The ongoing year is the year of the dog, and 2019 will be the year of the pig.
Our extreme and inexplicable hatred for this poor soul notwithstanding, our ‘bestest’ political friend Chinese like it more than we like goat and chicken.
But this piece is neither about the rights and privileges of a pig in the kingdom of animals, or in the Islamic Republic, nor about the benefits – or harms – of consuming pig for dinner.
This piece is about another, almost haram thing for many Muslims with weaker faith, i.e., attempted fortune telling.
Since our military and political leaders want us to be prepared for Chinese investments, along with their language and culture, we must offer you a social orientation about the Chinese New Year – which is an important part of their traditional as well as pop sub-culture.
For some strange reason, the Chinese New Year is called lunar by the Western world. It is not exactly a lunar calendar like our Islamic year. Nor is it solar like the Gregorian calendar. It can neither be called a blend of the two because it predates both. So it is called lunisolar.
The Chinese New Year mostly falls in February. This year it started around Valentine ’s Day. On average, in Chinese calendar a month has 29.53 days, but the year has 365.24 days. So, as an American would say, it’s the same difference.
Each year in the Chinese calendar is associated with one of the 12 animals viz. Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and the Pig. Therein, every animal has five subtypes, i.e., Wood, Fire, Soil/Earth, Metal, and Water.
The ongoing year is the year of the dog, and 2019 will be the year of the pig. And their lies the trigger of this piece: Pakistan as a country was born in the year of the pig, and it is critical to know how the Pig will do in the year of the Dog.
On both 14 and 15 August 1947, it was the year of the pig, and within that, it was the Fire Pig. No, no, India is not a Pig, because it was already there; only, we were born out of it. And, as a matter of fact, India predates the discovery and evolution of Chinese signs, so we don’t know what it is! However, a pig cannot come out of an angel, so India is something close too!
Now, 2019 will be the year of the Pig, but of the Soil/Earth Pig. In 72 years of our independent existence, we are all set to make a full circle from Fire to ashes (a form of the earth if you please).
As per Chinese mythology, Pig and Dog have an average match and an okay friendly relation.
Pig has greater unison and harmony with Rabbit and Goat, but no match with Snake. We have had six years of the snake since 1947. All were quite tumultuous, politically speaking.
If you don’t buy my superstitious crap, see it for yourself. The years of the snake since 1947 were 1953 (we had riots and first Martial law); 1965 (war with India); 1977 (Zia’s Coup); 1989 (you pick between ‘Russian Defeat’ in Afghanistan, Sectarian wars in Pakistan or BB’s government); 2001 (Musharraf’s Coup); and, 2013 (the advent of IK’s Dharnas, and so much more).
They say that anyone born with this sign will be intuitive and emotional. Isn’t that spot on?
In the year of the Dog, those with the Zodiac sign of Pig can face a financial crisis. Unless the inclusion of this line is sponsored by IMF, it seems Pakistan will have a debt problem. But, the forecast says, ‘an efficient plan of managing money’ will help emerge out of the crisis. This may mean, Mr. Dar can be back as the Finance Minister.
They say, those with the Pig sign will have stable marriages; i.e., Khan Sahab may end marital pursuits; and Capt. Safdar can also expect to remain in office as the potential first husband.
The interpersonal (read, international) relationships will also be stable and harmonious. That to me means, Mr. Trump is going to be impeached, Modi Sb is not getting reelected, and after all, we may not be put on the watch list by the FATF.
If all these things come true, it’s neither piggy nor doggy fate, and Pig will be a happy customer under the aegis of Dog.
Arshed Bhatti is a typical Pakistani who operates at very high level of confidence with extremely low level of knowledge. Being true Muslim he believes the real life is in the hereafter and urges countrymen to take it easy, and ...
KARACHI - Following are the foreign currency exchange rates for US Dollar, Saudi Riyal, UK Pound Sterling, U.A.E. Dirham, European Euro, and other foreign currencies in Pakistan open market on February 02, 2023 (Thursday).
Source: Forex Association of Pakistan. (last update 09:00 AM)
Currency | Symbol | Buying | Selling |
US Dollar | USD | 271.1 | 271.6 |
Euro | EUR | 298.27 | 298.87 |
UK Pound Sterling | GBP | 335.5 | 336.2 |
U.A.E Dirham | AED | 73.03 | 73.33 |
Saudi Riyal | SAR | 71.49 | 71.80 |
Australian Dollar | AUD | 188.9 | 191.3 |
Bahrain Dinar | BHD | 712.73 | 720.73 |
Canadian Dollar | CAD | 200.95 | 203.15 |
China Yuan | CNY | 39.67 | 40.07 |
Danish Krone | DKK | 39.11 | 39.51 |
Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | 34.19 | 34.54 |
Indian Rupee | INR | 3.28 | 3.39 |
Japanese Yen | JPY | 2.5 | 2.54 |
Kuwaiti Dinar | KWD | 877.76 | 886.76 |
Malaysian Ringgit | MYR | 62.83 | 63.43 |
New Zealand Dollar | NZD | 173.25 | 175.25 |
Norwegians Krone | NOK | 26.76 | 27.09 |
Omani Riyal | OMR | 696.08 | 704.08 |
Qatari Riyal | QAR | 73.62 | 74.32 |
Singapore Dollar | SGD | 204 | 206 |
Swedish Korona | SEK | 25.61 | 25.91 |
Swiss Franc | CHF | 291.69 | 294.19 |
Thai Bhat | THB | 8.15 | 8.3 |
KARACHI – The price of a single tola of 24-karat gold in Pakistan is Rs207,100 on Thursday. The price of 10 grams of 24k gold was recorded at Rs175,670.
Likewise, 10 grams of 22k gold were being traded for Rs164,500 while a single tola of 22-karat gold was being sold at Rs 179,100.
Note: The gold rate in Pakistan is fluctuating according to the international market so the price is never been fixed. The below rates are provided by local gold markets and Sarafa Markets of different cities.
City | Gold | Silver |
Lahore | PKR 207,100 | PKR 2,420 |
Karachi | PKR 207,100 | PKR 2,420 |
Islamabad | PKR 207,100 | PKR 2,420 |
Peshawar | PKR 207,100 | PKR 2,420 |
Quetta | PKR 207,100 | PKR 2,420 |
Sialkot | PKR 207,100 | PKR 2,420 |
Attock | PKR 207,100 | PKR 2,420 |
Gujranwala | PKR 207,100 | PKR 2,420 |
Jehlum | PKR 207,100 | PKR 2,420 |
Multan | PKR 207,100 | PKR 2,420 |
Bahawalpur | PKR 207,100 | PKR 2,420 |
Gujrat | PKR 207,100 | PKR 2,420 |
Nawabshah | PKR 207,100 | PKR 2,420 |
Chakwal | PKR 207,100 | PKR 2,420 |
Hyderabad | PKR 207,100 | PKR 2,420 |
Nowshehra | PKR 207,100 | PKR 2,420 |
Sargodha | PKR 207,100 | PKR 2,420 |
Faisalabad | PKR 207,100 | PKR 2,420 |
Mirpur | PKR 207,100 | PKR 2,420 |
Copyright ©2023. Reproduction of this website's content without express written permission from 'Daily Pakistan' is strictly prohibited.