Do we need simpler solutions???

Different people at different occasions have mentioned that in NWFP AND AFGHANISTAN there is no concept of snatching, burglary or theft.


Let’s consider few possible explanations:


1: People living in such areas follow traditional system of Jirga, a Council of local elders and respected people for dispute resolution. Decision making by Jirga is swift and is based upon judgment by majority. These people are from the area so they are in a better position to analyze the crime scene and the accused. There is no need to hire Lawyers with high fee so justice is in reach to the poor.

2: There is no concept of license for keeping weapons due to which anyone would be cautious while entering into someone’s house as almost everybody keeps a weapon and knows how to use it without dependence on any law enforcing authority.

3:People living in Afghanistan and Khyber Pakhtounkhuah(formally NWFP) don’t have to spend much on construction(Local terrain does not allow much to build up),There is not much established garments industry so self stitched cloths don’t leave much margin for comparison and status display.

4: There is little concept of Job and most of the people make their living through trade and its related activities due to which unemployment is low.

Whereas in Pakistan everything is opposite
Even though the above mentioned life style has survived in hilly areas and thinly populated territories but at least we should reconsider requirement of license for keeping firearms. I personally feel that anyone having an I.D card should be allowed to keep a weapon If not than at least issuance of license should be resumed and made simple.


Note: Apparently police in Gujranwala and Sialkot has adopted the same philosophy and is encouraging people not to rely on Police support.

Axed sentiments!

Pakistan was on its way to win the "Twenty Twenty" cricket match against Australia .I was watching it with my mother who was continuously reciting holy names and verses for Pakistan’s victory.During the match there was a commercial break when suddenly Katrina Kaif appeared in an Ad for a bleach cream.In order to clarify she showed all the proofs about how effective the cream was for her!

I had seen the Ad for "Veet" before but while watching it with my mother, it felt different! This Ad is not the only one which can be considered offensive for Pakistani audience especially of mixed age groups. T.V commercials of Axe (Deodorant), birth control products and Seductive Movie trailers are all played on cable channels and people don’t raise any voice about it. Either because they keep on switching channels so they switch the channel just in time while watching with a minor or an elder or they are getting used to watch skin exposure with family.

I think its very important to realize that getting exposure to adult content at such an early age can make a child lose his/her sense for social values.The obvious signs can be witnessed through treatment of young women at public places.

Many people would say its all backward thinking and in this modern age when the kids can carry video clips on mobile phones or watch adult entertainment on computer, It would be naive to assume that children should be kept from watching such Ads which don’t even carry any “real” exposure but I would say that one of the reasons for our deterioration is losing our Value system and swallowing whatever comes in the name of modernization.

PEMRA(Pakistan Electronic media regulatory authority)can at least restrict skin exposure on family and sports channels.

Remember! Tallest trees have deepest roots also!so if we want to be something recognisable on the world map than "V" will have to hold our heritage and Values firmly the way Jews,Chinese, Japanese, or Indians have done.

Cant “V” Kick start it????

“V” see “others” play !

“V” watch, clap and also feel excited while watching other nations play and rule the sports grounds and tournaments.

When I discuss Soccer with my students or watch events like Olympics than i feel desperate to discuss any Pakistani player representing the country in clubs like Manchester United,Real Madrid or Pakistan at the top of medal tables in Olympics or a Pakistani player playing against Nadal and Pakistani flags waiving in wimbildon but than i suddenly come out of imagination and fantasies and i look around only to realize that like every other department our National Sports federations display a typical “Why work can’t be done attitude!” They will keep on explaining (if someone asks during any international tournament)what are the reasons for lacking representation at international sports events or under performance of our team but you would almost never find them discussing ideas of overcoming budget shortage and launching training programs.

By now every living Pakistani knows that “V” are a poor nation so if “V” want to improve our performance in sports than “V” need to consider following aspects.

Sports help in keeping integrity of a nation alive ,bring honor to a nation and teach it to compete and fight.

Money does matter but efforts and ideas are more significant.“V” have the examples of very poor nations winning Olympic medals and poor players making it to the top.
A lot can be learned just by watching the champions play but in the long run infrastructure support is required so for every sports association it should be made compulsory to achieve realistic and measurable targets of expanding infrastructure or at least for managing a pool of coaches for conducting camps at schools,colleges and universities.

Careers in sports are too risky and unreliable so study scholarships can be offered to kids with talent for any sports .This way young children would have family support to allocate time for sports.


Sports are becoming more and more scientific.Technology and technique is not likely to be brought in by the people who don’t believe that “V” can win so if a sports minister does not deliver or a Sports office bearer does not produce results than they should be removed from their offices.

Sponsors are attracted to what is popular in masses .If high prize value tournaments are organized for non professionals than that would attract crowd to such sports which are not commonly popular in urban and social population simultaneously like Football,Basketball,Baseball Rugby etc.These are also the sports which provide an opportunity to make a career in international clubs and have international sponsorship deals with huge money and recognition.
Sponsorships can bring in the required investment for infrastructure development.

Searching for a Leader (Everywhere including inside You!)

At various discussions about condition of our country I find people concluding the discussion through any of the following remarks

Someone like Khomeini is needed here!
Only a bloody revolution is the solution!
“V” lack leaders who can deliver!
Its all because of the leaders that “V” are ………up!

Do leaders reflect the nation or are the nations a reflection of their leaders?

If we consider leaders like Mahathir Muhammad and Quaid E Azam than “V” realize that single person’s charisma can influence millions but on the other hand if “V” consider nations like China, India, than their growth in the last four decades cant be associated to any single leader who changed them altogether but rather these nations kept on discovering people in different walks of life which wanted to deliver excellence and had the ability to aspire others to adopt the same approach.

Is there anything common in the Nations which grow and develop quickly?

Here are few possible explanations

They keep religion out of their economic activities (whereas “V” justify our laziness under notions like It wasn’t God’s will! or “V” should not spend much effort on worldly matters as these would be over as soon as the judgment day arises so “V” should rather focus on prayers and meditation!)

They give more priority to conduct and discipline (the two elements are also present in our religion but practically “V” have shifted our focus on religious appearance/getup and prayers rather then exploring what God wants us to discover through efforts and belief.

People of Developed nations are nationalists ( “V” are not sure if “V” are a nation)

Why are “V” discussing this topic?

Pakistan is going through a critical time and many people still don’t believe that disintegration of Pakistan is of any interest for the Americans. They feel that Gwader port,Unexplored natural resources and Nuclear assets are of no concern for the troika of America ,India and Israel but I feel that the time is getting closer when Americans would want to operate in the region directly rather than through manipulation of the Governments. I also feel that in the next stage of American planning, present government would be removed within this year even if it survived through July2010 so whenever it all starts happening than ”V” should have an idea that what kind of people can guide us to survive.