Life goes on normally for thousands of people. Nothing seems to be different. Some are working. Some busy in play. But all are unaware of what awaits. The earth shakes. Everybody panics and tries to escape to open grounds. The earth stops shaking. Most wait for a while and move back to the comfort of their houses. And the earth shakes again more vigorously than before. No one has the luxury to panic this time. Within moments everything is over. So many houses which were once shelter, have now become graves. Hundreds have died. Thousands lost loved ones. And more have been displaced.

We have seen this before a few years ago in kashmir and balakot. October it was then as well. It was a testing times for everyone’s generosity. I think that generosity is needed once more. For all those for whom a moment took it all away, we can do little but be there for them.

My first lego set

When I was a kid, this was the first lego playing set I got with the filling pumps and all. A few weeks ago, some what 20 or so years later, I saw my nephew playing with that same lego gas station and his cars.

This week there were a series of public protests in parts of Punjab particularly in Lahore and Faisalabad where we saw large angry mobs of people expressing there anger and frustration against the govt. decision of raising electricity prices when the availability of electricity is hardly for 12 hours every day. Over the years this is the change I have seen in our society. More and more people now hit the streets to be heard by the establishment. Mainly because they have had enough and see no other way.

Some years ago we saw fuel prices rise in the same manner. Prices rose by the week but then, there were no people on the streets, no voice raised, no gas station put on fire, or stoned. This Friday, the WAPDA house on the Mall was being guarded by military police due to fear of a protest rally. And the good part is that this way, people have managed to get through to the authorities. Government announced as the result that they might consider tariff revision and stop further increase in prices. That remains to be seen yet and the truth is that a tariff revision is very, very unlikely.

Yesterday I was sitting at my friend’s with the group. It amazed me, as we talked and discussed the various issues, that everybody gave there ideas on what they thought could be the solution for these problems. T focused on agriculture and Kalabagh, Sheikh on exports, everyone focusing on his own business. They were making sense and were commonsensical. And the problems didn’t seem that big all of a sudden. And I am sure they aren’t the best of solutions but the point I am making is that they are there. Bankruptcy is all you can hear these days. What the fuck is that! Agreed it is a threat but we have to see what is the price we are paying to TEMPORARILY evade it. I have been told that the IMF will loan us 10 billion dollars over three years and hold collateral significant national assets (citations needed). The terms also include taxing agriculture and control of money supply but an IMF committee. This country is of significant strategic interests to a lot of other international stakeholders and there is extreme pressure both political and economic from all of them. We have to understand that it is not the lack of reserves that is a threat to this country’s existence but a very weak leadership. We need people who can take these pressures head on.

I think the common Pakistani is totally detached to what happens in the capital and policy making. But when it comes to his necessities and his bread and butter, he should be feared. 10 billion dollars is all we know we want. But where to invest these finds? How to payback? What are sustainability plans? Where are the answers to these questions? And without answers, the pressure cooking up withing the borders is going to outweigh from that of foreign forces.

I haven’t been following any news channel and any paper for more then a week. And ignorance really is bliss

But now I think I am starting to feel a bit uncomfortable with being so out of touch.