KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari said on Friday that he has always asked world leaders to “teach us [Pakistan] how to fish rather than giving us a fish.”
Zardari was speaking in Karachi at the inauguration ceremony of Waseela-e-Haq-Sindh program. He said that during his meetings with international players, he talked about “trade and not aid.”
Speaking about the currency swap arrangement with Russia, China and Turkey, Zardari said he convinced countries to trade with Pakistan in local currency.
“My own state bank, however, was sceptical about the idea because it has the mindset of getting aid and preventing new approach,” he said.
BISP to create new middle class
According to the President, the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) will help raising the living standard of poor people and will create a new middle class.
“I was told that there are people who had earlier received money through BISP and are now in a position to return that amount,” Zardari said.
COMMENTS (62)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
we know how to fish, just tell your stooges to stop stealing our rods, zardari
You blame for every bad to this man..it isn't fair. I am living outside Pakistan.. every where there are issues of poverty and corruption but failed to understand why ppl wash their hands from their responsibilities and put it on shoulders of leaders...when there are dictators,you want democracy and when there is democracy you want to go back..what is this ? failed to understand.
@Maryam: Can you summarise that vision for us please ?
"Zardari was speaking in Karachi at the inauguration ceremony of Waseela-e-Haq-Sindh program. He said that during his meetings with international players, he talked about “trade and not aid.” Very well said Mr. president but please would you like explain truly,sincerely and honestly before the nation that without IMF's aid Pakistan's economy can't be stand on its feet and who increases expensiveness to get more and more loans and aids from IMF on harsh terms and conditions? Who says that without foreign aids and loans Pakistan's important and main projects can't be completed on time? Who increased Pakistan's foreign debts up to $60 billions in the last 4 years?
I have seen so much bias against this man by these so called moral keepers that feeling pity for them,These morals want others to pay for there misdeeds.They view every good with conspiracy..Basically they are delusional in nature and jealous in approach.They live in shells of hypocricy and hatred.
So, a country which has developed nuclear weapons all on its own, without no Pakistani Scientist stealing any Dutch blueprints, without China giving Pakistan Uranium, without China giving blueprints of a weapon, doesn't know how to fish?
This is the reality. Pakistan is a Country which doesn't have much industrial base, but seeks nuclear power. How is it different from North Korea, which too has fancy weapons, but cant provide for its citizens? It too hates the US and is allied to China.
Is Pakistan heading towards being another North Korea, or is already there?
I think we must swap currencis.
i fully agree with Maryam
mirror mirror on the wall who is fishy of us all :-)
We need not the fish, we need skills, free education, awareness of hazards. Love and peace.
@Logic Europe: But you did, Mr. European.
@Syed Hussain I Jafri: Keep on making excuses, thats what the vasy majority of Pakistanis do. Get your head out of the sand, we should be embarrassed that Bangladesh, Sri Lanka is growing 3 times the rate of Pakistan, for Bangladeshis splitting from Pak was the best thing that ever happpened to them. All Pakistan has are nukes that unfortunately won't fill the bellies of the poor.
@Maryam: LOL oh my goodness all those times you bash Imran and this is who you support haha, I'd rather support a tin can than this idiot. Get your eyes checked lady his vision of pakistan is in the toilet.
NOW he's after fish...!!
What kind of fish? GOLDfish? har...har...har...
hahaha i am delighted after reading all these comments. Point this poor president trying to make is to give us access to the market we desired to reach rather than keep giving us fishes ( Aid ). We are not polluted with Mullah-ism neither from Islam we will go with it and it will prevail. Many Indian friends commented here just want to let you know wait a lit bit more and don't worry about us.
No one is offering you any fish ! Time to stop begging, as it falling on deaf ears ! The rest of the world has realised as to your nation's duplicity in your dealings with them and also your management of your Nation's economy and current state of affairs !!
So Mr. President are you now telling us that the billions of dollars received in foreign aid was unnecessary and all we really needed (to survive) was fishing tackle - or better still instructions on how to use the said fishing tackle?
I know the human beings and fish can co-exist peace fully.. hen he George Bush Jr. Our own " great visionary leader "Tell us how to fish...
@ Marium truely a great leader misunderstood!!! he really is a true leader !!! Thumbs up!!!! May Allah help him to build a better and stronger Pakistan... I guess PAK IRAN pipeline devlopement during Zardari's tenure has superceded all previous mile stones.. Gilgit baltistan 18 amendment independent judiciary and soverign parliament over army. are few of the key achievements of Zardari
hahah i can't believe people are actually saying good stuff about this fraud! @ Maryam: are you nuts? people like you are the problem with pakistan! so blind you people are its quite sad!
I haven't read all the comments by readers but I am sure there is not even a single supporter of Zardari here ... strange ... how come he is our president if this is his popularity ?
For the glory of sports ... ZARDARI Zindabaad !!!!!!!!!! who has made a fool out of 18 crore awaam ...
Fish don't live in polluted waters.
Ahoy, a fish at last! President seems to have spied one!
Does he know he is the president of an atomic power? Does he ever get his head out of his swiss and other foreign accounts? I wonder what kind of people vote for him and his lackeys...
Hahaha thats so far out, I can't help but laugh! Someone please get him a speech writer before he 'drowns' us in embarrassment... oh wait too late now =/
@Arjun Shetty: I have my friends from India, we even worked together in past. I tell you two sided fact of the history. Your country and politics also take huge bounties from kick backs. Ours does as well. The good things are to talk about here... I take one good point from India. The education system. That has invested on your masses in last 20-30 years and now you folks groomed out well.
Unfortunately, here the story is changed because, our politics were too much self centred to their interests than the common man. Education funds were cut down to fill the pockets of Defence and other valueless programs. Last but not the least, AID and Loans (IMF) damaged us badly.
And yes, we should not overrule that Soviet-Afghan war caused "Pakistan" all the loss and no gain in last 4 decades.
dont take their fish they wont give you it, plus youre the only one who takes it, it doesnt come to us, neither do we want mr master deception
But i already know how to fish ! I only need safety of me & my fish.
@harish: What ... Zardari knows how to loot.
mr ZOORDARI we know how to fish! but someone has to provide us with fishing rods..... because u are stealing all the rods......
As a nation of 180 million people. Let's talk about the able ones. Who we are... Do we protest, we do not vote, we do not leave our bit corrupt actions in daily life, we abuse and swear on others on their back, and most importantly; we always ponder on point less arguments.
Change comes within, each able individual should reform themself first. InshAllah, the most needed and highly expected (Good) will start appearing from very next days...
Stop pointing to others, be aware then when you point at someone, there are 3 fingers pointing towards your own chest as well.
Dr.Zardari and his heroic son Bilalwal have always given their best for Pakistan.Now they have started numerous feeding schemes in Africa.They have built nearly 1037 schools and 834 clinics for underprivilaged children in Africa.The Bhutto Charitable Institute of Africa has improved the lives of millions of African people.Dr. Zardari during his trip to Dubai recently stopped over in Congo and donated 84million U S dollars for building 8 hospitals.Thank you Pakistan,Thank you Dr. Zardari and Junior Zardari.
@Syed Hussain I Jafri: yeah!! - blame everybody else but yourself for your own problems!!! typical!!
The State Bank of Pakistan in year 2000 sent out a circular asking all banks to allow Internet Merchant accounts. It is 2012 and only Citi Bank does it. And it is easier to get rishta then get a citi bank internet merchant account.
Internet Merchant account is an account that lets you sell and collect payment for goods and services online.
The vested interest and and bureaucracy dont want people to people fish. It hurts their interest
@Arjun I appreciate Ur Analysis of Pakistan. Every Single Word is TRUE. Great JOB.
I thought he would say : give us Yacht
Deja vu! Does someone remember "Qaraz utaro, mulk sanwaro"? And what happened to the money that a lot of good hearted Pakistanis donated? We have been hearing this from our leaders for the last 64 years. For one “Pakistan iss waqt nazak halaat se guzar raha hai”, and that we should reduce reliance on foreign aid. Thus far, neither one has been done. Zardari, Sharif brothers and the likes need to bring their own money home first. And by the way, it is not these foreign governments giving you the fish. You have been begging for it. In order to survive in the long run Pakistan needs foreign investment and not loans. How secure would you feel about investing money in a country where everyone, inside or out of the government, live in the present day?
@Maryam.. 100% Agreed With U.
@ antony I think eiher you misread the statement of President or totally misunderstood the msg. We Pakistani are habitual of relying on aid, and for aid sake we go flat before American, in last ten years we gave them air bases we allowed them to carry out drone attacks, against our own ppl we sold them ppl like Aafia siddidi and many other missing ppl, My President know we cannot go on like this, though ppl accused him for repercussions of Musharruf's policies, but he did not try to shift blame on Army. He only wants Pakistan should be given excess to world's trade centers.Why should he be ashamed?? countries you mentioned are democratic govt, they believe in democracy, they bring change through electoral process, their judiciary, army, and media, do not undermine people's power. If this democracy continues we will learn how to fish. As a nation we are so impatient, we want to get prosperity so quickly, we don't even bother whether our dictators brought it by compromising our sovereignty. l
The World already taught you how to fish - but all your good fishermen decided to leave Pakistan. Make Pakistan a better and safer place to live and your fishermen might come home.
Anybody can see that judiciary has cause hindrance by keeping the govt on it's toes and looking behind it's shudders The press is abusive and biase ad. nausem Opposition is using unparliamentary language and army is sharpning it's knives Still PPP has been successful In moving Pakistan frwords Salute zardari salute to thinking and caring president He NEVER RUN AWAY OTHERS HAVE
The best the world will do is to lead Pakistan to the water. Whether they fish or drown in it is entirely up to the leaders.
What Pakistan leaders were doing since 1947? Too many fishes are gone to Indian oceans since then wait for next century.
@ Maryam: You are absolutely right Maryam,am totally agree with U. Two institutions Media and judiciary are not letting him run the govt. Nawaz Sharif is hiding behind Judiciary.
@ Anthony: If you dont know what u r talking about then U should't talk. Let me tell you some thing that Bangladesh is a bigger country than Pakistan and there is no Afghanistan in the neighbourhood of either of these countries. Please mind your own business, Pakistan is having these problems because of the rest of the world. You should be grateful that U are safe in your country just because of the great Pakistan.
hahaha...very funny!....Zardari sahib please swallow your pride and come to india we will teach you how to fish!
Mryam u r right I agree with u Zardari is proving himself to be a great leader, he has vision.He has patience and tolerance.The dwarf prejudiced r against him.
Oh Fish ! :D
@Maryam 4 Years were Enough to bring your so called 'Unity and Diversity'. Because of people like you they are able to fill their pockets.
Mr. President, The world has no time and resources to give you fish or teach you how to fish. We will have to do it ourselves. Sooner YOU realize it, better it would be.