Signs of Allah – Do you really need to watch to believe

Signs of Allah have ever since been there for those who see. However for those who have to watch in order to believe a recent report from Russia claims that an infant male child has started showing verses from the Holy Quran on his body. These verses are clear, readable and verified against the original Quranic transcript.

Report says that where this news has created interest amongst the locals, from a Muslim stronghold, in their religion it is also being termed by the local Imam (cleric/keeper of mosque) as a sign of nearing of the ‘Judgment Day’. The local politician such as Local MP Akhmedpasha Amiralaev said: ‘This boy is a pure sign of God. Allah sent him to Dagestan in order to stop revolts and tension in our republic.’ The polarity in the interpretation of the supposed Quranic markings clearly suggest the difference in orientation.

Whether truly the work of the hidden hand, an attempt by parents to instant fame, a skin allergy or a media gimmick the real message is not in watching but in seeing the signs in our daily lives. Media stories can at best achieve some temporary viewership, a short-lived look-back to religion or spicy social gossip. A Believer does not need stories. A Believer is not born. A Believer is not created with religious education. A Believer can’t be programmed with TV news. A Believer can be anyone hailing from any religious setting. What truly makes a Believer and sets them apart is the feeling & the yearning to connect with truth in their respective roles. How does this feeling develop? By opening up to the space around oneself and merging with reality. It is easier said that done. Belief is not easy it requires consistency, determination and resolve.

Are you a Believer? Do you see or must you watch too?

Challencheering for Pakistan’s win over Arch-Rivals India at the ICC Champions Trophy 2009

Run search on a search engine with the phrase Arch-Rivals+Cricket . I ran it on Google and guess who is the Arch-Rival for Pakistan. Oh you knew it already!? But I did not write ‘Pakistan vs. India’ with the search phrase. By the way try it for interesting results in Google Images. The pictures I have posted here are from the same image search. Even then almost all results are similar to something like the very title of this post. Yes my dear Pakistani and Indian friends, cricket fans and sports critics; Pakistan and India are the greatest, most widely watched, most popularly known ‘Arch-Rivals’ inside the world of the Sports of International Cricket. Over a billion cricket fans watched the Pakistan vs. India Cricket Match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2009 in the SuperSports Park at Centurion, South Africa. Why? Because it was a match between ‘Arch-Rivals’ Pakistan and India! You remove the vintage prefix ‘Arch-Rivals’ there falls the audience, the frenzy, the advertising money and the game of Cricket. Yes so serious are the consequences! ‘Arch-Rivalry’ is good for everybody eh. It fetches happiness to people on only one side of the Pakistan-India border whenever the respective team beats the other even more than winning the World Cup or lifting the ICC Champions Trophy 2009.

Now that we are comfortable with the term “Arch-Rivals’ that simply means ‘Principal Rivals’ keeping the feelings aside, we now need to understand how the supporters keep their teams motivated through the match to give their best and to …yes..say it… and to send the other team packing.

If you have ever supported your team at a sports game you must realize that the only and most impact-ful contribution you make to your team is to serve them with hot chants and cheers that keep their blood boiling, their adrenaline bursting and their minds focused on the rivals! You cheer them up! You tell them to play the other team out. Cheering for your team is the single most important part you play in the game. However the simple cheering quite simply is not meant for a game between ‘Arch-Rivals’. I do not advocate jeering since that gives more attention to the opponent. So what do you do? As suggested by some friends no you don’t serve them with sweet candy. Neither do you serve them with drinks. You do what needs to be done as a supporter of their ‘Arch-Rivals’; YES the team that you love and want to see prevail. Since there is no word or term I could find I have come out with a new term.

Challen-Cheering (read chal-len-cheer-ing); made up with a mix of two words ‘Challenge’ and ‘Cheering’. This term Challencheering carries in it the positive and exclusive cheering that your team needs from you and the healthy dose of challenge that the opponent team must get. For example a simple punch less cheer for your team would be something like this:
- ‘Go Green Shirts Go’ or
- ‘The Stars are shining Green, Go bold them clean’ or
- ‘Play to Win for Pakistan’  or
- at best and popular amongst kids ‘East or West, Pakistan Team is the Best’.

Does it stir anything inside you as a supporter. Do you really think it will send a spark through your team to send the other team home!? Good Morning! Hellooo!

Try on the other hand the ‘Challencheering’ combos;
- ‘Pakistan Team is No.1, Bye Bye India We have Won’ (We Will Win…during match)
- ‘A hit, a catch, a howzzatt, Watch out we’re on ya back’
- ‘Team Pakistan 1 2 3, Hit, Catch, Make them Flee’

Yes just the right mix of blood pumping adrenaline for your team and a caution for the opponent to be ready, to be on the defensive. One has to surrender, lay arms and leave with a white flag and a fake smile. Exclusion games are a softer form of battle anyways.

So my dear Pakistani and Indian fellas, the next time you attempt doing any good to your National Cricket Teams please make some effort, pump up yourself first before attempting to bother your own teams. Challencheer the teams! Make your team win! Enjoy the game of Cricket till the Arch-Rivalry lasts.

Wait…so did we Pakistanis actually Challencheer for this match?! I hope so!

Generalizing positive attributes could actually help Interfaith Harmony

Generalize This!

A Muslim man helps a Jewish couple on the sub from extremist Christian attackers in the United States of America. Unfortunately the American media is seen keen on relating individual or group violances when Muslims are involved with the religion and thus the entire Muslim community but somehow fail in relating acts of good citizenship and social responsibility with the followers of Islam all too often.

Young Muslim Americans speak on Societal Integration in the USA

Popular cable TV anchor and host Riz Khan of the Al-Jazeera English TV speaks to young Muslim Americans on their experiences regarding societal attitudes especially post 9/11. Also includes opinions by spokesperson of the Department of Homeland Security, American Government.

All the participants had a mix of opinion but the net of their opinion affirmed that being a Muslim surely had a compromising effect on their lives in the American society. The guest Muslim girls wearing hijab also shared that despite the fact that they chose to wear hijab without any compulsion, the American public in general thought of it as a symbol of oppression and looked upon the girls in a sympathetic fashion.

This discussion reveals that despite having diversity in the USA the society has really not been able to understand and thus respect their different lifestyles that emanate from their unique belief systems. The problem occurs whenever a sharp individual deviation or extremity is observed by the society and the focus suddenly narrows towards the Muslim community. This generalization of an individual act is the strongest dis-integrating fault of the American social system that has its foundation laid into ignorance of other faiths and cultures that collectively make up the American Dream.

Captain Ahmed Raza Khan, Pakistan Army – Best Overseas Cadet, Sandhurst

Ahmed Raza Khan currently serves in the Pakistan Army as a Captain. Hailing from the Slaig village in the mountainous Lors Valley in Northern Pakistan Ahmed Khan excelled as a military cadet and won a place at the prestigious military training academy of the UK at Sandhurst. Outstaning military cadets are selected from leading military academies from across the world for superior training in a global-military training environment at Sandhurst. The British Royal Family also goes through military training at Sandhurst getting it even further recognition in terms of the high standards maintained and media coverage. Captain Khan as a cadet under training at Sandhurst shared the training batch with Prince Harry.

Captain Khan was awarded the Overseas Sword of Honor by Queen Elizabeth for best overall performance on graduating from Sandhurst. This is the highest award for an overseas cadet.

Captain Ahmed Raza Khan - Holder of the Overseas Sword of Honor

Captain Khan is a brand ambassador of Pakistan to the world in the military profession as an outstanding officer and gentleman. He exhibits the values of a professionally competent armed force with highest professional and ethical standards.

This is highlighted by the fact that the recently disclosed video by the British media showing Prince Harry using inconsiderate remarks while terming Captain Khan “our little paki friend” and Captain Khan reportedly having forgiven him while still at Sandhurst.

Captain Khan had the chance to reaffirm his professional excellence in July 2007 in a road-side ambush while heading a military convoy in a military operation against the extremist militants challenging the writ of government alongside the Afghan border in Waziristan within the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. Captian Khan’s convoy was ambushed with a road-side bomb and came under militant fire. A bullet pierced through the shoulder of Captain Khan who was in the head vehicle of the convoy. Captain Khan, despite a bullet wound, fought off the militants along with his men for an hour before reinforcements arrived. Captain Khan was given military commendation for his bravery on the battle-field. Captain Khan made a full recovery.

Salute to Captain Khan for his professional excellence for the Sword of Honor, thorough gentleman behavior on forgiving Prince Harry for his unbecoming remarks and exhibitting true leadership and loyalty to his country under fire.

Burson-Marsteller resigns Pakistan’s Public Relations Contract

Burson-Marsteller is a global Public Relations firm that had signed Government of Pakistan’s lobbying contract in March 2008 after the Pakistan People’s Party won the elections and came to power.

CEO Mark Penn of Burson-Marsteller recently resigned account of lobbying and managing Pakistan’s country and political image amongst the American politicians, media people and the affluent. The contract terms also included research contribution from Mark Penn’s market research firm called Penn, Schoen, Berland & Associates of which Penn is also the President.

Burson-Marsteller says that since March the PR agency had not undertaken any assignment for the Pakistani Government and that the PR agency was in the process of documenting the resignation process.

It is also noteworthy that Penn was ousted as the head strategist of the Hillary Clinton election campaign team and says that the Clinton owes him campaign fee (over USD. 5 million) that has been mutually agreed for clearance.

Secretary of State-elect Hillary Clinton would have to manage relationships with Pakistan and India and with the following resignation of the Pakistan account after Penn’s ouster from the Hillary camp new questions have emerged on the dynamics of the relationship and most of all who shall pick up the Pakistani account and what relationship would the new company enjoy with the new Secretary of State.

The full story may be read at POLITICO.COM (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1208/16827.html)

Million, Billion, Trillion – Lakh, Crore, Arab: Made Easy

You are welcome!

I know you’ll thank me for putting up this conversion table online for reference of all you desi-hood always confused over how much is a billion in crores and whether a million is Das Lakh or Ek lakh!

Numeral Conversion Table - Western and Pakistani/Indian

I can relate to it myself and colleagues of mine in the office sometime I see grappling with a coversion issue in their language translation from Urdu to English or in reverse. It’s a fun sight you know. They go all around the office asking this person and reconfirming from another one. Actually there is seldom any re-confirmation if ever. Most of the times I see people frantically searching the net for an “authentic” source in order to officially report a conversion to a client or the media. I wonder if there is a website that compares numeral systems of various origins especially that of the West and South Asia i.e. India and Pakistan.

Here is a start and I’ll try posting more relevant information and links when found. Meanwhile all the best with your conversions.

Oh yeah with the authenticity of the table shared here; he he he he he…well I have used it in my official communications and has been correct all the time. See guys I have taken risks so that you desi-buds don’t have to bear no trouble no more..atleast not under a Trillion haar haar haar haar…no seriously go ahead and use the table with confidence!

INSTA-TERMINATION: PTA terminates license of Instaphone

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has, with immediate effect, terminated the license of M/S Pakcom (Instaphone) on account of Company’s failure to pay its outstanding dues. The payable amount would be recovered under Section 30 of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act. The Authority has issued a detailed determination in this regard. See full official notice at PTA site by clicking here.

Instaphone had been loosing since ever. PTA figures for Nov. 2007 show Instaphone at 329,743 subscribers or just 0.44 percent of the current cellular subscriber base of 74+ million!!!Instaphone further had defaults on its license fee of S291 million that were being relaxed by PTA to let Instaphone acquire some investment support. With lingering humungous license fee pending, virtually no brand equity, i doubt if the existing user base was generating any decent ARPU and sunk capital in AMPS network certainly did not have a case for a sell off. I think the investors just “used” the political skirmishes as a quick excuse out of the negotiations so that they could walk out without any moral/relationship related burden

The Ethical Gap: Getting Caught in between the Corporate and the Brand

Key Excerpt: The ever increasing gap between corporate ethics and brand practice is increasingly involving societies in moral, cultural and economic crunch. With no distinct corporate reputation, raising advertising budgets, promoting blind consumerism, fabricating profit-centered values are all only to cover the family feud between the brand and the corporate.

Looking around one observes a large variety of brand identities. Where they are important in providing the commercial differentiation in competition they have another obligation to fulfill; uphold family values! Of this I speak from both the organizational and social perspectives. Any brand in any of the commercial messages where penetrates consumer for differentiation and preference also injects a set of its ethics into the psyche. This translates into liking of a brand to respecting its company. We can relate this with the personal liking for a tobacco brand like Marlboro but not having the moral attributes for a public defense. Or relate to PEPSI commercials that represent our cricket stars like Shoaib as party animals and women pleasers. This negative perception directly travels to the corporate reputation. Relate the standard query, “which company’s brand is this?!” with this scenario. Here starts the feud!

This ethical gap is increasingly becoming the focus of most of the corporate reputation debates. Is it a product brand that determines the corporate reputation or is it the other way round? In the state it is right now, most of the corporations in Pakistan including popular MNCs and big national companies have no unique and even stable corporate identity in actual practice. The blind profit-run has where damaged the company reputation even greater are the marks on our social fabric. The induced “foreign look and feel” has only left our society in a self-identity crisis. Such strength and influence has the corporate ethics practices on social economies. The effect of these amplified in societies in the USA and the Indians. “Search for roots” is the social grievance in the former and “Whom do I belong to” is the manifestation in the later. We are still undecided even what to think of?

A lot of public relations representatives that I meet suffer in this “gap crunch”. With top management only accessible at crisis moments and routinely subjected to brand marketing’s “lavish ignorance to corporate ethics”; these PR custodians are only left with minimizing damages and avoiding media calls. The brand profits blind-folded management has increasingly become easy with the approach of “need based priorities” where the top priority is the ridiculously high profit margins. This holds especially true for the Tobacco, Telecom, Satellite Broadcast, Mobile phones and Carbonated Drinks industries in Pakistan. Most of the brands in these categories have jumped on the band wagon to catch the younger market with perceptions of phenomenal sex, success and spotlight.

Even the line adopted by these industry competitors are without class and creativity. Telecom service providers have a very run of the mill girl-boy friendship story line (Telenor), Tobacco tries to cough life into a manly image (Marlboro), Satellite entertainment channels pose to lead liberty of mindless expression (AAG), mobile handset companies flash phone against the naked skin of the fairer sex (LG KG series phones) and carbonated drinks pop the bubbles on some failed celebrity’s unpopular life (PEPSI with Shoaib)

An interesting list of “World’s Most Ethical Companies 2007” is shared here. This research is done by ETHISPHERE Magazine that is an influential publication of the CR and brand ethics field. The list indicates companies in respective industrial categories placed in order of their rank top-bottom. The country of origin for each company is also indicated with each.

The list reveals that many of the international MNCs operating in Pakistan especially in Food and Beverage (Nestle, Cadbury, Coke) , Consumer Electronics (LG), Computers (Intel), Oil & Gas (Caltex, British Petroleum) and Software (Microsoft) industries have not even made to the final ranking list. Does this reflect on our soft and designed for tax collection policies, our industry’s weak moral values or us consumers own moral standards. This remains to be seen.

Concluding I would say that it is high time for corporations to decide on their reputation focus inline with their business deliverables. A core system of corporate ethics and brand practice integration has to be incorporated as part of the management group that lays down the interpretations of the ethical standards into brand practices. This integral component right now does not exist either in a matrix or dedicated format. Societies on the other hand have to decide if they are going to derive the brands or be remote controlled into a fantasy land that has no practical meaning whatsoever!

Once there was Word of Mouth Marketing…

Wow. I didn’t know there was a Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) as well. How much more specialized is communication gonna get. What could be more micro/basic than that.

Of one of Micro-Marketing concepts, WOMM (Word of Mouth Marketing) is considered to be the most influential, result promising and targetted practices for marketing of products or promotion of public opinion (Public Relations). The P2P marketing model draws its strength from the “friendly & trusty” relationship that we have with our peers as in family, friends, colleagues and society.

Public Relations especially can make use of this channel for targetted, behaviorally influencing and meaurable communications.

However thinking of marketing practices at such a micro level makes one think of other possibilities. This has to do directly with the capacity of the medium, in this case humans, for delivering messages through different means or in another manifestation. Thinking on these lines I have come up with the following P2P micro-marketing titles with their brief descriptions:

1. Facial Expressions based Experience Transfer (FEET)Marketing:

Retail store will try to control facial expressions on their customers so that other customers, new customers, passersby (in many cases of the glass cases) will only pick positive message of the facial expressions and encouraged to feel the same experience as the ones inside the retail shop.

2. Tone of Voice Marketing:

Okay how does one carry the tone of voice of a peer. Perhaps the delivery aspect if not much of the tone. Like there is this friend of mind that greets everyone in a very jolly/hearty/generous fashion. I have, for one, picked that from him and try to practice the same style in my greetings.

So a firm can perhaps introduce/re-explore/amplify a certain aspect of social pleasantries, give it a distinct touch and circulate/popularize it through its communication over the media. For retails it could be a certain style in which the waiters interact with the customers.

3. Body Language Marketing:

This is about the difference you feel in carrying your body in all its glory when you wear a designer label brand. No designed labels are not about being expensive, they are about enabling your body to feel comfortable and more confident. People who wear labels have an almost natural tendency to act more like themselves, feel happy and show confidence.

This is communication enough to influence their peers and social circles to think about the lifestyles of these icons. With that comes inquiries into what label one wears, where one usually goes to shop and how frequently is the wardrobe updated.

Examples of this are usually in the fashion magazines in which certain suiting brands have a very distinct style of model posing, facial expressions and attitude. Or look at TV commercials of beverages, fashion labels, music labels that promote certain body movements that become associated with their brand identity.

Rexona’s “First Day Funk” in Phillipines was a brand activation focused at school going kids to use Rexona deodorants. To deliver the key attributes of confidence, free body movement and group mingling/dancing without fear of bad odor, Rexona actually developed a dance sequence that eventually became enormously popular and even won the best dance sequence award at the MTV Phillipines awards!!! The dance sequence was hugely popular amongst the teens and could be seen at night clubs, parties, school grounds, dance competitions etc.

Such is the power of each communication medium that the human body can emulate.