Stop the Inflation – Please!
If the middle class disappears then so does your morality.
Stop this inflation because it is pushing more people to the lower income group and simply squeezing out your middle classes.
Apart from the obvious of how if people do not have enough to eat, they will break the rules and morality will be thrown out the window, also with this inflation comes the lack of education and health care we all know this but if the very soldiers of your morality are gone, your middle classes then where / what is this nation standing on? The world over the middle classes have been regarded the upholders of the ethical / morality because its always considered ok by the poorer classes to let go of that concept in search of their basic needs or due to lack of knowledge.
The upper / richer classes tend to think they are above it all, just like an atheist may think religion is for the weak minded because he “knows” the truth and about doing the right thing without a greater force’s name / ritual. In many cultures the rich are “above the law” so that just leaves our middle classes to upload your moral structure. The middle class is usually also the biggest demographic in a stable society so it determines the moral strength of the nation.
Now we are seeing a shrink in the middle class belt here. Thus, there goes the (moral) neighborhood.
As in the Dawn a few days ago: “Life a diet of Hope” by Meera Jamal, the fate discussed there is the fate of many. Why should this be happening in a country that claims to be seeing an 8% economic growth? (Of course when you remove the expenditure of the nation from the equation things can look rosy).
Anyway there is the element of non tangible expenditure. Our nation sees growing kids both their sheer numbers and their actual growth is a cause for concern. Their lack of nutrition, their lack of education and more importantly health care…. What good is this population when it will just feed off your resources and not contribute back? If we live like we drive, with blinders on, there is little hope. However we CAN do… those of us with the resources, just reading here means you can read, thus you can teach another human to read etc. etc. There is no need to preach here as there are ample avenues where each of us can help.
Back to the point; we have to address this rising inflation. It’s because we all grudgingly pay the inflated prices that these continue to rise unchecked. I know it’s easier said than done to boycott I mean. This only increases the trial of our daily grind. Inflation is a worldwide problem but when we see so many citizens by the roadsides and also, we see that making ends meet for the majority of the urban population is becoming harder and harder then the subsequent problems of even more crime and intolerance are close to follow.
Please for the sake of the overall stability of this nation, suggest some options to battle inflation.
I like how you have so conveniently made a stereotyped assumption about all atheists. “Atheism is the position that either affirms the nonexistence of gods[1] or rejects theism.”
There are people in this world who like to think for themselves. It would be nice if you can do the same for your religious beliefs that you do for your everyday affairs.
Besides, When is the last time you volunteered your time for teaching a kid on how to read thus creating a rift in the notoriously low education level fueling the inflation anyway?
Its nice to talk about these things on a blog post but maybe you want to research on ways to make a true difference in your country by acting on some time tested inflation battling techniques.
Ponder that miss Saba.
Xmuslim
http://xmuslim.wordpress.com/
eating up posts? :-)
Frankly speaking, I find no reason to bring religion in “Inflation” topic. You could put your point without dragging religion/athiesm in middle.
Menace of inflation can never be controlled, be it 3rd world or developed world.
But yes it can be managed –
Starting from Individuals it is 1st step to contribute to manage ‘inflation’ –
1. Control your expenses. It is not mandatory to spend in proportion to your income or – in competition to your colleague , neighbor etc etc. Try to Kill urge for spontaneous buying. Stay away from window shopping.
2. Do more of charity, for each total of 500 do flush out 30% for chairty as well., try it for a while as mandatory when you are on shopping spree., there will be some sense of peace knowing that what I have done for myself does have some share for someone needy as well.
3. Only Buy essentials – STOP Smoking, Quit on munching habits keeping in mind that each pack of gum / pan / cig can buy someone One time meal.
4. Tell / teach our next generation for charity, that will help them to know all what they have / will have does have some share for others in the name of the Supreme one.
5. Next time when you come out of a resturant, try and stash aside 10% of your cheq for chairty later.
– thats 2 cents worth – i hope no flames.,
As an athiest I’m highly offended by your analogy – it was totally uncalled for and is intolerant of the the what ideas a group of people hold. And in any case, it is not true of how an athiest thinks at all.
have u heard gay-bashing Republicans in USA having sex with gays in public bathrooms? Or soliciting young boys on internet? Its the internal guilt and unresolved issues that turn them this way.
Same is the case here. Its an open season on atheists atleast on KMB. Even an atheist is condemning other athiests
Allah raham karay hum sab pay, hum ko munafiqat say bachay, chughal khori say bachay
Ameen !
USA is super nation with super human beings, they are civilized well-mannered and educated, what else can be expected from them. But no, they pay attention to one Mukhtaran Mae and ignore all that shit happening in their own country.
As far as atheists are concerned, they are innocent souls, i feel pity for them.They cannot think further because they think their brains which is the most complex thing to undesrtand in the whole universe was formed due to some evolution thingee, it was just a coincidence that billions of neurons got connected and started functioning very precisely and accurately. *amazed*
Haha… Saba, you’ve managed to achieve the most unlikely of things: have me agree with Adnan Siddiqui.
Inflation is a problem that has no obvious ties to morality.
This site is going to wannabe writers.
Good topic, but if I wanted to read all that crap, I could have bought a book written by any burger.
@Adnan Siddiqi – I can’t agree more with your logical stand. Keep it up:)
http://www.sbp.org.pk/m_policy/MPS-JUL-DEC-FY07-EN.pdf
http://tinyurl.com/26v7lu
Saba, above link from the State Bank’s website might interest you. It shows how the Governor of SBP (surely an atheist?) is trying to tackle the menace of inflation in the country.
Inflation is rather a complex subject, which is above class divisions of a society.
Well atheists think that the universe “just happened”, dont they, free thought
“There are people in this world who like to think for themselves. It would be nice if you can do the same for your religious beliefs that you do for your everyday affairs.”
and what makes you assume theists dont think?
your logical stand
Jay, Because I am a follower of a religion rather “evolution” so naturally I am talking logic :-). Thanks anyways.
Saba discussed something wrong which I felt to condemn that’s it!
Cy, it must be a day of mourning for you, hayna? :-)
Saba, I don’t think you are econ student, what are you discussing is not so easy like Filmi Gossips. Also, what all you wrote should be put on a personal blog. Let me know if you need any help to get registered with some blogging service?
Back to the topic, what is inflation rate in Pakistan ?
To Silver :
“and what makes you assume theists dont think?”
I said think for yourself. Ask some questions. Dont just blindly accept what the mullah tells you. Do yourself a favor and be a bit open minded than your religious dogma tells you to be”
Check out this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-fzNRkTd20
To Alam:
“As far as atheists are concerned, they are innocent souls, i feel pity for them.They cannot think further because they think their brains which is the most complex thing to undesrtand in the whole universe was formed due to some evolution thingee,”
Our life spans are too limited to grasp the concept of million years. Stop the insult mania and just search wikipedia for evolution. Keep an open mind and just read the whole article . Just once. Please !
To everyone else. Just for one minute, imagine that you were born today and have no religious affiliation or knowledge. Then with an open mind start researching the history of humans on this planet.
The beauty of science is that you can potentially (If given the right resources) experiment and verify or bust any thing you have been told by the scientists. However, with religion, you cannot do the same. You just have to take their word for it. Why stop at that. If a doctor diagnoses you with cancer, would you take his word for it. Or would you ask for some sort of explaination, a second opinion, an xray, a blood test report. Why wont you do the same for something that encompasses your whole life?
Xmuslim
http://xmuslim.wordpress.com
Is it me or does anyone else also feel that SABA JAMALUDDI knows one thing… COMPLAIN and that too… ALL THE FREAKIN’ FREEGIN’ TIME!
I think it is time to stop Budnazir.
OBI, recently I was reading that State Bank reports that food inflation is just keep shooting up. Last time it was around 7%-8%
tinyurl.com/25qgmq
XMuslims, pls stop boring me. You are not sounding different those whom you curse. You are taking Wikipedia as Holy as Christians take it more holier than their own Bible. Don’t talk about something which you ain’t even sure yourself. There is a topic opened on your own website. One could test your evolution expertise(if there is any!) right there.
Question for all you talented guys:
What causes inflation?
I and many more like me don’t know the answer so enlighten us. Thank you.
Is wikipedia an authentic source of information?? I don’t think so.They don’t think so too!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:About#Strengths.2C_weaknesses.2C_and_article_quality_in_Wikipedia
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies-archive.cfm/827917.html
Re: “As far as atheists are concerned, they are innocent souls, i feel pity for them.They cannot think further because they think their brains which is the most complex thing to undesrtand in the whole universe was formed due to some evolution thingee, it was just a coincidence that billions of neurons got connected and started functioning very precisely and accurately. *amazed*”
Really, one shouldn’t make assumptions about athiest’s views on evolution. Most athiests do not believe that it was some “random chance evolution thingee”. Natural selection does not depend on random chance, so please do read up on it.
Also being athiest is simply not believing in a supernatural God, it has nothing to do with how life came about.
I think the point XMuslim was making was that you are mistaken in your views about evolution (thinking that its dependent on random chance, which it actually is not – and also, confusing that phenomenon with natural selection) – jumping on him/her on the technicality of how accurate wikipedia isn’t relevant to the issue – one could always look at other encyclopedias if you consider wikipedia to be inaccurate.
A bit off topic, but just to point out, there are many people like “XMuslim” in the US and Europe. People who never followed Islam who realized that in this day and age of Islamaphobia and anti-Muslim feelings in the West, they can be “liked” by the majority here by denouncing it. If atheism is really your belief system (or nonbelief), I must ask why does your name have to mention that you were a Muslim, instead of simply mentioning that you are presently an atheist. I think you have the right to not believe in whatever, but it is a fact that if you claim to be a former Muslim who will insult Islam, you will easily get a book deal or numerous TV appearances here (in the US) and be adored by evangelical Christians (whether you become a Christian or not). There are many examples of these types of people in the West. Maybe you are hoping for some cheap fame (or money) in this manner as well. With a screen name like that, thats the most likely conclusion.
Also, people who complain that they cannot eat at a restaurant in Ramadan..first of all, you can eat at home and no one will stop you. Secondly, this type of thing is common in every country in the world. Here in the US, if I want to go out on Thanksgiving, Easter or Christmas, every mall, every restaurant etc will also be closed.
Once again, I respect everyone’s right to believe in whatever they want, but to be honest, as someone who has studied Islam for most of my life (and still earnestly study it), when I read statements from atheists who were Muslim, I am so grateful to God that he made me Muslim and gave me the opportunity to study Islam. You seem to think that you are smarter than everyone else because you rejected religion. But just because you think that, doesn’t make it true.
I give up. It must be my bad writing that confuses so many people here. Very seldom does any comment relate to the post, clearly since it cannot be that you all are misunderstanding my point, it must be me and for that I apologize and bow out.
Fahad, being an ex-muslim is a seperate label from being an athiest – there are people who can be both or just one. Both are valid labels to assume for oneself.
Being an ex-muslim has different implications – for one thing, you can get punished for it in most middle eastern countires. And people like you always assume that ex-muslims are “insulting Islam”, when the reality is that the ex-muslims mostly are simply pointing out the flaws in their birth-religion which made them denounce it. Saying that Noah’s story doesn’t make any sense isn’t insulting islam, it’s simply stating your opinion. I don’t feel like you’re insulting my non-belief when you say “Allah exists”.
“The upper / richer classes tend to think they are above it all, just like an atheist may think religion is for the weak minded because he “knows” the truth”
Boy you sure sound like an expert on atheism…
saba, nobody criticize your ability to figure things out. It’s just you are mixing personal blog stuff with metro. The topic you chose was excellent and nobody else before dared to talk about it but your topic could create interest if you had discussed inflation In Karachi, its reasons and how to over come it(if you are well-versed in this field). We have experienced more pathetic female and male authors on this KMB and unlike you, they didn’t have “ghairat” to accept their weaknesses and keep wasting this blog by making pathetic rants.
as far as off-topic comments, it always happens so don’t take the blame.
I must appreciate your courage and I would certainly like to see you here NOW. Just try to focus issues which pertain this city. Inflation is our issue too but obviously it would have different reasons than other cities. I would wish you pen about this topic again by doing some study and educate people like me about various such topic. best of luck and I say again, don’t quit this blog, just quit your way of blogging :-)
P.S: As I said before, you should your public blogs too. Your style of writing would be a good addition in Pakistani blogsphere.
@ADNAN SIDDIQUI
Ok, its the 2nd time I agree with u :)
Saba should stay here on KMB team. I will take anyone but Al Qaeda or non-Farhat Aunti person.
So Adnan, double pork BBQ party from my side, ok?
I have read this post twice and got so overwhelmed by emotions that couldn’t make head or tail out of it. I give up. This post is for the PH.D level economist.
The other option is to pick a fight with a commentator…..hmmmm… not in the mood.
Food for thought Saba! !
You gave the moral aspect/concern on increase in inflation !
However! I would like to add something to it! One more thing that already has badly been effected by inflation is the exports! Our country Pakistan was ussually known world wide due to its cheap exports ! (After China that is ! Obviously) But the Current Musharraf Regime is on a mission to destroy it!
The inflation is on rise ! with LAME/BLAME excuse by Govt on Rising oil prices! which has in turn given a rise to the labor charges, which in turn has increased the cost of production in Pakistan !
This becomes more evident by the following example! Paki textile exports has been one of the most finest and economical in the world, which is now fast declining ! with notable rise in China and Bangladeshi Exports! Both of these countries dont grow cotton, and they buy cotton from Neighboring countries (mostly Pakistan and India) and yet the final production cost is higher than that in Pakistan !
A point to think about!
You cannot expect to get rid of inflation, particularly in a city size 16 million. One of the biggest cities on our planet. a major port for about 170 + million people.
The $$ or foreign money pouring in all the time. I am sorry but in the industralized world, like usa. Cost of daily living shoots up and up. To a level where hiped real estate are dumped by the locals and they move to the country side. as they cannot afford to live in the cities any more. Karachi will also be effected like this. And people will have to move out. but in states people take railways and highways to wrok. here in karachi we dont have that. If you are not working for a foreign company or a private company you are sure to be effected in the worse form of inflation. The best way to avoid is that leave for cheaper living area, like a country side in punjab. and invest there before its too late. as in punjab one can have a better standard of living as food is cheap and river water is better than bottled water we buy. i remember drinking from hand tap after coming from San Francisco and not gettin sick at all.
And there are paved roads and electricity and telephone line everywhere. and rent is cheap and all you eat is organic fresh. karachi city life is a health hazard. Lot of milk products better than hydrogenated cooking oil. And as Pakistan is the 5th largest milk producing country in the world. A farm life is a much much better option than a life in a big city like Karachi.
and major reason karachi is very expensive when compared to the rest of the country is that its a gateway to pakistan. and now a lot of homies coming back from foreign countries and buying houses and settling there as they have simply more money to pay.and more buying power. either you do good business or work for a good salary business. or earn via real estate collecting rent. working as an govt. its time to adapt to changing enviroment. it is more likely if your friends or people you hang out with are doing well so most probably you will too. you need to adapt meaning go for the higher paying job, go where the money is.
I do not need your permission to write or not but thanks for your interest and guidance. Yes there is inflation everywhere but when one sees the high crime rate and low moral standards of this city, I was interested in making this post.
This was not a “complaint’ as some of you think, it was written to get people’s suggestions, but most of the comments here show that was wishful thinking.
I am not an economist, I have no such answers. I was seeking an intellegent discussion instead I got this. Barring two persons, it would appear no one read the line about suggestions. Clearly this forum is for childish tantrums and for pointing fiingers rather than anything thought worthy.
Read
“Clearly this forum is for childish tantrums and for pointing fiingers rather than anything thought worthy.”
with
“just like an atheist may think religion is for the weak minded because he “knows” the truth ”
:)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflation
I still dont get it. What is inflation and how it effects a common man/family specially a person living in karachi.?
@Saba
Please dont get dishearted , this is how we learn.
Childish tantrum? You dont have to be serious all the time.
@Irfan
You made a good point but its hard for the people with families to move arround cities to cities.If they can, they should.
Personally I dont like the idea of being born in one city and die in the same.
This world is yours
EXPLORE!
Back to Ms. Saba
Btw do you really think there is a relation between upper / richer classes and Athiests thinking or was that a fraudulant slip? :)
Because upper / richer classes exist in every religion :)
I do not need your permission to write or not but thanks for your interest and guidance.
*sigh*- I was just being nice with you and that’s all you said in return. Naiki ka zamana nahin. When did I say you need my permission?
I regret for all good words I said for you. I happily take them back and Yes, You are most welcome NOT to make post here anymore. Hope you will stick on your decision. Bye Bye *waves*
Adnan, so you can’t be nice to her twice? or is your ‘niceness’ so rare and hard to get? come on man, Saba is obviously irritated by the type of comments people post on this blog. This blod represents karachiites and look at the comments. I was expecting you to say, saba i know you dont need anyone’s permission but atleast I would really like you to keep posting. If your previous invitation was sincere, you would’ve never said bye bye to her. Happy ramazan bro!
Saba, Please keep blogging. It’s natural that you come across all kinds of people. Some write constructively and some just waste their and everyone else’s time. Just stay positive and move on.. it happens with everything in life, isnt it? You’re writing skills are great so dont give up. NEVER QUIT!
I appreciated her confession and sincerely made a statement but she took it wrong which disappointed me that why I presumed so much about her. That’s it. It doesn’t mean I am allowing myself to abuse her in future. I wanted her to stop for the reasons mentioned before her response.
When I am not being considered *nice* in her eyes then I have no reason to do “Kushamad” which I never like at all. She would not quit/resume because of anyone else as she said herslef, she doesn’t give a damn to anyone so why do I keep forcing her for something which she doesn’t want anymore?
waise bhe, janay walay jo hotey hain wo chalay jatey hain,ilaan nai kartay. Huma left this blog long time back without making any announcement.
Hope I clarified you enough and ramadan greetings to you as well.
“waise bhe, janay walay jo hotey hain wo chalay jatey hain,ilaan nai kartay”
It was so sad to hear this from you. So you just want people to leave? and have you noticed that you always try your best to come out as Mr right? it seems like YOU can never be wrong. Open up and try empathising with other people’s emotions and opinions. And there’s nothing wrong with admitting your mistakes (not saying that you made a mistake this time). I read your comments and your inconsideration for other people’s views/beliefs/ideas worries me bro, thats it. I wish you a great life ahead and sincerely hope that you will realize your own weaknesses as well. and dont go agsinst me please, i was just trying to be genuine with you. ciao
Now look who is going off topic :p
At Irfan !
yes Inflation does exist world wide !
but the hike in Pakistan is not comparable to any in the world !
because its purely artificial !
heres an example ! my brother told me that in USA he can get a mediocre quality slipper (Chapal ) for only half a dollar!
At that price you wouldnt even get a used one in the whole of Pakistan !!
nowhere in the world the price of home production is dictated by international price! Our ministers come on tv and say that since sugar price is increasing every where so should ours too!!
Somebody go and tell him that Oil prices have been increasing all over the world ! but have been decreased in Saudia Arabia!
also,
KSE (Karachi Stock Exchange) is also a major contributor to inflation in which, biggest fish makes the most. most of the time. but as far as moving out means about 110 million pakis are working / living out side our country.that’s about almost 1 in 11. inflation and low salary are the main reasons. but major reason is our PKRS is nolonger pegged to gold and most probably pegged to US$. IMF along with special interest dont let the PK Rs to float.
PKRs is worth double if let it float. 1$= RS25-30
As its against $’s interest too. The oil is sold in US $ only by GulfCoCountries is one of the problems. We need a basket of currencies, instead of just US$ or EU$ reserves in our State bank of Pakistan. The other thing is quite disturbing is that how come we are not able to get $1 worth or PKRS65 sandals. As China is closer to Pakistan. And we should thank Almighty that others are buying our cotton. One just cannot beat their prices on almost anything they make. The tax on petroleum by pakistan, the duty on used and new foreign imports like cars and other daily usage is 200-300% by pakistan. is the main source of poverty in our country as it plays in the interest of few rich pakistanis. right now our country laws are designed only for the richer upper class so their interest are safguarded.
Go to this site http://eh.net/hmit/ for inflation in US/UK.
In 2006, $100.00 from 1970 is worth:
$519.05 using the Consumer Price Index
$423.38 using the GDP deflator
$0.00 using the value of consumer bundle
$528.90 using the unskilled wage
$869.07 using the nominal GDP per capita
$1,270.55 using the relative share of GDP
$244.72 in the year 2006 has the same “purchase power” as $100 in the year 1980.
Annualized Inflation Rate
US UK
1980 – 2006
3.50 4.27
The most weired thing for me is that the cost of soft drink in MiddleEast is stable for a long time that is 1DHM or Riyal while here we pay Rs.12 for 250ml. Haan agar koi foji jana wala ho tu do number k Pepsi 5 rupay me bhe shayed mil jaye.
In pakistan you can’t find price of any product stable for long time. Suna hey Kushboo wali pencil abhe bhe do ruppay ki milti hay. Strange!
@XYZ. To get a better look at mister self righteous Siddiqi with his convoluted, irrational views built on ignorance and superstition, please look at his irrational posts on my blog.
http://xmuslim.wordpress.com/
XMuslims, yeah, thanks for equating science with superstition. *grin* I know when atheists get no answer, they start abusing their opponents. Quite an interesting phenomenon!
@ Adnan !
do you know that the price of softdrink ( Pepsi and Coke) in Islamabad is 11 Rupees and 10 Rupees in rest of Punjab !!!
Kinda astonishing ! isn’t it!
no, not astonishing for me. Softdrink is a very little thing. If I am not wrong, we people give more charges per unit of electricity than Punjab. The difference is around 3:5.
Aisay he tu Karachi nahi paal raha na puray Pakistan ko. Yahan se jaib khali jati hay aur dosri jaga bhar jati hay.