Our Announcements
Sorry, but you are looking for something that isn't here.
Posted by admin in SHERDILS OF PAK FAUJ on December 18th, 2013
the attack as company commander and was wounded. The officer has given a very detailed account of the Battle. The unit sacrificed their lives due to failure in Command and staff Planning at all levels. This is evident from the unit’s move from Chaman/ Baluchistan on 29 September 1971 to the desert in Sind. Thereafter on 4 December 1971 to Fort Abbas, then to Sialkot Sector under 1 Corps on 14 December, on the evening of 16 December to Pindi Purbian for counter attack on the morning of 17 Dec 1971 in Jarpal area in 1 Corps. The unit kept Shuttling between three different brigade areas from 14 December to 17 December, with no clear orders. The Commanding Officer was denied any Reconnaissanc of the objective, in Day light Hours. Poor Staff Planning at the GHQ and Command failure at Corps/Division and Brigade level. It also raises a important question; Was this Attack really needed after Surrender at DACCA on 16 December and ceasefire between INDIA AND PAKISTAN in the Afternoon of 17 Dec 1971? Perhaps all our Generals should read and keep by their bed side “Psychology of Military Incompetence, by Norman Dixon”
Posted by admin in PAK ISTAN PRESS & MEDIA on December 17th, 2013
TV Channels Promote Yellow Journalism
By Sajjad Shaukat
Yellow journalism which accelerated in the1890s in the west is described as the employment of tactics by newspapers such as sensationalism, exaggeration, distortion of facts etc. to attract readers in order to increase circulation in era of competition. With the advent of many television channels in the modern age, the era ended shortly after the turn of the century, as the world gradually decreased from the competition in sensationalism.
When such unethical practice continued by many TV channels and newspapers, consensus developed among responsible journalists and media owners around the world that it is against the moral codes of journalism. Hence, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) launched an Ethical Journalism Initiative in 2008.
But, it is regrettable that techniques of yellow journalism are still being applied in some less developed countries, especially in Pakistan, without taking cognizance of its negative effects on the people. In case of Pakistan, spawning scores of new TV channels and associated burgeoning business interests led to coin unique methods of generating market competition so as to attract viewership and control financial shares. As advertisements and commercials dominated the viewers’ prime time, the contents of TV broadcasts have also skewed, while tone and tenor of media reports have got blended with sensationalism.
In these terms, while presenting little or no legitimate well-researched news items, our TV channels, exploit, distort and exaggerate the news to create sensations and attract viewers in order to become more popular with the sole aim to advance their financial interests. Based upon opinion-masquerading as objective fact, our media anchors mislead and excite public opinion. They do not indicate what the people need, but show what the people want, thus have stunning impact of psychological shock.
Ignoring the moral codes of journalism, media reporters, analysts and anchors have adopted negative techniques and unscrupulous practices in their coverage because they have developed the habit of challenging the prestige of sensitive institutions of the state such as judiciary, army, ISI and law-enforcing agencies. While following the rude techniques of yellow journalism, they raise any issue or development and initiate controversial debate among the political commentators who themselves intend to gain eminence. Media anchors and experts who manipulate the concerned issue also conceal the truth and ground realities, particularly in wake of the war against terrorism—ignoring the multiple crises which Pakistan is facing at this crucial hour.
Besides, use of unethical songs, loaded conversations and erotic communications or airing foreign commercials especially those from India directly influences the moral fiber of our society. Resultantly, the moral fiber, ethical standards, public esteem and social order of the country are directly damaged.
Notably, certain TV anchors and channels get over-assertive in their reporting against prestigious state organs only to improve their ratings, while others resort to sensationalism using slanderous and irresponsible expressions.
While, the system of ratings to evaluate the performance and ranking of TV channels by using subjective viewership—scoring procedures has brought cut throat competition among the TV channels. The aim is to attract maximum clutter of commercials around popular programmes of lucky channels. This enabled the channels to rapidly grow so as to collect their revenues.
In this respect, the rating schemes employ “The People Meter System” to measure the viewers’ responses for having viewed a number of channels as indicated by the meter. It is an automated system of electronic devices, which records what is being watched on the television.
For the purpose, various meters are installed at the residences of selected people in selected cities like Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and few others. “The People Meter System” is absolutely faulty as it does not represent the population of viewers for which it reports. The concerned channels, however, earn billions of rupees despite using incorrect samples and unscientific techniques of rating.
In fact, “The People Meter System” does not reflect opinion of the entire population of related- TV viewers. Therefore, the rating results are biased and do not show the true picture.
In this context, the rating system has only created an environment of furious competition among the TV channels, while anchors make strenuous efforts to improve the ratings of their channel programmes by disregarding the principle of objective reporting and thus, overlook the moral codes of journalism.
Moreover, some anchors and channels also employ unethical methods of bribing the viewers by suggesting them to keep on pressing the meter installed at their residences to get favorable results. Similarly, they target prestigious institutions and highly regarded individuals just to improve their ratings—falling below the ethical levels of respect and self-esteemed organs of state and the renowned persons. No doubt, mistakes have been committed by everyone in the past, and could unintentionally be done in the present. But TV channels and their commentators exploit the same instead of emphasizing solution of the concerned crisis.
As a matter of fact, the tools employed by rating system are neither credible nor valid; hence, the entire exercise appears to be confounded, illegal and unethical. It needs to be reviewed by the authorities concerned.
Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority must take notice of the issue in detail and lay down the procedure to measure the viewers’ response pertaining to the ratings of a particular TV channel or programme. In this regard, experts of social scientists must be engaged to make the ratings scientifically valid and reliable.
Nonetheless, our media must follow the real principles of journalism by educating and guiding the people towards right direction through credible and true information. They should avoid developing ‘stereotypes’ among the people by displaying unbiased news and comments.
Now, the right hour has come to pull the country out of the multi-faceted crises. In this connection, being the fourth pillar of the state, electronic media can play positive role. Our TV channels and the concerned experts must seek the solution of problems, while promoting unity among various state institutions and the general masses instead of promoting yellow journalism.
Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations
Email: [email protected]
Posted by admin in EDUCATION IN PAKISTAN on December 17th, 2013
Imbalance in Higher Education
By
Inam Khawaja
The statements in the media both in Pakistan and internationally about the lack of women’s education in Pakistan are not based on facts. In fact Pakistan is faced with a serious shortage of educated men. The statistics of the male and female students in the universities indicate that most of the co-educational universities are fast becoming women universities.
In Lahore in the University of the Punjab during several visits to both the old Campus and the huge Quaid-i-Azam Campus I got the impression that it was a women’s university which had recently been made co-educational. The University of Punjab has a total of five campuses having a total of over 30,000 on campus and 442,000 off campus students. The statistics on the official website show that the male female ratios for 2012 are:-
1) Total students 50:50
2) 4-year degree 50:54
3) MA & MSc 42:58
4) MS & MPhil 38:62
5) PhD 47:53
The trend of the historical record indicates that the University of the Punjab probably is already a female majority university likeKarachi University in which there are about 30,000 students out of which there are about 22,000 girls that is 73 percent. There are several departments in which there were hardly any male students. Driving in the Karachi University campus I hardly saw any men. There were girls everywhere in designer jeans, modestly dressed or in full Hijab sitting on the lawns, walking on the roads and chatting in the verandas.
The statistics of Peshawar University on their website for 2013 are:-
|
|
Bachelor |
Master |
MS/M.Phil. |
Ph.D. |
||||
|
Faculties / College |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
Male |
Female |
|
Arts and Humanities |
35 |
42 |
213 |
148 |
22 |
19 |
10 |
4 |
|
Islamic and Oriental Studies |
0 |
0 |
144 |
225 |
28 |
5 |
104 |
49 |
|
Life & Environmental Sciences |
838 |
353 |
651 |
782 |
270 |
148 |
112 |
36 |
|
Management & Info: Science |
425 |
738 |
637 |
307 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
17 |
|
Numerical & Physical Science |
897 |
93 |
506 |
205 |
118 |
32 |
34 |
4 |
|
Faculty of Social Sciences |
966 |
597 |
748 |
543 |
44 |
24 |
17 |
8 |
|
Jinnah College for Women |
0 |
392 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
3161 |
2215 |
2899 |
2210 |
483 |
230 |
278 |
118 |
|
Sub Total |
5376 |
5109 |
713 |
396 |
||||
Percentage of Women 41% 43% 32%
The above statistics show that even in the highly conservative culture of KPK in the Peshawar University over all there are 41 percent female students. It is significant that in the faculties of Arts/Humanities and Management/Information Technology women outnumber men furthermore, there are seventeen (17) women doing PhD. in Management/Info.Sc. compared to only one male.
The statistics show that even in the male dominated field of engineering women are entering in increasing numbers. In NED Engineering University Karachi there are 8993 students out of which there are 2695 women or about 30 percent.
The detailed statistics for NED are:-
Men Women Female %
Degree Course: 5046 2318 31
Masters: 1244 372 23
PhD: 8 5 38
The University of Engineering and Technology Lahore however, is still male dominated; there are 11,088 students out of which there are 1,852 female students that is about 17 percent. However, if the present trend persists it too will become a female majority university in a few years.
In the Aga Medical University Karachi in the final year MBBS there are a total of a hundred students having an equal number of males and females.
For the past several years women have been the position holders in most High School and university examinations. Since entrance to colleges, universities, professional colleges and all institutions of higher learning is on merit, mostly through an entrance examination women are entering these institutions in increasing numbers. As stated above women already account for 73 percent in Karachi University and reached the 50 percent mark in 2012 in Punjab University. The above statistics are only for some of the well known institutions and do not include the figures for women’s universities and women’s colleges. The statistics published by the Higher Education Commission show that on national basis women already outnumber men in institutions of higher learning (HEC annual report 2010-11).
In some areas of the country there certainly has been some reduction in the enrollment of girls in primary schools. However, it is significant that the recent (2013) district wise statistics for KPK show that though there has been some reduction in enrollment of girls in a few districts, there has been significant increase in the primary school enrolment of girls in many districts of KPK.
In 2013 total enrolment of girls is 997,534 compared to 998,386 in 2012; a reduction of just 852 that is only 0.08 percent. In light of the actual statistics it can be safely stated that the press and the media have exaggerated the matter out of proportion.
The gender imbalance in favour of women appears to be universal. My limited research shows that it exists in UK, EU, Canada and USA. UN statistics show that internationally 50 percent of men and 62 percent women enter universities. Furthermore in countries like Japan, India and Malaysia where the imbalance is in favour of men the gap is fast shrinking.
Fifty years ago in Pakistan one saw hardly any women working in offices with the exception of telephone operators, secretaries in multinationals and preventive officers in the Customs. The progressive increase in the percentage of Pakistani women obtaining higher education has resulted in an equivalent increase in the number of women in every field in Pakistan. Today there is hardly any field in which women have not entered. The results of the 2013 CSS written examination announced by the Public Services Commission show that 238 applicants passed out of which 66 were women i. e. 28 percent.
Those who talk of the lack of women’s education in Pakistan should visit the universities and look at the actual facts and statistics. In fact the country needs to investigate the reason for the continuous decline in the percentage of male students entering the institutions of higher learning and professional education institutions. If steps are not taken to rectify the impending increase in this imbalance it would result in increasing numbers of uneducated young men looking for jobs. The country has already been hit by the tip of this iceberg of uneducated unemployed young men.
Punjab and Sindh are now highly urbanised (over 50%) as a result the problem is acute in the cities. This is one of the main causes of the increase in crime particularly petty crime like cell phone snatching by young men on motor cycles.
It is deplorable that both the Musharraf and the PPP governments were oblivious of the problem. According to the statistics published by the Higher Education Commission in 2001-02 there were about 275,000 female and about 150,000 male students enrolled in universities; the gender ratio being 65:35 in favour of women. Musharraf government in their superior wisdom cancelled the youth support program introduced the PML(N) government. The following graph clearly illustrates the increase in the rate of disparity in favour of women during Musharraf and PPP governments resulting in the gender ratio in favour of women increasing to about 70:30 by 2010.
4.17. Increase in Enrollment in Universities over the years (Gender wise)
(Source: HEC annual report 2010-11)
The recently announced Prime Minister’s Youth Support Scheme of giving loans to young men for self employment is a timely recognition of the problem and a step in the right direction. In fact the problem is so acute that the Government needs to examine all the aspects of problem of the increase in uneducated and consequently unemployed young men. Means need to be devised not only to find employment for young men but to also reduce the gender gap.
December 16, 201
Posted by admin in NAWAZ SHARIF LOAN SCAM on December 17th, 2013
Yet another fraud in offing.The fate of this scheme is going to be similar to that of Yellow Taxi scheme of 90s floated by NS. Thereafter, all the six nationalised banks had to write off around Rupees nine Billion, while 80% cars landed in Afghanistan. This time its going to be 100 Billion default portfolio at stake to be borne by just one & half bank only. Poor will die running from Bank to Bank day dreaming for a loan.
Published 2013-12-11 16:04:07
The Scheme may end up with billions of dollars in toxic debt. While it appears to be a well-intentioned Scheme to offer business loans to the youth, it may end up becoming a massive exercise in sub-prime lending where the defaulted amounts will be added to the ever-growing public debt.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Mian Nawaz Sharif, launched the Youth Business Loan Scheme
earlier this week. The 100 billion rupees Scheme will give out 100,000 loans to young entrepreneurs to launch small businesses. The loans will range from 100,000 rupees to a maximum of two million rupees. The borrower will pay an 8 per cent annual interest rate, whereas the lending institutions will charge approximately 15 per cent in annual interest. The government will subsidize the loans by covering the borrowing cost for the difference between the rates charged by lenders and 8 per cent paid by the borrower. The Scheme will be run by the Prime Minister’s daughter, Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
Pakistan is suffering from widespread under- and unemployment resulting in the youth being readily recruited by religious and other extremist groups. In such dire circumstances, any scheme that engages the youth in commerce and productive activities must be a step in the right direction. However, despite the good intentions, the Scheme appears to be flawed and ill-conceived. Furthermore, the claims that theScheme will be free of corruption
and nepotism fly in the face of the Prime Minister’s decision to put his daughter in charge of a 100 billion Rupee lending program.
Successful entrepreneurs turn investment and opportunity into profits and prosperity. They are driven by the desire to create something new as they chase their dream in every living moment of their lives. Bill Gates, Michael Dell, Steve Jobs, Larry Page and Sergey Brin are all examples of entrepreneurs who launched small businesses and with passion and perseverance grew their small businesses into multi billion dollars corporations.
The fine distinction between a loan and an investment appears to be lost in the Prime Minister’s Youth Business Loan Scheme. Does Pakistan really have 100,000 entrepreneurs ready to turn opportunity and capital into profits and prosperity? Or will the nation end up with billions in loans extended to those who couldn’t even write or conceive a business plan.
Even if one were to assume that the 180 million Pakistanis are fortunate to have 100,000 budding entrepreneurs ready to make their mark, the very structure of the Scheme is riddled with constraints and contradictions that may take away the very incentive to put the borrowed funds to productive use.
For starters, consider that an applicant doesn’t need to submit a business plan with the application for the loan. SMEDA, a partner agency along with the State Bank of Pakistan, offers templates for how to develop a business plan
on its website. However, the very first item in the template states the following: “A business plan is not required for PM’s youth business loan scheme.” How on earth will the lenders determine the feasibility of the proposed business?
Take the example of Canadian Youth Business Foundation
that offers up to $45,000 in start-up financing to youth for new businesses. The program does not limit its role to extending credit, but instead it guides the engaged youth in developing business plans, arranging mentors, and making available other resources for a successful execution of their business plans. No one gets financing without a business plan in Canada!
I see the Prime Minister’s Scheme bearing the signs of sub-prime lending because many unsuspecting individuals will end up borrowing huge sums for projects they will not be able to plan or execute, thus resulting in defaults. Remember, if the prospective borrowers are not required to furnish a business plan, how will lenders differentiate entrepreneurs from subprime borrowers?
The two leading banks in the Prime Minister’s Scheme are the National Bank and the First Women Bank. The lenders have set the lending (interest) rate at KIBOR plus 500 basis points. Since the base rate in Pakistan is hovering around 10 per cent, the lenders are adding 500 basis points on top of it to end up with an interest rate of 15 per cent. However, if the base rate fluctuates, as it has done in the past, the cost of borrowing can change as well. This can play havoc with the balance sheets of even well-planned businesses who may have naively assumed that they were protected from fluctuations in interest rates.
Notice that inter-bank interest rates in Pakistan were as high as 14 per cent in 2011. What if the 8 per cent mark-up or interest rate advertised by the Prime Minister’s office end up being a teaser rate? The odds of that happening are high and the borrowers under this Scheme will be at the mercy of lenders, especially if the government withdraws its subsidy and sovereign guarantee during the 8-year life of the loan. Clause 8 under Terms and Conditions of the loans states explicitly that if the current or any future government were to withdraw the subsidy for any reason, the borrower agrees to pay against the revised interest rate set by either the National Bank or the First Women Bank.
The 2007-08 global recession was brought about by similar lending practices in the United States where sub-prime mortgages were offered to un-creditworthy borrowers who were enticed by very low mortgage rates that lasted for only a short while. As soon as the higher mortgage rates kicked in, borrowers lacking a stable source of income ended up defaulting on their mortgages resulting in a global crisis because the sub-prime mortgages were bundled as mispriced derivatives that concealed the inherent risks in those investments. Could Pakistan be next with its 100 billion Rupee toxic debt?
If the partner Banks are correct in pricing the debt at 15 per cent, these loans may create a secondary debt market managed by those who would like to benefit from the opportunity for arbitrage, i.e., borrowing two million rupees at 8 per cent and lending it at 15 per cent, thus avoiding the need to start a business and create employment opportunities for others. These borrowers may end up becoming shark investors themselves as they loan funds to the financially disenfranchised in their communities. This will generate a source of revenue for some, but will defeat the very purpose of the Scheme that aspires to start an entrepreneurial revolution in Pakistan.
And what about the notion of Islamic banking? Remember that the Muslim League has always pandered to the religious right who have shun the very concept of ribaa(interest). These loans are structured as traditional debt where the borrowers are expected to return the principal and interest for a fixed interest rate of 8 per cent. The loan repayment schedule posted as Excel spreadsheets lay bare the structure of these loans. A video posted on the SMEDA website shows an individual who explains the details of the Scheme. Fast forward the video to eight minutes and 45 seconds to see the gentleman almost choking at the word interest
and with some effort replacing it with profit margin.
Calling interest payments profit sharing is intellectual dishonesty. What business turns profit in the first month? Those familiar with the risk/venture capital know it takes years before the business turns profitable. Until that time the business merely services the debt. Also misleading is the claim that the Scheme offers the first year as a grace period. The loan repayment schedule illustrates that the borrowers have to make interest payments in the first year and are exempted only from repaying principal in the first year.
Details on what happens in the case of default are sketchy at best. The borrowers are expected to put only 10 per cent in collateral. In case of default and with a 10 per cent limited exposure, the borrower can simply walk away from liabilities, leaving the public sector to foot the cost of defaults.
Pakistan is not without the expertise to roll out such Schemes to meet their objectives. Organisations such as the National Rural Support Programme
and Tameer Bank
have significant experience in micro finance and operations in near and remote parts of Pakistan. Their decades of experience and demonstrated success is the competitive advantage that the Prime Minister could have tapped into. Instead, it appears that the 100 billion Rupees initiative is being used to bolster Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s claim to inherit the Muslim League’s throne against the rival bid by the Prime Minister’s nephew, Hamza Shahbaz Sharif.
A 100 billion rupees is too big an amount to settle a family dispute over succession
Posted by admin in Pakistan-A Nation of Many Faiths on December 17th, 2013
MULTAN:
Multan’s historical monument, the 165-year-old Saint Mary’s Cathedral was renovated by the Pakistan Army in collaboration with the civil society of Multan.
The cathedral’s doors were thrown open to the public after massive renovation and repair work, which was inaugurated by Corps Commander Multan, Lieutenant General Abid Parvez.
The renovation cost more than five million rupees, which was contributed by the cantonment board Multan, civil society and from different sects.
Station Commander Brigadier Taufeeq Tahir said the cathedral was constructed in 1848, but had fallen into ruin and disrepair.
“We welcomed the renovation request of our honourable Christian community. It was not only renovated but completely rehabilitated, and members of all communities and sects are welcome here without any religious or social discrimination,” he said.
Bishop Leo Paul, who spoke on the behalf of the Christian community, paid special thanks to the Pakistan Army and civil society of multan. Addressing the ceremony, he discussed the problems of the church with Lieutenant General Abid Parvez and asked for a clean-up of encroachments and illegal buildings from the cathedral’s surroundings. He also requested for the construction of a school for the Christian community near the church.
Lieutenant General Abid Parvez appreciated the efforts of the Pakistan Army team. Addressing the ceremony, he said the army would like to continue working to protect Pakistan’s assets and historical monuments.
Saint Mary’s Cathedral – newly renovated. PHOTO: EXPRESS
© 2024, All Rights Reserved by Pakistan Think Tank.
