Saudi Arabia Budget 2016 Shocks World

By: Azhar Azam

Economic Highlights of 2015 and 2016

Saudi Arabia, the largest crude oil exporter, shocked the world as it announced the budget for Fiscal Year 1437/38 (2016) where the Kingdom estimates to slash revenues from SR 608 billion in 2015 to SR 513.8 billion in 2016, over 15% swallow revenue target.

The government spending is estimated at SR 840 billion in 2016 from SR 975 billion in 2015, posing a fiscal deficit of SR 326.2 billion ($ 87 bn, £59 bn, €89 bn) in 2016 from SR 367 billion ($98 bn, £66 bn, €80 bn) in 2015. The total spending in 2015 has already been reduced to SR 975 as compared to SR 1,140 billion in 2014, by 14.5%.

Public debt also is expected to reach 5.8% of GDP, SR 142 billion, by the end of 2015 as compared to 2% of GDP, SR 44 billion, in 2014. The budget deficit is proposed to be covered through borrowing from domestic and international markets.

Oil Dependency
The plummeting oil prices in the international market have been trouncing the state’s revenues whilst ongoing conflict in Yemen has overburdened the economy on account of military expenditure.

This would mean that the government is expecting the oil prices to continue sliding down in the coming year too as the average rate of oil for 2015 has declined by 45% from the average of 2014.

Saudi Arabia economy is highly oil-dependent where oil revenues have been thrashed by 23% in 2015 as compared to 2014 and fell to SR 444.5 billion, 73% of total revenue. Non-oil revenue however has increased by SR 36.7 billion from SR 126.8 billion in 2014 to SR 163.5 billion in 2015, 29% increase.

Economy Structural Reforms
Ministry of Finance, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia while announcing Recent Economic Developments and Highlights of the Fiscal Years 1436/37 (2015) and 1437/38 (2016) on Monday, the 28-Decembe-2015 also proclaimed to a series of structural reforms in the state’s economy and to reduce its dependency on oil starting from fiscal year 1437/38 (2015) including:

• privatizing a range of sectors and economic activities
• reviewing current levels of fees and fines, introducing new fees, and completing the necessary arrangements for the application of VAT
• reviewing government support, including revision of energy, water, and electricity prices gradually over the next five years

Gross Domestic Product
Saudi Arabia GDP for the fiscal year 1436/37 (2015), in current prices, has decreased by 13.35% to SR 2.450 billion as compared to fiscal year 1435/36 (2014) where the oil sector is further expected to decline by nearly 43%. The GDP at constant prices have however is expected to rise by 3.35 in 2015 with oil sector to grow by 3%.

Saudi Arabian exports for the year 2015 are estimated to be SR 767.2 billion, a decline of 40% from the year 2014. The non-petroleum commodity exports, 22.9% of total merchandize exports, have also declined by SR 176.3, 18.8% from previous year.

Imports are expected to reach SR 531.9 billion in 2015 showing 10.5% decline from last year.
Saudi Arabia Monetary Agency also points to achieving a trade balance of SR 235.2 billion in 2015, 65.9% decline from last years as a result of the marked decrease in oil exports despite decline in imports.

The balance of payments account is expected to suffer a deficit of SR 154.9 billion in 2015 as compared to a surplus of SR 288.4 billion in 2014.

Saudi Arabia Stance
Saudi Arabia for last one year or so has been pushing up the crude oil production to rule out their rivals, the shale producers in North America and to secure their market share.

Brent traded crude oil at $36.85 a barrel on Tuesday which is a drastic decline from $115 in June last year when OPEC stinted its oil production stint.

Khalid Al-Falih who the chairman of “Aramco”, Saudi Arabian National Petroleum and Natural Gas company said in a news conference "We see the market balancing sometime in 2016, we see demand ultimately exceeding supply and soaking up a lot of the excess inventory and prices in due course will respond regardless of when and by how much”.

“Saudi Arabia is better equipped to wait out currently oil prices than other producers”, Al-Falih who is also the Health Minister. He further clarified that “Our production policy has been very clear; we will meet our customers’ demand and will not leave our customers short of energy.”

Hussain Haqqani Trying to Influence U.S. Over Pakistan

By: Azhar Azam

Hussain Haqqani in Civil Nuclear Cooperation with Pakistan: Prospects and Consequences appeared to be much more conscious, worried and troubled (even more than the U.S. itself) over the media reports that “elements in the current US administration think they can secure change in Pakistan’s policies by offering it a nuclear accord along the lines offered to India in 2005”.

Citing a couple of articles published in Washington Post and New York Times, the ladle lobbyist continued to be in some sort of unhinge and covetous on a supposed civil nuclear deal with Pakistan in return to restrict the nuclear arsenal of the country.

The former “Pakistan ambassador” to the United States during 2008-2011 annulled the U.S. approach to limit the nuclear arsenal of Pakistan while kept reminding the Pakistan military and economic indebtedness to U.S gratitude during 1980s proxy war in Afghanistan and post 9/11 era of war on terror.

The absconder from the courts of Pakistan failed to realize the historical facts that at both times of 1980s and 9/11; it was the U.S. who appealed Pakistan to fight its self imposed cold war and war on terror and repeatedly remained grateful for the level of incessant, unending support and cooperation across disciplines to Pakistan.

It is responding Farid Zakaria and Kevin Hulbert, arms industry or U.S. cost of wars, all of these reflect the hardcore ground realities and importance and cooperation of Pakistan with the U.S. over the decades. The world is changing and redefining new blocks and such people are living through 1980s.

Do the Math: Global War on Terror has killed 4-million Muslims or more reveals some horrible body count including Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan and the just the cumulative direct war appropriation/spending of the U.S. in Iraq and Afghanistan has been nearly 4260% and 3716% respectively as compared to Pakistan.

The paid plotter then lashes onto Pakistan for being a smaller in size and economy to India and grouse Pakistan army’s dominance in all areas so suggesting no smaller nation has the right to exist, defend or be sovereign.

Today India is propelled as it could challenge China’s outgrowth with 1/3rd in size, 2.5 times lesser in GDP (PPP), 5 times more population below poverty line and about 1/7th of exports but one of the largest arms buyer in the world. Whereas arms industry is criterion of the dominance of the armies around the globe but the biased eyes and brain could see and think just of Pakistan’s.

“Jihadi proxies” in Afghanistan, Kashmir and India is yet another wicked notion to malign and pound on army of Pakistan. Again he deliberately masked the specifics as U.S. herself engaged proxies in Afghanistan, Kashmir is always a disputed area and is occupied by India so as the sleeper cells and Indian proxies like BLA in Pakistan. How a former ambassador and director for south and central Asia is trying to make Congress a dupe.

Referring Musharraf, considered the most trusted ally of the U.S. in Pakistan for years, he draws attention to his interview where he allegedly admitted to supporting Taliban even after 9/11 due to concern on close relations between India and Afghanistan. Thus, from 2001 to 2008, the U.S. was effectively arming a country that was, in turn, arming insurgents fighting and killing American troops in Afghanistan.

Comical and outrageous, the interview was taken in February where the Musharraf admitted to support Taliban but the whole world didn’t weigh this billion dollar confession including the U.S. Nine months later, an intellectual named Hussian Huqqani diverted the whole world attention to this classic revelation.

How simply he undermined the intelligence capability of the United States in the region with all the military, communicational and technological resources. He should rather be hired by the U.S. military and immediately deputed to Afghanistan to take control of the action in the region. Even more, when the entire world is appreciating the efforts of Pakistan and its armed forces to fight terrorism, he is the one who ponders otherwise.

The wisdom of exploiting American weapons against India is yet another silly, outlandish argument as if you are given a weapon to counter terrorism but you should not bring into play if you are facing a life threat from anyone else!

Haqqani meaningfully praised General Raheel Sharif “By all accounts Gen Sharif is a good man but such expectations were also voiced about his predecessor, General Kayani and his predecessor General Musharraf. Like with his predecessors the US sees General Sharif as representing a new beginning: He is non-political, opposes terrorism and is pro-Western. Ironically, all these qualities were also attributed to his predecessors.”

“The recent Pakistani announcement about an ‘India-centric’ tactical nuclear program indicates that despite serious threats to Pakistan’s security by Jihadi extremists, India — an American friend — remains the principal enemy in the eyes of Pakistan’s leaders.”

Therefore in his spectacle, it doesn’t count to what extent Pakistan especially Pakistan Army has provided support to the U.S. at the cost of economy or casualties; they stay unreliable, capricious to the United States and their friend, India.

Plainly, along these lines, his focal point is neither the United States nor its strategic interests but to slander Pakistan and architecting vagueness and disparity between the U.S. and Pakistan to safeguard his new master “India”!

Barring Turkey Could Bury Russia Deeper

By: Azhar Azam

As Russia chases the United States footsteps of employing military power in Middle East to plunge its vicious economic crisis prompted by falling oil prices and western sanctions, the recent conflict with Turkey could deepen the graveyard of its economy.

A sudden deployment of military jets to patronize Asad’s regime and chuck out ISIS or IS in Syria took the world by surprise. At the same time, Russia didn’t even bother to listen into instinctive stark reaction of Turkey, one of its strongest trade partners and a NATO member.

The stage was all set for intense conflict and downing of Russian fighter jet by Turkey defense forces on November 24 and latter shooting of a Russian SU-24 bomber for violating its territorial integrity ballooned in the strife.

Russia Sanctions on Turkey
Russia repeatedly threatening Turkey for dire consequences eventually responded with raft of economic sanctions including fruits and vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers and apples, poultry products and salt with effect from January 1, 2016.

The decree further suspends chartered flights to Turkey spoiling the business of Russian tour operators who generally used to milk high revenues in ongoing long winter season by providing middle class Russians seeking some sort of lull in Turkey. In 2014, it was about 4.4 million Russian, including 3.3 million tourists who visited Turkey. Then there is the elimination of visa waiver facility for Turkish transport companies enforcing them to apply for formal requests.

Bilateral Trade and Alternative Options for Turkey
The annual bilateral trade between the two countries is app. $31.23 billion where Russia is the largest import partner of Turkey with $25.29 billion, 10.4% of total imports whereas Turkey’s exports to Russia are just $ 5.94 billion, 3.8% of total exports. The ratio of Russia and Turkey bilateral trade is 81:19 so what Russia would be thumped by four times than of Turkey in case of entire trade ties are delinked.

The imposition of these sanctions may force Turkey to search for alternative sources to replace Russian gas and LPG. Remember, Turkey is one of the largest natural gas consuming countries and ranked 8th in the world, about 49 billion cubic meters as of 2014. (World Factbook)

According to EIA, Turkey imported 13% of the Russian total natural gas exports in 2014, second largest after Germany’s 19%. Furthermore, Turkey is ideally placed to supply Russian natural gas to Europe and any kind of restriction in supply of gas to Turkey could blot Russian ambitions to reach Europe while Turkey can fill its LPG shortfall through Middle East, Algeria, Georgia and United States.

Though Russian officials are denying any sort of interruption in the contracts of the gas supply but Turkey is already taking precautionary measures for smooth, continual gas supply through its allies in Middle East.

Qatar, a biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and one of the close allies of Turkey is expected to push the gas supply to meet the shortfall. In September 2014, both the countries signed an accord where Qatar will provide 1.2 billion cubic meters of LNG to Turkey through tankers. Qatar who exported 76.8 million ton of LNG in 2014 certainly encompass the capacity to fill the space if set free by Russia. Algeria and Nigeria could also be the beneficiaries in eventuality of such turmoil.

On the other hand, natural gas traders from United States are eying the situation and may increase their share in Turkey from 6% to 12-14% in 2016, according to Reuters. The report further exposed that 21% of Russian global LPG exports of 5.2 million tons was supplied to Turkey, 1.1 million tons that is.

European nations too will extending full support to Turkey and announced a grant of $3.2 billion in aid in return of Ankara’s cooperation in stemming the flow of refugees from Syria.

But the question arises, will Russia be able to survive such economic drain while already packed in by western sanctions over its Crimea annexation coupled with interference in Ukraine and falling oil prices internationally?

Russian Economy – Past, Current and Future
Russian economy though had averaged 7% growth from 1998 to 2008 mainly due to rise in oil prices, has shrunk to 3.4% in 2012, 1.3% in 2013 and just 0.6% in 2014. In the second half of 2014, ruble lost almost half of its value whereas the economy is expected to contract by 3% in 2015.

The foreign exchange and gold reserves have fallen to $385 billion in 2014 from $509 billion in 2013; exports have reduced to $497 billion in 2014 from $523 billion in 2013; inflation has inflated to 7.8% in 2014 from 6.8% in 2013 and unemployment rate has escalated to 5.5% in 2014 from 5.2% in 2013. (World Factbook)

Year 2015 hasn’t either rolled the dice impeccably for Russia since ruble has collapsed to 67/dollar from 33/dollar on 03-December-2015 in two years; primary budget registered a deficit of 0.6% during January – September 2015 compared to 2.9% surplus a year ago and foreign reserves have curtailed to $370 billion in early October. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov has said that the budget deficit may exceed 3% next year as oil prices are expected to fall below $40/barrel.

Under the given circumstances, it would not be undemanding and practical for Russia to either stick to the sanctions imposed or enlarge them on Turkey as it would hurt Russia much more than it would hurt Turkey and similarly Turkey is no short of number of allies to fulfill its energy and other needs whereas Russia would off course!

Making Pakistan A Vibrant & Progressive Nation

By: Azhar Azam

Don't we disagree with our politicians, intellectuals, scholars and anchor persons who grade our society as sharp, able, progressive, non-violent, resilient and wise just to sell their products?

The selection of public representatives is the touch-stone to measure the depth of the wisdom of our people. It is as simple as that we shall not appoint a person in any capacity unless we are thoroughly satisfied with his character traits, capabilities, qualification, professional approach and mental bend. While undergoing the process of electing representatives, do we follow the same principles?

Plainly, we as a whole are a nothing more than a junk of individuals filled of egocentricity, dishonesty, bribery, communal misconducts and mentally-ill who are burying the social values.

We think that the objectives of progressive and vibrant society could be achieved by more spending on education, health and social infrastructure, spreading road, rail networks and facilitating foreign investment etc. Well these are secondary things that robotically materialize once you build a honest, well-bred and high moral values based society.

Do understand! The character building of children is founded in the lap of a mother and groomed in the institutions so that they could contribute to the society not to just seek a degree, earn money and die.

Don’t we berate even slap a child when he steals, lies or cheats? What is nature of these crimes? Social! Isn’t? Then why don’t us as parents enquire or monitor our children how they earn, how they behave and how they approach when they are grown up and dive into the professional river.

Again the truth is bitter! Same parents who have been slating and punishing the children for their evil acts during childhood latter urge them to changeover, terming it this is need of the time. How hypocrite are we!

The consequences have to be horrendous as are! It is all okay and fine as far as you are gaining, flourishing and getting rich … mixing water in milk … lying to save your skin … selling products by deception … suppressing the weakest and flattering the powerful … weighing tactics … and what not!

But we need Rulers who are pious, kind, dedicated and dutiful expecting them to provide secure, bright and booming future for our children who ought to be obedient and caring to parents till they demise!

The lust to bag too much amenities is required to be ceased as it instigates to undertake undue means and pounds aggression and depression.

When the youth assumes that money and power are the only parameters to glorify, they are urged to thinking beyond the status and using vicious illegal paraphernalia to boost their economic strength to identify their authority in the society.

We must make them realize that each human is distinctive and respectable so there is a need to strive for the people below our ranks enabling them to pull their life carts too. A comprehensive, composite and sustainable pacifism approach could pave the way to reach the national goals.

A part of these all, the most of the pragmatic and matter-to-fact tool to erect the society is to ensure the rule of law. Writ of law followed by Justice irrespective the status, position and wealth must be transparent and powers should be derailed in the court of law.

This is highly imperative as otherwise the aggrieved party, due to not justice fading away, might repel and in the process of dismay might fall in the enmity subsequently taking the law in own hands. With the expansion of such circumstances, the peace and stability in the society would indubitably cracked ensuing in a major debacle.

The state of affairs figures awfully grave when appointments on merit are negated; powers are exploited to cherish personal gains and the imposition of regressive taxes and depriving people of basic needs. Such a picture could blow up the nation and could trigger a course of anarchy and chaos amongst nation.

Last but not least, we ought to teach our children to hate the hatred thoughts, learn to live with the opinion differences with greatest extent of serenity, fortifying endurance, attending violent behaviors and taking measures to prevent depredations. The kids of modern days being more resilient and more observant can realize these factors and would definitely support to dig the confronted evils out of the society.

These few little but effective strides would unleash a slow though penetrative effect process to build a constructive, tolerable and triad generation which would be highly consequential to deriving a progressive, vibrant nation.

Is Pakistan Image SO Fragile?

By: Azhar Azam

These are some of the few repentant words we all have been hearing, reading or listening since long through both print and electronic media from the supposed intellectuals, politicians and think tanks inside and outside the country.

Ø Pakistan image has been tarnished;
Ø This act conveyed a terrible image of Pakistan to the world ;
Ø He has dampened the moderate, liberal image of Pakistan.

How utter nonsense is this that someone committed a crime, Pakistan Image dented, someone deceived somebody, Pakistan Image thrashed, someone fixed a match, Pakistan Image crashed ... absolutely ludicrous!

Another facet is that if such an episode occurs outside Pakistan, the whole so called human rights activists, civil society, media houses, anchors and all others alike immediately start yelling @ Pakistan as the rest world is cleansed of crimes and sadly we the general public foolishly follow their thoughts blindly.

A person departs abroad and stays illegal where does Pakistan came in from, a person selected on the basis of his sport skills and indulges in misconduct or match/spot fixing what Pakistan got to do with that? A little group of people execute a terrorist attack somewhere else involving none from Pakistan but hundreds of thousands of kids, women, men and law enforcing agencies recruits are torn in pieces in Pakistan, fear penetrated in even schools and mosques, economic meltdown suffering a developing country with reportedly US $100 billion, and rubbishy all is talked about the image of Pakistan!

Aren’t we all fed up watching a group of certain ‘philosophers’ on TV channels who just wait some incidence to occur so they could contribute their ‘intellectual thoughts’ to bashing Pakistan for hours and perish till another event of their choice crops up?

Most certainly, no one can defend the culprits and bringing them to justice but didn’t you ever hear any type of such kind of crimes or incidents happening in any other parts of the world?

Put aside developed part of the world, have we ever heard someone from even the countries like Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nigeria, Bangladesh that their image has been flogged by the acts of some individuals or small group of terrorists?

It sounds okay that the people abroad are the ambassadors of our country and governments should take initiatives not letting evils to sabotage others’ peace but do the whole felonies emerge from a single region? Come on, criminals cannot be restricted to boundaries, regions or countries as they carry the filth in their brains beyond geographical demarcation.

Are the jails of other countries even the developed ones are vacant or the crime percentage to population is too tiny to be ignored?

Well you are more sophisticated and highly technological countries, invent a brain scanner so haul the intentions from brains so at least your lands could be declared crime free!

Perhaps it shapes more embarrassment when we ourselves deem the liability of such individuals and make a fuss to lead own debase. If we are so worried about our image why don’t we espouse or strive for a system wherein our political parties, government departments, corporate sector, administrative and general bodies could evolve?

Flipside is that there is a political disaster, economic meltdown, administration deficiency, responsibilities delusion and most importantly disappeared justice and honesty then how to build a healthier and stronger Pakistan?

Just don’t always blame the governments; take initiatives on individual, collective and community levels. Counter inner evils/self interests and advise the youngsters to stick to what they been taught during academic tenure rather than switching over to just “money by any means” rail in profession.

The lessons are meant to be learnt not just to converse but to proactively taking on a steady progressive approach to future with clear and sincere intentions. Sooner rather than latter, INSHA ALLAH, the world would be discussing and following Pakistan to glitter themselves.

Long Live Pakistan - Responding Farid Zakaria & Kevin Hulbert

By: Azhar Azam

While Pakistan is actively rinsing the land from the menace of terrorism vigorously ripened after 9/11 myth involving factually none from its soil; there are some individuals still trying to maneuvering Pakistan’s knack and intent to curb the peril!

It is either Farid Zakaria’s The key to solving puzzle of Afghanistan is Pakistan, Kevin Hulbert’s Too Big to Fail or The Times of India suddenly realizing Pakistan's Kashmir card losing sting as Mohajirs, Baloch raise azadi cry in US; all these events happen in a few day(s) time!

Tribune Pakistan takes a step ahead distorting Too Big to Fail “Pakistan is probably the most dangerous county for the world” with “Pakistan most dangerous country for the world”. A perfect example of yellow journalism by eliminating “probably” to catch the readers’ attention through sensation!

Farid Zakaria pounds on Pakistan for providing the haven to Taliban and its new leader Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor speak out Pakistan army as the godfather of Taliban. He further insists that the problem cannot be solved without recognizing that the insurgency in Afghanistan is shaped, supported and armed from Pakistan, the fast growing nuclear armed arsenal and one of the world’s most powerful armies.

This is nothing more than a typical hypothetical novel story ignoring the ground hardcore realities and could had fetched audience may be a decade before. Pakistan has recently been facilitating dialogue between Afghanistan and Taliban in coordination with U.S. and China. Earlier U.S. initiated dialogue with Taliban opening their office in Doha.

If Taliban were purged from Afghanistan then as you say they were the “ghosts” you were talking to? Don’t the talks with Taliban reflect their strong existence in Afghanistan? Doesn’t U.S. presence in Islamabad dialogue itself vindicates that U.S. yearns to ensure a long-length peace process in Afghanistan. And finally who spoiled this peace process, don’t we all know? Indian RAW who sponsored a chain of attacks in Afghanistan to disrupt this peace process over strategic interests?

The article latter refers the existence of Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor lives part time in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province in Pakistan. Again, we all know that who is interfering in Pakistan territory and supporting terrorists to flog national integrity of Pakistan. India is thus having proxy militias in Baluchistan where the leader of their antagonist leader is residing and they could not exploit this lethal information to malign Pakistan? Then who requested Pakistan to release him, off course you don’t know? Hamid Karzai! And most importantly the ferocious Peshawar Attack killed 142-children and school staff, where were the havens and logistics support? Afghanistan!

Most certainly, there are so many other factors never to be discussed openly in international media, bilateral or international forums as it could hamper the business interests with India or could favor Pakistan which must not be viable at any cost!

14-years of U.S. military efforts in Afghanistan followed by withdrawal is not the only historical verity as Great Britain and Soviet Union bid fare well Afghanistan as well. The reason is simple; no military action could alone induce peace anywhere.

Kevin Hulbert criticizes U.S. foreign policy while retiring close engagements with Pakistan in 1989 after “extensive and well-choreographed” U.S.-Saudi-Pakistan efforts to train and supply mujahedeen that successfully retreats Soviet Union from Afghanistan. He then evokes to heed the lessons from the political and security vacuum in Iraq coined by U.S. withdrawal resulting in surge of Islamic State.

Well 9/11 occurred in 2001 so with his statement of 2015 Pakistan much dangerous and more complicated than of 2003 highlight the implications Pakistan is suffering because of U.S. War on Terror the cost of which is being paid by innocent people of Pakistan by the hands of Taliban groups so how could Pakistanis view Taliban as good soldiers by sacrificing their children, sons, daughters, father, mother and personnel from law enforcement agencies in the hands of Taliban? How could anybody patronize and perceive the killers of his/her children performing religious duty?

Wake up buddy, you are still portraying 2003 Pakistan when he last visited here or even 2014 Pakistan when you retired, it is 2015 emerging, integrated Pakistan, collectively, effectively and indiscriminately curbing terrorism, external threats and internal treacherous defector propelled by some specific external elements. This is no more a “do more” Pakistan which it used to be as capitulate over certain personal lusts and interests in the past decade or earlier.

Don’t you or anyone else to worry about nuclear Pakistan getting rogue! Could you deny the fact that Pakistan armed forces are one of the highly skilled most destructive, extremely proficient and well prudent armies in the world, ranked amongst the top. Isn’t Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) has recently been ranked #1 in the world? It is not just about the war or combating terrorism; Pak armed forces are vigilant and accessible within no time to counter any kind of other catastrophes such as earthquake, floods, training civil armed forces, stabilizing institutions and democracy even at the cost of their lives.

The civil casualties in your war on terror whether Iraq, Afghanistan or elsewhere are countless despite supposedly highly technology military and telecommunication equipment support but how many from the hands of Pakistan forces? Even your finger tips would fail to fill the minimal number! The recent Kunduz hospital tragic incident is a perfect example of your so-called technological advancement and there are so many other incidents to exemplify!

It is the Pakistan who at the cost of thousands of casualties has offset the defiance you were challenged. It is the Pakistan whose people by taxing their basic necessities have supported and fought your war. It is the Pakistan despite their territorial disputes and conspiracies upfront has released you from the peril of Soviet Union communism. It is you, as you said, left Pakistan alone but when you needed Pakistan after 9/11, we supported you across all levels unconditionally!

So nuclear Pakistan is neither a rogue state nor probably the most dangerous country for the world! The exceedingly responsible and vastly harmonized behavior of Pakistan since ’98 atomic explosions even against its arch rivals typify her depth of endurance, urge for peace and intent of co-existence.

It is who else but Pakistan which has guarantee balance of power to transform peace in the region otherwise Indian extremism would have flamed not Asia but the entire world like they did in their own country to massacre the minorities and rattling the neighbor countries. While we with U.S. are fighting and bleeding to salvage the world from the evil of terrorism, it is India who through Afghanistan is the architecture crafting insurgence in Pakistan. U.S. must hence enquire India about their iniquity intentions to prompt terrorism to destabilize peace in region and harm war on terror setting aside trade interests.

Into the pandemonium of social sector challenges, why Pakistan has an economic retrench in last 13 years, the credit again goes to war on terror. Reportedly Pakistan has suffered an economic loss of around US$ 100 billion since U.S. war on terror, 14 years back. How neatly you are pulling out yet again from the consequences that Pakistan suffered in U.S. coalition?

On the other hand, the sustainability of economy in 13 years corroborates that Pakistan’s economy is neither is faltering nor getting bankrupt rather strengthening as foreign reserves escalate, peace prevails in Baluchistan and economic hub of Karachi. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are going back to their home in FATA. All these undeniable facts are being reported by local and international media and international financial institutions.


While taking into account IMF, U.S coalition support and U.S. foreign aid, IMF loans are anyways to be paid back and many countries of the world have been and are acquiring loans from IMF. And take a note; Pakistan got rid of IMF until U.S. war on terror hauled Pakistan into financial intricacies. U.S. coalition fund itself expresses what it is meant to be and in only reimbursed after Pakistan expend all such expenditure on behalf of U.S. Is U.S. foreign aid exclusively for Pakistan? No! There are so many countries U.S. is giving foreign aid and also check it out how many dollars have been reaches to poor. Most of the funds are cashed in by the corrupt government you support in these countries.

Few billion dollars cannot be substitute of 80,000 live and hundreds of thousands of injuries in U.S. War on Terror which suddenly is termed as Pakistan own war on terror after Peshawar Attack, a reaction of war on terror.

And lastly, Indian media sees few Baloch, Mohajors crying freedom chants in U.S. far-flung from facts in Pakistan but could not hear or feel the hundreds of thousands of azadi (freedom) cries of Kashmir people demanding plebiscite according to U.N. resolution?

Highest World GDPs PPP and Per Capita

By: Azhar Azam

GDP PPP is the gross domestic product of a country converted to US dollars using purchasing power parity rates so it has the same purchasing power as US dollar in the United States. PPP or purchasing power parity is the economic theory that is the adjustment required of the currencies or exchange rate of two different countries so that to calculate the economic strength. It is derived by dividing the cost of certain good in Currency-A by the cost of the same good in Currency-B.

In other words, we may say that it eliminates the purchasing power differences in two different currencies to and helps to calculate the price of a certain good at identical price in two different countries. For example, 01-kg of meat sold in Pakistan for PKR 800 costs US$ 10 in United States hence purchasing power parity between Pakistan and United States will be 800/10=80. This means for purchase of same weight of meat in Pakistan for PKR 80, US$ 1 would be spent in United States.

The ‘GDP PPP’ rankings of the top 50-countries as reported by International Monitory Fund (IMF) World Economic Outlook April-2015 and World Bank are:

GDP PPP’ Ranking – 2015

The data shows that the top 50-countries have nearly 92% contribution of Total World ‘GDP PPP’ with $103,464 so rest of the world is left with just app. 8%. China and United States continues to top the rankings yet again with India, Japan, Germany and Russia following them.

If we go on to calculate the Asia’s contribution to World GDP PPP, it would be 44.12% against Europe’s 18.74% and North America’s 19.54% dominated by United States off course. The contributions of Africa and South America remain 3.02% and 5.51% respectively whilst Oceania’s Australia chips in with 1.01%.

GDP PPP per Capita

GDP PPP per Capita is calculated by dividing the GDP PPP with the population or number of individuals residing in the country. It gives a better idea as how much an individual in either United States or Pakistan has the same purchasing power parity to spend or consume. Though it may not exactly translate the living standard, well-being of the people however is anyways a good indicator of the financial space the people are available with.

According to the said source, the ranking of GDP PPP per Capita of the world is:

GDP PPP per Capita by Country - 2014

Qatar is the richest country in the world with GDP PPP per Capita of $143,427 which is 944% of World GDP PPP per Capita. The major source of its wealth is derived from oil sources. The other factors that boost Qatar’s GDP are highly developed industries such as mining, transportation, trade and financial sector. Qatar’s GDP PPP per Capita against the lowest 50-countries and lowest 100-countries is 6403% and 2730% respectively.

Luxembourg has the second GDP PPP per capita in the world having $92,049, 606% of World GDP PPP per Capita. The main sources of its wealth are iron, steel and financial sector. However it has very small population with least unemployment rate in the world.

Singapore is considered to be the third richest countries with GDP PPP per Capita of $82,762, 545% of World average GDP PPP. The key factors driving the Singapore growth are stability in economic system, trade and vibrant tourism sector. Also, the country has the highest Trade-GDP ratio showing its high dependency on Trade.

Brunei Darrusalam with $73,233 is the fourth in the world highest GDP PPP per Capita ranks which accounts for 482% of World average GDP PPP. It is another tinny populated country having rich oil and natural gas reserves. Therefore, smaller in population with excessive resources makes it reaching the top per capita GDP PPP countries.

Kuwait has a GDP PPP per capita of $71,020 which is number fifth in the world and 468% of World GDP PPP per capita. The country is rich in oil reserves and has a open trade policy which is quite attractive to the investors.

Norway, United Arab Emirates, San Marino, Switzerland, Hong Kong, United States, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and a few others are also amongst the nations who have high GDP PPP per Capita. Over all, there are 79-countries which have GDP PPP per Capita more than average World GDP PPP whereas all other are trailing behind.

The data further reveals that the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Liberia, Burundi, Niger and many other whose GDP PPP per Capita is poorest in the world. As a matter of fact, the GDP PPP per Capita of the lowest 50-countries is just $2,240 and of the lowest 100-countries is just $5,254 which is a bit more than 1.5% of Qatar. Isn’t amazing that the sum of poorest 57-countries GDP PPP per Capita gets closer to GDP PPP per Capita of Qatar?

Intellectuals or Traitors?

By: Azhar Azam

Indian atrocities in Kashmir

The history of the mankind is filled with wars, killing billions of people throughout the regions, continents and countries during the last few centuries. Recently in the last millennium, WW-I and WW-II took countless number of human lives of different religions, geographies and nationalities. A lot of material is available on the web on war and warriors of history so I would not waste time in getting into those details.

After this devastation containing 60-million deaths, innumerable rapes, evolution of new territories, millions displaced and orphans; countries had to revamp strategies, priorities. Thus what we see in the following “Technological World War” involving majorly USA, Russia, Germany, Japan, China, France and others.

Silent Period
A couple of decades remained silent and all these countries without any doubt worked whole-heartedly for escalating GDP, expanding exports, improving living standards of people, revolutionary information and space technologies and inventing state-of-the-art arms including guns, bombs, missiles, fighter planes and marine capabilities.

Eventually these countries turned so strong both economically and defensively that neither of them was in a position to indulge in direct warfare with other. At the same time, in making the defense invincible, the anxiety creeps in as how to materialize the huge investment on arms and weapons.

Hence, learning lesson from World Wars, it was then the time to combat furtively so what we see is the Cold and Proxy Wars. You would analyze that suddenly in the last two decades; the riots are viciously expanding particularly in Muslim countries and weapons industries of the developed countries are now flourishing so eventually they created a substantial market of this product as well, thanks to our deficiencies.

USSR Insurgence in Afghanistan & Pakistani "Intellectuals"
To start with, Russian invasion into Afghanistan in search of hot waters forced Pakistan to secure its integrity and US supported to protect its strategic interests to failing and weakening the Russia in rivalry to supremacy without any direct confrontation.

Some non-sense intellectuals embark that it was never a Pakistan’s war and General Zia fought it in obedience to US. How rubbish! None of them have ever fired or faced a glimpse of battle and writes or speaks loudly criticizing on the role of Pakistan army. Should they have waited to get into Pakistan to slay you and pick your women to their barracks like they did in Afghanistan?

The ‘Preemptive Attack’ what we heard in the last decade was then executed by the Pakistan Forces to safeguard national interests. What they people talk about is absolutely garbage when to defend a country that is why they have ever neither played a constructive role nor held a position in a significant position. In fact, rub them off and see where they are being funded from!

It was a war of Pakistan fought on the soil of Afghanistan but this statement is termed as trash and insane. Okay! Tell me, are you more intellectual than those of US, UK, Germany, France etc. who collectively bombed Iraq into graveyard for occupying Iraq? Here such people say that those countries have their strategic interests and it was Iraq who was the offender so better teach them and whilst anyone resists for Kashmir, Philistine, Chechnya or Bosnia, simply call them wicked, outrageous.

If US, UK, Germany, France and others all the way from over the seas attack Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Pakistan and add fuel to fire in Syria, Yemen…This is their RIGHT and when we act our strategic plan, this is the obedience of the WEST!

Very true, there is limitless lacking within ourselves but what does that mean to surrender our men, women and kids to the others. Whatever India, US do is an act of state and we should handle sensibly, politely. Why shouldn’t be India or someone else be treated same as TTP for the kind of support they are extending to rebels or their spies and sleeper cells in Pakistan?

Wars Are Fought By Nations Not Just Armies
If someone stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Pakistan Armed Forces, they curse them so indirectly slandering whom? Didn’t the history tell that whenever battles have been fight either in Europe, Africa or America…the whole nation not only actively participated but also sacrificed lives!

BUT When someone stands along Pakistan Forces to shelter our honors, integrity with veracity/trueness, we wish to expel them from mosques, curse them, label fundamentalists and how many of them abused, retaliated or pest us back? They rather invited us to dialogue to create harmony, be together holding the rope of Allah, avoid fighting each other and restore strength to fight the enemies for whom, for us.

You keep cursing them and I keep praying for them as they, though may lack in many categories, but standing for unity and honor of Muslims in lines with the commandments of Allah ﷻ and teachings of Prophet ﷺ and trying to wash out blunders with their sacred blood.

Imran - Hang On and Pay Heed

By: Azhar Azam

Imran Khan laid the foundation of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) after his memorable heroics in sports eventually winning the Cricket World Cup in 1992 and latter resurrected his fame through his contributions in health and education sectors by establishing a cancer hospital in the heart of Pakistan, Lahore and a university of international standard, in Mianwali.

He was a wonderful bowler but there were many even greater than him in the history of cricket. What makes him distinctive and distinguished from others are his fighting skills, charismatic personality and unbending attitude.

That is why despite leaving off the ground for nearly 23 years, he is still one of the most popular, most discussed personalities throughout the world. He has been and still being considered a highly arrogant in nature attributed to high temper yet surrounded by masses and loved.

Political Phase
Though he continuously denied to entering into politics and turned down the ministry offers earlier by General Zia-ul-Haq and latter by Nawaz Sharif before practically into politics, but he eventually entered in politics in late nineties by making his own political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI). The ideology of the party certainly is a “Movement to Provide Justice in Pakistan” that to me is the SOLE dynamic to erect a dead, dull and shady society.

As expected, people’s response to his party rather movement was as fluffy as of his to them in the past though he fought hard to attract people through exhausting 16-years of worn out, ceaseless sole struggle.

There is no doubt whatsoever about his leadership qualities, fighting abilities or magnetic personality but he must keep in mind that he is an ordinary human blessed by Almighty Allah a lot so there is always a scope to improve. Well he always thanks Allah for His unending blessings upon him what draws more respect and love from people for Imran Khan.

He initiated long march in August 2014 demanding a judicial enquiry of General Elections 2013 in Pakistan over alleged mass rigging by his counter parts especially Pakistan Muslim League (N). The long march then turned a sit-in that lasted for more than 04-months before being called off over ruthless Peshawar attack.

Indisputably he addressed impressively while thunderously criticizing the government policies and ditched the rulers destructively during over hundred days of sit-in followed by in public gatherings all over the country. Countless people from all over the country followed him wherever he went to support his axiom ‘Change’.

Honestly and neutrally, he is very right in most of his versions and criticism on the national and provincial, both past and recent, rulers but something is still lacking in the success of his movement.

Long March/Sit-Ins – The Last Option
The long march/sit-ins should have been the last option after a series of public gatherings in different areas of the country to build up the momentum of the movement, so the plan was abruptly vague.

Focus on Bigger Cause, ‘Change’?
With long march/sit-ins initiated anyways, he should have not engaged in trivial issues like elections enquiry, Prime Minister’s resignation, or dissolving the government! Even now, why didn’t he then or even now focusing on the bigger cause “Justice”, the essence of his movement that single-handedly would break the shackles to bring “Change”?

Inviting PTI Tigers, Tigresses & Supporters Only
You have always only encouraged, cheered and backed PTI tigers, tigresses and supporters to come to join your movement and challenge this evil, corrupt system which suppresses poor. Shouldn’t you have talked to nation to come on one-point agenda “justice” as Just justice alone can do what all others together cannot!

Mismanagement or Sole-Management
It seemed either there is no professional dedicated and responsible management of PTI events who could be accounted for in the possible occurrence of any mishap and whoever wants to do whatever, do so or he take on the entire control in his hands. Does he deem that no one else besides himself is capable to handle gatherings?

He thus must depute and trust certain party leaders and share responsibilities and who else other than youngsters could accomplish this task better. Remember, cause is a mechanism of some essential operational elements and just an engine cannot drive a car to take you through to the destination.

PTI Flag, Why Not Pakistan’s
Lastly and most importantly … Why you are always wreathing PTI flag? You are on a mission, ‘A Mission for Pakistan’ so why isn’t this is the Pakistan Flag to transform the gesture that your shoulders to endure the nation’s burden?

This seemingly undisruptive tactic has badly blasted your noble cause as it conveys the message of party, group, and political sect. I wish you must have encouraged Pakistan Flag in wearing, covering and paintings that could have enticed all other party members, supporters and citizen across Pakistan to join you in! Hadn’t that been a greater change?

In spite of these all, there must be no doubt in his intentions, patriotism, and care for people, urge to deliver and thirst to nip social evils in the bud. He’s got everything in life the wealth, the honor and the fame … in fact a dream life… then what he is striving for?

There are millions who have been sacred all these but lost in the history but the one who realizes that Allah only is the eternal and His blessings are also a test/trial, keep serving His mankind and keep thanking Him.

Imran Khan I deduce is one of those, so I support him principally!