Ramadan – The Month of Blessings

The month of Ramadan brings with it the blessings of Allah Subhana Wa Ta’ala and the whole month is celebrated like a sacred event throughout the world. In Pakistan this month is celebrated with religious fervor and devotion. The people of Pakistan are religiously devoted and have great passion of Islam in their hearts and the Holy month of Ramadan depicts their love and commitment to their religion as they celebrate it with lighting their mosques and embracing each other on the even of 1^st Ramadan.

They pay Salaams to all their friends, family and the people living in their neighborhoods and then go on to the mosque in order to offer the Taraveeh prayer that is offered only in the month of Ramadan. They sleep early in the night as they have to wake up for Sahar after midnight. Then the women in the house move to kitchen and start preparing the Sahar dishes. Parathas and fried eggs are prepared along with the delicious Pheoni which is a special dish of Ramadan, eaten completely soaked in milk.

Then the boys go on to offer the prayer and return home to recite the Holy Koran. People go on to work and the mosques get filled with devotees during the prayer timings. In the evening, Aftar is prepared in homes and streets of Lahore. Pakoras, Samosas, Fruit salad, sweets, Kachoris and loads of such dishes are prepared. As Lahorites are famous for their love for food, the streets of Lahore exhibit a scene of absolute mess because the rush of people on bakeries and dairies is immense. Then they reach home and wait for the Adhaan to begin, and the moment the loudspeakers of mosques recite the words “Allah-o-Akbar” they finally break the fast with a date following the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w).

Lakshmi Chowk of Lahore, that is famous for the foods and restaurants, is filled with men and traffic is almost blocked as there is hardly any space left for cars to move. The restaurants in Lahore offer special deals in this month with buffets being offered at the time of Sahar and Aftar and food lovers flock to restaurants to enjoy these deals. As the final Ashra of Ramadan nears the rush in the market starts to increase gradually as people start shopping for the Eid. They buy new clothes, shoes and perfumes while girls buy bangles, mehndi and all the jewelry that they have to wear on the day of Eid.

Then there is Shab-e-Qadr on 27^th Ramadan, the day when the Koran began to be bestowed upon the Prophet (s.a.w.w). Special prayers are offered in the mosques on the eve of 27^th Ramadan. and after this night, the rush in the markets mounts dramatically as Eid is almost there and this trend peaks on the night before Eid that is known as the Chaand Raat. Shopping plazas and Bazaars look colorful with their lights on and filled with men and women from all parts of the city.

And then comes the Eid to end this beautiful month of blessings of Allah (s.w.t) and the people offer the Eid prayer and embrace each other. Pakistanis celebrate Ramadan in a wonderful way. There are few countries in the world where any event is celebrated in such a special way like they are held in Pakistan and Ramadan peaks them all.

Pakistan Offers Spectacular Business Opportunities

The Pakistani market has never been utilized to its full potential by any of the governments and the international investors in the past. The amount of investment opportunities that this country provides is more than many other countries of the world. With over a 180 million population, Pakistan is one of the biggest markets in the world as the consumer market is larger than the other 200 countries of the world as only China, India, USA, Brazil and Indonesia surpass Pakistan in terms of population.

Pakistan, although it is at no. 6 population wise, yet the potential in the market for investors is much more than even the larger countries in this country. The argument that is given by the market experts in this statement’s favor is that all the larger countries are a lot more developed as compared to Pakistan and, therefore, the market potential has been to a large extent already utilized whereas in Pakistan, which is a developing country has a lot more to offer to the international investors. Keeping Adam Smith’s Theory of Hierarchy of Needs in mind, it can be said with relative surety that Pakistan still has loads to offer to the society.

The availability of four seasons at a time in the country and with so diversified a land structure with high mountains and low plains to the plateaus and deserts of Balochistan and South Punjab, Pakistan has to offer everything to the business community of the world. Investment in health-care sector and transportation can be extremely productive. Education and Information Technology sectors can offer big bucks to the investors while at the same time Pakistan real estate market that is already on a rise in the country can really be something that this country may provide.

Pakistan is facing energy shortage in the country; the international investors may look into this field. China has already made dams in Pakistan and has benefited through this investment. Other countries and large organizations may also offer their services and products to Pakistan in this regard. South Korea assisted Pakistan in developing Motorway from Lahore to Islamabad and that has certainly borne fruit for them. Daewoo from South Korea is still operating in Pakistan as the major transportation company in the country while the Turkey’s investment in the Metro Bus service in Lahore city, the capital of Punjab, will profit the Turkish company as well.

Karachi city has seen major development in the past decade or so and the international investment in this city has turned it into a modern dynamic city, yet, it is a fact that even the quanta of Karachi and Lahore’s potential has not been utilized as both these cities with over 10 million population can bring billions of dollars for investors if properly utilized. While the mineral rich Balochistan and the Thar Desert have not even been touched by the global investors. It is believed that Thar Coal is the largest reserve of coal in the world.

The tourism industry in the country has been left on its own and though the government is trying but the lack of capital is holding it back. This industry, if focused, can become one of the finest tourism industries in the world given the magical beauty of Pakistan’s northern areas and its historical buildings and monuments.

It can be safely said that Pakistan’s potential as a major business center of the world has always been neglected by the global investors and to an extent the governments have also been responsible. However, this country is ready to provide the best opportunities to the global market today and Pakistan certainly has the guts to prove it capable of being an Asian Tiger.