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Democracy Parliament SingaporeScientific RevolutionTaliban MoshtaraqAfghanistan Taliban President KarzaiPakistan Taliban Hinduism ChurchMASBooks Reading History Zorba Djibouti ArandoraPakistan People's PartyEuopePAP Opposition Balldev Naidu Ragavanforeign policyChristmas Catholic MuslimNetizens Blogosphere Yoani SanchezIranGreece Taxation Temasek GSTMusharrafSMRT Public Transport Trains Buses Workers' Party Singapore TemasekAristotlePanamaReaganKashmir BalochistandiscontentPakistan India Mughal Babur MV SuezCHCUSEdhi Grameen Bank Abdus SalamequityMUIS Zakat Pakistan Malay IndiankiasuCrusades Abu Ghraib Al-Qaeeda IslamophobiaImran provides a Pakistani-Singaporean's perspective on Singapore, Pakistan and other subjects of relevance ... to him.http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)Blogger405125blogspot/ZobKhttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-712431273736322709Mon, 20 May 2013 09:31:00 +00002013-05-20T17:31:09.753+08:00PPPPMLNawaz SharifMusharrafTalibanZardariImran KhanelectionsPakistanKarachipoliticsdemocracy With Pakistan's elections out of the way, Pakistanis are eagerly anticipating two things sorely missed during the last five years of democracy: governance and leadership. One would expect democracy – with its large quotient of accountability to the people – will have provided large doses of both governance and leadership to Pakistan.  Not so. Since the removal of President http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/o5Pn24H31-w/sharifs-enviable-tasks-for-pakistan.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=o5Pn24H31-w:Z5KM2yx7Nbg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/o5Pn24H31-w" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2013/05/sharifs-enviable-tasks-for-pakistan.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-5411397733475249720Mon, 13 May 2013 11:35:00 +00002013-05-13T19:35:26.337+08:00PPPGovernmentelectionsPTIMQMANPPML-NPakistanpolitics Positive 1.   Largest voter turnout in three decades drowns out Islamic militant extremists; 2.   PPP candidates suffer a drubbing! Electorate demonstrates unhappiness with disastrous five years under Zardari and his people. Bhutto aura appears to be fading; 3.   Imran Khan's party goes some way to break the traditional two-party stranglehold on Pakistani politics; 4.   Clear http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/7sO9NKA-1vU/pakistans-2013-general-elections-some.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=7sO9NKA-1vU:KgNK8e5-8bw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/7sO9NKA-1vU" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2013/05/pakistans-2013-general-elections-some.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-5382171558912091033Mon, 13 May 2013 10:24:00 +00002013-05-13T18:25:06.042+08:00immigrationdiscontenthousingpropertyPAPSingaporeMRTgrowthsubwaypoliticseconomy Until recently, population growth through immigration was a major part of the Singapore government's economic growth model. During the last two decades, the island's population has grown by over 60 percent. From a population of approximately three million in 1990, Singapore entered the 2010s with a population of five million. Prima facie, the population growth policy appears to havehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/vT8Yuk2QLcs/singapores-future-social-mix-and-recent.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=vT8Yuk2QLcs:fmqFUR6vgEU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/vT8Yuk2QLcs" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2013/05/singapores-future-social-mix-and-recent.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-6927816788968523836Fri, 26 Apr 2013 01:19:00 +00002013-04-26T10:24:18.893+08:00homosexualityculturelegalcenotaphvandalismviolenceSingaporeLawdemocracyfreedom With the vandalism of Singapore's Cenotaph, politics in the nation crossed another 'Red Line.' Violence has crept into Singapore's political sphere. Let's be clear, spray painting a national monument is violence, not 'graffiti art.' Sure, the structure was not destroyed. Nor does the damage appear irreparable. However, violence against Singapore's history eats at the nation's soul. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/QFkIZNWnKtw/singapores-aspiring-democrats-turn-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)3<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=QFkIZNWnKtw:Bop3cLE4djo:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/QFkIZNWnKtw" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2013/04/singapores-aspiring-democrats-turn-to.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-7593535696931610251Fri, 05 Apr 2013 05:03:00 +00002013-04-08T13:46:25.365+08:00womenIslamFrancisCatholicismbrandingpapacyCatholicleadershipChristianityPopefeminism Crisis management is not an easy task, particularly for a global organization with a mission statement which might read, 'Spread the gospel and the word of God.' Nonetheless, Pope Francis has done an admirable job in reviving the fortunes of the Catholic Church since taking office a few weeks ago. Indeed, his behaviour provides an interesting case study in leadership. For startershttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/r0OHlLTwZOU/leadership-lessons-from-pope-francis.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=r0OHlLTwZOU:1DckE-wXEzw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/r0OHlLTwZOU" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2013/04/leadership-lessons-from-pope-francis.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-1169546231634923775Tue, 26 Mar 2013 05:03:00 +00002013-03-26T13:03:01.253+08:00Cold WarIraqChinaUSUSSRforeign policyPRCSoviet Union During the Cold War in the 1970s, United States President Nixon played the 'China Card' against Soviet Union. The 'China Card' was powerful enough to trump most anything played by America's Soviet opponents. The US won that hand. That was several decades ago. In 2013, Red China is adeptly playing its own game of global diplomacy. China watchers have replaced yesterday's Cold War http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/V1rn-Rf3EEY/china-plays-russia-card.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=V1rn-Rf3EEY:wgtFFRstnOU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/V1rn-Rf3EEY" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2013/03/china-plays-russia-card.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-7636294344186729083Wed, 20 Mar 2013 01:47:00 +00002013-04-14T21:52:30.753+08:00bankingEUprivate bankingfinanceSingaporeGreeceMASeconomyCyprus Singapore's strict banking secrecy laws, sound fiscal management and reputation as a robust legal jurisdiction all combined to transform Singapore into an international private banking hub within the last few decades. Like Singapore, Cyprus too relied upon private banking to act as a vehicle for growth for its residents.   Cyprus is located in Europe and, despite being a http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/3kqPu2PD3E4/lessons-for-singapore-from-island-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=3kqPu2PD3E4:ycvDwybbPjQ:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/3kqPu2PD3E4" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2013/03/lessons-for-singapore-from-island-of.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-8819482201697229953Sun, 10 Mar 2013 06:52:00 +00002013-03-12T11:33:39.280+08:00immigrationPAPSingaporeleadershippoliticspoliciestransport Are Singapore's ruling party members losing their cool? Some of them seem to be extremely worried about losing their seats at the next elections – that is if one goes by some of the 'populist' statements which have started surfacing recently in parliament. Populist policy ideas do not fall in line with the normal characteristics of the People's Action Party (PAP) historical ruling http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/S8B9RC5hGqg/singapore-turns-to-populist-politics.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)4<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=S8B9RC5hGqg:nfbiMTqZUVk:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/S8B9RC5hGqg" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2013/03/singapore-turns-to-populist-politics.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-9024404961246474465Mon, 04 Mar 2013 05:51:00 +00002013-03-04T13:52:43.708+08:00LahoretourismAurangzebArchitectureJahangirPakistanmonumentsMogulEmpire "His eyes might there command whatever stood City of old or modern fame, the seat Of mightiest empire, from the destined walls Of Cambalu, seat of Cathian Can, And Samarcand by Oxus, Temir's throne, To Paquin of Sinaen Kings, and thence To Agra and Lahore of Great Mogul..." John Milton, Paradise Lost. Lahore is more than just the city of my mother's birth. It is one city inhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/lhVtC2qxVWI/reflections-from-pakistan-x-lahores.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=lhVtC2qxVWI:hHgsmXUxepE:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/lhVtC2qxVWI" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2013/03/reflections-from-pakistan-x-lahores.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-1972073833016171026Thu, 07 Feb 2013 08:46:00 +00002013-02-22T09:22:02.813+08:00LahoreMultan1971 warfamilyPakistanKarachihistoryMogul From Pakistan's agricultural heartland of Multan, I travelled to Lahore. As a die-hard Karachite, Lahore always evokes mixed feelings within me. There is the nascent emotion, fuelled by some politicians and segments of the media, of Punjabi perceived hegemony over other parts of Pakistan. Punjab's rise as a major industrial and commercial region in the 1990s, mainly at Karachi's expense,http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/ArF-kKVw8HU/reflections-from-pakistan-ix-lahore-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=ArF-kKVw8HU:dJORsg-coEg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/ArF-kKVw8HU" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2013/02/reflections-from-pakistan-ix-lahore-and.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-3935007923721536370Sun, 27 Jan 2013 09:50:00 +00002013-01-27T17:50:46.782+08:00maturingAIMpolityoppositionPAPelectionsSingaporeWPvoters Singapore's blogosphere must certainly be buzzing with news of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) loss in the Punggol East by-election. The Workers' Party (WP) victory is significant in several ways. However, first one must decide if the result is primarily a victory for the WP or a defeat for the PAP. The distinction is a fine but important one. Were Punggol East voters expressinghttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/S8bWebjUppo/punggol-east-workers-party-victory-or.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=S8bWebjUppo:z_R_2X2QffI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/S8bWebjUppo" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2013/01/punggol-east-workers-party-victory-or.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-5381846790204501244Sun, 20 Jan 2013 12:10:00 +00002013-01-20T20:10:12.819+08:00SyriaAfricaGCCIranAfghanistanLibyaIslamUnited StatesIraqIslamic worldUSUAEPakistan9/11Saudi ArabiaEgypt Over a decade ago, the United States reacted to the 9/11 attacks with military interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Afghanistan's Taliban and Iraq's Saddam Hussein may be history but Islamic extremism is anything but weakened. So, while another attack on the US mainland may not have occurred in the intervening years, US foreign policy successes have been limited at best. Particular if http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/_2EAD8-A-t8/afghanistan-iraq-libya-syria-and-mali.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=_2EAD8-A-t8:U2Du5pM0bWw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/_2EAD8-A-t8" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2013/01/afghanistan-iraq-libya-syria-and-mali.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-6388858829200305617Wed, 16 Jan 2013 03:07:00 +00002013-01-16T11:07:50.739+08:00IslamACMshariaMUISFriends of the MuseumsFOMSingaporeAsian Civilizations Museum Have you ever wondered why Singapore is one of the few countries of the world where holy days of several religions are public holidays? Christmas, Deepavali, Hari Raya to name a few. Did you know Singapore law requires Muslim citizens to abide by certain aspects of Sharia Islamic law? Interested in taking a peek inside the prism of Singapore's 'Chinese, Malay, Indian and Othershttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/7t_EC5rDXQA/singapore-islam-and-multiculturalism.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=7t_EC5rDXQA:BrQhtXUH7gg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/7t_EC5rDXQA" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2013/01/singapore-islam-and-multiculturalism.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-2429048063432654504Sun, 13 Jan 2013 09:48:00 +00002013-01-13T17:50:42.594+08:00debatesocial mediaBloggersSingaporeleadershiptransparencypoliticsMedia "We decide what is right – never mind what the people think." No, that is not a statement by a medieval European King. Actually, it was said by former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in a 1987 newspaper interview (as recently quoted in a news article). Fortunately for Singaporeans, times have changed since LKY made that comment over a quarter of a century ago. More and more, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/66p6pCvk-jg/singapore-leadership-democracy-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=66p6pCvk-jg:KqGDLX7jqCg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/66p6pCvk-jg" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2013/01/singapore-leadership-democracy-and.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-696098291485587876Sun, 06 Jan 2013 07:27:00 +00002013-02-28T12:49:54.373+08:00MultanPPPGovernmentelectricitytimegovernanceGilaniPakistanagriculturefarming The beauty of Multan lies in the city's ability to manipulate time. Time simply moves slower in the City of Saints. Sometimes it appears as if time is suspended for periods. It is almost like Multan is exempt from the laws of physics and motion. Perhaps it is the summer heat which pervades the atmosphere? Or maybe it is my western notions of time, i.e. measured in minutes and seconds not http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/gEftgNKlrjA/reflections-from-my-stay-in-pakistan_6.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=gEftgNKlrjA:dA1X2SJovR4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/gEftgNKlrjA" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2013/01/reflections-from-my-stay-in-pakistan_6.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-3623127490765820337Sun, 23 Dec 2012 09:24:00 +00002012-12-24T17:31:13.674+08:00leisurewealthhobbiesBuddhaMaterialismHappiness Indexkiasuhobbyfive C'sHappyPanama Singaporeans are the unhappiest people on earth. True? Maybe, maybe not. Singaporeans are amongst the wealthiest humans living on our planet. True? Absolutely. Measured by per capita income, Panama, the happiest country on the planet, is the 90th wealthiest country in the world. Using the same measure of wealth, Singapore ranks at number five.  Singaporeans lead 'First World' lives.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/JWxANqA0-Pg/singaporeans-please-get-hobby-and-be.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=JWxANqA0-Pg:RANylKX79Eg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/JWxANqA0-Pg" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2012/12/singaporeans-please-get-hobby-and-be.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-6616854822787931017Sun, 16 Dec 2012 08:51:00 +00002013-02-28T12:50:41.115+08:00corporationsKarachicapital marketeconomystockelectrictymutual fundsindustrybondsequityfinancePakistanCLAstock exchangeSECP In the mid-1990s, Pakistan's Corporate Law Authority (today's Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan) issued draft rules for the establishment of mutual funds in Pakistan. The proposed framework was clunky and financial market participants did not bite. Fast forward a couple of decades to 2012 and mutual funds are a major part of Pakistan's capital markets. Large domestic banks http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/5uQl7tI6Px4/reflections-from-my-stay-in-pakistan.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=5uQl7tI6Px4:3kQjOiPa1oc:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/5uQl7tI6Px4" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2012/12/reflections-from-my-stay-in-pakistan.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-785494758953945980Sun, 09 Dec 2012 11:59:00 +00002013-03-03T14:02:08.434+08:00integrationwagesMalaysiaIndiaforeign talentChinaworkersPAPunionslaborMalaySingapore The recent strike by SMRT’s Chinese bus drivers has started a debate about wage levels and working conditions for foreign contract workers in Singapore. Yet a couple of questions remain untouched by the debate: <!--[if !supportLists]-->1. Should salaries vary based on a workers country of origin? Yes, absolutely, as long as the wage premium / discount is based on solid reasons. <!--[if !http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/z7M5iRXKMcA/why-malaysian-bus-drivers-should-earn.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=z7M5iRXKMcA:jsqZ4qH6iEY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/z7M5iRXKMcA" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2012/12/why-malaysian-bus-drivers-should-earn.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-3487259354322222538Sun, 02 Dec 2012 03:21:00 +00002012-12-02T11:21:39.583+08:00strikesforeign talentCrimeChinaSingapore Inc.PAPloan sharkslaborSingaporeMRTeconomy The fault line between locals and foreigners just got deeper. Almost 200 bus drivers from China working in Singapore recently protested working conditions and grievances over pay by striking from work for just over a day. Singapore has not seen such 'industrial action' for almost three decades. The action by Chinese bus drivers is significant in more ways than one. For starters, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/FiTITPXtpSk/labor-strikes-in-singapore-another.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=FiTITPXtpSk:yeES6tsNTa4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/FiTITPXtpSk" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2012/12/labor-strikes-in-singapore-another.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-6128107197235587872Sun, 18 Nov 2012 21:03:00 +00002013-02-28T12:50:58.733+08:00IslamabadZardariPakistantrainsPakistan RailwaysPakistan People's Party It is easy recognize the importance of trains as a means of transport by looking at an European railways map. The European rail grid is interconnected and supersedes national boundaries. Even 'peripheral' European countries like Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey feed into the transnational rail grid.  One assumes a geographically large and populous nation like Pakistan is ideal for the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/v4y_fJhIIy8/reflections-from-my-stay-in-pakistan-vi.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=v4y_fJhIIy8:M0bC2gXZvu0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/v4y_fJhIIy8" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2012/11/reflections-from-my-stay-in-pakistan-vi.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-8694727529322344969Sun, 04 Nov 2012 09:07:00 +00002012-11-04T17:07:27.197+08:00PrisonerPoliceJailPakistanKarachi Pakistan's police forces are not generally thought to be at the forefront of social change. On the contrary, the ineptitude and corruption of the police are often seen to be a significant causal factor in the nation's poor justice system. Nevertheless, pockets of excellence can be found in the most unusual of places. Consider my amazement when I came across just such a phenomena within thehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/kgvWhRfSxTc/reflections-from-my-stay-in-pakistan-v.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=kgvWhRfSxTc:LJuN_SPWvlM:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/kgvWhRfSxTc" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2012/11/reflections-from-my-stay-in-pakistan-v.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-1519178547871011560Tue, 30 Oct 2012 16:36:00 +00002013-02-28T12:51:28.993+08:00PrivatizationKESCPakistanKarachi There is no shortage of problems in the world. Pakistan too has its fair share of difficulties. Readers enjoy reading about the trouble of others - perhaps it makes one's own situation seem more bearable. However, the world is not all bad. There are success stories available for all to see, if only one chooses to see them. Thus is the story of the Karachi Electric Supply http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/DXQlelPFu6w/reflections-from-my-stay-in-pakistan-iv.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=DXQlelPFu6w:C7qcwcSbnmE:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/DXQlelPFu6w" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2012/10/reflections-from-my-stay-in-pakistan-iv.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-4846849499537579349Sun, 21 Oct 2012 11:40:00 +00002013-02-28T12:51:47.385+08:00PathanPakistanKarachi Karachi, the City of Pakistan's founder Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, has come a long way since Pakistan's independence in 1947. A population of approximately 400,000 citizens at Partition in 1947 has grown to an estimated 21 million people today. Contemporary Karachi is now home to over ten percent of Pakistan's population. Despite the development of other areas of Pakistan, Karachi http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/dItoQeRwIiI/reflections-from-my-stay-in-pakistan.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)1<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=dItoQeRwIiI:K38LC4Gw6G0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/dItoQeRwIiI" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2012/10/reflections-from-my-stay-in-pakistan.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-7744727733448217427Sun, 14 Oct 2012 12:15:00 +00002012-10-21T19:51:56.750+08:00MoenjodaroIndiaGCCPakistanKarachiIndus Valley Disembarking at Karachi airport in early August, one got a clear reminder of the changes wrought on Pakistan during the last twenty years. Pakistan was a 'normal' part of the international community during the last century. In fact, under the Cold War era's Reagan Doctrine (which called for the United States to support Islamic fundamentalist ideologies and Taliban style religious warriors http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/LsTA1naaOgc/reflections-from-my-stay-in-pakistan-ii.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)2<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=LsTA1naaOgc:quRDFRh6c2k:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/LsTA1naaOgc" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2012/10/reflections-from-my-stay-in-pakistan-ii.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1565039339558342817.post-2321429004270213034Fri, 05 Oct 2012 07:38:00 +00002013-02-28T12:52:01.468+08:00MultanGovernmentPakistanSwat It has been almost two months since I arrived at Karachi's Quaid-e-Azam International Airport. During my eight weeks in Pakistan, I travelled to five cities in three provinces and traversed over 3,600 kilometers by a combination of train and bus. (Air journeys are not a great way to experience a country so no domestic airplane flights on this trip.) In Pakistan, I interacted with a http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~3/OEj8Mz9p27E/reflections-from-my-stay-in-pakistan-i.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Imran Ahmed)0<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?a=OEj8Mz9p27E:Qa8S4ea4v_g:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/blogspot/ZobK?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/ZobK/~4/OEj8Mz9p27E" height="1" width="1"/>http://imranwrites.blogspot.com/2012/10/reflections-from-my-stay-in-pakistan-i.html