Smart Workers

I would like to draw attention towards the fact that we are probably amongst the least productive nations of the world. Not only is our GDP per capita amongst the lowest in the world our working hours per year are also amongst the highest in the world.

Just think about it if we divide Pakistan's GDP per capita which is approximately $1000 by actual hours worked approx 8hrs per day & 2304 hr per year, you'd probably find that Pakistani’s are amongst the lowest returns on work-hours invested. Our GDP per capita per hour stands at $ 0.43 per hour. This approximately amounts to only 36 rupees per hour & 4608 rupees per month. If we compare this GDP per capita per hour with other developing nations we are no way near them.

You go to any government or even a private office in Pakistan just spend a day over there you will come to know how productive this nation is. Our government & private offices start at 8:00AM but actual work starts not before we have tea at 9:00 o’clock. We spend time in office sipping coffee & tea. Whatever time we are left with we spend it chatting with our colleagues using facebook & youtube. We sit all day in office acting as if we are working ‘Jali Masroofiat’. From top to bottom we all possess excellent acting skills. We are smart but in a negative way.

In order to make this nation progressive we all have to increase our productivity, leave the habit of laziness. Winning is not about working hard it’s about working smart.

KING

Once upon a time in a land far, far away there was a ‘KING’ very considerate, caring and kind. His country had food, clothing & shelter for everybody. Excellent law & order condition prevailed. He kept his promises, delivered when & where it mattered. He had an independent foreign policy. This king had an army like no other; they were trained well equipped & motivated. People loved their KING prayed for his good health & prosperity…..they all happily lived ever after…. I am joking no such thing ever happened. In fact the opposite prevailed. KING was the biggest culprit, thief of this land spending most of his life behind bars. He inherited throne of far, far away from his wife. Rumors were that this KING killed his wife, or for sure knew the where about of those responsible. Monarchy prevailed under him; hereditary rule was such that his son was in line to take place after him. The only quality this son possessed was that he was born and brought up within a royal family otherwise like his father he was also incompetent. People belonging to Far, far away had a history of electing incapable rulers……to be continued….

SAARC

The scope for co-operation between the South Asian counties is enormous. The region has a potential market of 1.6 billion consumers, the largest middle class in the world, as well as a hardworking, low wage labor force. The challenge is now squarely before the SAARC countries, and if they fail to seize the opportunity and meet the challenge with courage, they will have no one to blame but themselves. Let’s hope sound judgment will prevail, and soon. SAARC—the regional association has multiple roles to play. It should not be assessed just with regard to what it has or has not done with regard to regional co-operation per se, but its importance lies for the countries individually in enhancing their national prestige, managing their bilateral relations and having a regional identity.

While trying to write the blog on a regional association—SAARC which was established twenty two years ago—one should be very clear that the answer cannot be either categorical ‘pass’ or ‘fail’. That would be a very narrow way of looking at things. For that matter any regional association in the world has a mixed bag of results—certain areas in which they have achieved success, in others failed to take off and in still other issues where new mechanisms of co-operation are being developed.