JAMAAT Islami Deputy Amir Ch Rehmat Elahi’s suspicion that PTCL, the flagship state enterprise, might be privatised and handed over to an Indian firm, might be dismissed as a remote possibility. Surely no government could afford to allow this to happen? But at the same time, he has raised an issue which no sensible citizen can afford to ignore in this era of globalisation, corporatisation and the WTO. More so than most underdeveloped Third World nations, India has plunged into the global economy with enthusiasm. Whereas China has achieved miracles of development under an essentially indigenous model, where it has carefully kept the global corporate culture separate from the benefits of trading with multinationals, and accepting investment and joint ventures with them, India is in doing its best to join it.
Pakistan is also committed by its government to joining this, though it is signally less successful. Barring honourable exceptions like Mr Aziz, Pakistanis have not progressed in the global corporate world the way Indians have. Therefore, it is not simply a matter of fearing an Indian corporation’s bid for a Pakistani state enterprise like PTCL. How do you handle a bid by a foreign company which is partly owned by Indians? Even if you have checked the ownership carefully, and sell it for a good price, what do you do when the first CEO posted is an Indian? Refuse him a work visa? But what if the company names a US citizen, whom you dare not refuse, with a high-caste Hindu Bengali name? Or the CEO is an Australian, but decides, under Indian shareholder pressure, to relocate its plant to Bangalore?
Other countries might be able to allow all citizens of all countries to come and go across their borders, and let them work freely if they have the ability, but Pakistan has to be wary, not just of two states, but of their citizens, because of the fervent hatred they bear against it, and the damage they are ready to do to it: India and Israel. Many Indians and Israelis bear Pakistan no ill-will, but how is one to be sure? The Privatisation commission needs to study this particular aspect very clearly, and the government itself needs to ensure that its hunger for foreign investment does not let us in for an infiltration harmful to our future.
Re: Are Indian firms taking over Pakistan telecommunications?
^ Pakistan should be that lucky!
How stupid can such paranoia can be! If you start blocking trade & investment from any organization that has people of Indian origin in positions of power, kiss technology goodbye. That is the 21st century global reality. Face it and accept it.
On the other hand if you welcome Israel India and all technologically and economically advanced countries with open hands, hearts and brians to invest help and assist your country, then you can call yourself a patriot.
If you don't be content with being relegated to worse fate than present.
Re: Are Indian firms taking over Pakistan telecommunications?
This is not policy but an editorial. I wouldn’t put too much into it. I would open a call center in Pakistan, if I was in that business. People are better looking, speak with no accents, quality of their technology resources and general infra is like switzerland. So what if Bangladesh is deemed safer wrt country risk, so what if terrorists run rampant…small price to pay for getting really good looking, beautiful english speaking people. :k:
Re: Are Indian firms taking over Pakistan telecommunications?
This coming from a editorial is even more surprising. If it was posted as a “Letter” is woudnt matter. But arent Editorial staff supposed to be erudite, having a fairly good knowledge about they write.
Re: Are Indian firms taking over Pakistan telecommunications?
The comment some days ago about Pakistanis having better acccents really seems to have got you. Why do you think that Pakistanis cant have better accent than Indians? Any inherent superiority in the Indian accent that no one can better it?
Re: Are Indian firms taking over Pakistan telecommunications?
Ehsan Uncle..the proof is in the $$. Delhi which is in North India and is a call center hub and cities like Chandigharh, Jaipur in the north, Mumbai, Pune in the west etc...have more english speaking, highly technically trained people without the "hetch" for "H" than all of the Ummah combined. Now either come to me with captialization of some idiotic supposed asset like "better accent" which lives only in Pakistani dreams or monetize on such supposed asset, i.e. have more than $40M in IT/ITES exports for all the BS being espoused of higher quality and such.
This is the type of false sense of bravado that ails the Pakistani community and industry (read military). Until, some humility and reality based assessment is done to change the mantra. I am sorry we will continue to hear that a population of 150-60 Million where all HDI indicators are going south continuously keeps professing of some supposed "better skillsets, accents etc vis-a-vis a neighbour that has capitalized and monetized on supposed inferior assets.
SO instead of pontificating on the virtues of my intentions and motivations..How about you gather up the boys and tell me what you think of this article where FDI investments from India can change the fortunes of people.
Re: Are Indian firms taking over Pakistan telecommunications?
^ If all that is true why are you so disturbed. Is it because that they might be challenging the "might" of he superior Indians soon that has you so irritated, that is all I wanted to know. Surely highly educated people like yourself can take this in your stride, or can you?
Re: Are Indian firms taking over Pakistan telecommunications?
this is pure hindu kali mata BS.
NO Indian company has so far taken over any pak telecom company. As far as I know norway, singapore, dubai and other firms are taking part. But no indian firm
Re: Are Indian firms taking over Pakistan telecommunications?
^ Ehsan..did you read the editorial or the other piece on outsourcing? Instead of trying to figure out my intentions....why don;t you tell me why a country that apparently has such great assets has exports of only $40M in IT services? Why oh...why? Let Pakistan challenge India...you can challenge my assertion here, with facts and figures and reality. :)
Re: Are Indian firms taking over Pakistan telecommunications?
Indian companies should bid along all the other multi nationals and the decision should be based on the best bid submitted. If that happens to be an indian bid than so be it, barring any security concerns the government might have.
Re: Are Indian firms taking over Pakistan telecommunications?
no...No Kaka, I was being serious. You see when people write stuff like that in Editorials and report such utterances by Business leaders, as facts without some injection of reality...it must be true. (I ma being sarcastic here)
Re: Are Indian firms taking over Pakistan telecommunications?
That's it! Matsui and Haroon just hit upon the master strategy for Pakistan to overtake India in technology.
Everytime an Indian firm bids for a call center, Pakistan should go and offer not just audio but video phone calls. Everyone knows the Americans like getting more for less. The Indians can't match the offer because they look ugly and won't want to be seen on the videophone.
ps. call center , technology...what's the difference
