Hey Pakistan, Please Be Civilized; Already Been Over 60 Years!!!!

It has been a while I managed to travel from farthest away country on the east of the globe “Japan” to west side “Seattle, USA”. Also managed to go through the airport security checks, which includes worlds three best airports including Osaka, Nagoya and Kuala Lumpur along with range of other airports from Dulles in Virginia, Newark in New Jersey, Heathrow in London, Charlotte in North Carolina, Atlanta in Georgia, Salt Lake City in Utah, Seattle in Washington, Chicago in Illinois, Narita, in Tokyo Japan, Dubai in UAE to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok Thailand. I am amazed, the way one has to go through complete uncivilized behavior at Pakistani airports; it reflects general mindset, social norms and values. Last week I had to attend a conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, it was late planned. I was rushing to airport, and on my way I was stopped by Airport Security Force ASF at Airport entry check post. I stopped my car and opened car truck but ASF guy came and knocked on driving side window, I unfastened my seatbelt, the guy asked me (Nechay Utro) get down so that guy could check the car trunk, making me stand. Finally after spending few minutes, guy could not find any BOMB or EXPLOSIVES sigh…they allowed me to proceed. My mother dropped me, I entered, at international flight entrance gate, ASF guy asked me to show the ticket, guy took a while to read photo copy of an e ticket, I made him read the details. I guess, guy was illiterate, may be trained to read PUNJABI or URDU ‘local languages of Pakistan’. As I entered to put my luggage on scanner, before that a rangers guy rushed and stopped me before putting my luggage on scanner. He rushed fast as I was carrying a suicide bomb with me to blow them up. Anyways, we had following strange conversation; Rangers Guy: What’s your name? Me: Imran Rangers Guy: Where are you going? Me: I am flying to KL Malaysia. Rangers Guy: Why are you going? Me: I am attending a business meeting. Rangers Guy: What do you do? Me: I work for a business organization. Rangers Guy: What is the name of organization? Me: XYZ organization. Rangers Guy: What is your designation? Me: Senior Planning Officer. I was sweating and surprised I was going through an intimidating interrogation by a semi literate cop, trained to secure our borders, it is us the tax payers paying their salaries to protect us not to intimidate & harass with their uncivilized behavior. Well, still the Q&A was going on, the guy asked me about my luggage, I thought he would ask me to get it passed through scanner, rather he asked me to open it, I was surprised, I told him that I am just carrying few clothes and assured him that I can put it on scanner. But he simply put blind eye, deaf ear and I opened my luggage, he took every thing out and my bag was upside down. The guy did not find anything and asked me to go; I had to put my ass on the floor to re pack everything. I guess these stupid, illiterate guys do not know that science has been kind enough to give the humanity many gifts, scanner is one of them and it can scan a sealed luggage to securitize deep inside human body. Of course, how would a Rangers guy know about it, they are trained to be our gate keepers or security guards, with the expense of tax payers’ money!!!!! Whole episode reminded me of my US trip, well in Dulles I was greeted by a girl, only on my way from New Jersey to North Carolina, I was asked to go through red scanner, security guy apologized many many times and after the checking, his smile was enough for me. Furthermore, it also reminded me of my first ever landing in Japan at Nagoya Airport, when I exited, two cops greeted me, first they apologized and then asked me few question, once our conversation ended, and they again apologized saying that it’s their job. Their smiling face and civilized behavior made me to say SAYONARA with smiling face. Well at Karachi Airport, once I got the boarding pass, I had to go through FIA endorsement on my passport, there were two queues, one for Pakistani and other for Foreigners. Few Pakistanis, with NOORANI FACE ‘with beards’ insisting FIA to let them use foreigners queue, anyways they were forcefully removed. I always carry a book, whenever I am traveling; Pakistani airports are the only one, with sheer distraction and noise, it is impossible to read a single page in a fish market sort of environment.

Anyways, when I landed in KL, it was smiling lady, greeted with welcoming tone. To cut it short, when I traveled back to Pakistan, plane was full of Pakistani, completely chaotic. When it landed back to Karachi, even it did not stop completely, most of the passengers unfastened their seat belts and were trying to rush out to save each and every minute in their busy life. When I grabbed my backpacks, a guy with Noorani Face “with beard” was pushing me to go ahead, once, twice and thrice, well finally I was out of the plane and asked the guy to please move ahead. Well, I was standing in a queue to get exit stamp on my passport, most of the guys did not go through the process, and the FIA guys got them out of the queue. I just thought this can never happen any where in a civilized society except in a mediaeval society of Pakistan. For a moment I started thinking that it was not in my control where to born but it is in my control where I choose to live.

Nutritional Pornography at Heart Attack Grill !!!!!!!!

Arizonian grill restaurants traveled all across from South of America to Zamzama Street of Karachi, Pakistan. But Heart Attack Grill, an Arizonian restaurant stunned many, I am still raising my eyebrows. Lately I saw an absurdly huge burger, not double, triple but quadruple hamburger at a restaurant located in Arizona. When I saw the picture I could not stop saying “its Nutritional Pornography” The Heart Attack Grill is a fast food hamburger restaurant in Arizona, USA. It has courted controversy by serving unashamedly high-calorie menu items with controversial names. The establishment is a hospital theme restaurant: waitresses ("nurses") take orders ("prescriptions") from the customers ("patients"). A tag is put on the patient's wrist showing which foods they ordered and a "doctor" examines the "patients" with a stethoscope. The menu includes "Single", "Double", "Triple", and "Quadruple Bypass" hamburgers, ranging from 0.5 to 2 lb (0.23 to 0.91 kg) of beef (up to about 8000 calories), "Flatliner Fries" (cooked in pure lard), unfiltered cigarettes, beer and liquor, and soft drinks such as Jolt cola and Mexican Coke made with real sugar. Customers over 350 lb (160 kg) in weight eat for free if they weigh in with a doctor or nurse before each burger. Beverages and to-go orders are excluded and sharing food is also not allowed for the free food deal.

It seems Marketing has gone insane!!! 

Material World is the Order of the Day

Here is my first ever poetry, rather poetic words beside my blogging; giving it a try :) 

Material World is the Order of the Day

Quest for material is the order of the day I don’t listen, but explore my own ways It may sound bold in many ways It may sound strange in many ways World influences me and makes me

Follow the order of the day I don’t listen, but explore my own ways People raise eyebrows & keep me at bay I don’t listen, but explore my own ways Be it relationship, be it love Everything is subject to materialism Be it friendship, be it companionship Everything is subject to materialism Be it happiness, be it sadness Everything is subject to materialism I at times question to get the answer I explore the meaning of life I explore the meaning of happiness I explore the meaning of death I explore the meaning of sadness I explore the meaning of friendship I explore the meaning of hatred Every meaning leads me to material world Every meaning leads me to material chase Quest for material is the order of the day I don’t listen, but explore my own ways I don’t find happiness in outer world I’d rather explore the inner world I find chaos in outer world I find peace in inner world Quest for material is the order of the day I don’t listen, but explore my own ways It seems a life long journey on the path of quest I would follow my path & I won’t detest

It may be long, it may painful Quest for material is the order of the day I don’t listen, but explore my own ways

Wind of Change in Iran; Impressive Youth Power

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been re-elected as president of Iran in a resounding victory, the interior minister says. He won some 62.6% of the vote in an election marked by a high turnout of 85%, official figures show. Supporters of pro-reform candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi have cried foul and clashed with riot police in Tehran, despite a ban on public protests. It was a fair win but i wanted reformists to win and resume talks with West. Iranian youth wants to open up, revolution thing has to dilute in the wind of change. They ran the campaign through Facebook , Twitter and Internet..... My interest in Iranian election is logical, my forefathers and generations spent more time in Iranian part of Balochistan than any other part of the world. It is one of the country having close cultural and linguistic similarities to my language and culture. Present election tells a lot about the future of Iran, a wind of change is around the corner.

Pipeline Dream, Passing Through Balochistan !!

Pakistan has finally inked the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project. A pipeline dream is about to become a reality. It is around 785 Km long line stretching from Iranian Paras field to Gwadar and to Nawabshah. The overall project cost is USD 1.2 bill, it is expected that financing would be arranged by next year and overall project would take 4 years to complete. On the saving part it is expected that USD 1 bill would be saved per year in account of reduced oil import bill, so investment would be recovered within one year of operation. It is expected that gas would be used to generate 4,000 MW energy so that hungry Pakistani industries get rid of load shedding. It is going to be a milestone for Pakistani economic growth; otherwise, expensive LNG import option from Qatar would have been considered. Large part of the pipeline would pass through Balochistan, keeping in view the feelings of deprivation in Balochistan, the socio-political cost of investment and risk may be much higher than envisaged amount. So far people in Balochistan consider the state policies anti Baloch and colonial in nature, they believe that state is exploiting the natural resources and returning peanuts to province through National Finance Award (NFC is national fiscal disbursement formula based on population, Balochistan population is just 6 to 8 mill out of 170 mill people). If such level of extreme distrust prevails in the minds of people, I am afraid the pipeline dream may be a distant dream, until a win-win approach is used in winning the hearts and minds of people through initial and urgent CBMs (confidence building measures). People of Pakistan have suffered a lot lately, the country’s geography and resources are favorable to make Pakistan an economic tiger of the region, provided we think in win-win direction. To make sure pipeline dream is accomplished, it is imperative to initiate confidence building measures on war footing grounds with the politicians and elders of Balochistan. Revive & consider the Senator Mushahid Hussein and Senator Wasim Sajjad Committee findings and Senator Raza Rabbani’s suggested points. Conclude and take immediate actions, bring back insurgents into political fold through conceding amnesty. Four year would be sufficient enough to create a win-win situation; if we just keep blaming India for creating trouble in Balochistan, I am afraid things may turn worse. Hope sanity prevails and we see constructive steps all around.

Burqa Vaganza !!!!

Ajoka Theater is one of the serious avenues that raise voice against social injustices through creative vigor, a message of resistance communicated with bit of creativity. It interesting to come across the drama BURQAVAGANZA. It is general belief in our rural society that female species is something to be hidden, something to be ashamed of. Ironically most of my close friends are females and I am proud of them!!! Many intellectual believes that “The obsession with burqa, face-veil, niqab, hijab, parda has very little to do with religious beliefs and everything to do with the patriarchal, tribal, feudal mindset and value system. Whatever the rationale for covering women's faces in the primitive or medieval times, it has absolutely no justification in the modern times. No society encourages indecency or immodesty, but the standards differ from time to time and from society to society”. It is believed that “The current fixation with niqab and burqa is a product of the Pan-Islamic fundamentalist political movement and supported by despotic Muslim rulers and the Western powers. In Pakistan, the Zia regime actively pursued this policy as a part of the West-supported policy to promote religious militancy”. In the Islamic world, or more specifically in Pakistan, the premise is quite different. While very few would support a Turkey-style ban on burqas, a vast majority believes that their faith does not reside in the burqa or hijab. In Pakistan those who want to force women to wear burqa or veil are a small intolerant ultra-conservative minority. The debate on whether to wear a veil or not needs to be conducted in the modern human rights and liberal context.“Burqavaganza” is a play written to challenge the mindsets, provoke the audience to rethink and break the chains of prejudice and outdated values. I am waiting for the play, my friends when it comes to Karachi, let us enjoy the play, dance to the tunes and relax. After all this an extravaganza! 

Eat LAYS Chips; Halal & Haram !!! I SAY LAY IT DOWN N TAKE IT OUT LAYS

Today I came across an interesting TV advertisement, showing singer turned religious guy, Junaid Jamshed. I did not believe, a multinational brand is selling CHIPS through JJ. Later I discovered that some of the people propagated that Lays are made in PIG Fat…whatever. The advertisement reminded me about the story of Mongols, when Mongols were about to invade Iraq, the Iraqis were debating weather a CROW is Halal or Haram!!! (Halal (حلال, ḥalāl, Halaal) is an Arabic term designating any object or an action which is permissible to use or engage in, according to Islamic law. It is the opposite of haraam) Just look at MNCs advertisement, Lays is trying to convince the Pakistani society to buy Lays because its Halal and look at the Indian society they show their culture, music, dance in their creative yet captivating advertisements. These advertisements tell volumes about each society. I fear days may come, when LUX would be showing a girl wearing Hijab and convincing users that its HALAL and Pig Tallow has not been used in the process. I remember during my daily interactions with various business entrepreneurs, most of the trading community or SME sector guys are deeply into religion (on surface) and most of them find modern banking, HARAM. Oh that reminds me various HALAL banking products are being launched all across Pakistan. These same religious minded entrepreneurs evade taxes, lies, overcharge, black marketing, hoarding and all sort of un Islamic business means are used to maximize wealth. On the other hand they claim that material world is short and one should be caring and thinking about life hereafter. One should also teach the hypocrite society that lying, tax evasion, hypocrisy, back biting, overcharging, black marketing etc all are HARAM. World is moving faster unlike us busy in sorting out Halal and Haram.

Lays tried to counter ONE RUMOR and took all the FUN OUTTA JUNK FOOD MUNCHIES! I SAY LAY IT DOWN N TAKE IT OUT LAYS

Impressive Laal- Mein Nay Uss Say Yeh Kaha ( I Said This To Him)

Recently I came across an interesting music video of Laal RED, they sang captivating Habib Jali poerty Mainay Uss Say Yeh Kaha (I SAID THIS TO HIM). Vocalist is Shahram Azhar. I was reading about the background of the poetry I came to know that “Main Nay Kaha" is a satirical poem by the famous leftist poet Habib Jalib called "Musheer" (Advisor). Jalib wrote it in response to a conversation he had with Hafiz Jalandari during the time of Ayub Khan's dictatorship. It remains just as fresh and valid today. While watching the video, one would catch the real images of events in Karachi, London, and Lahore during the tumultuous period between December 27th and February 18th. Translation:

I said this to him These hundred million Are the epitome of ignorance Their conscience has gone to sleep Every ray of hope Is lost in the darkness This news is true They are the living dead

Completely mindless A disease of life And you hold in your hands The cure for their ills You are the light of God Wisdom and knowledge personified The nation is with you It is only through your grace That the nation can be saved You are the light of a new morning After you there is only night The few who speak out Are all mischief makers You should tear out their tongues You should throttle their throats Those proud of their eloquence Their tongues are completely silent There is calm in the land There is an unexampled difference Between yesterday and today Only at their own expense Are people in prison, under your rule China China is our friend We'd give our lives for her But the system that they have Steer well clear of that From far away say "salaam" These hundred million asses That are named the masses Could surely never become rulers You are the truth; they're an illusion My prayer is that

You remain President forever Here is Youtube Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPsr1RnEfWo

“Emotional Lyrics, Base Rock Café and Economics of Relationship”

Lately I was at Base Rock Café in Karachi, Karaoke, rock songs and cool lyrics. When I looked at lyrics, mostly related to love, emotions, feelings, for a while I felt that all those words were for people living in fantasy land at least not on our planet. One may wonder why, to me emotions, love, feelings are mere words, they simply die down and melt if economics of a relationship does not match. At times I look back my past , as if I were living on a land of fantasy, emotional encounters, love and feelings followed by back to back love songs. One may feel as if one is flying, it is like ecstasy. Today I am convinced that people are here to make trade offs, be it job or love. If one finds a better job in terms of monetary gains, instant step would be to move on. Why would one get stuck to one job rest of the life? When it comes to relationship, hmm dating a guy, playing with emotions as things move on, if one comes across a better prospects in terms of material possession, instant step would be to dump the first guy and move on with better prospects. Emotions may not buy designer clothes, better car or better house; it is stupid economics that drives the relationship forward. To me all those Romeo and Juliet kind of words look impractical. In today’s world, its common old wealthy guys winning young girls and their emotions. It has been a while I have been detached from the emotional lyrics but today’s time at Base Rock Café made me look back and think. At times I struggle, and lately I have been facing tough resistance to shut the emotional window. Economics of relationship always come in mind to diffuse the emotional volcano that may again plunge me into the sea of stupidity that is called fantasy land. I believe that Love is such a powerful human emotion that people are wide open to exploitation. I always regret I was one of the victims and feel bad to be exploited. But who cares. I always believe that love is not insanity, it is not irrational, it is a relationship of trust and commitment. But it is not easy to find and one may end up feeling naïve, esp when exploited.

Obama Calling Muslims, A New Beginning, Positive Vibes, Expectation & High Hopes All Around

It is historic moment, in my life, it is for the first time an American President is reaching out to Muslims with positive vibes, with a balanced, logical and solution oriented approach towards problems that are faced by Muslim world, increasing the expectation and hopes for better tomorrow. Quoting verses from Holy Quran, citing the contribution of Muslim civilization towards the progress that was followed by European Renaissance. It is Obama’s positive attitude that dominated the speech; it increases the hopes and expectation leading to confidence building and better understanding between US and Muslim world. This would further initiate a dialogue among civilization instead of conflict and clash. I was glad that along with my friend Shafaq, i got an opportunity to be part of live telecast at US Consulate General’s residence in Karachi. It was attended by students, media personnel and intellectuals. Obama is so right and I along with my friend am convinced that “This cycle of suspicion and discord must end," we need to find positive aspects to connect and from there onward start bridging the gaps. It is for the first time such a realization and sentiments shared by a person sitting on the top and influencing the world politics. He rightly said “Muslims world has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims, and a Cold War in which Muslim-majority countries were often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations." To me honesty is the pre-requisite to a new beginning that leads to trust and long lasting relationship. Obama shared his sentiments that speaks of honesty and spreads the vibes of trust, hope and expectations. Stereotypes in west towards Muslim society is so deep that need to be addressed; he rightly mentioned that “I consider it part of my responsibility as president of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear”. I along with my friend Shafaq shared the same during hi tea interaction with various intellectuals, that it is also our responsibility to stand against stereotypes against US & European societies. There is so much negative press about US; our youth only knit picks the negatives, that ultimately leads to the widening of gap between our and Western societies. During my recent IVLP visit to US, I did not find America as a self interested empire, we in Muslim world have to reach out and understand the American society and values. I was glad to hear when Obama said “Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism, it is an important part of promoting peace” it is so deep and meaningful that touched my heart, to me it is right thoughts in right direction, leading to better understanding. He rightly explained and touched upon Israel- Palestine conflict and rights of all religion to live in peace, Iraq to Afghan war , Iranian nuclear issue to Pakistani aid package. I was also impressed with his commitment towards democracy, human rights and most important the rights of women which is very close to my heart. I along with Shafaq shared with the audience that it is not the time to knit pick negatives but reflect that for the first time, US President is reaching out to Muslim world, with a balanced approach, leading to peace, co-existence and mutual respect for each other. It is time to find out the positives to connect and start a dialogue for better understanding and making this world a better place for all. I am sure maturity prevails and history will remember us as civilized society, sharing the common globe. It is a new beginning, we all have to take it forward, it is time to be positive and act …….