Rudyard Kipling"
“When you're left wounded on Afganistan's plains and
the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle
and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier”
General Douglas MacArthur"
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
“May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .” “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
“Nobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint."
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
Poverty stricken Pakistan to face tougher Ramzan over skyrocketing prices, chicken consumption becomes weekly affair for many
Friday, March 03, 2023
Amid severe economic crisis, prices of food times have increased by at
least 50% in Pakistan and because of loan conditions, government is not
even in position to subsidise them for the middle class and poor.
This year, Ramazan in Pakistan will be tougher than previous years
for many low and middle-income group people due to skyrocketing prices,
Pakistan-based Dawn newspaper reported.
During Ramazan, after over 12 hours of fasting, people try to enjoy
lavish iftar by arranging many items. But many people with mediocre
wages and salaries are likely to limit their purchases this year,
according to Dawn. The responsibility thus lies with the government to
ensure the availability of edible items at cheaper rates not only
throughout the year but especially in the holy month.
It is, however, hard to expect any special measures to bring price
relief, as the government continues to remain engaged in political and
economic chaos and hopes for approval of the International Monetary Fund
loan (IMF).
The Pakistan government is not in any position to offer any huge
subsidies or duty/taxes relaxations to lower prices. Any efforts to
curtail prices by lowering taxes and duties may irk the IMF ahead of
loan approval. And a price fall of 10-20 per cent will not appease consumers unless they plummet by at least 30-40 pc.
General Secretary Karachi Retail Grocers Group Farid Qureishi, as
quoted by Dawn, said “I am making two types of ration packs for charity
distribution for Ramazan in the holy month: one bag costs Rs 4,000 and
carries flour, sugar, rice, pulses, tea, salt, oil and ghee, gram and
vermicelli. The other ration bag costs Rs 6,000 and has more quantity of
products.”
