SAVE THE CROCODILES OF MANGHOPIR

SAVE THE CROCODILES OF MANGHOPIR

By Dr. Babur Zahiruddin

In my life time I must have visited Karachi more then 30/ 40 times for the purpose of leisure, pleasure, work or to attend family functions. Hailing from an orthodox religious family I have always been inspired and attracted to visit Holy places and shrines for personal Nirvana and to pay my homage to the great Holy Sufi’s and Saints of the Indo Pakistan sub continent. I have visited most of the shrines in an around Karachi going right up to Sehwan Sharif but some how or the other I missed paying my homage to the shrine of Pir Manghopir. This time on a teaching assignment to Karachi I had a few days off from my busy schedule of delivering lectures, examinations and the most laborious job of marking papers that made me take a break.

Somehow or the other I got an inner inclination a sixth sense intuition and spiritual call to visit
the shrine of Manghopir.

It was a sunny afternoon on Friday 19th November 2009, when I along with my family made my way in the early hours of the morning from my sister’s house in DHA Karachi to Clifton and from there to Saddar garden. The roads were congested and traffic was slow like a snail, but my experienced driver SALEEM was very apt meticulous and expertly maneuvered his way in the traffic. Our Route took us to Bismillah Hotel Pak colony, Bara Road Habib Bank Chowk and Valika Stop. There we were caught in the traffic and had to wait for sometime. The road onwards from Valika Mills to Benares Chowk Baluch Colony and Pukthoonabad was dilapidated and broken which speaks well of the malfeasance, apathy and in competency of the Civic authorities. Finally after one hours plus drive we were able to reach the shrine of MAGHOPIR.

At the shrine we were mobbed by the beggars Vagrants and self styled religious guides who forcefully and emphatically offered their services to conduct us around the shine.
Without indulging too much into the religious background and the family tree of the saint buried there, (much is available on the net for which I have given the relevant links). I undertook my poignant religious rituals and paid my homage to the saint. My wife along with my sister and brother–in–law took a longer time to offer their prayers and paid homage like a devout devotee.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pir_Mangho_Urs


MANGHOPIR HISTORY

Manghopir has the oldest Sufi shrines in Karachi, hot sulphur springs that are believed to have curative powers, and many crocodiles - believed locally to be the sacred disciples of Pir Mangho. Balochs often call this place as ‘Mangi’ or Garm-aap / Sard-aap (due to the presence of the hot & cold springs).
Sheedis and festivals
Manghopir is mostly inhabited by one of Pakistan's smallest ethnic communities, Makrani or Sheedi. Sheedi are said to be the descendants of African slaves brought from Zanzibar and maintain their distinct African identity in the midst of the dominating South Asian cultures.
Crocodiles

The crocodiles are an integral part of the shrine, chronicle of the saint, and are so tightly interwoven that it is almost impossible to judge between fact & fiction. There are many traditions about myth of crocodiles, as if it is believed that Baba Farid gifted the reptiles to Manghopir. The second myth is quite factious - during a visit of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar (the celebrated saint of Sindh) in order to make the barren valley more inhabitable, he caused a hot spring to issue forth from the rock and a grove of date palms to spring up from the ground and the crocodiles were originally the lice of a saint, which he gifted to Pir Mango, to put them into the pond and then each turned into a crocodile. According to a third legend, the crocodiles were introduced in Manghopir by Mor Mubarak (also a saint), who brought them from a cave in Korangi, as a result, after the name of saint, the chief of crocodiles (the eldest one) came to be known as ‘Mor Sahib’.

According to scientific explanations, these crocodiles were carried through some heavy floods, during ancient times and later gathered or collected at this pond. Archaeological investigations have also suggested the existence of a Bronze Age settlement (2500-1700 BC) near Manghopir, who worshipped crocodiles and before the advent of Islam crocodiles were also thought sacred for Hindus. More to the point, certain signs of crocodile-myth in form of animal magic & witchcraft are also seen in the African countries like Guinea and Zaire. Certainly, these trends are because of the unique nature of the reptile, which is always quick and ruthless and one who maintains a cool behavior at the surface of water, while paddling like a devil underneath.
Hot springs and healing resort

There are hot and cold springs about a kilometer from the shrine. Warm water passing through the sulphur rocks is said to contain some medicinal qualities. Many people with skin diseases regularly come from long distances to have a bath to cure them. There are separate swimming pools and shower rooms for men and women. Scientific analysis has shown that this warm water is naturally saturated with carbon dioxide, besides containing some sulpher & other skin friendly nourishments, which are no doubt suitable for many skin-disease patients.
newspaper/local/karachi-manghopir-crocodiles-recaptured-579
I along with my entourage took the services of a local guide who took us to the back of the shrine where there were hot sulphur springs in which many people were bathing. The hygienic and cleanliness of the bathing area of the hot springs left much to be desired the lesser I write about it the better it would be.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-

As I made my way to the crocodile compound I was struck with consternation, awe and amazement at the mammoth size, color & numbers of the crocodiles basking in the winter sun. The sight of such an enormous collection of reptiles must make the National Geographic channel coverage of crocs in the river of Africa and America look like a mini version. They remained there listless & lifeless like perfect stone statues as if someone had carved them out of stone except for an isolated movement of the limb and flicker of the nictating membrane of the eye.
They were more than hundred of them and mostly their ages ranged from seventy to eighty years. The head of the Crocodiles who is known as MOR SAHIB was about hundred (100) years old and was a sight to watch.

He was the centre of attraction with his retinue and seemed to command a mandamus authority over his kingdom.

There were some small babies as well who were swimming in the green murky and dirty waters of the pool whose size was not more than 150 / 200 square feet.
What really shocked me was that there was no organized systematic, regular arrangement for the feeding of these crocodiles as they were at the mercy of the local people & devotees. I enquired from the guide that from where and how are these mammoth creatures fed; I was told that the local villagers and devotees feed them daily in the afternoon between 3 – 4 pm. I looked up towards the sky with spiritual ecstasy and some how or the other thanked and praised the GOD Almighty that even in this remote and desolate place He had arranged for the food in such large quantity for these enormous creatures.
I have visited many crocodile farms and resorts in Thailand Malaysia and United States of America where I had to pay an enormous amount of entry fee to watch them playing and being fed.
Their enclosures were clean spacious and well kept with plenty of space for their swimming and basking.
They were fed regularly and were under care of dedicated care takers and veterinary doctors and of course the patronage and sponsorship of the local / state governments was very much there. There were no more than 30 / 40 of these creatures in each farm I visited abroad.
Its make me think and ponder that outside Pakistan we pay so much to see these sites and habitats of flora and fauna but in Pakistan where we have a rich cultural heritage of natural treasures we leave them at the mercy of nature, Auqaf, heritage departments and despondent individuals who are out only there to make a fast buck and do not care about our national and cultural heritage.

Please ask your self this question what type of a Pakistan are we leaving for our children? It is our duty to leave a legacy rich in flora and fauna for our future generations.
These are good slogans creating a sense of environmental awareness but in order to implement them each one of us must do our bit by contributing their efforts spare time and funds for the upkeep and preservation of our rich cultural heritage.
As a social activist, environmentalist and a conscientious Pakistani, I appeal to all and sundry especially the governor of Sindh, the Mayor of Karachi local MNA’s, MPA’s and all well to do philanthropists to come forward and join hands with me for the renovation extension of the Pond area and rehabilitation and well being of these Manghopir crocodiles.

Email: baburzahiruddin@yahoo.com
Blog: http://punctiliouspakistani.blogspot.com/

.… RUN IN THE RAIN ….

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in the shopping mall. She was hardly 6 years old, innocuous, beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of glowing innocence.

It was raining cats and dogs outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there, under the canopy, just outside the door of the shopping mall. We all waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature had messed up their hurried day.

I am always mesmerized by rainfall and look forward to the early showers which herald the change of season. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world like a natural vacuum cleaner. Memories of my childhood flashed on my mind like running, splashing so carefree as a child that came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the day to day worries of world.

Her little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, 'Mom let's run through the rain,' she said.

'What?' Mom asked. 'Let's run through the rain!' She repeated with excitement. 'No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit,' Mom replied. This young child waited a minute and repeated: 'Mom, let's run through the rain.' 'We'll get soaked if we do,' Mom said. 'No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning,' the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm. 'This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?' 'Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, '

If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything! ' ' The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one left. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she should say.

Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly or childish. Some might even ignore
what was said.. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith. 'Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just need washing,' Mom said. Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They got soaked.

They were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing. Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories. So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday.

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.
I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN. THEY SAY IT TAKES A MINUTE TO FIND A SPECIAL PERSON, AN HOUR TO APPRECIATE THEM, A DAY TO LOVE THEM, BUT THEN AN ENTIRE LIFE TO FORGET THEM.

Send this to the people you'll never forget and remember to also send it to the person who sent it to you. It's a short message to let them know that you'll never forget them. If you don't send it to anyone, it means you're in a hurry. Take the time to live!!!
TREASURE YOUR CHERISHED MEMORIES
By reliving your pleasure moments of the past you feel young and invigorated so don’t lock your memories try to share it with friends and people whom you love and care

Keep in touch with your friends, you never know when you'll need each other -- and don't forget to run in the rain!

THE POWER OF COMPASSION

THE POWER OF COMPASSION

LaGuardia airport is one of America's busiest airports. It was named after Fiorella LaGuardia, the Mayor of New York during the Great Depression.
Acting as judge in one of the poorest parts of the city in the winter of 1935, he found himself forced to pass sentence on a grandmother who had stolen bread to feed her starving grandchildren.

He felt sorry for her but fined her ten dollars. Then he paid the fine himself and fined everyone in the courtroom fifty cents for living in a city where such a thing could happen! The grateful women went home with nearly fifty dollars.
Mayor LaGuardia exemplified the difference between sympathy and compassion:

Sympathy sees and says: I'm sorry.
Compassion sees and whispers: I'll help.
Please compare the above with the present day scenario in Pakistan where Justice is so expensive and delayed that people have lost their confidence in the judicial system of Pakistan.
The time has come where we all must raise our voice against in justice, exploitation, bad Governance and loss of social and moral values.

Contribute your little bit in what ever way you can

Thar coal Reserves

Thar coal Reserves

If All The Oil Reserves of Saudia Arab & Iran Put Together
These Are Approximately 375 Billion Barrels,
But
A Single Thar Coal Reserve Of Sindh is about 850 Trillion Cubic Feet,
Which is More Than Oil Reserves Of Saudia & Iran.

These reserves estimated at 850 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of gas, about 30 times higher than Pakistan 's proven gas reserves of 28 TCF.

Dr Murtaza Mughal president of Pakistan Economy Watch in a statement said that these reserves of coal worth USD 25 trillion can not only cater the electricity requirements of the country for next 100 years but also save almost four billion dollars in staggering oil import bill.

Just 2% usage of Thar Coal Can Produce 20,000 Mega Watts of Electricity for next 40Years ,without any single Second of Load Shedding.
and if the whole reserves are utilized, then it could easily be imagined how much energy could be generated.

The coal power generation would cost Pakistan PKR 5.67 per unit while power generated by Independent Power Projects cost PKR 9.27.

It Requires Just Initial 420 Billion Rupees Initial Investment,
Whereas Pakistan Receives annually 1220 Billion from Tax Only.

Chinese and other companies had not only carried out surveys and feasibilities of this project but also offered 100 percent investment in last 7 to 8 years but the “Petroleum Gang” always discouraged them in a very systematic way.

But Petroleum lobby , is very strong in Pakistan and they are against any other means of power generation except for the imported oil. This lobby is major beneficiary of the increasing oil bill that is estimated above 15 billion dollar this year. Even GOV. is planning to Sell all these reserve to a company on a very low price.
When Pervez Musharraf was president he gave green signal to embark upon the initiation of work on exploiting energy potential of these coal reserves of Thar under a modern strategy.


Think About This, How We Can Help Our Home Land .

Spread this knowledge among all Pakistanis.

RESTORE TO US THE PAKISTAN OF 1948

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Dear Country men

Please spare a few minutes to read how our great leaders were and compare them with our present day leaders.

Our head will hang in shame when we see the misdemeanours and the greed of our rulers.

It seems that Pakistan is for sale and the takers are here to buy it at a throw away price.

We are our selves responsible for this quagmire of which we are in now.

MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON PAKISTAN

Dr. Babur Zahiruddin

(Please forward)

RESTORE TO US THE PAKISTAN OF 1948.

The Cabinet Meeting was to be held – the ADC inquires, “Sir what will be served in the meeting…Tea or Coffee?”

Sir looked up and replied sternly…the ADC was taken aback! “Whichever of the Ministers wish to have tea or coffee should drink it before leaving his home or when he returns home. The Nation’s money is for the Nation and not for the Ministers!”

After this instruction – as long as he was the Head of the nation …nothing except water was ever served in the Cabinet meetings.

Some items amounting to Rs.38.50 paisa had been purchased for the Governor General's House. He asked for the bill; a few items were purchased on Mohtarima Fatima Jinnah’s request; he gave instructions that the amount was to be deducted from her account. A couple of items were for his own personal use…their amount to be deducted from his personal account. The remaining items for the Governor House, he said, may be charged to the Government. Instructions were issued to check and make sure what may be charged to the government in the future.

When the brother of the British Emperor – Duke of Gloucester was going to visit Pakistan – the British envoy requested that he receive him at the Airport. He replied, “if I do so then the British head of state (King) would have to reciprocate when my brother would visit London”.

Once the ADC placed a Visiting Card before him…he took it and tearing it said, “Tell him not to come here before me, in future!” the card was his brother’s and his fault..? Printed under the brother's name was…Brother of Mohammed Ali Jinnah Governor General Pakistan.

During the severe winter of Ziarat, Col. Ilahi Bukhsh offered him a pair of socks. He liked them but inquired about the price. On learning that the price was Rs.2/-, he said the price was high. Col Ilahi Bukhsh replied that “the socks had been purchased from your account” to which the answer was that “even my account is a National trust…the Head of a poor country should not be so extravagant!” With that he rewrapped the socks and returned them to the Colonel.

He was impressed with the work of a particular Nurse in Ziarat and asked if he could do something for her. She said that she was from Punjab and all her family were there, she was alone in Quetta if he could have her transferred to Punjab.

He answered rather regretfully, “I am sorry…this is in the hands of the Health Ministry and not the Governor General's jurisdiction.”

He ordered a writing table to be installed in his plane…when the File reached the Finance Ministry; the finance minister sanctioned it but sent a written note stating, “The Governor General must ask the Finance Ministry before issuing any such Order”. He gave a written apology and withdrew his previous order.

There is the incident of the Railway track barrier/gates which is well known. When Gul Hasan (his ADC, later C-in-C Pakistan Army) requested the railway track gates to be opened so that his car may pass over unhindered, his face turned red in anger and he ordered the gates to be shut saying, “If I do not obey rules – who else will!”

This was the Pakistan of 60 years ago when Mohammed Ali Jinnah was Head of State…We have evolved and arrived at this Pakistan of today. Today, railway track barriers/gates (Phatak) aside – all traffic signals of the city are switched off- both sides of the main roads are closed to traffic for an hour before the royal entourage goes by and the Head of State may announce a 5 crore donation or funding without a sanction of the Finance Ministry and even after a refusal for a sanction from the finance ministry, aeroplanes purchased and on orders from the President and Prime Minister, scores of people are transferred – as many people’s jobs are terminated and without merit…by bending of rules and regulations as many personnel given promotion.

What to mention socks…even the kids pampers are charged to the National treasury which has brought the expenditure of the President House to 18 and ½ and the Prime ministers budget to 20 Crores. Here nephews, sisters, brother in laws hold sway over the portals of power…where Secretaries receive phone calls from, “I am the brother in law of the Sahib.”

It is a Pakistan in which the full government is present at the airport to receive the vice-president of the United States of America. In the Cabinet meetings, besides tea, coffee full lunches and dinners are served. The kitchens of the President and prime Minister turn crores of rupees into smoke annually! This is the advanced Pakistan where 16 crore poor people are trying to survive!

When the Quaid e Azam left the Governor House on duty there was one police car with a single Inspector of police who also happened to be a non-muslim – at the time when Gandhi had been killed and Quaid e Azam’s life was in danger too – in spite of that the Quaid e Azam went for his evening walk, enjoyed the fresh air without security…but today the Heads of State do not travel even ten kilometres without modern bullet proof cars, expert security guards and well trained Commandos –

We have failed to instil equality in our country, we have been unable to establish a dynamic morally upright nation…have not even made it a peaceful secure modern State!

We the 16 crore poor of Pakistan desire the moral integrity of the Pakistan of 60 years back…Relieve us of this kind of progress, prosperity and prestige and restore to us the venerable Pakistan of the Quaid e Azam…the Pakistan of 1948.

Words of Almighty Allah:

Sura Nahl.

“We raised an Apostle in every nation, saying; serve Allah and avoid the idols. Amongst them were some whom Allah guided and others destined to go astray. Roam the world and see what the end of the disbelievers was!"

An open letter to Gen Ashfaq Pervaiz Kiyani, H.I, (M)

An open letter to July 16, 2009
Gen Ashfaq Pervaiz Kiyani, H.I, (M)
Chief of Army Staff
GHQ
Rawalpindi

Sir,
I am a retired Captain of the Pakistan Army having taken off my uniform in 1982 when I felt that my further presence in the Army will not be mutually beneficial to either one of us.
I had a very short stay in the Army but it was very eventful, full of thrill, fun and experience, as I had the honour to serve with the troops in A.K and NORTHERN AREAS.
It was in the 70’s and 80’s that the Army was held in high esteem and people who served in the armed forces were proud of their sense of belonging to the Pakistan Armed Forces. Where ever and whenever an ordinary soldier like me went in the public we were given honor and were looked up to as symbol of envy and respect.

I also as a young Captain at that time used to ride high on the pinnacle of glory with haughtiness and an air of arrogance because of the uniform I wore and because of the espirit de corps.

Sir, I come from a martial background, my father, brother in laws, sister, wife and father in law all served in the Army because we were proud to be a part of the Pakistan Army. My father Brig ® MUHAMMED ALIMUDDIN was commissioned in the Royal Indian Army in 1941 and served in the Burma campaign in the Second World War. In 1947 at the time of independence he opted for Pakistan and came to Rawalpindi to lay the foundations of the Army Medical Corps from a nascent stage. My father having served in the Pak Army for about 34 years retired in 1974.
My father Brig ® Muhammad Alimuddin who retired from the Pakistan Army as an Eye Specialist played a long innings and met his Creator on 28th December 2001 and was buried with Military rituals in the Army graveyard along with my mother who preceded him in joining her creator on 13th October 2001.

Since the death of my parents it has been my regular and sacrosanct routine to visit the graves of my parents on Thursday morning every week along with my wife and children to clean the graves and to offer FATEHA.

With a passage of time my children got married and settled abroad, and now it has been left to the middle age decrepitude couple comprising of myself and my wife having been left alone to follow the family ritual of visiting and cleaning the ancestral graves.
This practice has been stereo typed and ingrained in our weekly routine which we are following regularly since 2002 and very seldom have we missed out on going to the graveyard because of illness or being out of station.

Many times my sons who are now settled in Canada and USA asked us to settle abroad, but since my roots are here, being the son of the soil and as the graves of my ancestors are in Rawalpindi, I have always preferred to be in Rawalpindi because of my emotional, poignant and sentimental attachment with this city and above all, I want to be buried in Rawalpindi where my parents are lying in eternal sleep.

On 16th July Thursday 2009, I went as per my routine at 10:40 hours to visit the graves of my parents and to offer FATEHA, but the irony of fate and to my utter consternation and misfortune that I was rudely prevented to enter the Army Racecourse graveyard because there was a VVIP burial in which the top brass of the Armed Forces were participating. I implored and beseeching requested the M.P present to allow me to enter just to offer FATEHA along with my wife who was carrying flowers, garlands and incense sticks to offer at the graves, but all my imploring and requests were in vain. It seems that people in authority have the propensity to carry their malfeasance and braggadocio to extreme limits in order to gain propitious mileage and largesse with their superiors.
I turned back from the Army graveyard with vitriolic thoughts and vituperative soliloquy and mutterings that what has become of Pakistan Army where a law abiding citizen is prevented and impeded from performing his sacrosanct rights and beliefs of visiting the graves of his parents.

The VVIP culture which has off late come into existence in Pakistan in the form of routes, closures and barricades in order to satisfy the egoistic proclivity of the ruling elite of the Armed Forces and the high Government Officials is causing great hardships, discomfort and heartburn for the common man of Pakistan who’s right of freedom of movement is protected and guaranteed by the constitution, but not available or given to him.
The VVIP culture should be restricted to CMH, DHA, GHQ and defence establishments like Park Lane (Murree Brewery), Secretariat no II and Chaklala Garrison but please spare the graveyards from such atrocious and dogmatic cultures which fail to distinguish between the Gods creation that every man is born equal.

A few days from now onwards down the memory lane sooner or later I will also perish and mingle in the dust like you and will be buried unlike you without any military honors or the volley of muskets but our resting places will be the same mother earth.

NOW MY QUESTION ARISES?

Have I the right to visit the graves of my parents / ancestors or not?
If I do not have the right than please turn the whole of the Army racecourse graveyard in to a red zone so that ordinary people like me have no right to enter the REDZONE (graveyard).
There are no ranks in the graveyard where we all have to go eventually and be buried one day.

Sir, please spare the graveyards and places of worships like Mosques etc from your VVIP culture lest tomorrow there maybe no VVIPs and no VVIP culture.
In the end please let me quote from Thomas Gray’s famous poem:
“An Elegy written in a country churchyard”
“THE PATH OF GLORY LEADS BUT TO THE GRAVE”


Dr. Babur Zahiruddin
Capt ®
123/A, Market Road Saddar
Rawalpindi

OIL CRISIS IN PAKISTAN AND HOW INDIA IS TACKLING IT

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OIL CRISIS IN PAKISTAN AND HOW INDIA IS TACKLING IT

1. India adds 103.595% to the basic price of crude oil to arrive at the consumer price. Considering that the current price of crude oil is $ 60 per barrel, cost of oil per barrel in Indian Rs will be $60 x INR 49 (1$=Rs 49) = Rs 2940

One barrel consists of approximately 160 litres. So Price of crude oil per litre will be INR 2940/160 = INR 18.375. Add 103.595% under different heads of taxes and duties and other costs, the consumer price will be INR 37.411 WITHOUT GOVT SUBSIDY.

2. Pakistan is placed in a difficult situation. One US dollar costs us Rs. 82 as compared to INR 49. The depreciated Pak Rupee value vis-a-vis US$ emerges from lower exports, higher imports. It is government's responsibility to increase its exports and reduce its imports. There is no reason to let the common man suffer on account of the performance of the government.

3. Pakistan needs to work on two things. First, it has to work on weighted average inventory cost. The weighted average price of crude oil of the previously months should form the basis for fixing the basic crude oil price. Add to it, the fixed percentage of duties and taxes and other costs and arrive at the end price for consumers. Second, because of the depreciated value of our rupee vis-a-vis US$, the government of Pakistan has to reduce its duties and taxes and other costs to apply a lower cost addition to the basic crude oil price than the government of India (103.595%).

4. What the government of Pakistan can do further is:

a. Buy crude oil on the basis of future projections of oil prices, rising or falling, and keep adjusting its crude oil inventory accordingly. It can raise its oil inventory when the price is low, and decrease it when the price is high.

b. Fix reasonable refining cost for the oil refineries and ask them to improve upon their operational efficiencies to lower their refining cost.

c. Fix reasonable profit margin for oil marketing companies and ask them to improve upon their operational efficiencies to lower their marketing cost.

d. The refineries and oil marketing companies should be allowed net profit margins in accordance with the prevailing corporate dividends in the stock market.

It is time for all to tighten their belts. The government, the refineries and the oil marketing companies need to improve their operational efficiencies, re-negotiate shipping costs of crude oil to Pakistan, reduce domestic transportation cost, reduce bank borrowing cost, and reduce net profit margins.

India increased its prices of petrol by Rs. 4 per litre and diesel by Rs. 2 per litre as of 1st July 2009.The following statement reflects upon the circumstances under which the prices were increased.

"With hike in prices of diesel and petrol, oil companies will be able to avoid red ink in their balance sheet as they were bleeding under the burden of subsidies, discounts and oil bonds," Sajjan Jindal, president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham), said in a statement.

The Confederation of Oil Industry (CII), another industry lobby, said the hike would add around 1.3 percent to inflation.

(Source: http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/India_inc_welcomes_petrol_price_hike-nid-58761.html).

"In view of the continuous rise in global crude prices, a marginal increase had become unavoidable," he argued and said the petrol price was raised by "only" Rs four against Rs 6.9 as desired and diesel price by "only" Rs two against Rs 4.11 "keeping in mind the interests of 'aam aadmi' (common man)."

He said the retail prices of PDS kerosene and LPG were not increased by the government for which the projected subsidy burden amounted to Rs 30,000 crore.

(Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/uproar-in-ls-over-fuel-price-hike-no-roll-back-says-govt/484117/)

Respectfully submitted for due consideration on high priority as the high petrol and diesel prices are bound to adversely affect the economic well being of the people at large who are already undergoing hyper inflation of other items of daily use.

The people of Pakistan are advised to use their own application of mind and see for themselves what actually is the price of POL products and what are Government is charging us.

This is an exercise of Robbing Peter to pay Paul.

You are the 70% of the silent majority

Raise your VOICE

Stand up and be counted

DR. Babur Zahiruddin

Reference:
Websites:
www.ggovernance.co.cc
www.goodgovernancecouncil.co.cc

Email: good.governance@gmail.com

WHY AMERICANS ARE HERE

WHY AMERICANS ARE HERE
It was a very cold morning on the 15th of February 1989 that the last Soviet soldier was crossing the bridge at HAIRATAN to TERMEZ on the Soviet side. During the previous weeks thousands of RUSSIAN troops had driven up the SALANG Highway in tanks, trucks and APCs, running the last gauntlet before gaining the sanctuary of the motherland. They had left Kabul a battalion at a time, usually at night, overloaded with Panasonic TV sets and other Western electrical goods unobtainable at home. They wore their medals and some took their pet dogs. It was more or less a dignified departure. The Russian diplomats did not climb desperately onto the last helicopter from the roof of their embassy, as the Americans had done with their tail between their legs in Saigon 14 years earlier.

The very last man to cross into the Soviet Union was the 45 year old widower, Lieutenant- General BORIS GROMOV. GROMOV was a veteran of three tours in Afghanistan. He walked over the bridge without a backward glance to embrace his teenage son, Maxim, who had been brought especially from Moscow to welcome him on the Russian side.
On the same date, thousands of miles away, at the CIA headquarters at LANGLEY, VIRGINIA, William Webster, the man who had replaced his predecessor as director CIA, gave a champagne party. The toasts were to victory; the Vietnam debacle had been reversed and avenged; now it was the Soviets in retreat and counting the costs in men and money of a nine-year war. The Soviets were out of Afghanistan. Revenge, for the rough handling and drubbing the US forces had received in Vietnam was squared. This was due in part to the Soviet Union’s supplying America’s enemies with the means to fight in the VIETNAM war was complete.
By and by it dawned on the central characters that, with the fulfillment of the GENEVA ACCORD, which had been signed in mid-April, 1988, the US lost interest in finishing the war. From that moment onwards the doubts were confirmed and it became clear to the game players and directors that their aims (Americans) had now diverged and digressed away from a military victory towards a compromise peace or rather towards a well planned stalemate. The objectives of the US became evident and more and more clear to ensure that no Islamic fundamentalist government was established in KABUL.
The Americans thought that if that happened, it would merely be replacing one adversary with another. Ironically, in this they had the support of the Soviets, who were equally fearful of Islam stirring up religious or nationalistic feelings in their republics north of the AMU River. From the moment the Soviets agreed to quit Afghanistan it was in the interests of both superpowers to prevent an outright military victory for the Mujahideen.

The Americans left an unfinished agenda with their hasty and premature with drawl from the Afghanistan / Pakistan. Many questions remain unanswered and unsettled.
What will be the form and mode of the future Government in Afghanistan? Who will be responsible for the reconstruction and development of the after math of the war? What will be the fate of the high profile weapons like stingers, sparrows and the lancets which were randomly distributed amongst the various Mujahideen Commanders? What will be the future of the region as regards its propensity and proclivity?
What steps will be under taken so that future adventurism of the BEAR must not be repeated?
All these questions even after passing of two decades still remain a big mysterious question mark in the archives of history.
The American role and their covert operation were simply to weaken and break the BEAR HUG of Soviet domination and Hegemony in Afghanistan. They did not come here to help the down trodden people of the third world nor were they concerned that Pakistan may be overrun by the soviet expansionist design.

If the Americans were so keenly interested in democracy and amelioration of the third world they would have stayed back and helped and supervised in the postwar reconstruction development of Afghanistan.



“Quote
The Taliban will ‘never be defeated’: Sunday Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6445981.ece
Colonel Amir Sultan speaks about his involvement in Afghan Jihad.
‘Colonel Imam’, the Pakistani agent who trained Mullah Omar and the warlords to fight the Soviets, says the US must negotiate with its enemies. The Pakistani intelligence agent who trained Mullah Omar, the Taliban leader, to fight has warned that NATO forces will never overpower their enemies in Afghanistan and should talk to them rather than sacrifice more lives. “You can never win the war in Afghanistan,” said so-called “Colonel Imam”, who ran a training programme for the Afghan resistance to the Soviet Union’s occupation from 1979 to 1989, then helped to form the Taliban.
One of Imam’s biggest backers was Congressman Charlie Wilson, the Texan who was instrumental in securing funding for Operation Cyclone, the CIA programme to supply arms with which the Mujaheedin would fight the Soviet troops. “He used to dance with happiness at seeing our training camps,” said Imam. Within 10 years the Russians had been forced out. “Total expenditure just $5 billion and not a single American life,” said Imam. “Now the Americans are spending hundreds of billions and losing hundreds of lives.”

After the 1988 Geneva accords on the Soviet withdrawal. Imam told Charlie Wilson: “You’re abandoning the Afghans. They need financial support for rehabilitation.” Wilson replied: “Dollars don’t grow on trees.” “Do Afghan youth grow on trees?” asked Imam. “Over 1.5m Afghans have died.” Furious at the American betrayal and devastation caused by the result of the infighting in the Afghan resistance, he became close to Omar. “I love him,” he said. “He brought peace to Afghanistan.” Unquote”
The viewer of the motion picture CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR in which the central character was played by TOM HANKS will well remember that in the end he asks the US senate standing committee to sanction one million dollars for the building of schools in Afghanistan.
But his request was turned down by the Senate and in the last scene he is shown brandishing the stinger and toasting to the victory of UNCLE SAM in Afghanistan.
This ends the story of the American involvement in Afghanistan till 1989 and the start of the destruction of Afghanistan and the Destabilization of the region with the spillover across the DURRAND line into Pakistan.
The advent of the new millennium 2000 saw the global rise of American imperialism and its domination and sphere of influence in the South East Asia, Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe.
Post 9/11 scenario saw the US invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq on the pretext and subterfuge for hunting for OSAMA BIN LADEN or weapons of mass destructions (WMD). The US faced one failure after another in both these countries culminating into stalemate yet the objectives were not achieved even at high cost of men, money & equipment.
THE AMERICANS ARE HERE AND THEY ARE HERE TO STAY WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.
Their stay in the region as uninvited guests has been made more hospitable amenable and comfortable by the presence of subservient Governments and minions in the form of scullions, autocratic rulers and unpopular leaders for their personal gain and greater aggrandizement. The Americans need to admit that Pakistan, metaphorically speaking, has been their legally-wedded wife and has with due fidelity always helped promote the American agenda. But the Americans have treated us as a woman on hire while using us in times of need. (Incidentally, America has always been enamored of the flirt next door, which seems to have relented recently because of a very hefty nuclear dower gift).
THE MILLIONS DOLLAR QUESTION WHICH NOW ARISES WHY THE AMERICAN’S ARE HERE?
The answer lies in the start of the Great game II.
The Americans have come in this region only with a single agenda that is to play THE GREAT GAME again which was played between the British and the Russians in the later part of the Eighteenth century.
This is a repeat of the GREAT GAME but now the stage is very much the same but players and the actors are different and so are the directors.
What are the American interests in this Region??
Some of the probabilities are:
1. Are they after NUKES of PAKISTAN, IRAN and NORTH KOREA?
2. To salvage their deteriorating abysmal national image?
3. To redeem their badly tarnished EGO?
4. To establish MILITARY Bases for their covert operations and gain warm water access to the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf?
5. To set up eavesdropping and listening posts to contain and over look China?
6. To prevent the resurgence and renaissance of Islamic revival through basic fundamentalism and the waging of the JEHAD?
7. To monitor and launch strikes against non-compliant and rationally charged Iranian state, which may prove to be a potential impediment in their expansionist designs?
8. To set up a series of satellite and puppet states in the regions, which will be at the back and call of UNCLE SAM like a Pet Poodle?
9. To finds lucrative markets for their arms ammunition and military goods by escalating trivial frictions and tensions in the region into full scale Wars and insurgencies?
10. To bring the globe under its sphere of influence and domination?

The answer to all these questions is that the Americans have a far greater reaching and long terms plans in the region than what meets the eye of an ordinary reader.
About twenty five years ago in one of the TOP SECRET briefing rooms in the PENTAGON a young CIA operative from Langley Virginia was giving a briefing to a team of foreign MILITARY delegation under CHAIRMANSHIP OF MAJ. GEN SULLVIAN with senate committee on special projects in attendance about the future containment of Russians expansionist designs. This briefing was done under the ages of DAPRA (Defense advance research projects agency) a Futuristic thinking clandestine organization whose purpose was to ponder on far out problems like how to turn programmable matter into future transformers like weapons of war. He postulated and predicted the future breakup of USSR into sub domains of independent states. At that time his paper and presentation were subject to aspersion ridicule and mockery but later on this hypothecation became true and he was rewarded with one of their highest invisible award.
This person was no other than MAJ. RALPH PETERS at that time whose latest article by the name of BLOOD BORDERS can be found on the WIKIPAEDIA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Peters

I am quoting some of the relevant excerpts from his article which may be of some interest and amusement to the readers. The map that accompanies this article clearly defines the future boundaries and borders as UNCLE SAM would like to have so as to achieve their Great Game objectives. !
“Quote
International borders are never completely just. But the degree of injustice they inflict upon those whom frontiers force together or separate makes an enormous difference — often the difference between freedom and oppression, tolerance and atrocity, the rule of law and terrorism, or even peace and war.

MAP
Please click on the above link and view the map.
The boundaries projected in the maps accompanying this article redress the wrongs suffered by the most significant “cheated” population groups, such as the KURDS, BALUCH and ARAB SHIA, but still fail to account adequately for Middle Eastern CHRISTIANS, BAHAIS, ISMAILIS, NAQSHBANDIS and many another numerically lesser minorities.
The most glaring injustice in the notoriously unjust lands between the Balkan Mountains and the Himalayas is the absence of an independent Kurdish state. There are between 27 million and 36 million Kurds living in contiguous regions in the Middle East. Greater than the population of present-day Iraq, even the lower figure makes the Kurds the world’s largest ethnic group without a state of its own. Worse Kurds have been oppressed by every government controlling the hills and mountains where they’ve lived since Xenophon’s day.
What Afghanistan would lose to IRAN in the west, it would gain in the east, as Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier tribes would be reunited with their Afghan brethren. Pakistan, another unnatural state, would also lose its Baluch territory to Free Baluchistan. The remaining “natural” Pakistan would lie entirely east of the Indus, except for a westward spur near Karachi. Unquote”
So far what has written by me until now is nothing new and available on the net but a articulate and visionary reader can put two and two together and come to his own conclusions.
I have read as many books as I could find on the subject - book after book after book. And by the way, I urge you to read. In television you get capsules of news that someone else puts together what they want you to hear about the news. In newspapers you get what the editors select to put in the newspaper. If you want to know about the world and understand, to educate yourself, you have to get out and dig, dig up books and articles for yourself. Read, and find out for yourselves. As you'll see, the issues are very, very intricate, entangled and important.


THE AMERICANS ARE HERE AND THEY ARE HERE IN A BIG WAY.
WHY ?
I am no Rudyard Kipling neither I am an astrologist but as a defense analyst it is my theory that by the year 2015 all the fossil fuels and tangible mineral resources which is the lifeline of the west and from which the west draws its inherent energy & strength will be more or less depleted. The next centre of energy fuel and power will be the region as pointed out in the preceding paragraph. If one takes a big compass and keeps one of its point on one of the central Islamic states like AZERBAIJAN or TURKMENISTAN and opens the other leg for 3000 thousand miles then the area that comes within this circle stretches from the Sinai peninsula to the warm waters of the Arabian gulf and from the Ural mountains and the TUNDRA region to the bay of Bengal down below. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reko_Diq. This region contains more than sixty percent of the world s natural and mineral resources like oil gas precious stones and precious metals like gold, copper, uranium and chromium. The areas of the Central Islamic states, IRAN, CHINA, PAKISTAN, http://punctiliouspakistani.blogspot.com are the regions containing these natural and mineral resources.s
PAKISTAN amongst these countries is very important because of its geopolitical, geo-strategic location and the focus of paradigm attention as regards the Islamic World. To give inherent strength to the power roulette is the coercive factor of the presence of Islamic bomb and the rise of the Islamic fundamentalism of JEHAD. This has made the west Jittery and apprehensive lest the rise of Islamic Resurgence and renaissance may envelope the whole world.
The start of the next 2010 decade will see great changes in the world’s geopolitical scenario fueled and catalyzed by neocolonialism and remote proxy wars. The Americans are here as they want to have their hegemony and control over the world and whoever controls Pakistan and this region will control the world.
BY
DR. BABUR ZAHIRUDDIN.
Address 123/A, Market Road Saddar Rawalpindi Pakistan
Day Time 0092 -51 – 5584905, 5792836
Fax 0092 – 51 - 5792837
E-mail baburzahiruddin@yahoo.com

Blog punctiliouspakistani.blogspot.com


The writer is an Eye Specialist by Profession, Defense analyst, Social activist and Spokesperson of Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Association (PESA).

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DEAR COUNTRY MEN

DEAR COUNTRY MEN

Here are a few facts about my beloved country Pakistan which one should know and propagate.

WORLD'S 1ST LARGEST SALT MINE:

Khewra salt mine has proven reserves of 300 million tons. This reserve could not be consumed in 600 years even at the rate of 5 lakh tons production every day.


WORLD'S 2ND LARGEST COAL RESERVE:

Thar Coal Reserve are around 850 trillion cubic feet which are equal 400 billion barrels of oil. These coal reserves equal 618 billion barrels of oil. If used for power generation can yield more than 20,000 mg watts of electricity.


WORLD'S 3RD LARGEST GAS RESERVES:

Pakistan with gas reserves of 28tcf (current reserves 32.8tcf) So far about 52.7 TCF of gas reserves have been discovered of which some are in the nascent state while some are in the pipeline. In view of large indigenous reserves we still have to beg IRAN to give us Gas.


WORLD'S 4TH LARGEST COTTON PRODUCER:

Pakistan is the fourth largest cotton producer, third largest cotton consumer, second largest importer and with fourth largest cotton area. Real performance is counted in terms of yield per hectare and Pakistan has yield around Kgs 650 per hectare lagging behind dozens of countries.


WORLD'S 5TH LARGEST COPPER & GOLD RESERVES:

The Reko Diq is a large copper-gold porphyry resource on the Tethyan belt, located in the dry desert conditions of southwest Pakistan within the remote and sparsely populated province of Baluchistan. The Tethyan belt is a prospective region for large gold-copper porphyries. Barrick has a 50% interest in Tethyan Copper Company (the other 50% is owned by Antofagasta plc), which has a 75% interest in the Reko Diq project and associated mineral interests (for a resulting 37.5% interest in Reko Diq). As of December 31, 2007, Barrick's share of measured and indicated and inferred resources are 3.7 and 10.5 million ounces respectively. Barrick's share of measured and indicated and inferred copper are 4.3 and 13.4 billion pounds respectively.
Reko Diq is a giant copper and gold project in Chaghi, containing 12.3 million tons of copper and 20.9 million ounces of gold in inferred and indicated resources. The copper-gold deposits at Reko Diq are believed to be even bigger than Sarcheshmeh in Iran and Escondida in Chile. The Reko Diq copper deposits which is in the neighborhood of Saindak copper project, is four times larger in copper ore tonnage than Saindak. The most credible international surveys suggest that Reko Diq is one of the biggest undeveloped copper projects in the world with over 11 billion pounds of copper and nine million ounces of gold.

Please visit punctiliouspakistani@blogspot.com for greater details

WORLD'S 5TH LARGEST ARMY:

It was amazing to know that my great country Pakistan has the 5th biggest army of the world, but this doesn't means that the biggest is also the strongest as well, because the strongest would be the one which would have the latest technology weapons where the morale of
Troops is high and the Army is a peoples Army and not a mercenary Army at the Beck and call of UNCLE SAM.



WORLD'S 5TH LARGEST MILK PRODUCER



WORLD'S 11TH LARGEST WHEAT PRODUCER



WORLD'S 12TH LARGEST RICE PRODUCER


BIGGEST SYSTEM OF CANNAL NETWORK (PUNJAB) IN THE WORLD.

AMAZING SYSTEM OF UNDERGROUND CANNAL NETWORK KARIAZ IN BALOCHISTAN


WORLD 3 TALLEST PEAKS ARE IN PAKISTAN


THE ONLY SOURCE OF PINK TOPAZ, KATLANG NEAR MARDAN


Only few countries on earth are lucky enough to have that much natural resources and wonders. THEN WHY ARE WE AT THIS STAGE?

What differentiates us from others? It's all about 'MINDSET'. Nothing will change as long as the 'MINDSET' of the leaders and the people remains in different and callous.


We're shameless now. We can't blame our leadership for everything. When we can force the Government to come on its knee and restore the CJ, who is of no use. Then why can't we force the government to use the resources of this country to make Pakistan the Next Super Power??? or at least REAL ASIAN TIGER???

It is the 70% of the silent majority which remains wordless, speechless & has a couldn’t care attitude that makes the difference.
YOU ARE THE SILENT MAJORITY

Stand up and be counted.

Show your social activism

Ask yourself What Pakistan are we leaving behind for posterity ?

Spread my message as much as possible.

Reject the present budget as it is a Jugglery of figures and it is like Robbing Peter to Pay Paul.

Jewel in the Crown

On June 14, 2008 there was a well attended demonstration outside the Quetta Press Club.

This incident was well reported in the National news papers, but it did not make any headlines nor any ripples were caused in the national way of life of an ordinary Pakistani citizen. This event passed un-noticed and was soon forgotten as many fiascoes and malfeasance are wiped like dust under the carpet in Pakistan.

Why were these people agitating? This will be deliberated subsequently, but the point of concern and worth noting is that no one from the Government whether it was the CENTRAL or the PROVINCIAL took any note of this minor incident.

One NGO by the name of AZAT foundation tried to highlight the rights concern and miseries of these demonstrators.

The reason for this commotion, brouhaha and demonstrations were the termination of the services of out sourced workers by Pakistani Contractors such as Capital drilling, Security 2000, RAK MOR Drilling, Zain Company, Zia & Brothers.

In April 2008, Zain Company terminated the services of 40 (forty) drilling assistants and recruited novices and non-locals. This caused a lot of resentment and indignation amongst the local population and this was the focal point and reason for the demonstrations in front of the Quetta Press Club.

One Ponders why such high profile companies are working with alacrity in Balouchistan and what are the stakes? The stakes must be very high for such mega conglomerates who are rapacious and reticent to work in remote undeveloped hazardous, hostile and barren terrain.
The reasons are the high deposits of gold and copper which are found in REKO DIQ and SAINDAK in Balouchistan.

Reko Diq is a small town in Chaghi District, Balouchistan having the worlds largest Gold and Copper reserves. Reports emerging from various sources indicate that the US $ 65 Billion natural deposits might have been sold for a meager US $ 21 Billion to TETHYAN COPPER of Australia which has taken the contract to develop this mine while BARRICK GOLD CORPORATION of Canada (a JEWISH Company) and ANTOFAGASTA of Chile have a joint-ownership of the copper-gold deposit at REKO DIQ.

The Reko Diq deposit is being explored by TETHYAN COPPER COMPANY PRIVATE LTD (75%) and the (BDA) Balochistan Development Authority (25%). TETHYAN COPPER COMPANY is held jointly (50:50) by Barrick Gold Corporation and ANTOFAGASTA Minerals.

Currently the deposit is at scoping / pre feasibility stage. It is a world class copper / gold porphyry style deposit, typical of the TETHYAN belt. It has been sold to the Zionist controlled regimes by the Pakistani Government under the enigmatic and esoteric dictator General ® Pervaiz Mushrraf at a throw away price of $ 21 billion. Rough estimates suggest that the gold and copper at the surface accounts for $ 65 billion worth of deposits.

REKO DIQ is a giant copper and gold project in CHAGHI, containing 12.3 million tons of copper and 20.9 million ounces of gold in inferred and indicated resources. The REKO DIQ copper deposits, which is in the neighborhood of SAINDAK copper project, is four times larger in copper ore tonnage as compared to that of SAINDAK. The most credible international surveys suggest that REKO DIQ is one of the biggest undeveloped copper projects in the world with over 11 billion pounds of copper and nine million ounces of gold deposits.

So far, three foreign companies have purchased stakes in the well poised lucrative and strategic copper and gold assets setting off a cycle of chain of foreign ownership of REKO DIQ copper project. Pakistan has only 25 per cent stake in the REKO DIQ copper project. The rest of the 75 per cent stakes had first been transferred to BHP BILLITON, the Anglo-Australian mining giant and then BHP BILLITON under a deed of waiver and consent transferred it to the Australian TCC and now TCC has sold its 19.95 per cent stake to ANTOFAGASTA Minerals.

ACCORDING TO WIKIPEDIA:
Reko Diq is a small town in CHAGAI DISTRICT, BALOCHISTAN, PAKISTAN, in a desert area 70 kilometers north west of NAUKUNDI, near to the Iran-Afghan border.
Reko Diq, also the name of an ancient volcano, literally means SANDY PEAK, but this is something of a misnomer. It could be called TANGAV DIQ, or gold peak, because according to development expert Syed Fazl-e-Haider, below the sands lie some 12.3 million tons of copper and 20.9 million ounces of gold. The copper-gold deposits at REKO DIQ are believed to be even bigger than those of SARCHESHMEH in Iran and ESCONDIDA in Chile.

THE MINE
Reko Diq is a giant copper and gold project in CHAGHI. The main license (EL5) is held jointly by the GOVERNMENT OF BALOCHISTAN (25%), ANTOFAGASTA MINERALS (37.5%) and BARRICK Gold (37.5%).

BHP BILLITON, the world's largest mining company, started this project with the Australian firm TETHYAN, entering into a joint venture with the Balochistan government and estimating an annual production of 200 to 500 million pounds of copper. A large number of porphyry rocks are also known to exist.

The interests of the Australian company in REKO DIQ and its surrounding areas were taken over by the Toronto-based Barrick Gold Corporation and the Chilean ANTOFAGASTA Minerals. Under a surreptitious and clandestine wheeling and dealing these companies were handed a very lucrative deal. The terms agreed upon show that there is more to the issue than meets the eye. Royalties were reduced from the initial four to two per cent. Terms for the provision of cost-free land for an airport and a 400 km REKO DIQ-GWADAR road were accepted. An unjust clause is that a 25 per cent share will be paid to the Balochistan Government, but only after it invests 25 per cent in the project. This is a paradoxical clause with a catch that at the end of the day the Government of Balouchistan ends up with the dirty end of stick while the poor people of Pakistan and the Balochs in particular are denied of the profits and royalties from such a lucrative project.

ANTOFAGASTA'S net assets at the end of 2007 grew to almost $ 5 billion. In December 2005 it said: "TETHYAN'S principal assets are a 75 per cent interest in the highly prospective Chagai Hills region of North West Pakistan known as REKO DIQ, including the Tanjeel Mineral Resource. This mining district hosts significant copper-gold porphyry deposits as part of an extended copper-gold belt. Total indicated and inferred mineral resource estimates at these properties are 1,213 million tonnes with a copper grade of 0.58 % and a gold grade of 0.28 grams per tonne. Estimates include probable reserves at the Tanjeel of 128.8 million tonnes with a copper grade of 0.7 %.

According to Rob Maguire of the Dominion paper, Barrick is the foremost gold mining corporation in the world, with sales exceeding $2.6bn in 2005 and the largest reserves in the industry, at nearly 90 million ounces. Proponents of this project state that the mines will create thousands of high paying jobs and give a massive boost to the local economy. However the main fear and apprehensions many have is that revenues generated by this project will be plundered & squandered by corrupt officials and Politicians. Therefore it is imperative that a mechanism be evolved to ensure that revenues generated actually lead to better infrastructure, education and health.

There are many advocates of such mega projects who claim that the BALOCHS have benefited from their trickle-down effect but this trickle town effect is yet to be seen in Balouchistan which is still the most undeveloped and most primitive in the provision of basic civic amenities like drinking water sanitation and health.

According to Marcel Claude, vice-president of the international environmental group Oceana, gold mining dumps 79 tonnes of waste for every 28 grams of gold and produces 96 per cent of the world's arsenic emissions which are notorious for slow arsenic poisoning in workers.

There is another great diabolical dilemma which involves industrial hazard diseases and ecological upsets because gold / copper mining uses sodium cyanide, arsenic and other chemicals which produce toxic by-products. These toxics and hazardous by products of gold and copper mining cause diseases like pneumoconiosis, lung cancer, breathing disorders, skin disorders and musculo-skeletal anomalies to which the poor mine workers are exposed to with out adequate precautionary measures like gas masks, oxygen breathing air filtration apparatus and frequent and periodic medical checks. Radiation is also a cause of concern in such areas where radio active minerals like uranium and beryllium may be found though in very low concentration but at the same time very lethal and toxics even on small exposures.

The total accumulated debt burden of Pakistan is estimated to be more than 2 Trillion US $. This is causing a burden on our economy and hindering our development and growth. The need of the hour is to develop and rely on our own resources like Petroleum, Gas and Minerals, which if properly handled will make Pakistan into a prosperous and developed nation.

REKO DIQ and SANDIK are two such jewels in the crown of Pakistan that if handled properly and with Nationalistic spirit will in the long run make Pakistan a prosperous and developed country no longer dependent on UNCLE SAM, IMF or the Begging bowl.

The people of Pakistan must realize their hidden potentials their inherent strength and their un-matched capabilities which if channelized and handled properly under a truly peoples representative to Government will turn the tables in a short time.

As a humble Pakistani and social activist am I asking for too much?