<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><!-- generator="wordpress/2.3.2" -->
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	>
<channel>
	<title>Comments on: Pakistan: Paradise Lost</title>
	<link>http://www.pakspectator.com/pakistan-paradise-lost/</link>
	<description>A Candid Blog</description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:05:02 +0000</pubDate>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2</generator>
		<item>
		<title>By: Aftab S. Alam</title>
		<link>http://www.pakspectator.com/pakistan-paradise-lost/#comment-54247</link>
		<dc:creator>Aftab S. Alam</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:14:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.pakspectator.com/pakistan-paradise-lost/#comment-54247</guid>
		<description>There we go again. Listen, when people, you and me and our friends and their cousins decide to get involved in a debate using a public forum (whatever it might be) then, Doctor Sahib, by implication, you have gone public with your thoughts, beliefs and opinion. And in any public domain, by defination, mine or your opinions and views are open to criticism and riddicule. Obviously it is unpleasant but then choice is ours. Of course I try my very very best to go after all those who I see as a hurdle in my way in reaching my audience my targetted readers and eventual supporters. This is basic principle of public debate and rhetorics. So, when I wish and choose to sound aggressive I am not trying to hurt you or any one it is the argument or stand. One has to be thick skinned to be butt of a joke or two, now and then. Remember, "Istrah to hota hai - Istrah ke kamon main" 
You get my point?</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There we go again. Listen, when people, you and me and our friends and their cousins decide to get involved in a debate using a public forum (whatever it might be) then, Doctor Sahib, by implication, you have gone public with your thoughts, beliefs and opinion. And in any public domain, by defination, mine or your opinions and views are open to criticism and riddicule. Obviously it is unpleasant but then choice is ours. Of course I try my very very best to go after all those who I see as a hurdle in my way in reaching my audience my targetted readers and eventual supporters. This is basic principle of public debate and rhetorics. So, when I wish and choose to sound aggressive I am not trying to hurt you or any one it is the argument or stand. One has to be thick skinned to be butt of a joke or two, now and then. Remember, &#8220;Istrah to hota hai - Istrah ke kamon main&#8221;<br />
You get my point?</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Dr. Imran</title>
		<link>http://www.pakspectator.com/pakistan-paradise-lost/#comment-54245</link>
		<dc:creator>Dr. Imran</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:01:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.pakspectator.com/pakistan-paradise-lost/#comment-54245</guid>
		<description>As long as Dear Aftab you don't hurl insults personally, I am willing to agree/disagree with you. 

So Long !</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As long as Dear Aftab you don&#8217;t hurl insults personally, I am willing to agree/disagree with you. </p>
<p>So Long !</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Aftab S. Alam</title>
		<link>http://www.pakspectator.com/pakistan-paradise-lost/#comment-54243</link>
		<dc:creator>Aftab S. Alam</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:56:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.pakspectator.com/pakistan-paradise-lost/#comment-54243</guid>
		<description>Imran, you missed it, "all including you, me, and politicians, public servants (from peon to top grade in uniforms or without)"

By the way thanks for agreeing with me for a change even if it is partial.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Imran, you missed it, &#8220;all including you, me, and politicians, public servants (from peon to top grade in uniforms or without)&#8221;</p>
<p>By the way thanks for agreeing with me for a change even if it is partial.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Dr. Imran</title>
		<link>http://www.pakspectator.com/pakistan-paradise-lost/#comment-54240</link>
		<dc:creator>Dr. Imran</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:53:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.pakspectator.com/pakistan-paradise-lost/#comment-54240</guid>
		<description>I agree with Aftab on the Motto, but then I feel ill at ease, when he exclude Musharraf from it.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I agree with Aftab on the Motto, but then I feel ill at ease, when he exclude Musharraf from it.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Aftab S. Alam</title>
		<link>http://www.pakspectator.com/pakistan-paradise-lost/#comment-54219</link>
		<dc:creator>Aftab S. Alam</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:33:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.pakspectator.com/pakistan-paradise-lost/#comment-54219</guid>
		<description>No, we are also people and can be as or better than most of these people. WE MUST BE ONE AND OUR MOTTO AND SLOGAN MUST BE - ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

You know, if we all including you, me, and politicians, public servants (from peon to top grade in uniforms or without) learn to tell ourselves every day that - ENOUGH IS ENOUGH - this will help us curb our demands on ourselves, our greeds, our need to subjugate others, abuse power and trust; we will learn to share what we have with those who don't have anything or less. We must do it, each for herself / himself all of us. It will work, believe me it will.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>No, we are also people and can be as or better than most of these people. WE MUST BE ONE AND OUR MOTTO AND SLOGAN MUST BE - ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!</p>
<p>You know, if we all including you, me, and politicians, public servants (from peon to top grade in uniforms or without) learn to tell ourselves every day that - ENOUGH IS ENOUGH - this will help us curb our demands on ourselves, our greeds, our need to subjugate others, abuse power and trust; we will learn to share what we have with those who don&#8217;t have anything or less. We must do it, each for herself / himself all of us. It will work, believe me it will.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Aftab S. Alam</title>
		<link>http://www.pakspectator.com/pakistan-paradise-lost/#comment-54217</link>
		<dc:creator>Aftab S. Alam</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:23:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.pakspectator.com/pakistan-paradise-lost/#comment-54217</guid>
		<description>Saleem Bhai, meray Sahib! of course I do read and find it all very interesting as well. That's why I sincerely try to point out little short comings as well. Imagine us Pakistanis writing about Pakistan and make this blunder. Someone should update your source site, I would if knew how.

Let me assure you I feel special affinity with you, because I know that you are one of those Pakistanis who are great patriots and I like to be counted as one of you.

Affectionate regards.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Saleem Bhai, meray Sahib! of course I do read and find it all very interesting as well. That&#8217;s why I sincerely try to point out little short comings as well. Imagine us Pakistanis writing about Pakistan and make this blunder. Someone should update your source site, I would if knew how.</p>
<p>Let me assure you I feel special affinity with you, because I know that you are one of those Pakistanis who are great patriots and I like to be counted as one of you.</p>
<p>Affectionate regards.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Saleem Khan</title>
		<link>http://www.pakspectator.com/pakistan-paradise-lost/#comment-54216</link>
		<dc:creator>Saleem Khan</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:22:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.pakspectator.com/pakistan-paradise-lost/#comment-54216</guid>
		<description>Dear Aashique of Musharraf,

Today, I agree with you on this.... "I wish I was a Bangladeshi"

Very well said after analyzing Pakistan and Bangladesh. They are no more poor, They are a NATION. If you want to see then visit Middle east. You will find them as a Nation but you will find Pakistanis as Heard of Sheep.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Dear Aashique of Musharraf,</p>
<p>Today, I agree with you on this&#8230;. &#8220;I wish I was a Bangladeshi&#8221;</p>
<p>Very well said after analyzing Pakistan and Bangladesh. They are no more poor, They are a NATION. If you want to see then visit Middle east. You will find them as a Nation but you will find Pakistanis as Heard of Sheep.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Saleem Khan</title>
		<link>http://www.pakspectator.com/pakistan-paradise-lost/#comment-54215</link>
		<dc:creator>Saleem Khan</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:15:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.pakspectator.com/pakistan-paradise-lost/#comment-54215</guid>
		<description>Aftab Bhai Thanks a lot again for pointing out mistake. I accept my mistake. It shows that you throughly reads posts. It is very good habit indeed. Otherwise few guys only comments without reading article.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Aftab Bhai Thanks a lot again for pointing out mistake. I accept my mistake. It shows that you throughly reads posts. It is very good habit indeed. Otherwise few guys only comments without reading article.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Aashique of Musharraf</title>
		<link>http://www.pakspectator.com/pakistan-paradise-lost/#comment-54065</link>
		<dc:creator>Aashique of Musharraf</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:07:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.pakspectator.com/pakistan-paradise-lost/#comment-54065</guid>
		<description>SHAME ON ZARDARI, NAWAZ SHARIF, SHAHBAZ SHARIF, ISHAQ DAR, NAVEED QAMAR AND THE PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN WHO SUPPORTED AND VOTED SUCH AN INCOMPETENT PEOPLE

THIS IS BANGLADESH (ONCE EAST PAKISTAN)

Bangladeshis abroad boost economy by $7.9bn: officials 

Tuesday, July 08, 2008
DHAKA: Overseas Bangladeshis have pumped a record $7.9 billion back into their home economy in the past financial year, thanks to an increase in expatriate workers, officials said on Monday. 

The amount, to the year ended June 30, 2008, grew by two billion dollars on the previous year, pushing the foreign exchange reserve to a comfortable six billion dollars, central bank governor Salehuddin Ahmed said. 

“We’ve received a record $7.939 billion remittance in the outgoing fiscal year, which is up by more than 33 per cent on the previous fiscal year,” Bangladesh Bank general manager Nabagopal Bhowmik told AFP. “It’s the biggest increase we have ever seen since our people started going abroad with jobs. 

If the trend continues, we will receive around $10 billion of remittance in the 2008-09 fiscal year,” he said. Bhowmik said that as well as a rise in the number of people working abroad, the introduction of strict anti-money laundering laws had also boosted the inflow of money through legitimate banking channels. The country’s overseas employment ministry said nearly 832,000 people got jobs abroad in 2007, almost double the number the previous year, mainly in oil-rich Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia, and Southeast Asia. In the first six months of 2008, a record 489,312 people, up 43 per cent on the same period last year, got jobs abroad. Many of those were now working in new European destinations such as Romania, Poland and Russia, which were increasingly employing Bangladeshi workers, ministry director Salim Reza said. Officials count the number of Bangladeshis working and living abroad at five million, but unofficially the number is estimated to be eight million if those who have left through illegal channels are included. 

Bangladesh, one of the poorest countries in the world with a population of 144 million, counts on the inflow of foreign exchange to fund its imports. The Bangladeshi economy grew by a healthy 6.2 per cent to the year ended June 30, 2008, despite a sluggish investment climate due to a state of emergency, severe flooding and a devastating cyclone. 

THIS IS PAKISTAN

Economy nose-dives in 100 days 

Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Public debt swells by Rs373.5bn, foreign reserves dwindle by Rs2.1bn; inflation jumps to 19.2 pc

By Khalid Mustafa

ISLAMABAD: In the first 100 days of the coalition government, Pakistan’s economy nose-dived with massive fall in foreign reserves by $2.1 billion (15.8 per cent), huge downgrading of rupee by Rs8.3 against US dollar, which is deprecating currency in the world at the moment. 

Owing to the enormous meltdown of rupee during the first 100 days of the new government, the public debt of the country has swelled by Rs373.5 billion, meaning that country’s debt has increased by Rs3.70 billion per day. These shocking disclosures based on hard facts were gathered after deep investigation by The News.

The external debt of the country stood at $45 billion on March 31, 2008, but rupee during March 31- July 7 of current year period depreciated by 11.7 per cent, which caused the massive increase in public debt by Rs373.5 billion. 

According to the top official at Ministry of Finance, with depreciation of Pakistan currency by one rupee the public debt increases by Rs45 billion. Since the Pak currency melted down by Rs8.30 against one US dollar during the time under review, so the country would have to face extra financial burden of Rs373.5 billion in its debt regime.

The market capitalisation situation has also massively deteriorated during the said period showing that the country received financial jerk of Rs933 billion. The market capitalisation was at Rs4,623 billion by March 31, 2008, but it went down by Rs3,690 billion revealing that the country received a financial setback of Rs933 billion ($20.7 billion).

The stock exchange also went down by 3,248 points (21.5%), which stood at 15,126 points by March 31, but shed to 11,878 points just because of the non-availability of required political stability which guarantees economic activities in the country. 

Food inflation has also massively increased up to 19.7 per cent, which was 14.1 per cent before the installation of the coalition government. In spite of many attempts The News failed to make contacts with Finance Minister Naveed Qamar and Secretary Finance Furrukh Qayyum to know their side of the story, as both the top men of the ministry did not respond to the calls of this correspondent.

However, the fast deteriorating economic indicators show that the economy is not on the radar screen of the government. This is quite evident from the fact that there is no resolve in corridors of power to provide stable, cohesive political environment to handle the current economic challenges the country is facing. Furthermore, there is total lack of desire from political leadership of coalition parties enjoying power in the country to face the challenges.

SHAME ON ZARDARI, NAWAZ SHARIF, SHAHBAZ SHARIF, ISHAQ DAR, NAVEED QAMAR AND THE PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN WHO SUPPORTED SUCH AN INCOMPETENT PEOPLE

I wish I was a Bangladeshi</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>SHAME ON ZARDARI, NAWAZ SHARIF, SHAHBAZ SHARIF, ISHAQ DAR, NAVEED QAMAR AND THE PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN WHO SUPPORTED AND VOTED SUCH AN INCOMPETENT PEOPLE</p>
<p>THIS IS BANGLADESH (ONCE EAST PAKISTAN)</p>
<p>Bangladeshis abroad boost economy by $7.9bn: officials </p>
<p>Tuesday, July 08, 2008<br />
DHAKA: Overseas Bangladeshis have pumped a record $7.9 billion back into their home economy in the past financial year, thanks to an increase in expatriate workers, officials said on Monday. </p>
<p>The amount, to the year ended June 30, 2008, grew by two billion dollars on the previous year, pushing the foreign exchange reserve to a comfortable six billion dollars, central bank governor Salehuddin Ahmed said. </p>
<p>“We’ve received a record $7.939 billion remittance in the outgoing fiscal year, which is up by more than 33 per cent on the previous fiscal year,” Bangladesh Bank general manager Nabagopal Bhowmik told AFP. “It’s the biggest increase we have ever seen since our people started going abroad with jobs. </p>
<p>If the trend continues, we will receive around $10 billion of remittance in the 2008-09 fiscal year,” he said. Bhowmik said that as well as a rise in the number of people working abroad, the introduction of strict anti-money laundering laws had also boosted the inflow of money through legitimate banking channels. The country’s overseas employment ministry said nearly 832,000 people got jobs abroad in 2007, almost double the number the previous year, mainly in oil-rich Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia, and Southeast Asia. In the first six months of 2008, a record 489,312 people, up 43 per cent on the same period last year, got jobs abroad. Many of those were now working in new European destinations such as Romania, Poland and Russia, which were increasingly employing Bangladeshi workers, ministry director Salim Reza said. Officials count the number of Bangladeshis working and living abroad at five million, but unofficially the number is estimated to be eight million if those who have left through illegal channels are included. </p>
<p>Bangladesh, one of the poorest countries in the world with a population of 144 million, counts on the inflow of foreign exchange to fund its imports. The Bangladeshi economy grew by a healthy 6.2 per cent to the year ended June 30, 2008, despite a sluggish investment climate due to a state of emergency, severe flooding and a devastating cyclone. </p>
<p>THIS IS PAKISTAN</p>
<p>Economy nose-dives in 100 days </p>
<p>Tuesday, July 08, 2008<br />
Public debt swells by Rs373.5bn, foreign reserves dwindle by Rs2.1bn; inflation jumps to 19.2 pc</p>
<p>By Khalid Mustafa</p>
<p>ISLAMABAD: In the first 100 days of the coalition government, Pakistan’s economy nose-dived with massive fall in foreign reserves by $2.1 billion (15.8 per cent), huge downgrading of rupee by Rs8.3 against US dollar, which is deprecating currency in the world at the moment. </p>
<p>Owing to the enormous meltdown of rupee during the first 100 days of the new government, the public debt of the country has swelled by Rs373.5 billion, meaning that country’s debt has increased by Rs3.70 billion per day. These shocking disclosures based on hard facts were gathered after deep investigation by The News.</p>
<p>The external debt of the country stood at $45 billion on March 31, 2008, but rupee during March 31- July 7 of current year period depreciated by 11.7 per cent, which caused the massive increase in public debt by Rs373.5 billion. </p>
<p>According to the top official at Ministry of Finance, with depreciation of Pakistan currency by one rupee the public debt increases by Rs45 billion. Since the Pak currency melted down by Rs8.30 against one US dollar during the time under review, so the country would have to face extra financial burden of Rs373.5 billion in its debt regime.</p>
<p>The market capitalisation situation has also massively deteriorated during the said period showing that the country received financial jerk of Rs933 billion. The market capitalisation was at Rs4,623 billion by March 31, 2008, but it went down by Rs3,690 billion revealing that the country received a financial setback of Rs933 billion ($20.7 billion).</p>
<p>The stock exchange also went down by 3,248 points (21.5%), which stood at 15,126 points by March 31, but shed to 11,878 points just because of the non-availability of required political stability which guarantees economic activities in the country. </p>
<p>Food inflation has also massively increased up to 19.7 per cent, which was 14.1 per cent before the installation of the coalition government. In spite of many attempts The News failed to make contacts with Finance Minister Naveed Qamar and Secretary Finance Furrukh Qayyum to know their side of the story, as both the top men of the ministry did not respond to the calls of this correspondent.</p>
<p>However, the fast deteriorating economic indicators show that the economy is not on the radar screen of the government. This is quite evident from the fact that there is no resolve in corridors of power to provide stable, cohesive political environment to handle the current economic challenges the country is facing. Furthermore, there is total lack of desire from political leadership of coalition parties enjoying power in the country to face the challenges.</p>
<p>SHAME ON ZARDARI, NAWAZ SHARIF, SHAHBAZ SHARIF, ISHAQ DAR, NAVEED QAMAR AND THE PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN WHO SUPPORTED SUCH AN INCOMPETENT PEOPLE</p>
<p>I wish I was a Bangladeshi</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Aftab S. Alam</title>
		<link>http://www.pakspectator.com/pakistan-paradise-lost/#comment-54019</link>
		<dc:creator>Aftab S. Alam</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:38:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.pakspectator.com/pakistan-paradise-lost/#comment-54019</guid>
		<description>Saleem Khan, tell the missing number here:

1947 +    = 2008

Let me give you a tip it is not 59 (let me give you another tip, take out your little calculator put 2008 in then substract 1947 and you will have the right number - you are welcome!)</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Saleem Khan, tell the missing number here:</p>
<p>1947 +    = 2008</p>
<p>Let me give you a tip it is not 59 (let me give you another tip, take out your little calculator put 2008 in then substract 1947 and you will have the right number - you are welcome!)</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
</channel>
</rss>
