Is the Feeling of Social Disintegration Rising?

As I was reading the State Bank of Pakistan's most recent state-of-the-economy report, I felt a sudden surge of insecurity. Though, it would be unfair to classify this particular report any more disturbing than the everyday chatter about ever-deteriorating law and order situation in the country. But one aspect of the report that really struck a different chord was the mismatch between our country's GDP growth and inflation figures (20% is the current inflation rate). As the annual GDP growth targets are being served with a downward revision every few weeks (2.5% is the most recent figure), it is clear that we as a nation are producing less and less. And so as the laws of economics would have us believe - subsequently we are consuming less.

A logical correlation that someone with as limited knowledge of complex economic systems as mine might draw would predict the inflation to also see a similar downward trend. I mean, it seems pretty logical right? Prices rise either because of shortage of supply or increase in demand (with other factors kept constant). Now if we are producing at a far less rate than last year, we couldn't possibly be consuming at a relatively higher rate. So increase in demand couldn't possibly be pushing the inflation numbers. Now look at the other side of the picture. While the imports have come down in real terms, the domestic production is only reacting to lowered demand from consumers. So there isn't a real shortage of supply of goods. So what the hell is pushing up inflation?

Well economists with a more in-depth knowledge of the subject than mine are better suited to explain to us why and how the inflation rate just continues to rise. Here, I just want to highlight one aspect of this depressing and dangerous trend. As people get laid off from struggling companies or are denied bonuses and raises as a result of less than expected profits or earn less running their small businesses, their pockets would remain shallow in these pressing times. As they go to the market with a reduced dispensable income and face the onslaught of increasing prices for even the most necessary goods (that is because our SPI is always a step ahead of the CPI), they are bound to feel the psychological impact of this abhorrent mismatch. One can never overestimate what damaging effects such inequity between income and prices would bring to the social order.

Combine these stressful economic times with the rising sense of physical insecurity and terrorist activities and what you have is a society that is trapped in a vicious circle of economic hopelessness and fear of personal security. What could you expect from such a society? a continued push for social integrity and national solidarity? a peaceful and patient resilience in the face of this economic slump? a persistent effort to unregister the deepening sense of disintegrating national cohesion? - none of these. Matter of fact you could expect to see a mirror opposite of these defining social values. This might seem a highly exaggerated and most despair expectation but it isn't so. Watch the video appended below that was recorded by a CCTV camera installed inside a MCB ATM booth to just get an image of what might become more commonplace in our surroundings.What disturbs me the most about the video isn't its content - but the fact that none of us actually felt an extraordinary sense of insecurity or even a deep feeling of loss for the victim after having watched this video. We have become far too comfortable with these incidents and it just goes to shows how little pushed we feel to take any action against it. This psychological state of 'powerlessness' over the crumbling social affairs only leads to mob chaos and and a cut-throat struggle for personal survival. Lets not discuss it further, it is already too depressing.I wish this 'imminent social disorder' (the term has exited in the social rhetoric for years now) doesn't come to pass because no matter how difficult life has become in Pakistan, I still wish to stay here and not seek a greener fields abroad.

City of Lahore - In Images

City Of Lahore

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Karachi - A Vibrant City

We don't do enough to promote our country .. our places .. our cities. This is a collection of some of the most beautiful sites of Karachi - one of the most vibrant cities in the world. Watch the show and pass it on to the world!

City Of Karachi in Photos

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The Relentless Campaigner

In one of my recent posts, I shared an image that quite intelligently drew a parallel between President Obama’s victory and its impression on the global geopolitical climate. The image was as clever as it was telling. It was simply Obama’s name presented in its branded style as made famous during the campaign but with the first two letters ‘O’ and ‘b’ replaced with ‘O’ and ‘8’ – ‘O8ama’ - signifying how our posterity will come to remember the year 2008. Now the elections are over, the inauguration has been held and President Obama has the wheels. But the fascination remains. Many books have already been published, many are in print and many more will be written about the ways this campaign changed or at least challenged the established fundamental principles of politics, campaigning, fund-raising, public awareness, silent revolutions and mass movements.

While inspired by the Organizing for America movement and how it democratized democracy by personally reaching out to millions and millions of Americans during the election campaign, I didn’t really believe when Obama claimed that this movement would still be active during his time in the office. I will be honest. As much as I liked the message of change from the bottom up, I didn’t think it would even survive after the elections let alone translate into ‘real’ reforms in governance. It just seems like a remote possibility that any one person could scrap off layers and layers of corrupt political practices that have corroded the shining armor of governance.

But I must admit, I was wrong – at least on one account – the continuation of the Organizing for America movement. It is alive and thriving. Two weeks back, it organized small discussion forums all across America so people could sit together and discuss the economic stimulus package and share their views on its website. A month back, Al Gore reached out to millions and endorsed the vision of President Obama to focus on alternative energy and presented his policy recommendations through the movement. Today, President Obama has announced the launch of a website http://www.recovery.gov, where citizens can track every dollar spent and every job created through the stimulus package using the Organizing for America platform.

This is the dawn of a new governance paradigm that reaches out to all citizens and makes them feel like an integral part of the process. Today we have the communication mediums that provide very cost effective methods to disseminate the message to large masses and receive their feedback. What governments only need is the resolve to take the initiative and share the message with all the stakeholders and take them along. I thought Obama’s message of hope, upholding of political ethos and strength of belief, were all that we could learn from him. But I must admit, once again I was wrong.

Manage Your E-mails Better - The 4-D method

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While electronic communication has largely been a blessing, it has come at its due price. Lets take e-mails, for example. E-mails help us instantly get in touch with people located over long distances. According to one estimate, only e-mails have enhanced human productivity by many folds over the last two decades. As said earlier, this usefulness has brought with it a disadvantage as well. And that is, receiving too many e-mails! Just too many at times. Some managers get over 200 e-mails every day. With such a large frequency of e-mails, how can one expect them to review these e-mails and also perform their daily managerial tasks? Due to my diverse interests and e-mail accounts, I am a victim of Inflated Inbox Syndrome (IIS) as well. After months of suffering at the hands of junk mails, forwards and urgent mails, I have finally learned to deal with this problem – thanks to an article I read at a magazine. The author described a 4 step process of handling your e-mails and termed it, ‘the 4 Ds of Dealing with E-mails’: Here is my understanding of the process:

1. Do It - If it takes less than 5 minutes

Yes do it! The procrastination bacteria would want us to put it off until you are a little less busy but remember, you are never any ‘less busy’ than at the moment when you are reading your e-mails.

2. Delay it with a reminder

Highlight it! Mark it Unread! Add a task! Or simply add a reminder. If you are new at using tasks or reminders, yes it might take you 2 minutes or more. But once you have become a frequent user of this tool, it takes no more than 15 seconds.

3. Delegate

Forward it. Call someone and assign the task. Print it and hand over to the right person. Delegate immediately if the communication action or response needs someone else’s input or if it can be solely executed by your team resource.

4. Delete It

Don’t just keep it in your inbox. Delete it or if you are one of those people who have a problem with erasing things from your life then create a folder ‘Old E-mails’ or use the Archive function on Gmail or Outlook. The point is that just don’t keep it in your inbox.

The Air Blue Story

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The air travel industry hasn’t really thrived in Pakistan. Many names have come and gone, only to reinforce the perception that the air travel industry doesn’t hold much potential in this country. Air Blue, however, is a worthy exception. Since it started its operations, Air Blue hasn’t only grown but has also maintained a strong brand presence in the country. It hasn’t been easy for Air Blue by any stretch of imagination. They have had to rethink and redesign their positioning. Initially establishing itself as a premium brand, now Air Blue treads the waters of cost effectiveness and follows a value-for-price positioning strategy. When they first started serving meals, they had five-star cuisine with fine dining cutlery. Now they have reduced their meals to a light sandwich or a chicken roll with a serving of drink. Earlier they had large leather seats in their Business Class that were far more comfortable than what PIA was offering. Today, Air Blue doesn’t even have Business Class and they have increased their seating capacity by changing their flights to all Economy-Class seating.

With these transformational changes, Air Blue has not only survived in Pakistan but has very aggressive plans to grow their international network. Their business strategy is a case study in supportof the age-old phase, ‘the only thing certain in business is Change.’ While their counterpart, PIA, struggles to survive on the government subsidy and carries the burden of a large workforce of over 350 people per aircraft, a fundamental measure in the airline industry of how lean the organization is, Air Blue has proved that with professional management, flexible business strategy and able workforce, organizations can survive the toughest of challenges.

Some facts about to Air Blue:

• Air Blue is in the process of enhancing their fleet size but purchasing new aircrafts from Airbus
• Air Blue is planning to enhance their network in the Middle East by adding new destinations and increasing the frequency of their flights to existing destinations in the region
• Air Blue is in the process of providing top-of-the-line in-flight entertainment and connectivity services to it’s passengers through its new aircrafts inductions
• Air Blue’s top management remotely manages its operations through the use of high-tech MIS and reporting tools.
• Air Blue has received the endorsement of the world’s top multilateral funding organization for its expansion plans
• The reservation system that Air Blue uses is a proprietary system and has been designed under the close guidance of one of its founding members.

Bio Gas - An innovative way to produce clean energy

Process of Developing Bio Gas

As the climate change and global warming increasingly become the most significant concerns for this generation; scientists, business owners and technology experts continue to seek newer and more innovative approaches to tap into renewable energy sources to make way for the fuel of the future. Bio Diesel production from animal waste is a simple, innovative and scalable method which could prove to be very effective, especially for developing countries. Take a look at the attached picture for a better understanding.