From: Bashir Syed [mailto:bsyed@att.net]
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2011 11:23 AM
To: 'pak.econo.watch@gmail.com'
Cc: 'Media.Consultant.Islamabad@gmail.com'
Subject: FW: Media-Tribe> PR--Overseas Pakistanis Major Contributors, Need Encouragement - (Revised)
Dear Dr. Murtaza Mughal:
ASA! I am a retired Aerospace Physicist residing in USA. A local Corporation was set up in 2003, by like minded people to assist Pakistan through Renewable Energy Technologies (Solar & Wind) to alleviate not only the Energy Crisis in Pakistan, but also POVERTY (directly linked to Energy & Light). Since that time we faced one hurdle after another in this effort.
In November 2011, I went to Pakistan to assist in setting up a similar corporation in our native land, and once again faced similar hurdles to participate in such a corporation even as an investor uless one posesses "National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis." In order to apply for one I went to Pakistan Consulate in Houston, TX [50 miles (one way) in a city with 80-miles diameter] and ran into further hurdles due to im-properly filled application (which had all the info in English language but did not have the same in Urdu on the same line, and impression of left Thumb in addition to signatures (my wife and myself) in English language. The best and most courteous staff of a Consulate in U.S.A, we found are the staff of Chineses Consulate assisting people, rather than creating hurdles through trivial constraints. The man assisting at the window seemed to be in rush to leave for lunch after entertaining 13 visitors (as indicated above the window in bold Red LED numerals). After pointing out these mistakes he just left the room to take his lunch. We wanted to visit the REST-Rooms (Toilet) before embarking on 50-mile return journey to our home, and we did not find any roll of Toilet paper in visitors Toilet-room, either.
Now here is a very serious SECURITY problem which has been found time and time again. The visitors enter through the back-door linked to the Parking Lot. This door had two peculiarities (1) Sign on the door; and (2) the LOCKS for Security no Consulate staff was present on first floor, because of the current wave of Islamo-phobia resulting in un-expected acts of terror.
Sign above the Door read the following:
Working Hours:
9:30 AM to 12:30 PM Preparation of Documents
12:30 PM to 3:30 PM - Break for Preparation of Documents
3:30 PM to 5:00 PM Delivery of Documents
LOCKS ON THIS BACK DOOR: ( VISITORS Enter only through Back-door or Parking Lot).
Top: Dead-bolt Lock (which can only be locked from inside after visitors leave)
Bottom: Regular lock (wich can only be latched from inside). When no staff is present on the first floor, and visitors are left on their
own to leave any time, there is no one present to lock the door from inside, i.e. both are UNLOCKED. Now if a miscreant is present
watching the observers leave, he or she can not only place explosives inside causing damage to the property, and life. The staff is not
AWARE of the Safety Concerns, while everyone undergoes through such a Check-Up these days.
We are not only assisting Pakistan through our knowkledge of Energy Technologies but by INVESTING Money in Pakistan to make our efforts a successful Venture.
The last Questions were related to RELIGION, which any Embassy or Consulate ever asks Visitors or investors.
Now going through new calasthanics, we will have to re-submit these forms to Pakistan Consulate in Los Angeles, Calif., along with required Fee (Bank Draft).
Bashir A. Syed
Vice President, R&D
Alt-EnergyTech, Inc.
508 N. Texas Avenue
Webster, TX 77598. U.S. A.
Member: Amer. Physical Soc., Amer. Assoc. of Physics Teachers, IEEE, Union of Concerned Scientists, Amer. Solar Energy Soc., and Sr. Memb. of Int'l Solar Energy Soc.
Fulbright, NSF-US/AEC & NASA Scholar, President- Assoc. of Pakistani Scientists & Engineers in North America (1997-99).
Committees Served: Industrial Coopperative Working Group for Military Procurement Standard/MIL-Perf-35534 (for DoD & Space), SPICE -Circuit Simulation SW for IC-Fabrication, and Radiation Safety Committee for NASA/JSC's ISS & MARS Program.
From: media-tribe@googlegroups.com [mailto:media-tribe@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of pak.econo.watch
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2011 12:46 AM
To: pakistan-media
Cc: media-tribe
Subject: Media-Tribe> PR--Overseas Pakistanis Major Contributors, Need Encouragement
Overseas Pakistanis need encouragement
EC decision distresses overseas Pakistanis
Islamabad: [Dec 29]
The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Thursday said Pakistanis working abroad have a critical role in the economic development of the country therefore they should be encouraged.
Remittances support millions of needy, reduce poverty and inequality and help government counter impact of dwindling foreign capital inflows, it said.
Pakistan is among top 10 recipients of remittances; it is among the few countries which include these funds separately in the gross national income estimates, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President of the PEW.
Talking to Masood Khan, Vice Chairman, Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, he said that those who are sending around one billion dollar a month to Pakistan—around 6 per cent of the GDP-- merits due attention.
He said that recent decision of the Election Commission to bar dual nationality holders from contesting elections will not go down well with expatriates. It is against the basic human rights of Pakistanis living abroad that are as loyal as any other citizen is, he added.
Dr. Mughal said that those keeping the morale of poor economy high should not be demoralised.
At the occasion, Masood Khan said that the dual nationality ban hurt millions. They are not abroad for fun, majority have opted for dual nationality for the sake of survival.
EC’s biased decision will deprive many of their legitimate rights. It can compromise their willingness to invest in Pakistan, said Masood Khan who is also the Consulate General of Lithuania in Pakistan.
Secretary General PEW Mirza Riaz said that the controversial decision has shaken confidence of expats which should be taken back immediately.
We cannot afford a fall in remittances at a time when economy is crumbling and there is hardly any investment in public sector development, industry and infrastructure, he said.
--
Dr. Murtaza Mughal
Cell: 0321-5157671
President Pakistan Economy Watch
Please send Complaints/Suggestions to
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