کچھ لفظوں کی کہا نی۔۔۔۔۔۔۔ خرچہ

on 16/08/2017

محمد صلاح الدین

ہماری  عوام ٹیکس بہت کم دیتی ہے، مشورہ دیں کہ ٹیکس آمدنی بڑھ جائے

 

میں نے انگریز ماہر اقتصادیات سے مشورہ مانگا

لیکن دنیا میں پاکستانی تو سب سے ذیادہ خیراتی اداروں کی مدد کرتے ہیں۔

یہ بات درست ہے میں نے تسلیم کیا

پھر آپ کی حکومت اور اہلکار کرپٹ اور نا اہل ہیں، وہ بولے

جس دن آپ کی حکومت اور ریاستی اہلکاروں نےایمانداری اور اہلیت کے ساتھ عوام کو 

 حت، تحفظ اور دیگر ضروریات زندگی  فراہم کرنا شروع کر دیں اس دن آ پ کی ٹیکس آمدنی خود بہ خود بڑھ گی آسان فارمولا ہے، جو حکومتیں عوام پر خرچہ کرتی ہیں عوام  ان کو خرچہ دیتےہیں

If CPEC is a doom, can we avert it?

on 10/08/2017

 Yes, surely provided we pick a right path,

says Syed Sibte Ahmed Jafri

by Manzoor Shaikh & Muhammad Salahuddin

If you view Chinese the way Syed Sibte Ahmed Jafri, the CEO of Jafri and Associates does, you will surely add up to the concerns which are being widely spread in the wake of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). But it is not despair only that results from such a view. There is a lot of signs of opportunity provided we succeed to choose the right path.

We asked Mr, Jafri as to what side of divide he finds himself on while viewing the CPEC.

ER: Is it an opportunity or a path to the collapse of Pakistani industry and turning us into a consumer market?

SSAJ: I have been visiting the US since 1980s. Initially, when I would visit shopping centers, there were hardly any American products. Only Japanese products were there. No Chinese or Indian products could be found. Slowly and gradually, Indian and Malaysian products started to appear. The time passed and now for the last five years, almost everywhere I find Chinese products. Take an example of android phones only. It is competing with iPhone in the market and its prices are much cheaper besides all qualities of iPhone. Chinese have captured the market of a stronger country like the US. Not only that but products like steel, turbines, power plants and others you name it are coming from China. All big western companies have set up their plants in China. They are continuing their brands made in China. If it can happen with the US then what about us. Once China enters in Pakistan with full force what shall we do especially in a situation when we don’t feel proud of doing anything good?

I have the experience of visiting Shahrah-e-Resham (Karakoram Highway) while it was being constructed. There were two worlds, different from each other. Since a subsection on Pakistani side was handed over to Chinese, I had a chance to see it. It was unbelievable. It was like an army of robots which was working there. Once the siren rang they started work, stopped for lunch and read quotes of Mao Zedong. They moved like ants. They strictly followed this timetable from dawn to dusk. They had the whole job. We can understand from this example.

Yet, there is another example too. Chinese did some wind projects here. If you visit there was a huge security. It was not for the people who go inside; it was meant to stop insiders from coming out. There are thousands of Chinese prisoners who were working. They worked like machines.

Almost no salary they were getting. Actually, they were serving their terms. Europeans use machines whereas the Chinese do it with manpower. It sounds a little funny but if you actually see it happening then you will realize who you are competing with. They have everything; they have competed the best European technology; they have abundant money; their banks are the wealthiest. They have the habit of meeting deadlines. How can we compete with them?

They have to transport their goods to the world. It is a must for their survival. They shall reduce 10 thousand kilometers of distance through CPEC. Gwadar is now under their control. They have everything at hand now. What they want now is infrastructure. It includes power for which they have installed power plants. What would you give them? Nothing! They will arrange everything including water and security.

Chinese psyche

They don’t have any consideration for forgiveness and forgetting. They don’t spare difference of opinion. We can recall the Tiananmen Square.

ER: Don’t you think the people ruling this country know what all you are talking about? Then what is the compulsion of being drifted towards that end?

SSAJ: I don’t think so that our people are aware. What is our interest is something they (the ruling elite of Pakistan) don’t know about. Have a look at Karachi only. They don’t know how the people are living in localities situated on the outskirts of the city. The people at the helm of affairs are ignorant. They are not bothered either. The modern world has an efficient system of information collection through intelligence sources. It is not the same case here. Our ruling elite is not bothered at all. When it comes to their personal interest only, they appear to be moving. Looking at the history of the country, only Z.A Bhutto was bothered.

ER: Do you think our military establishment is also is in t he dark? How can one believe they also don’t know about the picture you are depicting here?

SSAJ: There is no difference, though there must be some honest ones. They are not answerable. They can’t be depended upon. But still there is a hope that the honest people will rise.

ER: Is there any hope for corrective measures?

SSAJ: The only possibility is that Pakistan is protected by Allah. Sincerity with the nation is a must. We follow religion in personal lives but in business. It is crystal clear in Pakistan. The industrialists are not honest. What are they doing? There are many success stories also. All people are not the same. Many are kings in their businesses. There would be many opportunities as well in the CPEC. The honest will prevail. I am convinced Allah exists and also His system. If we follow Allah and the Sunnah we will succeed. Pakistan is the largest country in terms of donations. Edhi was born here and so is Sailani doing charity in Pakistan.

ER: Besides religion we need money to be involved in the CPEC? The people say we don’t have money.

SSAJ: I don’t agree with this notion. Why big money? It can begin with smaller amounts of money. Chinese will give work to local companies also but honesty and hard work is a prerequisite. We shall have opportunity in the CPEC but it depends how we avail it.

 

Corporate Social responsibility

on 10/08/2017

 GE, Sapphire Wind Power set up medical centre in Jhimpir

GE Renewable Energy and Sapphire Wind Power Co Limited (SWPCL) have joined hands for setting up an emergency medical center within the premises of Sapphire Wind Farm, Jhimpir—a village in Thatta district.

Jhimpir falls in the Gharo-Keti Bandar Wind Corridor, which has a potential to generate up to 50,000MW of electricity as per the Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB). The Jhimpir corridor is situated in south-eastern part of Pakistan between Hyderabad and Karachi—approximately 95 kilometers from the coast in a semi-desert area. This joint effort aims to bring fundamental medical emergency services to the community in a timely manner. In addition, this commitment of $100,000 will create awareness around EHS, and serve wider community in terms of emergency and temporary care.

 

Stakeholders calls for revoking decision

on 08/08/2017

EDB is a must for engineering industry, believes FPCCI

In a series of concern in the country, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has expressed concern over abolishing Engineering Development Board (EDB), calling for its continuity with more effective and transparent role for promoting engineering industry, especially auto industry in Pakistan. At FPCCI communication said Zubair F. Tufail, the president called a meeting of the stakeholders including automobile, automotive and auto spare parts associations at the Federation House to discuss the issue of abolishing EDB.  The meeting noted that the EDB was playing a fundamental role in promotion of engineering sector, protection of domestic industry and strengthening it by giving incentives. The closure and shifting responsibility of the EDB would disrupt large-scale manufacturing; especially the auto industry and would further complicate the situation including creation of impediments in investments in auto sector especially the vending sector, they said.  The EDB was an affiliated department of the Federal Ministry of Industries. It was established in 1995 with an aim to strengthen engineering sector, promote exports, increase technical training and enable import substitution. The board had presented two auto policies — in 2007 and 2016- which enhanced the number of auto assemblers from 3 to 55. The stakeholders urged proper implementation of auto policy, which would develop competition and bring opportunity of technology transfer. They also stressed on transparency, efficiency, expertise and merit in the EDB to fulfil objectives of strengthening engineering sector in the country and integrate it with the world market to make it the driving force for economic growth as the future of Pakistan depends upon the industries particularly on engineering, chemical and information technology industries which has a huge potential for contributing to economic growth and employment generation. Mr. Tufail assured that they would try to convince the government to continue with the EDB with complete restructuring of its Board of Directors by including representatives from private sector, Board of Investment (BOI) and the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC).

Thar Airport ready for landing

on 04/08/2017

Built on desert sand dunes makes it unique in Pakistani airports

Pakistan’s very first desert airport Thar Airport—is almost ready. You can land there provided flying a smaller aircraft. It is situated in the middle of Mithi and Islamkot, on a 20-minute drive from either city. The airport can cater to around 50 passengers. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah anxious to fly to Thar became the very first dignitary to land at the airport which has been built for foreign coal concessioners intending to visit coal blocks in Thar Desert. Thar Airport is comprised of four works such as the runway, taxiway, terminal and residential blocks. All are complete except the terminal on which work will be completed by September 2017, said Khalid Mirza, the CEO of the ECIL—the consultant of the project which has planned and designed the airport. The total cost of the project is Rs.23 million. The project started in 2008 and later the construction of the runway was awarded to Ms. Reliance which could not move ahead because of its shabby performance in the past, officials in Sindh government said. The company is said to have used its political clout for getting the project as it did not have any previous experience in construction of runways. Due to delays, the government decided to change the contractor—the decision which pushed Ms. Reliance to approach the court. The work on the airport was stayed till 2016 and eventually resumed with the new contractor Umer Jan & Company after which the court allowed the project to proceed. Engineer Bux Ali Abro said the airstrip of the airport, constructed by the contractor is 7000 meters long and 300 meters wide with taxiway and apron. It has an overrun of 975 meters. The work on the terminal is in progress on an area of 456 square meters. At least 9 units are complete which include parking area, guest houses, a shed, officers’ accommodation and a mosque etc. All land for future planning has also been acquired. Sharing their experiences Engr. Khalid Mirza and Engr. Bux Ali Abro said it was a new topography for the airport as it is in the midst of sand dunes. Thar has a collapsible soil where the sand dunes move and the sand caves in. Thus, a specific technique used on such soils has been adopted. The ECIL has also worked on other airports including one in Rahim Yar Khan which was constructed by Shaikh Zaid. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will run the airport. The Sindh Coal Authority (SCA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the CAA for the monitoring of the project too. Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is also likely to use this airport.