After being named Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party to succeed his high-profile mother Benazir Bhutto, Bilawal's life has suddenly gone from very private to
very public. As expected, the tenacious Papparazi and the ruthless
tabloid press have found a new subject to pursue relentlessly. Examples
of this coverage include the stories in the British tabloids The Sun and…
PakAlumni Worldwide: The Global Social Network
The Global Social Network
Riaz Haq's Blog – January 2008 Archive (21)
Emaar Chairman Bullish on Pakistan
Talking with CNBC today, Mohamed Ali Alabbar, Chairman of Dubai-based
Emaar Properties, said he believes Pakistan represents a great
investment opportunity for his company as it goes global. He said Emaar
sold a major project yesterday within hours of launch in Pakistan.
A massive real estate project valued at $43b by Emaar is underway in
Pakistan to develop two island resorts near Karachi. This is Emaar's
single largest project and supersedes the $26.7… Continue
Emaar Properties, said he believes Pakistan represents a great
investment opportunity for his company as it goes global. He said Emaar
sold a major project yesterday within hours of launch in Pakistan.
A massive real estate project valued at $43b by Emaar is underway in
Pakistan to develop two island resorts near Karachi. This is Emaar's
single largest project and supersedes the $26.7… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 31, 2008 at 4:11pm — 6 Comments
OPEN Joins Force With MIT To Encourage Entrepreneurship in Pakistan
By Adil Najm
www.pakistaniat.com
Sofizar, which works on “click fraud” and “web analytics Solutions” (maybe we at ATP
should be talking to them!) describes itself as “a Carlsbad, CA based
internet marketing company with development and operations based out of
Lahore” won the 2007 MITCEF-OPEN Business Acceleration Plan (BAP).…
Continue
www.pakistaniat.com
Sofizar, which works on “click fraud” and “web analytics Solutions” (maybe we at ATP
should be talking to them!) describes itself as “a Carlsbad, CA based
internet marketing company with development and operations based out of
Lahore” won the 2007 MITCEF-OPEN Business Acceleration Plan (BAP).…
Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 31, 2008 at 7:23am — No Comments
Web Disruption in Pakistan, Middle East, India
Internet services have been disrupted in parts of the Middle East after
damage to an undersea cable in the Mediterranean. There was disruption
to 70% of the nationwide network in Egypt, a government official told
Reuters. There was also disruption in the United Arab Emirates (UAE),
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, reported the Associated Press. India also
suffered up to 60% disruption, a national industry body told Reuters
news agency.…
Continue
damage to an undersea cable in the Mediterranean. There was disruption
to 70% of the nationwide network in Egypt, a government official told
Reuters. There was also disruption in the United Arab Emirates (UAE),
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, reported the Associated Press. India also
suffered up to 60% disruption, a national industry body told Reuters
news agency.…
Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 30, 2008 at 12:34pm — 1 Comment
Merchant of Death Eyes Pakistan
Philip Morris International, the international unit of the US tobacco
giant often described as a merchant of death, is building a new massive
cigarette plant in Pakistan.
Philip Morris is expected to spin off PMI as an independent company to be unconstrained by the U.S. tobacco
regulations and out of reach of American litigators. Importantly, its
practices would no longer be constrained by American public opinion,
paving the way for broad product… Continue
giant often described as a merchant of death, is building a new massive
cigarette plant in Pakistan.
Philip Morris is expected to spin off PMI as an independent company to be unconstrained by the U.S. tobacco
regulations and out of reach of American litigators. Importantly, its
practices would no longer be constrained by American public opinion,
paving the way for broad product… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 29, 2008 at 4:34pm — 4 Comments
Pakistan's Political Class And The War Of The Elite
Ayesha Siddiqa, the well known author of "Military, Inc." has written a
very insightful piece for BBCUrdu.com, arguing that Pakistan is ruled
by a small elite that disregards the wishes and the best interests of
its average people. I absolutely agree with Ayesha Siddiqa, that
Pakistan has been and still is ruled by a small elite consisting of
feudal lords, military officers, industrialists, and bureaucrats (and,
I add, some nefarious clerics colluding with… Continue
very insightful piece for BBCUrdu.com, arguing that Pakistan is ruled
by a small elite that disregards the wishes and the best interests of
its average people. I absolutely agree with Ayesha Siddiqa, that
Pakistan has been and still is ruled by a small elite consisting of
feudal lords, military officers, industrialists, and bureaucrats (and,
I add, some nefarious clerics colluding with… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 29, 2008 at 9:58am — 3 Comments
Thinking About Tomorrow
Wall Street Journal Jan 28, 2008
How will technology change the way we shop, learn and entertain ourselves? How will it change the way we get news, protect our privacy, connect
with friends? We look ahead 10 years, and imagine a whole different
world.
How will technology change the way we shop, learn and entertain ourselves? How will it change the way we get news, protect our privacy, connect
with friends? We look ahead 10 years, and imagine a whole different
world.
Let's get this out of the way first -- in the next 10 years, no one will travel to work by jet pack or have robot maids that serve dinner. But technology will continue to…
ContinueAdded by Riaz Haq on January 28, 2008 at 9:45pm — No Comments
Pakistan's Electricity Crisis
Pakistan’s economy has recently been growing at 7-8% per year, doubling
its GDP over the last 7 years. The industrial growth rate has been
closer to 12.5% per year during this period, contributing 38% of the
total economic output of Pakistan. Per capita energy consumption of the
country is estimated at 14 million Btu, which is about the same as
India's but only a fraction of other industrializing economies in the
region such as Thailand and Malaysia, according to… Continue
its GDP over the last 7 years. The industrial growth rate has been
closer to 12.5% per year during this period, contributing 38% of the
total economic output of Pakistan. Per capita energy consumption of the
country is estimated at 14 million Btu, which is about the same as
India's but only a fraction of other industrializing economies in the
region such as Thailand and Malaysia, according to… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 28, 2008 at 10:43am — 13 Comments
What's Next After "Da Vinci Code"?
It usually takes just one new really big seller to ignite book sales
and revive the publishing industry fortunes. There has been the "Harry
Potter" phenomenon and the "Da Vinci Code" that kept the industry
humming over the last few years and brought lots of people to
bookstores around the world. Lately, however, the book sales have
slowed down. "Harry Potter" has retired and Dan Brown, the author of
"Da Vinci Code" has been taking his time to complete… Continue
and revive the publishing industry fortunes. There has been the "Harry
Potter" phenomenon and the "Da Vinci Code" that kept the industry
humming over the last few years and brought lots of people to
bookstores around the world. Lately, however, the book sales have
slowed down. "Harry Potter" has retired and Dan Brown, the author of
"Da Vinci Code" has been taking his time to complete… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 27, 2008 at 5:41pm — No Comments
Pakistan: A Magnet for Foreign Investors
By Riaz Haq
www.pakalumni.com
Saratoga, CA
www.pakalumni.com
Saratoga, CA
Extreme Investing or Safe Haven?
Some call it "Extreme Investing". Call it by any name, but international investors have discovered Pakistan as an attractive destination.
Referring to the recent upsurge in violence, Bank Muscat CEO Ali Issa said,
"We are not worried about our investment in Pakistan, we think it's just a
passing…
Who Is In Charge: Mehsud Or Mullah Omar?
Americans have now been saying for several months that the Taleban and
Al-Qaeda have shifted their focus of attacks from Afghanistan to
destabilize Pakistan. "Al-Qaeda right now seems to have turned its face
toward Pakistan and attacks on the Pakistani government and Pakistan
people," US Defense Secretary Robert Gates told the Washington Post on
Dec 21, 2007. Most of the recent activities including a big surge in
suicide bombings in Pakistan seem to confirm this… Continue
Al-Qaeda have shifted their focus of attacks from Afghanistan to
destabilize Pakistan. "Al-Qaeda right now seems to have turned its face
toward Pakistan and attacks on the Pakistani government and Pakistan
people," US Defense Secretary Robert Gates told the Washington Post on
Dec 21, 2007. Most of the recent activities including a big surge in
suicide bombings in Pakistan seem to confirm this… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 23, 2008 at 11:38am — 1 Comment
The Story of Oil, Greed, Religion and Blood
The story of oil, greed, religion, and blood is as old as the discovery
of oil. This story is brought to life in the recent Hollywood movie
"There Will Be Blood", starring Daniel Day Lewis as the greedy oilman
drilling for oil in California over 100 years ago. Loosely based on
Upton Sinclair's novel "Oil", the movie shows oil discovery in San
Fernando Valley in Southern California in early 1900s. I must say the
performance by Lewis is masterful. The story… Continue
of oil. This story is brought to life in the recent Hollywood movie
"There Will Be Blood", starring Daniel Day Lewis as the greedy oilman
drilling for oil in California over 100 years ago. Loosely based on
Upton Sinclair's novel "Oil", the movie shows oil discovery in San
Fernando Valley in Southern California in early 1900s. I must say the
performance by Lewis is masterful. The story… Continue
Unreasonable Men: Martin Luther King to Barack Husain Obama
"A reasonable man adapts himself to his environment. An unreasonable
man persists in attempting to adapt his environment to suit himself.
Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man." So said the
famous British playwright George Bernard Shaw a century ago. The
"unreasonable Man" label applied well to the famous civil rights
leader Rev Martin Luther King in the 1960s and applies well today to
US presidential candidate Senator Barack Husain Obama. As… Continue
man persists in attempting to adapt his environment to suit himself.
Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man." So said the
famous British playwright George Bernard Shaw a century ago. The
"unreasonable Man" label applied well to the famous civil rights
leader Rev Martin Luther King in the 1960s and applies well today to
US presidential candidate Senator Barack Husain Obama. As… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 20, 2008 at 9:20am — No Comments
CIA Chief Believes Mehsud Killed BB
CIA Director Michael Hayden told the Washington Post that the former
Pakistani prime minister was killed by fighters allied to Baitullah
Mehsud. Mr Hayden did not reveal the sources for his claim. Apparently,
CIA has come out with this conclusion based on their own independent
intelligence sources and due diligence. With this CIA claim, there is
now agreement between the Pakistani intelligence and the US
intelligence on the identity of the people behind… Continue
Pakistani prime minister was killed by fighters allied to Baitullah
Mehsud. Mr Hayden did not reveal the sources for his claim. Apparently,
CIA has come out with this conclusion based on their own independent
intelligence sources and due diligence. With this CIA claim, there is
now agreement between the Pakistani intelligence and the US
intelligence on the identity of the people behind… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 18, 2008 at 8:30am — No Comments
Quaid-e-Azam Mohamed Ali Jinnah: Time Magazine Cover 1946
Fellow member Ameer Alam posted a photo of the Time Magazine cover from 1946 that carries Quaid-e-Azam's picture on the cover. The following is the article inside that issue of Time:
By every sign & portent this would be India's year of decision—a decision that would be bitterly contested by all three partners to India's future: the British Raj, 256 million Hindus, 92 million
Moslems.
Votes…
ContinueAdded by Riaz Haq on January 17, 2008 at 1:28pm — No Comments
Merrill Lynch Calls Pakistan Safe Haven For Investors
"Pakistan is a safe haven for investors", says Mark Matthews, chief
Asia strategist at Merrill Lynch, speaking to CNBC's Arnold Gay in
January, 2008. This is in sharp contrast to some of the rating agencies
like S&P and Moody's hinting at possible downgrade of Pakistan as
an investment opportunity. Matthews argues that Pakistan is one of the
best information arbitrage markets in the world.
While the bombings, shootings and the body bags make good headlines for… Continue
Asia strategist at Merrill Lynch, speaking to CNBC's Arnold Gay in
January, 2008. This is in sharp contrast to some of the rating agencies
like S&P and Moody's hinting at possible downgrade of Pakistan as
an investment opportunity. Matthews argues that Pakistan is one of the
best information arbitrage markets in the world.
While the bombings, shootings and the body bags make good headlines for… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 16, 2008 at 10:51am — No Comments
Atta Crisis in Pakistan
Rising Atta Prices
The rising prices and acute shortages of atta in Pakistan are clearly
distressing to the people. However, putting it in perspective, this
wheat crisis is not isolated to Pakistan. There are widespread fears of
food shortages and lack of affordability in many countries around the world.
According to a recent report in Wall Street Journal, the prices of Illinois corn
and soybeans rose 40%… Continue
The rising prices and acute shortages of atta in Pakistan are clearly
distressing to the people. However, putting it in perspective, this
wheat crisis is not isolated to Pakistan. There are widespread fears of
food shortages and lack of affordability in many countries around the world.
According to a recent report in Wall Street Journal, the prices of Illinois corn
and soybeans rose 40%… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 15, 2008 at 12:51pm — No Comments
Pakistan is Lagging in Social Media
As the membership of social networks and the users of social media
applications such as Facebook, MySpace, and Orkut grow dramatically to
hundreds of millions in the US, Europe, Asia and Latin America, it
seems that this phenomenon is still in very early infancy in Pakistan.
As of now, there are about 117,000 Pakistanis on Facebook, about
100,000 on Orkut, and a few thousand on MySpace. There are smaller
social networks such as Naseeb.com that have a few thousand… Continue
applications such as Facebook, MySpace, and Orkut grow dramatically to
hundreds of millions in the US, Europe, Asia and Latin America, it
seems that this phenomenon is still in very early infancy in Pakistan.
As of now, there are about 117,000 Pakistanis on Facebook, about
100,000 on Orkut, and a few thousand on MySpace. There are smaller
social networks such as Naseeb.com that have a few thousand… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 12, 2008 at 6:41pm — 4 Comments
Bilawal's Extra-curricular Activities at Oxford
In his high-profile role as the Chairman of one of Pakistan's largest political parties, there are enormous security threats for Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. In the words of John Giduck, a US security consultant, "The threat level is going to be inordinately high - you are dealing with a young man with an enormous target painted on him. It would take dozens of people and hard assets to keep this man safe". In addition to this security threat, Bilawal is dealing with the loss of his privacy with the… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 10, 2008 at 10:00am — 2 Comments
Bilawal's Appeal for Privacy
Added by Riaz Haq on January 8, 2008 at 9:36pm — No Comments
CSI: Pakistan
Watching the news, the pictures, the videos, and the abundance of
speculation and conspiracy theories, it makes me wonder whether all of
this controversy could have been avoided had there been a thorough and
professional investigation undertaken after Benazir Bhutto's tragic
assassination? Then I realize it is too much to ask of the people
involved. Here are some of my reasons why:
1. There is a total lack of professionalism in the way the law-enforcement… Continue
speculation and conspiracy theories, it makes me wonder whether all of
this controversy could have been avoided had there been a thorough and
professional investigation undertaken after Benazir Bhutto's tragic
assassination? Then I realize it is too much to ask of the people
involved. Here are some of my reasons why:
1. There is a total lack of professionalism in the way the law-enforcement… Continue
Added by Riaz Haq on January 6, 2008 at 8:10am — 2 Comments
Latest Blog Posts
- Barrick Gold CEO "Super-Excited" About Reko Diq Copper-Gold Mine Development in Pakistan
- What Can Pakistan Do to Cut Toxic Smog in Lahore?
- Pakistan to Develop Urdu LLM for Generative AI
- Will India Grow Old Before it Gets Rich?
- India: A Rogue State Ruled By Gangsters?
- Renewable Energy: Clean Electrification of Pakistan's Economy
- Is Pakistan Getting Ready For AI Revolution?
Most Popular Blog Posts
- Turkish-Born Muslim Scientists Behind Pfizer's Successful COVID19 Vaccine
- Pakistan Opens Indian Visitors' Eyes
- Mission R&AW: Ex Indian Intelligence Officer on RAW's Successes in Pakistan
- Pakistani-American Surgeon Transplants Pig Heart into A Human Patient
- Karachi's NED University Alum Raises $100 Million For Silicon Valley FinTech Startup
- Silicon Valley Congressman Ro Khanna Defeats Pro-Modi Challenger
- 1800 Km Long Gwadar-Karachi-Islamabad-China Rail Line Planned
Monthly Archives
2024
- November (3)
- October (4)
- September (4)
- August (5)
- July (3)
- June (3)
- May (3)
- April (2)
- March (1)
- February (3)
- January (4)
2023
- December (4)
- November (3)
- October (5)
- September (5)
- August (6)
- July (4)
- June (6)
- May (3)
- April (6)
- March (6)
- February (7)
- January (5)
2022
- December (5)
- November (6)
- October (7)
- September (9)
- August (10)
- July (7)
- June (9)
- May (9)
- April (8)
- March (9)
- February (13)
- January (8)
2021
- December (12)
- November (8)
- October (10)
- September (10)
- August (8)
- July (8)
- June (10)
- May (7)
- April (12)
- March (11)
- February (10)
- January (15)
2020
- December (11)
- November (7)
- October (11)
- September (11)
- August (16)
- July (9)
- June (7)
- May (8)
- April (9)
- March (8)
- February (4)
- January (7)
2019
- December (5)
- November (7)
- October (7)
- September (8)
- August (4)
- July (6)
- June (8)
- May (10)
- April (7)
- March (10)
- February (11)
- January (5)
2018
- December (11)
- November (8)
- October (5)
- September (9)
- August (9)
- July (13)
- June (12)
- May (14)
- April (13)
- March (10)
- February (15)
- January (17)
2017
- December (13)
- November (15)
- October (10)
- September (15)
- August (11)
- July (15)
- June (9)
- May (10)
- April (10)
- March (11)
- February (7)
- January (12)
2016
- December (12)
- November (11)
- October (13)
- September (15)
- August (8)
- July (9)
- June (9)
- May (13)
- April (10)
- March (12)
- February (6)
- January (6)
2015
- December (9)
- November (5)
- October (12)
- September (7)
- August (9)
- July (7)
- June (8)
- May (13)
- April (16)
- March (9)
- February (6)
- January (8)
2014
- December (7)
- November (10)
- October (7)
- September (2)
- August (7)
- July (7)
- June (8)
- May (8)
- April (10)
- March (6)
- February (7)
- January (8)
2013
- December (6)
- November (6)
- October (1)
- September (6)
- August (6)
- July (6)
- June (9)
- May (9)
- April (7)
- March (8)
- February (5)
- January (5)
2012
- December (4)
- November (2)
- October (6)
- September (4)
- August (3)
- July (3)
- June (7)
- May (5)
- April (6)
- March (8)
- February (7)
- January (10)
2011
- December (7)
- November (9)
- October (7)
- September (8)
- August (8)
- July (4)
- June (1)
- May (8)
- April (6)
- March (1)
- January (5)
2010
2009
- December (7)
- November (3)
- October (6)
- September (5)
- August (6)
- June (3)
- May (4)
- April (4)
- March (7)
- February (10)
- January (12)
2008
- December (7)
- November (7)
- October (4)
- September (6)
- August (10)
- July (6)
- June (7)
- May (5)
- April (9)
- March (12)
- February (23)
- January (21)
2007
Twitter Feed
Live Traffic Feed
Sponsored Links
South Asia Investor Review
Investor Information Blog
Haq's Musings
Riaz Haq's Current Affairs Blog
Please Bookmark This Page!
Blog Posts
Barrick Gold CEO "Super-Excited" About Reko Diq Copper-Gold Mine Development in Pakistan
Barrick Gold CEO Mark Bristow says he’s “super excited” about the company’s Reko Diq copper-gold development in Pakistan. Speaking about the Pakistani mining project at a conference in the US State of Colorado, the South Africa-born Bristow said “This is like the early days in Chile, the Escondida discoveries and so on”, according to Mining.com, a leading industry publication. "It has enormous…
ContinuePosted by Riaz Haq on November 19, 2024 at 9:00am
What Can Pakistan Do to Cut Toxic Smog in Lahore?
Citizens of Lahore have been choking from dangerous levels of toxic smog for weeks now. Schools have been closed and outdoor activities, including travel and transport, severely curtailed to reduce the burden on the healthcare system. Although toxic levels of smog have been happening at this time of the year for more than a decade, this year appears to be particularly bad with hundreds of people hospitalized to treat breathing problems. Millions of Lahoris have seen their city's air quality…
ContinuePosted by Riaz Haq on November 14, 2024 at 10:30am — 1 Comment
© 2024 Created by Riaz Haq.
Powered by
