Trading concessions

'Trading concessions" published on Sunday,November 28, 2010 in DailyTimes. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

Trading concessions

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: November 28, 2010

The art of negotiation and marketing are rare skills both at the government and industry levels. This explains the reason why Pakistan produces 14 percent of the top class quality cotton in the world and yet has an exporting market share of barely two percent


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Marketing Terror

'Marketing Terror'published on Sunday,November 21, 2010 in DailyTimes. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

Marketing Terror

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: November 21, 2010

Our leaders have cashed in on each terror incident to prove their merit for more aid. Every single visit abroad and every single forum having American and European representatives are given all sorts of presentations to horrify them at the regularity of the occurrence of manmade and natural disasters in the country


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In the name of God

'In the name of God' published on Sunday,December 5, 2010 in DailyTimes. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

In the name of God

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: December 5, 2010

Religion has become license to categorise and exorcise personal vendettas. The Blasphemy Law, which itself is blasphemy against the legal system of Pakistan, is a shameful intention of maligned intentions and misrepresentation of Islamic law, letter and spirit

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Degenerating Investment

'Degenerating Investment'was published on Sunday,October 31, 2010 in DailyTimes. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

Degenerating investment

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: October 31, 2010

The government is busy investing in areas that are monstrous in their consumption of subsidies and are true liabilities on the taxpayer, and they are busy making the life of the genuine investor difficult by posing so many hurdles in their path to sustainability that they may have no choice but to pack up and leave for more conducive and hospitable environments


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Threat or opportunity?

'Threat or opportunity?'was published on Sunday,October 24, 2010 in DailyTimes. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

Threat or opportunity?

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: October 24, 2010

While most success stories of BRIC economies have based their progress on providing basic and functional education to the larger public, each of our governments has tried to make splashy investments in brick and mortar for building physical resources, rather than investing in building mental reservoirs of skill and talent


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In the name of ‘loyalty’

'In the name of ‘loyalty’'was published on Sunday,October 17, 2010 in DailyTimes. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

In the name of 'loyalty'

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: October 17, 2010

Why do leaders not see the folly of making decisions that alienate them from the public, their own supporters and from reality? The answer lies primarily in not having people around them who can question their authority and show them the long-term destructive impact of their short-term skin-saving tactics



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Strokes of ‘genius’

'Strokes of ‘genius’'was published on Sunday,October 10, 2010 in DailyTimes. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

Strokes of ‘genius’

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: October 10, 2010

Politicians have a re-launching strategy that ranges from changing their appearance to changing their vocabulary. They make heroic attempts at looking repentant and admitting to their mistakes. They also try hair transplants or hair dyes highlighting their black hair vs white sideburns


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Uncommon Commonwealth 'Games'

'Uncommon Commonwealth 'Games''was published on Sunday,October 3, 2010 in DailyTimes. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

Uncommon Commonwealth 'Games'

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: October 3, 2010

The South Asian countries have a legacy of having a hierarchical culture where being subservient to position is the ultimate dream of the majority of its inhabitants. Having seen the British rule tower over them, most countries in the region have found the civil service rule installed by the British and the legacy of bureaucratic government procedures extremely difficult to dismantle


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Open to attack

'Open to attack' was published on Monday,September 27, 2010 in DailyTimes. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

Open to attack

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: September 27, 2010

The question is, why does the ICC not blame any other visiting team? Why is this special treatment only reserved for our cricketers? The obvious answer is that it is the complete professional and moral vulnerability prevailing in cricketing circles of Pakistan that has made it open to attack from the English media and other nations as well


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Tax for life

'Tax for life ' was published on Sunday,September 19, 2010 in DailyTimes. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

Tax for life

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: September 19, 2010

Provincial ministers have been making ridiculous demands for the rehabilitation of the flood affectees. The demands, in the trillions, are made in the hope that even if they are cut down they will end up with a sum enough to further pad their overflowing personal accounts



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Commodistising immorality

'Commodistising immorality' was published on Saturday,September 11, 2010 in DailyTimes. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

Commoditising immorality

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: September 11, 2010

While the army of officials of bowling coach, fielding coach, physio, manager and liaison officer are really not adding much value, a personal consultant for grooming the raw mind of a budding star and making him see what he cannot see would be much more effective


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Rebuilding a lost cause

'Rebuilding a lost cause" was published on Sunday, September 5, 2010 in Daily Times. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

Rebuilding a lost cause

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: September 5, 2010

The real crisis is not of floods or recession but of the deterioration in the moral fabric of society due to corrupt leadership, no law to punish criminals and no justice for the deprived and marginalised of society



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A tale of two parties

Daily Times published my article 'A tale of two parties' on Sunday,August 29th.

Here is an excerpt and click on the link at the bottom for the full article.

A tale of two parties

Andleeb Abbas

Sunday, August 29, 2010

The danger with cash and ready-made food schemes is that they turn respectable individuals into desperate beings whose own abilities and faculties in the long run become undermined

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Fuelling fundamentalism

Daily Times published my article 'Fuelling fundamentalism ' on Sunday,August 22nd.

Here is an excerpt and click on the link at the bottom for the full article.

Fuelling fundamentalism

Andleeb Abbas

Sunday, August 23, 2010

While the Jews and Indians have invested heavily in education, skills and research, Muslim countries have been busy trying to build inequitable societies where the accumulation of wealth in a few hands is more important than an accumulation of knowledge in the minds of the masses


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The art of deception

Daily Times published my article 'The art of deception' on Sunday,August 15th.

Here is an excerpt and click on the link at the bottom for the full article.

The art of deception

Andleeb Abbas

Sunday, August 15, 2010

The fight for market share makes organisations look at more and more ways of impressing upon customers what they do not have and what they ought to have. In order to convince the customer, they actually take him into a world of fantasy


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The king and ‘I’

'The king and ‘I’was published on Sunday, August 8, 2010 in DailyTimes. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

The king and ‘I’

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: August 8, 2010

When the ‘I’ becomes bigger than the ‘We’, the writing on the wall predicts doom. However, the writing is visible to only those who have a vision to see beyond their egos; this moral blindness is a virus, which infiltrates into each organ and like a carcinoma cell destroys the living functionality of the organ itself



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Leadership myopia

'Leadership myopia' was published on Sunday, August 1, 2010 in DailyTimes. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

Leadership myopia

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: August 1, 2010

The people of this country have to realise that a nation gets the leaders they deserve. If they feel that they deserve better leadership, they have to earn this by converting from the cynical talking mode to the positive action mode


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The ‘not so’ lesser half

'The ‘not so’ lesser half' was published on Sunday, July 25, 2010 in DailyTimes. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

The ‘not so’ lesser half

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: July 25, 2010

A working woman carries a negative perception in society, especially if she is a businesswoman. Parents feel that her chances of attracting a good marital prospect go down because she is not perceived as good material for focusing on the house and family


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United we rule

'United we rule' was published on Sunday, July 18, 2010 in DailyTimes. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

United we rule

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: July 18, 2010

Why do we not let go of a past that yielded more damage than benefit? The answer is that we do not want to learn. Flaring up the past to create present and future tensions is the favourite pastime of politicians who are unable to create internal harmony and unity


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An incovenient freedom

Daily Times published my article 'An inconvenient freedom' on Sunday, July 11, 2010.

As usual, below is an excerpt and click on Full Article at the bottom of the excerpt for the full article.


An inconvenient freedom
Andleeb Abbas
Sunday, July 11, 2010

Barak Obama’s inability to be decisive and meaningful is now eroding his image as the man who will make other nations look up to the US as a role model. His recent mumbling stance on the Israeli attack on the Freedom Flotilla was a sad exposure of his inability to stand on principles and commitments





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Et tu,water...

'Et tu,water...' was published on Sunday,July 4th,2010 in DailyTimes. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

Et tu,water...

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: July 04, 2010

Pakistan has one of the lowest agriculture productivity per cubic metre of water in the world. Our cash crops like sugarcane, rice and cotton are all water guzzlers and therefore we really need to question whether it is worth using 97 percent of the water on them


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The depth of inhumanity

'The depth of inhumanity' was published on Sunday,June 06, 2010 in DailyTimes. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

Shoot the messenger

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: June 06, 2010

This desire to bring all those who do not believe in the Taliban brand of Islam to task is equivalent to assuming the role of God. Thus this attitude is a serious disbelief in the ultimate power of God

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'Un' social networking

''Un' social networking' was published on Sunday, May 30, 2010 in DailyTimes. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

Un social networking

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: May,30 2010

The reckless interpretation of freedom by the West and the vengeful response of the Muslim world have created an endless battle of the aggrieved and the griever

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Shoot the messenger

'Shoot the messenger' was published on Sunday,June 27, 2010 in DailyTimes. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

Shoot the messenger

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: June 27, 2010

Any leader who goes to Islamabad starts living under the illusion that all is well. With eight star luxuries available in their residences, they can never imagine the misery the ordinary citizen feels in the searing heat, with extensive load shedding


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Farewell to Tango

Daily Times published my article 'Farewell to Tango' on Sunday,June 20th.

Here is an excerpt and click on the link at the bottom for the full article.

Farewell to Tango

Andleeb Abbas

Sunday, June 20, 2010

The skill and knowledge deficit has brought our industries to their knees where they have been irreparably hit by external factors like recession, competition and inflation

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How to de--develop a country

'How to de-develop a country' was published on Sunday, June 13, 2010 in DailyTimes. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

How to de-develop a country

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: June 13, 2010

Pakistan’s rating on the human development index is appalling; it has one of the lowest literacy rates and one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world


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The strength of resolve

'The strength of resolve' was published on Sunday, May 23, 2010 in DailyTimes. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

The strength of resolve

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: May 23, 2010

The reason why each democratic government has not lasted beyond a couple of years in the country is not because democracy has failed as a system but because the people chosen to run the system are feudal autocrats who do not have the courage to let merit and justice rule


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The corruption epidepic

'The corruption epidemic' was published on Sunday, May 16, 2010 in DailyTimes. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

The Corruption Epidemic

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: May 16, 2010

Capacity building of the bureaucrats has become a lottery for most of the high-ranking officials where each one is going to prestigious universities like Harvard, Stanford and Princeton at exorbitant costs

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Legally Unjust?

'Legally Unjust?' was published on Sunday, May 09, 2010 in DailyTimes. Below is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

Legally Unjust?

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: May 09, 2010

Capacity building of the bureaucrats has become a lottery for most of the high-ranking officials where each one is going to prestigious universities like Harvard, Stanford and Princeton at exorbitant costs

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How the Mighty Fall

DailyTimes published my article 'How the Mighty Fall' on Sunday, May 02, 2010. Here is an excerpt of the article along with the link below.

How the Mighty Fall

By Andleeb Abbas

Date: May 02, 2010

Organisations without a true purpose, mission and values are always in danger of losing their way in their fanatical obsession for more and more growth and profits

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Power-‘less’

Power-‘less’ —Andleeb Abbas, an article that Daily Times published on Sunday, April 25, 2010.

Power-‘less’
By Andleeb Abbas
Date: April 25, 2010

The cost of providing security to the 90 plus fleet of ministers is more than the health budget of Punjab. The bulletproof cars that have been provided to them are shamefully expensive. A tyre replacement for any of these super-secure vehicles can cost up to Rs 1.6 million


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Pakistan, Naturally Beautiful

'Pakistan, Naturally Beautiful', another article of mine that Daily Times recently published on Sunday, April 18, 2010.

Pakistan, Naturally Beautiful
By Andleeb Abbas
Date: April 18, 2010

While the Indians have perfected the art of marketing and exaggerating their strengths, Pakistan has excelled in its pursuit of highlighting and splashing its weaknesses. A reverse strategy can not only do damage control to the battered international perception of the country but also help lift the bruised spirits of the people of this nation.

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The Media Mafia

Daily Times recently published my article 'The Business of Aid' on April 11, 2010.

Below is an excerpt of the article.

The media mafia

by Andleeb Abbas

Date: Sunday, April 11, 2010

The popular anchorpersons’ power to make or break opinion creates an arrogance in them that is displayed through condescending sneers and mocking jeers, inciting their guests to lose their cool and be reduced to a laughing stock.

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Business of aid

Daily Times recently published my article 'Business of aid ' on April 4, 2010.

Below is an excerpt of the article.

Business of aid

by Andleeb Abbas

Date: April 4, 2010

The net effect of aid is more dependence and more deterioration of the economy in the client country, while the aid agency and its networked organisations become financial powerhouses

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The Price of Pain

Daily Times recently published my article 'The Price of Pain' on March 21, 2010.

Just as before, below is an excerpt of the article.

The Price of Pain

by Andleeb Abbas

Date:March 21, 2010

The government had merrily been declaring that all the terrorists have been nailed and had blown the horns for victory celebrations. The recent bomb blasts are a harsh reminder that dealing with just the symptoms and not the root causes of the problem will always have a short-term impact of a lull before the storm

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Cricket Woes

Daily Times published my article 'Cricket Woes' on Sunday, February the 7th 2010.

Here is an excerpt of it:

Cricket Woes

Andleeb Abbas

Sunday, February 07, 2010

The PCB has no strategic planning where it defines its mission, vision and values or sets performance targets for winning matches or improving international ranking, etc. It is run on the famous ‘ad hoc’ basis where the antique system of being led by the whims and fancies of its power holders has made it a ship without a captain

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Tear and wear

Daily Times published my article 'Tear and wear' on Sunday, January 10, 2010.

As usual, below is an excerpt and click on Full Article at the bottom of the excerpt for the full article.


Tear and wear
Andleeb Abbas
Sunday, January 10, 2010

As they say, a nation gets the leaders it deserves. As voters, either we are cynical and indifferent or do not believe that change can come and thus do not even bother to vote, or we are led away by the shallow declarations and staged actions of these leaders and choose them over and over again





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Moral Bankruptcy

Daily Times published my article 'Moral Bankruptcy' on Sunday, January 3rd.

Here is an excerpt and click on the link at the bottom for the full article.

Moral Bankruptcy

Andleeb Abbas

Sunday, January 3, 2010

The common trait which brings PML-N and PML-Q together is their tainted and corrupt past. A few days ago, these two parties were sworn enemies. However, despite their inherent dislike for each other, they somehow always ended up ‘compromising’ with each other

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