It is my friendly advice to all the citizens of Peshawar to be aware
of and take strict safety measures, as prevention is better than
cure. Some people or groups have came from Dir etc to various parts,
other of Peshawar and booked houses for two three months and have
given advance payment of one lakh rupees to their respective
house-owners in Abdara road and other parts of Peshawar. I am
surprise how and why three four families are living in so small
house in Abdara road and they haven’t registered themselves. I
appeal to authorities concerned, Police and town committee to
register them and keep an eye on them because they could create law
and order problems in Peshawar in case they were militants or
extremists. —Via email
Getting started in stock market
Iqra Akram Baig
If you are thinking about investing in the stock market, here is a
step by step guide to get started in the stock market. Before
getting started in the stock market, it is important to determine
whether or not you can really afford to invest in stocks. Start by
looking at both your savings and your debts. If you have credit card
debt or an auto loan, it would make no sense to invest in the stock
market. The average annual stock market return is seven percent. If
the interest rate you pay on a credit card or auto loan is any
higher than that, you will be much better off paying down your debt
versus investing in stocks.
The next step involves deciding which stocks to invest in. You have
two main options: straight out stocks or mutual funds. Stocks are
shares of ownership in a company. A mutual fund is pooled money from
a large group of investors that is invested in stocks, bonds, and
other securities. Mutual funds are often the best choice for
beginning investors because they are managed by someone else and are
easy to invest in. Whatever investment option you choose, be sure to
research your picks before you buy. When you have chosen your
investment vehicle, the final step is deciding how much to invest. A
good rule of thumb is to not invest any more than you can reasonably
afford to lose. No stock pick is guaranteed, which means it is just
as easy to lose money as it is money. It is also important to think
about diversification. Spreading around the money you can afford to
invest is the safest way to get started in the stock market.
—Islamabad
US Aids
Dr Inayatullah Faizi
President Zardari is scheduled to be in Washington this week begging
for more dollars in return for the sovereignty, solidarity and
integrity of Pakistan. A few million dollars in the gigantic begging
bowl will not be an “aid”, it will rather be the “US –AIDS”,
injected into the body of our proud nation. Its affect will also be
just like the affects of ADS (Antibodies Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
in the body of a human being. Can our elected leadership show the
courage to say “No” to the US-AIDS? This is need of the hour.—Chitral
Human resource strategies
Mumtaz Ali Khaskheli
What difference can the aspiring human resource strategists really
make to business value? The answer to this question provides the
tools to help human rights managers and directors add value to the
organisation by implementing effective HR initiatives that are
aligned to core business strategies. Learning process is important
in this as managers are finding that they can strengthen and prove
the relationship between people and organisations. Human resource is
significant all over the world. This segment is the custodian of
labour rights. Many organisations concentrate on profit rather than
the value to human beings, Pakistan being one of the countries where
labour organisations and labour courts are weak.
The need for strategic human resources is also important but it
should be focused on human development instead of organisational
development. Time has proved that unrest comes when people feel
insecure. Currently, no one is secure in this country, though the
present government has announced that labour unions will play a
collective bargaining agent’s role in each factory/company/organisation.
However, what is happening around us is visible. It’s a good
initiative but how can industries work when there is instability of
government, falling currency, terrorism and insufficient role played
by the ministries. In the NWFP, Balochistan and even in Karachi most
of the industries have been closed due to non-conducive
circumstances. The minister of industries has said that in Karachi
there are 25 per cent sick units alone.
Our planning should focus on managing and developing talent.
Recruitment and retention strategies should be crystal clear.
Managing and rewarding high performances should be the priority of
every organisation. Strategies for developing people must be made by
heads of organisations. Every organisation should offer effective
career opportunities to their labourers. This is the time to develop
international managers so that they can play a role in the
respective areas. Unless self-assessment and organisational
appraisal practices are not followed, high-potential human resource
cannot be produced. Success of any planning depends on
implementation of the plan. —Karachi
Swine flu treatment
Dr Naseem Salahuddin
There is rising threat of a pandemic of swine flu (H1N1), fuelling
fears of millions of persons getting sick, and tens of thousands
dying. If the prediction turns accurate, Pakistan cannot remain an
island of sterility. The public must be aware of the impending viral
illness, but not panic. Swine flu may be no different from seasonal
flu for most persons, except that more people will be affected.
Those with pre-existing lung damage, such as cigarette and other
forms of tobacco smokers, and those with serious underlying
diseases, as well as small children and pregnant women, may react
with increased severity.
The symptoms of all types of flu are sudden onset of fever, chills,
headache, body ache, scratchy throat, nausea, dry cough. Not all
symptoms may be present in the same person, and generally more than
one affected person in a household makes the suspicion of flu
stronger. And if the person has been exposed to infected passengers
at airports or in airlines, then swine flu becomes highly
suspicious. You can avoid getting any kind of respiratory virus —
flu or other — by keeping yourself away from another infected
person. An ordinary mask worn by the infected person may limit the
amount of nose or mouth secretions but not totally prevent virus
transmission.
Washing your hands frequently or even using a reliable hand
sterilising liquid or gel is a good idea, since one can transmit the
virus by touching contaminated objects. Used tissues should be
disposed of properly. If you do have the symptoms, just lower the
fever with simple medicines, take plenty of fluids, stay home in a
separate room, if possible, or at least keep a proper distance from
others, and avoid transmitting the virus. Antibiotics have no value
in treatment of flu. There is no preventive vaccine though one is
being researched by vaccinologists. By that time the virus may just
‘burn out’ and disappear, as many flu viruses tend to do. And this,
too, shall pass. —Via email
