Habib Bank agrees to get stern in United States

Federal Reserve Bank of United State has signed an agreement with Habib Bank of Pakistan to stop money laundering to/from Pakistan.



As per various news sites, according to the agreement Habib Bank would stern its internal controls in its New York Branch. HBL has agreed to allow inspection by FRB, State Banking Department of NY. HBL also have allowed 'external monitoring' by the aforesaid agencies.



Furthermore, HBL agreed that it'll report if it gets suspicious about any activities going thru its network, HBL would also verify the details of its customers now.



Federal Reserve Bank has not indicating that what weaknesses it has pointed about HBL's New York Branch. As Pakistan is an important ally in war on terror, hence stopping 'financial help' of terrorists is also an important aspect of the war against terror.



As per some American News Agencies, this agreement is meant to dig down into such networks which uses banking channels to finance terrorism.



Whatever it is - life is going to get difficult for the HBL consumers in US.



Well, Sooner we are going to have one branch of National Bank of Pakistan in Riyadh, as per latest (seen 2-3 months ago) the building was almost ready with NBP logo on it - its on King Fahad Highway, near Kingdom Towers.



BTW I want to raise a question that there have been so many bankruptcies in the United States and around the globe - but Pakistan being a very weak financially, we have not seen a single comapny filing for bankruptcy, nor we have seen any signs of economic failure in Pakistan? What's that? Are we too weak

Inshallah!

Inshallah

As I mentioned in my first post "Aiwaa" - This is what I wrote quite a while ago.

When I used to live in my company provided residence, I had a few Egyptian colleagues living with me, Once on the weekend, we decided to visit some mall by a Limo, when the driver asked that where do we have to go, one of the Egyptian replied “Geant Mall, Inshallah” - “to Geant Mall, God willing”.

It is a Muslim tradition that whenever you aim or plan anything – we say that Inshallah - (God Willing – with the will of the God) – but recently “Inshallah” has been creep, to the extreme. Atleast in the Arabian countries, it is now attached to the answer for any question, almost every question (past, present or future) shall get an answer but not without Inshallah. “Inshallah” is used for future, technically & religiously – If I say, “I plan to take CISA exams, Inshallah” – It means that “If God willing, I’ll take CISA exams” – but now? Here with Saudis or for that matter any Arab national, considers his conversation incomplete, if he/she doesn’t use this word – What’s your name, for example, might be answered, “Muhammad, Inshallah.” I often wonder about the answer and sometimes out of my curiosity ask ‘You are already Muahmmad or you are going to be Muhammad?’

It has become a public display of piety, fashion, culture leaving the religious part aside (which was a symbol of faith) – but now very rarely you see this word being used to show one’s faith in God. It has become a word that has attached itself to nearly every moment, every question, like the word ‘like’ in English. But it is powerful reference, intended or not.

It has also become a very diplomatic phrase, in most of the cases denial or refusal shall also be replied with only one phrase ‘Inshallah’.

For example, if you go to some Arab (Saudi particularly) in your office and if you get the answer, “Inshallah” – then most of the expatriates considers it a refusal.

Inshallah Bukra, Masslam (I.B.M)

Don’t confuse Saudi/Arabic IBM with the International Business Machines – its a very commonly used sentence, there are very few days when you won’t come across this sentence – whether early morning, noon, afternoon or almost the closing hours of any office – you just go to any of your department which is being run by the locals (courtesy Saudisation) – and if the person is not willing to respond to you (95% of time), you’ll most probably get this answer “Inshallah Bukra, Massalam” (if God willing, Tomorrow, peace be with you). So, whenever you get this answer, just assume that there are rare chances that your task/request or work (no matter how official/important it is) would get done.

So, as I come to end of today’s blog – I invite your comments and Inshallah would respond to them Bukra, till then Massalam ;)

List of Compounds in Riyadh

Already published in one of my old blogs before moving to Blogger.

Following is a list of compounds that are available in Riyadh – Thanks to many of my friends who have helped me in compiling this complicated yet comprehensive list. As always with everything, this list keeps on growing so you keep on visiting. Happy Home Hunting!

• Al Hamra Compound
  British School
  Tel: 249 0440
• Al Issa Comound
  Tel: 491 8400 (Mr Walid)
• Al Jazeera Badar
  Tel: 492 1135 (Milwah Al-Shammry)
• Al Mohaeya Compound aka Boeing Compound
  Tel # 482 1222 ext # 403, 410, 111, 666
• Al Nakheel Residence
  Tel # 470 4191
  Contact: Peter Howarth-Lees
  Near Dallah Hospital, Takhassusi Street
• Al Ola # 7
  Tel # 460 8095, 460 7704
  Olaya Area, Abdullah Hamdan Street,
  Between Thalateen & Tahliah Street
• Al Romaizon
  Tel # 274 0917, 4880533
  Behind Imam University
• Al Waha Garden Village
  Tel # 278 8418 ext 1149
  Contact: Rashid Khan
  Exit # 10
• Al Yamamah Village
  Tel # 401 2550
  Eastern Ring Road, Exit # 16
• Arab Investment Compound
  Tel # 482 3444 Fax # 482 3131/3169
  Near Diplomatic Quarters
• Arabian Homes
  Tel # 454 1888
  Contact: Martin Shaw
  King Abdullah Street, Al Mursalat,
• Arizona
  Tel # 248 4444
• AsasCo Village
  Tel # 419 9000, 419 0936 ext 423
  Olaya District
• Creators Real Estate (Small compounds / Individual Villas)
  Tel # 478 6708
  Contact: Mr. Mahmood
• Cofras Compound
  Tel # 478 7434
  Exit # 30, Dammam Road
• Cordoba Oasis Village
  Tel # 248 3471
  Near British School
• Delta # 1 & # 2
  Tel # 488 7611 ext 245
  Opposite King Saud University
• Dabbab Gardens Compound
  Tel # 463 1596 - 462 2392 - 462 6762 - 465 0513
• Dabbab Garden Compound
  Tel # 461 1080
• Dywidag Saudi Arabia Limited
  Tel # 246 4144 Ext 153
  Contact: Mr. Joey
  Near Football Stadium
• Eid Compoound
  Tel # 248 3366
  Near British School
• Euro Compound
  Tel # 478 0718 – 478 7381, Mobile- 055 27 28 36
  Near Al Aqariya Building
  Contact: Mr. Nicholas
• Expat Real Estate
  Tel # 454 0404
  ContacT: Mr. Nasser
• Fal Compound
  Tel # 248 5847
  Contact: Larry Heitzman
  Exit # 8, Near Arizona
• Green City Compound
  Tel # 479 8889 ext 411
  Contact: Abdul Karim Al Lahham
  King Abdullah Road, Near Takhassussi / Sheraton
• Kingdom City
  Tel # 275 0 275
  Conact: Chuck Collins
  Next to Kingdom Hospital, Airport Road
• Najd Village
  Tel # 248 1040 ext 513
  Contact: Ali Askar
  Near Eid Villas
• Riyadh Village aka Phillips Ericcson
  Tel # 246 4900
  Near Football Stadium
• Rabwa Compound
  Tel # 493 1741
  Conact: B Lewis
  Exit # 13, Eastern Ring Road / Khurais Road
• Ranco Village
  Tel # 492 4411
  Contact: Med Rowlands
• Roc Compound
  Tel # 241 2800
  Contact: Colin
  Al-Sulai, Exit # 16
• Sahara Towers
  Tel # 462 5666
  Olaya
• Saudi British Bank
  Tel # 405 0677
  Behind Al Jazeera Supermarket
• Summerland Compound
  Tel # 454 9152
  Old Airport Road, Al-Malik Fahad
• Villas RosasTel: 482 4417
  (Nr Diplomatic Quarter)

Aiwaa!!!

B.R.R.

As the title suggests – this is meant to explain the title itself – though it is self explanatory but some goofs like myself need explanation to everything that is almost everything. It has nothing to do with the troubled brand Aiwa of Sony Corporation, it is certainly not a name of any female, it is not a drink neither a cigarette brand nor it is a candy.

Then what is it all about?

It is a word. Blah! of course it is a word? But what? Perhaps, well no, not perhaps, surely, it is one of the most commonly used word in spoken Arabic language across the middle-east. Inshallah Yes, Inshallah No, it is a slang! Now what’s the point of using Inshallah here? Some other time – when you are busy and am not free I’ll explain that Inshallah.

Enough of my crap! lets get to the point. “Aiwaa” pronounced as ‘eye-wah’ simply means ‘Yes’. It’ll have more effect if it is delivered with a nod. A synonym to a rather formal, more grammatical & literary word ‘Na`am’.

It is a multipurpose word as there are many words in English Language and Arabic being a vast language, one word can be used for many different meanings, positions & places. Similarly, Aiwaa is usually (say for 99% of the time) in positive situations, whether to express your understanding, your interrogation about something uncertain but expecting it to be a positive one.

It can be as simple as the word ‘Hello’ in English, you pick up the phone and “Aiwaa?” – that shows the interrogative use of the word.

It is a word full of positive energy, transmitting energetic vibes to the addressee, a baby making first step, the whole family shall go up “Aiwaa, Aiwaa, Hayakallah Aiiiiwaaaaa”

“Aiwaa” can be used as an exclamatory word expressing joy & happiness. It can be used as a word to go. “Aiwaa ya Masr” - “Egypt, Here I come’ – Basically, as per my ‘historians’ i.e. ‘history-sheeter’ friends (majority of them come from Egypt), this slang has its roots back to Egypt.

This is such an interesting word that can be used to appreciate irrespective of the gender, age or your relationship to the person being addressed. Say you have achieved something, so your mother, father, siblings & friends would go like “Aiwaa!! Ya Habeebi!”

Aiwaa!…There is lot more to follow!

Laters Alligators!