkey (Best of the Worst). For me the best outcome would be for Pakistan to be more like Turkey (which also completed a full circle and now has a conservative Erdogan’s AKP in Power). I am also a realist and would not keep my self  in illusions and I am preparing my self for the time when the above will be true and I suggest others to do so too. If you have problems with the Path Pakistan will take time to consider your future plan is now.

For Correction and Typos: Kindly email me at adil_raza@hotmail.com

Shit Happens Part 1

If you want to live in Pakistan or You don’t have a choice in that matter these survival tips may help you.

Bliss

TIP 1:
Avoid watching News Channels. If you are unable to avoid watching them watch the news and keep reminding your self that “As long as its not me its all ok”.

Relax

TIP 2:
Avoid eye contact with street children and in case you unconsciously do; pay them some change and think instead of begging he should be working then roll your window and forget about him.

Poverty

TIP 3:
If police stops you and asks for bribe negotiate and give it to them. Don’t forget to curse them once you are back in your car and think of ways to justify you not having the right papers, being drunk, stoned, breaking traffic rule, tinted windows e.t.c.

Bribe

TIP 4:
Steal electricity, as why should you pay as half the time there is no electricity.

Theif

TIP 5:
Be prepared to take part in Mob activity. Burn tyres on roads as they barely exist anyway and as long as its not your business, car or home burning; join in since every one is already doing it. It will help in reducing the stress.

Mob

We are 16th most happy Nation In The World

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Wohooo we are 16th most happy nation in the world!!!! Is that really a good thing with all things considered?? We have a weak economy, we are being droned, people dying everywhere and all government systems failing… Well it says allot about us as people. I know you are thinking resilient right but you are wrong as I recently read a tweet after the blasphemy protests in Karachi where people lost their lives and in 2 days Karachi was back to normal …. The tweet said

“#Karachi this is not “RESILIENCE” its called “I DON”T GIVE A S**T IF ITS NOT ME””

This survey shows I am Happy because I am Ignorant, Stupid and Inhumane and gone immune to suffering and parade of dead bodies. All I am left with is two words “Shit happens”.

Just today there was a random target killing outside my office and one of my office mates was an eye witness…. He saw 4 guys on 2 bikes wearing helmet shoot at a car and killed a man and get away. He came in the office told everyone. We all said damn things are bad and moved on don’t know about my mate who saw a man die in front of his eyes but everyone else continued with their life …. Chilled watching Cricket semi final.

There are countless incidents where we just move on like nothing happened. Is it a good thing or a bad thing I don’t know? Moving on for me is a good thing but moving on too quickly leaves a bit of bad taste in my mouth but what do I know I am the guy who references tweets and facebook statuses.

So allot of things contributed to this rant I Just saw the latest episode of homeland which really sucked … we lost the semis then I read a friends status saying

“Terrorism , depleting economic situation , non existent healthcare and educational facilities for the masses ,sectarian violence and corruption but still PAKISTANIS are the 16th most happiest bunch of nation in the world ( out 151 countries) according to new economics foundation survey… ”

(Pakistan among top 20 happiest countries, beating India, US: Report)

That just flipped a switch, So since that is out of the way did any of you see the new big bang theory episode really good right …..

I don’t blame us as this is the only way we can live in Pakistan. You either move on or get demoralised and scared all the time…. So Ya we are Happy cause being Sad is not an option or simple answer could be we have gone completely in insane.

PTA Bans The Word “Mango”. Mind==Blown ……

Pakistan telecommunication Authority PTA has issued a list of abusive words to be banned Which include Mango, Taxi and many other common words. Here is a short animation telling us why.

PTA Mango Ban

If you want to be amazed and have your Mind Blown you can download this Fantastic List from this Site. I would also take this opportunity to thank PTA for this list as I have learned a lot of new words today.

 Mind- Blown

Image Source: Media Giphy

PAKISTANI TRUCK ART

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Pakistan, the country today is known for terrorism and extremism but it has beautiful culture and lovely people. In this post we are discussing wondorous truck and bus decoration of art of Pakistan. This extraordinary tradition has it’s routes in the days of the Raj when craftsmen made glorious horse draw carriages for the gentry. In the 1920′s the Kohistan bus company asked the local Michaelangelo, Ustad Elahi Buksh, a master craftsmen to decorate their buses to attract passengers. Buksh employed a community of artists from the Punjab town of Chiniot, who’s ancestors had worked on many great palaces and temples dating back to the Mogal Empire.

It was not long before truck owners followed suite with their own designs. Through the years the materials used have developed from wood and paint to metal, tinsel, plastic and reflective tape. Within the last few years trucks and buses have been further embellished with full lighting systems.

This art is so Pakistani, that the freight trucks which are built by Ford, General Motors, Hino Pak etc in beautiful aerodynamic shapes are first retro-fitted with very Pakistani stlye bodies and a special ‘viewing deck’ at the top of Driver’s cab. The ‘viewing deck’ is a very multipurpose extra space. It is used by ‘cleaners’ to sleep at night and also to load extra luggage when needed.
Truck Art

(Source: Damn Cool Pictures)

Pakistan Floods Appeal

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In Pakistan, monsoon rains and floods are causing widespread destruction.

Over five million people have been affected with many losing their homes, farmland and belongings.
Some of the areas affected are still recovering from last year’s flooding, including Sindh province, which is once again one of the worst-hit areas.

Acres of damaged crops
Saifal Panhyar, a farmer from Khairpur in Sindh, said his family were lucky to escape as their house collapsed when the floods engulfed his village. Now, Khairpur is under five feet of water.

Panhyar said: “Our land is our sole source of income and the crops were just ready to be harvested but the continuous rain and now the flood water has badly damaged them.”

Emergency supplies
The risk of diseases spreading is high as 300,000 people have fled to temporary relief camps, but are living in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.

Over the last few months, the British Red Cross has worked with the Pakistan Red Crescent and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to prepare for this year’s monsoon rains, getting aid into the most vulnerable areas, ready to be dispatched when the floods struck.

Since the floods hit, the Pakistan Red Crescent, with support from the Red Cross, has:

  • sent five mobile health units to provide emergency health support in six districts
  • set up two water treatment plants and produced over 300,000 litres of safe water
  • distributed food parcels and other aid such as tents, tarpaulins and kitchen sets to over 100,000 people.

    • Urgently needed funds
    Thousands of people who’ve lost everything are in a desperate situation.

    Please help us to help them by donating to our appeal today.

    In the unlikely event that we raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently spent, any surplus funds will be used to help us prepare for and respond to other humanitarian disasters either overseas or in the UK.

    (Source: RedCross)

    I Explore Pakistan !!

    iExplorePakistan
    This is by far the best Pakistani Site by Danial Shah a landscape photographer based in Pakistan. Anything I say cant express how good this site is. He has covered all Four Provinces of Pakistan with breath taking photographs.
    Follow Danial Shah On twitter and This is his Personal Website.

    Economy Check

    Economy Check
    Economy Check Pakistan is an effort to inform the discussion about Pakistan’s economy with data about some of the urgent issues facing the country. Rather than advocating specific policy solutions to problems, the data here is meant to stimulate debate. As Pakistan decides on its budgetary priorities for 2011-2012, it is as good a time as any to reflect on the the economy.

    This is a collaborative effort by economists and researchers. It is informed by data and inputs from a wide variety of organizations including the Jinnah Institute, the Pakistan Business Council, and a number of Pakistani government organizations as well as the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development.

    (Source: Economy Check)