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