After being named Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party to succeed his high-profile mother Benazir Bhutto, Bilawal's life has suddenly gone from very private to
very public. As expected, the tenacious Papparazi and the ruthless
tabloid press have found a new subject to pursue relentlessly. Examples
of this coverage include the stories in the British tabloids The Sun and…
PakAlumni Worldwide: The Global Social Network
The Global Social Network
Riaz Haq's Blog (1,533)
Pakistan's Electricity Crisis
Pakistan’s economy has recently been growing at 7-8% per year, doubling
its GDP over the last 7 years. The industrial growth rate has been
closer to 12.5% per year during this period, contributing 38% of the
total economic output of Pakistan. Per capita energy consumption of the
country is estimated at 14 million Btu, which is about the same as
India's but only a fraction of other industrializing economies in the
region such as Thailand and Malaysia, according to… Continue
its GDP over the last 7 years. The industrial growth rate has been
closer to 12.5% per year during this period, contributing 38% of the
total economic output of Pakistan. Per capita energy consumption of the
country is estimated at 14 million Btu, which is about the same as
India's but only a fraction of other industrializing economies in the
region such as Thailand and Malaysia, according to… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 28, 2008 at 10:43am — 13 Comments
What's Next After "Da Vinci Code"?
It usually takes just one new really big seller to ignite book sales
and revive the publishing industry fortunes. There has been the "Harry
Potter" phenomenon and the "Da Vinci Code" that kept the industry
humming over the last few years and brought lots of people to
bookstores around the world. Lately, however, the book sales have
slowed down. "Harry Potter" has retired and Dan Brown, the author of
"Da Vinci Code" has been taking his time to complete… Continue
and revive the publishing industry fortunes. There has been the "Harry
Potter" phenomenon and the "Da Vinci Code" that kept the industry
humming over the last few years and brought lots of people to
bookstores around the world. Lately, however, the book sales have
slowed down. "Harry Potter" has retired and Dan Brown, the author of
"Da Vinci Code" has been taking his time to complete… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 27, 2008 at 5:41pm — No Comments
Pakistan: A Magnet for Foreign Investors
By Riaz Haq
www.pakalumni.com
Saratoga, CA
www.pakalumni.com
Saratoga, CA
Extreme Investing or Safe Haven?
Some call it "Extreme Investing". Call it by any name, but international investors have discovered Pakistan as an attractive destination.
Referring to the recent upsurge in violence, Bank Muscat CEO Ali Issa said,
"We are not worried about our investment in Pakistan, we think it's just a
passing…
Who Is In Charge: Mehsud Or Mullah Omar?
Americans have now been saying for several months that the Taleban and
Al-Qaeda have shifted their focus of attacks from Afghanistan to
destabilize Pakistan. "Al-Qaeda right now seems to have turned its face
toward Pakistan and attacks on the Pakistani government and Pakistan
people," US Defense Secretary Robert Gates told the Washington Post on
Dec 21, 2007. Most of the recent activities including a big surge in
suicide bombings in Pakistan seem to confirm this… Continue
Al-Qaeda have shifted their focus of attacks from Afghanistan to
destabilize Pakistan. "Al-Qaeda right now seems to have turned its face
toward Pakistan and attacks on the Pakistani government and Pakistan
people," US Defense Secretary Robert Gates told the Washington Post on
Dec 21, 2007. Most of the recent activities including a big surge in
suicide bombings in Pakistan seem to confirm this… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 23, 2008 at 11:38am — 1 Comment
The Story of Oil, Greed, Religion and Blood
The story of oil, greed, religion, and blood is as old as the discovery
of oil. This story is brought to life in the recent Hollywood movie
"There Will Be Blood", starring Daniel Day Lewis as the greedy oilman
drilling for oil in California over 100 years ago. Loosely based on
Upton Sinclair's novel "Oil", the movie shows oil discovery in San
Fernando Valley in Southern California in early 1900s. I must say the
performance by Lewis is masterful. The story… Continue
of oil. This story is brought to life in the recent Hollywood movie
"There Will Be Blood", starring Daniel Day Lewis as the greedy oilman
drilling for oil in California over 100 years ago. Loosely based on
Upton Sinclair's novel "Oil", the movie shows oil discovery in San
Fernando Valley in Southern California in early 1900s. I must say the
performance by Lewis is masterful. The story… Continue
Unreasonable Men: Martin Luther King to Barack Husain Obama
"A reasonable man adapts himself to his environment. An unreasonable
man persists in attempting to adapt his environment to suit himself.
Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man." So said the
famous British playwright George Bernard Shaw a century ago. The
"unreasonable Man" label applied well to the famous civil rights
leader Rev Martin Luther King in the 1960s and applies well today to
US presidential candidate Senator Barack Husain Obama. As… Continue
man persists in attempting to adapt his environment to suit himself.
Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man." So said the
famous British playwright George Bernard Shaw a century ago. The
"unreasonable Man" label applied well to the famous civil rights
leader Rev Martin Luther King in the 1960s and applies well today to
US presidential candidate Senator Barack Husain Obama. As… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 20, 2008 at 9:20am — No Comments
CIA Chief Believes Mehsud Killed BB
CIA Director Michael Hayden told the Washington Post that the former
Pakistani prime minister was killed by fighters allied to Baitullah
Mehsud. Mr Hayden did not reveal the sources for his claim. Apparently,
CIA has come out with this conclusion based on their own independent
intelligence sources and due diligence. With this CIA claim, there is
now agreement between the Pakistani intelligence and the US
intelligence on the identity of the people behind… Continue
Pakistani prime minister was killed by fighters allied to Baitullah
Mehsud. Mr Hayden did not reveal the sources for his claim. Apparently,
CIA has come out with this conclusion based on their own independent
intelligence sources and due diligence. With this CIA claim, there is
now agreement between the Pakistani intelligence and the US
intelligence on the identity of the people behind… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 18, 2008 at 8:30am — No Comments
Quaid-e-Azam Mohamed Ali Jinnah: Time Magazine Cover 1946
Fellow member Ameer Alam posted a photo of the Time Magazine cover from 1946 that carries Quaid-e-Azam's picture on the cover. The following is the article inside that issue of Time:
By every sign & portent this would be India's year of decision—a decision that would be bitterly contested by all three partners to India's future: the British Raj, 256 million Hindus, 92 million
Moslems.
Votes…
ContinueAdded by Riaz Haq on January 17, 2008 at 1:28pm — No Comments
Merrill Lynch Calls Pakistan Safe Haven For Investors
"Pakistan is a safe haven for investors", says Mark Matthews, chief
Asia strategist at Merrill Lynch, speaking to CNBC's Arnold Gay in
January, 2008. This is in sharp contrast to some of the rating agencies
like S&P and Moody's hinting at possible downgrade of Pakistan as
an investment opportunity. Matthews argues that Pakistan is one of the
best information arbitrage markets in the world.
While the bombings, shootings and the body bags make good headlines for… Continue
Asia strategist at Merrill Lynch, speaking to CNBC's Arnold Gay in
January, 2008. This is in sharp contrast to some of the rating agencies
like S&P and Moody's hinting at possible downgrade of Pakistan as
an investment opportunity. Matthews argues that Pakistan is one of the
best information arbitrage markets in the world.
While the bombings, shootings and the body bags make good headlines for… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 16, 2008 at 10:51am — No Comments
Atta Crisis in Pakistan
Rising Atta Prices
The rising prices and acute shortages of atta in Pakistan are clearly
distressing to the people. However, putting it in perspective, this
wheat crisis is not isolated to Pakistan. There are widespread fears of
food shortages and lack of affordability in many countries around the world.
According to a recent report in Wall Street Journal, the prices of Illinois corn
and soybeans rose 40%… Continue
The rising prices and acute shortages of atta in Pakistan are clearly
distressing to the people. However, putting it in perspective, this
wheat crisis is not isolated to Pakistan. There are widespread fears of
food shortages and lack of affordability in many countries around the world.
According to a recent report in Wall Street Journal, the prices of Illinois corn
and soybeans rose 40%… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 15, 2008 at 12:51pm — No Comments
Pakistan is Lagging in Social Media
As the membership of social networks and the users of social media
applications such as Facebook, MySpace, and Orkut grow dramatically to
hundreds of millions in the US, Europe, Asia and Latin America, it
seems that this phenomenon is still in very early infancy in Pakistan.
As of now, there are about 117,000 Pakistanis on Facebook, about
100,000 on Orkut, and a few thousand on MySpace. There are smaller
social networks such as Naseeb.com that have a few thousand… Continue
applications such as Facebook, MySpace, and Orkut grow dramatically to
hundreds of millions in the US, Europe, Asia and Latin America, it
seems that this phenomenon is still in very early infancy in Pakistan.
As of now, there are about 117,000 Pakistanis on Facebook, about
100,000 on Orkut, and a few thousand on MySpace. There are smaller
social networks such as Naseeb.com that have a few thousand… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 12, 2008 at 6:41pm — 4 Comments
Bilawal's Extra-curricular Activities at Oxford
In his high-profile role as the Chairman of one of Pakistan's largest political parties, there are enormous security threats for Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. In the words of John Giduck, a US security consultant, "The threat level is going to be inordinately high - you are dealing with a young man with an enormous target painted on him. It would take dozens of people and hard assets to keep this man safe". In addition to this security threat, Bilawal is dealing with the loss of his privacy with the… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 10, 2008 at 10:00am — 2 Comments
Bilawal's Appeal for Privacy
Added by Riaz Haq on January 8, 2008 at 9:36pm — No Comments
CSI: Pakistan
Watching the news, the pictures, the videos, and the abundance of
speculation and conspiracy theories, it makes me wonder whether all of
this controversy could have been avoided had there been a thorough and
professional investigation undertaken after Benazir Bhutto's tragic
assassination? Then I realize it is too much to ask of the people
involved. Here are some of my reasons why:
1. There is a total lack of professionalism in the way the law-enforcement… Continue
speculation and conspiracy theories, it makes me wonder whether all of
this controversy could have been avoided had there been a thorough and
professional investigation undertaken after Benazir Bhutto's tragic
assassination? Then I realize it is too much to ask of the people
involved. Here are some of my reasons why:
1. There is a total lack of professionalism in the way the law-enforcement… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 6, 2008 at 8:10am — 2 Comments
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Friend in Devil Costumes
“We’re ready to bring hell on earth. . . waaahahahahahah.”
Here is a picture of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (Facebook alias: Bilawal Lawalib) posing with a friend published by the UK tabloid The Sun.
The Sun obtained it from Facebook. This picture reinforces the fact
that Bilwawl is just a kid, enjoying life as college kids do in the
West. Poor Bilawal. He's been pushed into this limelight by… Continue
Here is a picture of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (Facebook alias: Bilawal Lawalib) posing with a friend published by the UK tabloid The Sun.
The Sun obtained it from Facebook. This picture reinforces the fact
that Bilwawl is just a kid, enjoying life as college kids do in the
West. Poor Bilawal. He's been pushed into this limelight by… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 5, 2008 at 10:51pm — No Comments
Engineer? An Expensive $50K Monkey?
Here's a joke from my friend Ramzan Khetani, EE Class of 1974. I'd like to share it with you. Hope you like it.
Continue
AutoCAD Monkey: A tourist walked into a pet shop and was looking at the animals on display. While he was there, another customer walked in and said to the shopkeeper, "I'll have an…
Added by Riaz Haq on December 17, 2007 at 10:06am — No Comments
The Unitended Consequence of Charlie Wilson's War
The soon-to-be-released Hollywood movie "Charlie Wilson's War"
tells the story of behind-the-scene activities that led to the massive
CIA backing of the Afghan resistance against the Soviets in the 1980s.
Based on a book of the same title by late George Crile, it focuses on
the efforts of a "scandal-prone, womanizing" US Congressman Charlie
Wilson and "out-of-favor, blue-collar" CIA operative Gust Avrokotos who
both… Continue
tells the story of behind-the-scene activities that led to the massive
CIA backing of the Afghan resistance against the Soviets in the 1980s.
Based on a book of the same title by late George Crile, it focuses on
the efforts of a "scandal-prone, womanizing" US Congressman Charlie
Wilson and "out-of-favor, blue-collar" CIA operative Gust Avrokotos who
both… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on December 16, 2007 at 10:35am — No Comments
Frontiers of Information Technology Conference FIT 2007 in Islamabad Dec 17-18, 2007
COMSATS Institute of Information Technology is organizing the 5th International Workshop on Frontiers of Information Technology (FIT 2007) on
December 17-18 at Marriott Hotel Islamabad, Pakistan. This workshop is
sponsored by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and Pakistan
Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL).
Since its inception in 2003, the International Workshop on…
ContinueAdded by Riaz Haq on December 9, 2007 at 4:51pm — No Comments
Corruption in Pakistan: Is Siemens Guilty?
As I saw the reports this week out of Munich about Siemens pleading guilty to bribing politicians and officials in Nigeria, Russia and Libya, it reminded me that Siemens is a large player in Pakistan. Has any one looked into Siemens engaging in similar corrupt practices in Pakistan?
And, how about the behavior of other American and European companies operating in Pakistan? There are definitely laws on the books in the West such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in the…
ContinueAdded by Riaz Haq on November 19, 2007 at 12:28pm — 6 Comments
Out-of-the-Box Thinking by Muslim Students at Berkeley
I was discussing the recent Newsweek story
about Pakistan with my daughter Michelle who is a sophomore at UC
Berkeley and a member of the Muslim Students Association (MSA) on
campus. I explained to her my feelings about Newsweek's bias and some of the predictable reactions by my friends. In response, she told me about
what happened at UC Berkeley last week where an anti-Muslim group was
having "Islamo-Fascist Week" and how… Continue
about Pakistan with my daughter Michelle who is a sophomore at UC
Berkeley and a member of the Muslim Students Association (MSA) on
campus. I explained to her my feelings about Newsweek's bias and some of the predictable reactions by my friends. In response, she told me about
what happened at UC Berkeley last week where an anti-Muslim group was
having "Islamo-Fascist Week" and how… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on October 27, 2007 at 10:42pm — 3 Comments
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Blog Posts
Pakistanis' Insatiable Appetite For Smartphones
Samsung is seeing strong demand for its locally assembled Galaxy S24 smartphones and tablets in Pakistan, according to Bloomberg. The company said it is struggling to meet demand. Pakistan’s mobile phone industry produced 21 million handsets while its smartphone imports surged over 100% in the last fiscal year, according to …
ContinuePosted by Riaz Haq on April 26, 2024 at 7:09pm
Pakistani Student Enrollment in US Universities Hits All Time High
Pakistani student enrollment in America's institutions of higher learning rose 16% last year, outpacing the record 12% growth in the number of international students hosted by the country. This puts Pakistan among eight sources in the top 20 countries with the largest increases in US enrollment. India saw the biggest increase at 35%, followed by Ghana 32%, Bangladesh and…
ContinuePosted by Riaz Haq on April 1, 2024 at 5:00pm
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