High talk in Bangkok A digression

Ejaz Gul (a Chowkie) who has water bottling plants is planning to send two truck loads of water bottles to the earthquake affected areas starting from tomorrow.

Anyone residing in Rawalpindi and wishing to support the cause (administratively, financially or morally) may contact him at ejaz_gul@yahoo.com.

nhk

High talk in Bangkok Godot # 32

The whole world is crying wolf over the emerging economies of East. And you want an affidevit from me on this?

Thailand is a prosperous peaceful tolerant state. Whatever internal political issues they have is their own problem.

If you wish to conquer Thailand to liberate the Muslims, please go ahead.

But I would suggest - that first you liberated yourself from the military rule.

nhk

High talk in Bangkok Dost # 9

The training on actual aircraft is exhorbitantly expensive especially the wide body aircraft.

Moreover, on actual aircraft, many emegencies can not be simulated like fire, smoke etc. Whereas, in modern simulators, one can simulate turbulence, poor visibility, lightening, wind shear, aircraft vibrations etc. For fire emergencies, actual smoke is produced by the simulator and sent into cockpit.

So future is with Simulators - and it is a good investment.

nhk

High talk in Bangkok Delhiwala # 5

With the new automated glass cockpits, pilot is just in the name. The systems do everything - and the youngsters who are into the video games find it easiest to manage such cockpits.

The only drawbacks of such cockpits is that since the pilot is not fiddling with controls or switches too much, it cause complacency and a lack of concentration. And if wrong selections have been made, the airplane will continue to follow the computerized instructions.

So, in my opinion, too much of automation is not good. First they removed the navigator; now they have removed the flight engineer as well. They need to have a third person in cockpit - who comes very hanfy during the emergencies. Some airlines have started to carry a third pilot.

Reducing the cost of operation by shedding people from the cockpit may not be such a good idea - with aircraft like A-380 which carry almost 750 passengers.

It is my opinion. I could be wrong.

nhk

High talk in Bangkok Kulaharee, BeeJay, Okaab

Thanks. It is a mish-mash - a bit of travel, a touch of scandal and a bit of diluted technical jargon to put some substance. life is a mish-mash.

nhk

Earthquake in Pakistan rsridher # 7

I agree with you. This obsession & fixation of Faujis seems to be incorrigible.

nhk

Earthquake in Pakistan Ejaz

Govt is doing fine. I am not criticising it. Maybe, one is wiser in hindsight.

But the extent of Earthquake was immediately known. 30,000 was always a safe good enough figure of affectees to begin immediate work instead of wasting time on accurate assessments.

Similarly, it was a common sense that they would need tents, blankets, food, water and medical help. (also electronic communications)

The fastest way to provide all this was to release 75% of the military stocks of tents and blankets. Also asking for the open purchase of these items from the market. Also placing an immediate order for 2000 `1 gallon water bottles` daily from the local water suppliers. Similarly ordering for 30,000 food boxes daily for a month from the local hotels/restaurants/food chains.

And task the QMG to have them delivered to the areas immediately in miltary trucks & hired trucks in coordination with the UN agency.

The military could later be replenished with these loaned items through all the donations that are now being received. (Similarly, TV 1 type media supported campaign could centrally coordinate the public donations with couriers, trains, airlines, civil transports etc)

Except for the helicopters and technical expertise, I did not like asking the world for basic items such as tents/blankets etc that we produce in good numbers.

This is also the time to ask the parliament to pass a Rs 30 billion support bill to make small earthquake resistant houses in the area through the national house buildng corporation.

The foreign aid could be earmarked for facilities such as schools, hospitals and services.

These people lived a simple minimalist life & rebuilding their life to their standard is not expensive at all.

nhk

Deadly Earthquake Helicopters, Yes

But Musharraf should no have been begging for tents, blankets and medicine on the CNN.

There are plenty of tents, blankets and medicine in the country.

A small announcement by TV 1 for commodity donation caused a traffic jam in the car park of PAF museum Karachi - and few plane loads seemed to have been donated in just a few hours.

The public response was outstanding - most did not know where to donate.

nhk

Immigrants: Na Idhar ke, Na uddhar ke Batool

I think the charm of West has waned because of various reasons - 9/11, and that imperceptable feeling of being an outsider. The job market is almost saturated in the West especially for outsiders, regardless of citizenship. On the other hand, the economies of Asia & standard of living is constantly improving. With the new generation in, even the Government systems are gradually inproving.

You you may have noticed the springing up of good educational institutions and hospitals in Pakistan. The Newspapers are full of jobs in every category. A well educated person straightaway gets a job. In fact, there is a dearth of qualified people.

But our general phyche is to prefer washing plates or doing menial work abroad but disregard the oppurtunities back home.

Your life in Toronto must be tough. The daily routine of bringing groceries, cooking, cleaning, shoveling snow and doing each and everything yourself. Unlike back home.

Back home, it may be dusty, chaotic, dirty - so what. It is ours. We are used to the chaos, a bit of sifarish, a bit of leg pulling, a bit of family gossip - it is our culture. We mind other people`s business. It is in our system.

So my choice for even vacation is no more West but the good old poor developing chaotic countries. These are more familiar and in tune with my internal systems.

nhk

What will I teach my daughter? Azmat

Do not get disheartened by the comments. There are million others who harbour same thoughts. And the Chowkies are as brutally upfront with their views as yopu have expressed here. But a re-adjustment in views is certainly required.

Just let the little girl be a little girl. Let her tear newspapers. Get fascinated by the ants and the cat. Let her demolish small towers of blocks. Let her pluck flowers and mess up her clothes.

Let her find her own faith in her own time - and at an appropriate age.

For now, just enjoy her innocence & childhood which is a fleeting phenomenon. Rest assured that you will be involved with her problems even after her marriage.

So relax and let her enjoy her childhood.

best wishes

nhk

W(h)ither BJP? Dost

Very educative & interesting.

In the thousands of years of its existance, it is the first time that Dharma got politicised. And if I am not wrong, it is a fall out of the partition.

While Pakistan gradually deepened its green colour - India had this bubble of saffronization.

NHK

Sex and Pakistan vs. Rape and The World Media Saima Shah

With due respect, I do not agree with your views on the Western Media.

The Western Media picks up the stories from the Pakistani media.

The Pakistani media is forced to bring up stories (only a fraction of the total) that it considers require Government intervention.

Unfortunately, our judicial system and law enforcing system is so bad that even after the reporting by the media, it acts lamely. And is mostly on the defensive. It seems that only the international media can put it into action.

The poor victim is finally heard by the state system after the international media reports it.

Let us forget about our `image` and call a spade a spade. Whatever vices the West may have, that is their problem - and it is no justification for the low status of woman in our society.

The fact is that woman enjoy an equal status in those societies and they have an effective legal and judicial system. The local `police officer` is good enough to be fair and effective.

nhk

Rape and Exploitation - Pakistan’s Dilemma Bina

You are so Right. Musharraf has no idea of the intricacies of thoughts that you have expressed here.

He is busy hiring consultants for improving the country`s image - and then goes on to make this statement.

India-Pakistan peace process has also often been a victim of his such pearls of wisdom.

But this one was an outright lump of shame that he has heaped on the country.

nhk

Rape of another Kind Ali

Quite right. If he does not have the courage to suspend the Zia`s Hadood Ordinance & Blasphemy Laws, the least he can do is to his keep shut.

He has said that the `others say this`. The `Others` around him are the police wallas, security and SHOs. Their mentality is indeed such.

Police Wallas are saying that Sonia is of a bad character. Implying that Rape of a bad character woman is justified. (reminds me of the movie `Zorba-the Greek)

nhk

Because He Couldn’t Get It Up! Azra

Timely article. Musharaf has the knack of giving the most stupid statement at a wrong time and at a wrong place.


nhk

Save Me from My Well Wishers Gill

Why retire?

Come to Pakistan - make low cost houses for the poor & sell. There is annual demand of 8 lakhs houses! Give back something to the society. Building a house is as involved a job as bringing up a goat.

I liked the understandiung of your wife - wish my wife could do the same!

As for retiring, I think I am now an experienced Retiree. On the verge of my Third retirement. Leaving for Colombo to join one of the UN bodies. Any Chowkie from Colombo?

nhk