Pakistan: 4 Weeks On...

It’s hard to imagine or even relate to anyone how else Pakistan is to me. Before, a strange land with nothing of interest to me, and now, I have been here for 4 months… and what else more to say except for a few “wow’s” and “pheeewwws”.

Rustling purplish leaves adorn the roadside speaks of spring in its best offering. Before, barren trees greeted my first visit to Pakistan signifying the harsh winter heading my way. Been there and done that. I went through Autumn end, Winter, now Spring and I will be here for the Summer. 4 seasons in Pakistan… never have I thought I would spend 4 seasons in another country other than UK.

Also, from the many places I have been and being an avid gazer for the Orion’s belt, I have never seen a clearer dictation of constellations than in Pakistan. It is almost obvious and visible from the very clear skies in Pakistan.

These days, I am traveling more than I have been in the previous 3 months when I was here. There’ll be more to come … site visits, inspection… etc… and every single evening wherever and whatever I am doing, sunsets brings in a relieving camaderie that soon enough, it’ll be all over… because after sunset, there will be sunrise and that’s the best part of it. Its like there is still hope…

Beautiful sunset eclipsing in just minutes, summarizing the end of a long hard day at work....

Pakistan Ingenuity: Land of Flies: Part II

No... I am not trying to disintegrate myself from Pakistan because I work here but it just seems ever pointless trying to close one eye and pretend its all ok.

This happened a while ago about 3 weeks back when I climbed onto a taxi... but it happened again today.

Me: Goto F-8/4?
Taxi Driver: Yes
Me: You know where?.... St 61?
TD: Yes
Me: How much?
TD: As you wish, Sir...
Me: Ok... (proclaiming a fair price would be Rs30 since the distance from my last taxi ride which cost me Rs40 was farther)

After 5 minutes....

TD: Where St 61?
Me: Huh? I thought you knew?
TD: Where Sir...
Me: (ok ok... never mind... ) errr... turn right etc etc.....

Arrival at destination...

Me: Thank you... (while paying him Rs30)
TD: (looks at me in disbelief).... Sir... what is this?
Me: Money... you know Rupees... I paid you Pakistani Rupees... did I? I hope I did not give you Indian Rupees... (I was actually taking the piss off him)....
TD: Sir... Rs40....
Me: I thought you said "As I wished?"
TD: Not enough...
Me: Of course its not enough... its Rs10 short... so? it's my wish, right?
TD: Errr... (quiet.....)

To avoid further time wasting, I gave him another Rs10. Bottomline is, confirm the price before you get on a taxi first... minimum payment to a taxi driver anywhere in Islamabad is Rs40... remember that!


Secondly, winter's out. Spring's in... but I wasnt expecting summer to be here that quickly. In fact, the flies are out and they are absolutely basking in it. I know flies are everywhere in the world... even in Malaysia... but the flies in Pakistan are more human friendly than those back home. Even when there's nothing for them to salvage (rubbish or drains)... they still flock around humans and create that nauseatic and annoying sound and irritation! It's beginning to get on my good nerves that I have been preserving. Therefore, before I go further in purchasing one of those electric zappers... please do me a favor Mr. Fly, and get the hell out of my back and I will leave you alone! Until then... I will continue to annihilate your population!

Ciao...

Make OR Break...

Its Sunday morning… 0130hours. Whatta week…


Its nice to know that it is in this blog that I am able to roam free… tugged somewhere in the corner of cyberspace, no one hears or see you, best part is, I can blabber away without anyone noticing it. It keeps me sane. Thank God for the internet…


For me, 2007 can never begin with a bigger bang… for two consecutive years in a row, I have never been able to celebrate New Year’s day in Malaysia, which brings the total count to 9 years not celebrating NY’s day at home. Celebrated New Year’s day at a foreign district in a foreign land, what can be better? January was a relief but tough. I broke some hearts and found some. It was a relief to be back home. February came. It was hectic and chaotic but fun. In more ways than one, I made up my mind on two separate issues. March came, it was amazing. Screwed on one end but stunningly and surprisingly, it was the also the sweetest March I have ever had in my life. The intensity was overwhelming. April came… and in 5 more days, I would have been here in Pakistan for a month, 108 days into the unknown profanity, and another 13 days after that to bring the tally to 4 months. Life can never get more complex than a set of statistics that runs playfully in your mind… in a way, as time goes by, it heals the broken heart.


Tomorrow, when today comes, will be the eventual final lap towards a make or break for next few months. It’s hard to choose. We shall see…

Have A Nice Weekend...?

Actually, I despise it when people tell me… have a nice weekend… yeah right… what can I do in Pakistan? What on earth can I ever do here? Hike K2?

I mean, yeah fine… under normal circumstances in Pakistan, weekends are left to be weekends and you’ve got like 2 days off on Saturday and Sunday… you can walk around markets trying to shop for something… but in UFONE project where I am and what I am doing, there are no weekends. Saturday is a normal working day and Sunday… well, Sunday, makes me sad to say this but yes… I am at office as well. WHY…? You might ask? I am only here for 90 days and 90 days only. There is just so much to do with so little time. 90 days is not enough. There are five G+5 buildings for me to construct, 36 BSCs for me to manage… tens of people with an unfortunately-sad-to-say, ‘I don’t know’ attitude…. How to have a nice weekend?

In KL, Malaysia where I come from, I would have loved to hear those words. In fact, Wednesday onwards, I will be all geared up for Friday already. It does not mean that I don’t like my job but it’s a part of life… life in KL has evolved so much that it comes with it. Reminds me of those good times in the UK where people say, have a nice weekend and we really mean it. Holidays at every other weekend, weekend flights to Paris etc.

In Pakistan, dream on. People might look at it as… wow… you are really taking in the dough huh? …. Yeah rite… I wished I was… in fact I am. but where is the life? In this project, expectations will bring you misery. Therefore, a robotic response would see you through… as in, just work. It changed me a lot after being assigned to this project. I had no life here. When I returned to Malaysia, I was happy as hell… I was totally overjoyed… partying almost every night but I know I was over doing it. I know something had to change… I didn’t want to lose anything anymore. I know I was a changed man. I don’t want the project to change me anymore. I apologize to some whom I might have offended during this course of time… I know I did but I couldn’t help it. It was a difficult time. Now that I am back here, I am fearing that a relapse could happen. I am trying my best not to. No, I don’t wanna go insane and I don’t want to lose anything… I don’t want to lose you. Please help me to maintain my sanity.

Pakistani Woes...

Pakistan oh Pakistan…

I must say, its really an eye opener working with them. I had a lengthy discussion with a fellow colleague and we almost came to a similar conclusion… and its no wonder this country is still lacking far behind… at least 20 years back of Malaysia. To catch up? Yes… they can, but some serious mindsets needs to be changed. That’s for sure… yet, this certainty comes with no guarantee.

Most people that I am working with now have this attitude problem…. No, not with me but with the world. They tend to sit around and wait. For instance:

Me: IA, what about the issue in GJW BSC?
IA: Oh… that issue, I have already sent an email to the respective persons.
Me: Issue resolved now?
IA: I don’t know… I am still waiting for their reply…
Me: Huh???? *this guy will sit there for an entire day and will not know that the respective persons were on leave* why can’t you call them?
IA: Oh… Ok.
Me: Oh Ok????? is that it? that’s all you can tell me? you are a PM and you have sitted your ass on the chair for an hour and that’s the best answer you can produce for me??? for crying out fucking loud… don’t you think you can do better than that? you know it and I know it that it is almost improbable you will get any answer by sitting there!! Don’t you feel the need to know something instead of “I don’t know”????
IA: Ok. I will get on it.


Bottomline is, once is ok, twice is ok… but I feel as though my job as a PM is to educate another fellow PM on what he should be doing??!@#!? Don’t you think that’s a bit of a time waster? Why cant these people take the initiative to do something about it. don’t they feel the need to be certain? I have not only encountered this in this case but also for many many many other cases.


Have you been into TNT or DHL to send an express parcel that took almost 35 minutes?? It is supposed to be the most efficient postal company in the world and yet, to process some documents, they take 35 minutes!!


Next… there was a power shutdown in the office since morning, when I asked the guard whether he knew what was going on and when was power coming back, he shook his head saying, since morning no power, coming back at 5pm. I waited for 2 hours till 5 pm and still no power. I asked him again, he said I don’t know. I said fine, call the reception. He tells me he doesn’t have the number for reception and looks blankly at me. I said, find out and ask. He finds out, calls the reception and still gave me the same answer… I don’t know. It was 40oC outside and I was fuming already. I was at the 12th floor and I had to make him climb down all 12 floors by stairs and get me news on when power will be up because I cant wait any longer. Exhausted and panting after climbing 24 flights of stairs, he came to me and said, power will be up within 1 hour more. I asked him… definite? Or maybe? He didn’t know how to answer and was wanting to go down again and I told him… forget it.

It so hard asking this people to do shit… because they are so fond of using ‘I don’t know’ for an answer which supposedly means, lets’ wait and see. To me, I cant take “I don’t know” for an answer… and whoever works with me and crosses that line… he/ she had better watch it. I really cant tolerate it. therefore, to all Pakistanis… wake up, you are all still in slumberland… partake in your role and make it yours… I am sure somewhere in between, your passion is there. Bring it out and lets make our jobs easier.


Have you ever thought why your country is left so far behind? Think!

End of Week

The past week has been part of cleaning up shite left behind and part of tackling the project's shambles and lack of coordination. Now, its getting getting clearer and more obvious, that the project is totally screwed! Hence, with so many things happening for the past 1 or 2 weeks, tonight, I am going off early to get some rest, and have a movie marathon with Aszman. Its been a long time since I last sat down and have some time to myself. With a JD tonight... it would be fun and relaxing.

Truly, I want out from this company. I couldnt have imagined that my first project with the company would probably turn out to be the last one. I tried so hard to resist this thought and just get on with it but time and time again, management has given me no room for breather and on top of that, no support that I have been requesting for all the time. Its beginning to make me lose confidence in my role play in this project and to stop the slide, something has to be done. I cant let the company ruin what I've been trained to do. However, I must be grateful to them for gifting me the opportunity to step-start and learn more about the Chinese way of thinking and doing things.

Ciao...

Crisis Management in Pakistan

Well... looks like lady luck aint with me. Here's my posting first and foremost:

To any Pakistani (Islamabad) kind souls out there, I dont remember my wallet's whereabouts at all and I am in search of it. It would be a miracle and a kind gesture on your part to return it to me because I am stuck in a foreign land with nothing left... only about Rs35 left. I sincerely plead for the return of my wallet. Cash reward guaranteed. If there are any good samaritans in Pakistan, please call me at +923345149128. Thank you.

To any Malaysian or Thai samaritans out there, as explained in the above, I really have no recollection of the whereabouts of my wallet. It could be that I dropped it in Pakistan or the only place in Malaysia and Thailand I dropped it is in KLIA (28th March 2007) and the new airport in Thailand (28th March 2007). Please, be a kind soul and text me either at the number above or at +60125196836. I really have nothing left but everything in that wallet. Same rewards apply. Thank you.

It is a black Prada wallet.

It will be kinda tough for the next three months in Pakistan... without further a due... Plan B has to be put into place for Crisis Management.

Please, any kind soul out there...