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                        <title>Latest Analysis News - The Express Tribune</title>
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			<title>Hyderabad authorities dodge NAB's queries</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2518670/hyderabad-authorities-dodge-nabs-queries</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2518670/hyderabad-authorities-dodge-nabs-queries#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 28 Dec 24 02:32:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Analysis]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2518670</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Probe into emergence of commercial plazas in residential neighbourhoods opens can of worms]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Hyderabad Water and Sewerage Corporation (HWSC) fails to submit the required correct and complete response to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) even after repeated reminders.

A probe into the sudden emergence of commercial plazas in the once quaint residential neighbourhoods of Latifabad has opened a can of worms.

The corruption watchdog is after the officers and employees of Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Sindh Building Control Authority, Local Government Department and others for gross regularities in changing the status of residential plots to commercial.

Sources say that NAB may also initiate action against WASA officers for hiding evidence and not cooperating in the investigations.

Per officials in HWSC, NAB had declared the reply and records sent by HWSC Deputy Director Admin for investigation as incomplete and directed that complete records and details be provided by December 5.

However, it was instructed to submit complete records on December 24 since HWSC did not respond on December 5. Citing the Corporation&#39;s board meeting as an excuse, HWSC neither submitted a reply on the 24th nor has it been submitted till now. It is being said that more information will be provided to NAB through another letter on December 30 or 31.

NAB Karachi was currently investigating the conversion of residential plots into commercial plots in Latifabad despite not having the authority.

The premier anti-corruption body was also investigating the construction of multi-storey buildings, wedding halls, filling stations and other commercial structures on these plots despite incomplete documents.

Officials in Hyderabad said it was like opening a can of worms when they perused files regarding the issuance of NOCs for these commercial structures, the issuance of affidavits, the issuance of short challans.

Among other serious allegations, the local government officers face the charges of not depositing the cheques submitted by the builders for various fees in the official bank accounts.

During investigations, officers of the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and the officers and staff of the Land Department were summoned for inquiry in NAB Hyderabad and their statements were also recorded. According to the records received from the Sindh Building Control Authority, the issuance of several NOCs was not only by the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation but also by the Planning and Development Control (P&amp;DC) Department of the Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA.

Similarly, during the construction of the multi-storey building on illegally changed residential into commercial plots, the Sindh Building Control Authority also collected betterment charges, of which 25 per cent was paid to HWSC.

However, during investigations, the corporation&#39;s officers failed to provide details of where did they put the betterment charges.

NAB had sent a letter to HWSC regarding the betterment charges collected by the corporation and utilization of the amount. HWSC deputy director admin sent a reply on behalf of the corporation, to which NAB&#39;s Assistant Director (Coordination) Umair Ahmed sent a letter on November 29 to HWSC director as a reminder. NAB&#39;s letter sent on November 5 and the one dated November 19, clarified that HWSC information and record in the letter sent was incomplete. Then the date was given as December 5, then 19th and then 24th.

HWSC said its board meeting was on December 24 and then there was public holiday on December 27 on account of Benazir Bhutto&#39;s anniversary. Therefore, they said that they would send a reply to NAB on December 31.]]>
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			<title>From Tanjiro to Light, our favourite protagonists from the anime world</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2500379/from-tanjiro-to-light-our-favourite-protagonists-from-the-anime-world</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2500379/from-tanjiro-to-light-our-favourite-protagonists-from-the-anime-world#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 03 Oct 24 06:51:05 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Haaniya Farrukh]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[TV]]></category><category><![CDATA[Analysis]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2500379</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Spoiler alert, this list isn't just about the heroes]]>
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				<![CDATA[Most of us have grown up watching Pok&eacute;mon and living vicariously through the great adventures of Ash Ketchum. But as kids, we never stopped to wonder what it was about this character that we loved so much. As tastes get refined, that mentality develops into a stronger regard for characters we enjoy as adults. We watch their layers unfold, sift through the cracks and find gold.

Here are four times modern anime shows struck gold with their main characters. Let&#39;s see who they are and investigate why we adore them so much.

&nbsp;



&nbsp;

Tanjiro Kamado from &#39;Demon Slayer&#39;

When you think of a stupendously kind anime protagonist, this is at least among the names that come to mind, if not the first of them. If you are unfamiliar with the benevolence of this sword carrier, you might feel deterred. Who wants an abundance of kindness in a show about demons? But take it from someone who enjoys morally grey characters better, Tanjiro isn&#39;t someone you&#39;d want to miss.

Dare I say, he is the best big brother ever. Seriously, that&#39;s the whole premise. Upon discovering the bodies of his family in a demonic massacre with his surviving younger sister being turned into a demon against her will, Tanjiro sets out on a journey to cure her and become a professional demon slayer.

You&#39;d think that someone who has been wronged by supernatural beings would let hate fester in this heart, but no. In fact, Tanjiro prays for peace for every demon he puts down. The idea of a prayer succeeding a kill is ironic, though in this case, it&#39;s well-earned because he doesn&#39;t kill demons for the sake of the craft; he does it to free them and allow them to embrace eternal peace after a lifetime of bloodthirst. What&#39;s more noble than that?

Despite having to grow up prematurely, Tanjiro spreads the warmth of his youth to those marred by tragic circumstances similar to his own. He loves his sister Nezuko enough to carry her on foot in a box to protect her half-demonic body from sunlight. The lack of like-minded companions in his life influences him to soften up to new people easily hence recruiting loyal friends along the way. The boy is the ball of flame that the other characters easily fall into orbit for.

All this softness, yet he never once considers it a weakness that puts his efforts on hold. Tanjiro reminds us that kindness is not a trait dispensed to be exploited, rather it determines discipline and perseverance despite what life puts you through.

&nbsp;



&nbsp;

Edward Elric from &#39;Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood&#39;

The perfect blend between a headstrong resolve and a generously expressive personality with a sprinkle of palatable altruism takes the form of this metal-sporting alchemist.

Driven by the loss of his mother, Edward Elric embarks on a risky magical endeavour that costs him an arm and the body of his brother, Alphonse Elric. As compensation, Ed dedicates his life to reverting his tragic mistake. Sure, that&#39;s a tricky start for someone you&#39;re meant to root for, but it&#39;s a promising one nonetheless, and the quest that follows redeems Ed through many noble acts.

Flawed yet realistic, emotionally inept yet caring, Ed is the full package of what it means to be a human being, especially one who is truly apologetic after a grievous error. As someone who falls prey to an episode of anger after immense sorrow, I deeply relate to Ed&#39;s struggles with complicated emotions, especially ones that are meant to reinforce an emotional barrier in order to keep his battles to himself.

In his search for the cure, Ed eventually understands his increasing reliance on magic, an allegorical journey which culminates in a profound lesson regarding mental health. We find the truth as Ed does, and the truth is, we can&#39;t always solve our problems with magic. Sometimes, it&#39;s better to take a step back and reassess all that is near and dear.

&nbsp;



&nbsp;

Light Yagami from &#39;Death Note&#39;

I see that scrunch on your face. You&#39;re probably thinking, &quot;Light Yagami is not a hero.&quot; And I would wholeheartedly agree with you. But could a hero ever recite a dialogue as outrageous as &quot;I&#39;m the god of the ideal world&quot; and make you question why chills are pricking down your spine? Could a hero ever make you question everything you think you know about the world? I bet not.

At times when we consume a piece of media that&#39;s different from conventional tastes, we&#39;re riddled with existential questions about our own morality and the essence of human nature itself. That is what Death Note is about, and the force that breathes this power into it is none other than Light Yagami.

It isn&#39;t just Light&#39;s philosophical intrigue or ominous presence that make him the subject of narrative quandary; it is also the suspense he commands by seeing himself to a dead-end yet still digging a way out of it. The heart of the show is his cold and calculating mind, seeing as the audience is compelled to experience the plot through it.

We live in his mind enough to understand it, but that shouldn&#39;t mean that we sympathise with it, and that&#39;s what makes the character so brilliant. You admire him for all that he can do; you feel the power emanating from him when he topples systems of authority in pursuit of his grand plan; you love to hate him.

&nbsp;



&nbsp;

Eren Jaeger from &#39;Attack on Titan&#39;

No better placement than the end of this list to discuss the boy who sought freedom. Here, we tread muddy territory as we struggle to pin this protagonist to a definite category. Eren has reigned over our hearts for more than a decade on screen, and this climactic history deserves praise that can only be dissected at a surface level in this article, though why am I here if not to offer an eager attempt?

Eren&#39;s plight centres on the human-eating titans that plague his world. The concept of humanity versus titans is as simple as good versus evil for him, but when he is met with reasons that challenge these ideals, he can&#39;t fully cope with the drastic change in perspective, and that&#39;s what leads to an earth-shattering character development later on.

Eren views execution as appropriate justice for what&rsquo;s happened to him. It is the admittance of his own monstrosity (Season 1, Episode 14 to be exact) that makes him the powerful protagonist that he is. He understands that he must undergo punishment for what he is yet pleads for his loved ones to not suffer for being associated with him. Foreshadowing at its finest, folks.

This protagonist will have you tightening fists and clenching jaws at every turn, and that is why he is an object of devotion amongst his fans. We love to watch him for the complexity he nurtures and how he overturns what it means to be the main character.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.]]>
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			<title>Auto analysts criticise ‘faux pas’ budget</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2473149/auto-analysts-criticise-faux-pas-budget</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2473149/auto-analysts-criticise-faux-pas-budget#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 22 Jun 24 20:48:54 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[GOHAR ALI KHAN]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2473149</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Call for 24-year auto policy to stabilise industries amid economic turmoil]]>
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				<![CDATA[Auto sector analysts described the federal budget for 2024-2025 as a faux pas and called for a 24-year sustainable policy for all industries, including the auto sector. They emphasised that the government must involve the cabinet, political parties, and industrialists to form this long-term strategy without delay.

Sustainability is crucial for industry growth, but local policies change frequently, often after a news bulletin, forcing business leaders to constantly adjust their decisions. This volatility makes business and investment in the country very risky. The auto industry, in particular, has faced challenges for two and a half years and may continue to do so next year.

Analysts urged the government to adopt serious austerity measures and make sacrifices to boost the morale of locals, industrialists, and the salaried class. These groups have faced significant challenges, exacerbated by new taxes on salaries and the overall industry in the budget.

Auto Sector Analyst and IBA Assistant Professor Dr Aadil Nakhoda said the budget is likely to affect car buyers&rsquo; purchasing power, as increased taxes may deter them. However, a shift to price-based taxation could lead to dynamic changes, making price competition more important in price-sensitive segments.

The government has withdrawn several incentives for EVs and hybrids, which may not be ideal given the need to adopt this technology. The government should consider relaxing import constraints, particularly on parts and components, to allow the industry to recover and offer consumers more options. A consumer-centric approach is necessary, as consumers have already been burdened by inflation and taxes over the past few years.

Auto Sector Analyst Mashood Khan remarked, &ldquo;The budget does not suit the overall industry, including the struggling auto industry, which has been facing difficulties for over two years. One laudable aspect is the slight restriction on new or used Completely Built-Up (CBU) units, though this is not a long-term strategy. While it benefits the local industry to some extent, it is not sufficient.

The government must support local industry, providing incentives to spur industrialisation and encourage industrialists. The budget&rsquo;s impact on the auto industry is neutral; industrialists are already experiencing challenges and will likely continue to do so.&rdquo;

Khan noted that the bike industry is performing better, and the tractor industry has gained momentum. However, the lack of incentives for the bus and truck industry is disappointing. The government should have provided incentives to encourage the purchase of local buses and trucks instead of imports.

He stressed that the government, bureaucrats, policymakers, and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) must recognise that the industry is key to resolving the economic crisis. A 24-year-long industrial policy is essential to revitalise industrial growth quickly.v]]>
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			<title>Satellite images show damage on Israeli air base after Iranian attack</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2463720/satellite-images-show-damage-on-israeli-air-base-after-iranian-attack</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2463720/satellite-images-show-damage-on-israeli-air-base-after-iranian-attack#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 23 Apr 24 20:04:46 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[news.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[World]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2463720</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Nevatim air base in southern West Bank shows major changes in satellite images taken between April 12 and 14]]>
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			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Following the events of April 13 when Iran launched an attack on Israel, conflicting reports have emerged regarding the success and impact of the assault. While Iran boasts of a successful strike, Israel contends that the attack was thwarted.

A BBC report analysed the satellite imagery to unravel the facts surrounding Iran&#39;s attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli response.

Iran&#39;s aerial assault on Israel on April 13 was in retaliation to an attack on its embassy in Damascus, dubbed &quot;Vada Sadiq&quot; by Iran. Reports indicate that Iran deployed approximately 300 missiles and suicide drones during the early hours of that day. However, Israel claimed to have intercepted most of these projectiles with the aid of the &#39;Aero&#39; air defence system and regional allies, averting significant damage to Israeli territories.

According to Israeli military sources, Iran&#39;s attack comprised 170 drones, 120 ballistic missiles, and 30 cruise missiles, executed in three phases targeting military installations rather than civilian centres.

Read also: Iran&#39;s attack on Israel: World leaders react

The Aerospace Force of Iran&#39;s Revolutionary Guards, under the leadership of Amir Ali Hajizadeh, spearheaded this assault. However, precise details regarding the types and numbers of drones and missiles employed remain undisclosed.

Initial statements from the Revolutionary Guards on Iran&#39;s state television asserted that specific targets within Israel were hit using drones and missiles.

Subsequent reports showcased Iranian drones, Paveh cruise missiles, Emad-3 ballistic missiles, and other Iranian ballistic missiles like Khyber Shahkan and Kadir.



Iranian media have shown images of missiles and drones fired at Israel. PHOTO: IRIBNEWS

Iran claims to have struck the Nevatim air base and the Hermon intelligence base in the Golan Heights during the attack.

Satellite imagery analysis conducted by BBC sheds light on the aftermath of the attack, comparing images before and after the incident.

Notable changes, including damage to the Nevatim air base, have been observed. The base, strategically significant due to its proximity to Israel&#39;s Dimona nuclear facility, reportedly sustained minor damage, as confirmed by Israeli authorities. Images reveal alterations to the runway and infrastructure, corroborating reports of the attack&#39;s impact.



Location of Nevatim Air Base. PHOTO: MICROSOFT

Assessing damage and claims at Nevatim Airbase

Nevatim air base, located in the southern West Bank and west of the Dead Sea, has witnessed significant changes as depicted in satellite images taken between April 12 and 14.

These images reveal alterations in at least four locations within the base, notably on the runway where a large scar is visible post-attack. Israeli authorities have confirmed &quot;minor&quot; damage to the base, with repairs underway as showcased in a video released by the Israeli military.



Four place where damage is detected at Nevatim Base. Condition on April 12 (L) and April 13 (R). PHOTO: PLANET LABS (PBC)



Satellite images of the southern runway of Nevatim Base. Condition on April 12 (L) and April 13 (R). PHOTO: PLANET LABS (PBC)

The runway repairs captured in the video align with satellite imagery showing a major change in the same location, indicating the extent of damage caused by the Iranian attack. The proximity of the damaged area to the hangar of Israeli fighter jets highlights the strategic significance of this target.



IDF footage shows repairs to the south runway near a hangar at the Navatim base. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB

While Israel downplays the impact, Iran contends that the base houses Israeli F-35 stealth fighter jets allegedly involved in attacks on Iranian targets. However, Israel has neither confirmed nor denied these claims.

According to former United Nations weapons inspector Scott Reiter, &quot;Nevatim air base was hit by five to seven missiles.&quot; American network ABC quoted some Israeli sources as saying that the base was hit by five missiles.

Hermon intelligence base and Ramon Airbase

BBC also delved into the details surrounding Hermon&#39;s intelligence base in Israel and the claims made by both sides in the aftermath of the conflict.

Hermon&#39;s intelligence base, situated in the Golan Heights near the Syria-Iraq border, holds strategic importance as the reputed headquarters of Israel&#39;s crucial military intelligence unit 8200.

Responsible for electronic intelligence, 8200 is considered Israel&#39;s largest and most critical intelligence unit. The base&#39;s proximity to volatile border regions underscores its significance in gathering crucial information for Israeli security operations.

During the conflict, Iranian Revolutionary Guards claimed that Hermon&#39;s intelligence base was involved in gathering intelligence for an attack on their consulate, thus justifying Iran&#39;s targeting of the base.

However, the lack of ground evidence and specific site data makes it challenging to ascertain the nature and extent of any damage inflicted on the base.

Iranian state media alleged that the Ramon air base was also successfully targeted. Still, Israeli authorities have refuted these claims, citing a lack of substantial evidence and ground verification.

Mohammad Baqheri, chief of staff of Iran&#39;s armed forces, specifically named Hermon intelligence base and Nevatim air base as targets in a television interview, further highlighting the conflicting narratives surrounding the targets of the attacks.

Satellite imagery comparisons conducted post-attack have revealed minimal changes near the targeted military bases, with no significant evidence of damage or alterations.]]>
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			<title>Experts don’t foresee imminent end to Imran's political career</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2455466/experts-dont-foresee-imminent-end-to-imrans-political-career</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2455466/experts-dont-foresee-imminent-end-to-imrans-political-career#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 04 Feb 24 15:06:50 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Noman Awan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2455466</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Political analysts see sentence in illegal marriage case as 'the unkindest cut of all']]>
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				<![CDATA[Political analysts have rejected the notion of an imminent end to the political career of former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder, Imran Khan, along with his party. They suggest that a recent verdict may have been strategically aimed at disappointing PTI voters, echoing historical patterns of attempts to undermine political parties in Pakistan.

Naveed Hussain, Chief Editor of The Express Tribune, shared his insights on the Express News talk show &quot;Experts,&quot; emphasising that such attempts to dismantle political parties, like PTI, have historically failed in Pakistan.

Drawing parallels to instances such as the judicial assassination of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and the exile of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif, Hussain highlighted that both PPP and PML-N continue to play significant roles in Pakistani politics today.



بانی پی ٹی آئی کا&quot; کم بیک&quot; یقینی ہوگیا؟ وجہ کیا ہے؟ تجزیہ کار نوید حسین کا بڑا انکشاف@MuhammadIlyaspk @RanaAamirilyas@navidjourno @Duaakanwal1 @itsmeayazkhan @s_faisalhussain pic.twitter.com/hBeAFvLTr1
&mdash; Experts (@express_experts) February 3, 2024


Quoting Shakespeare&#39;s &quot;the unkindest cut of all&quot;, Hussain drew attention to the recent judgment on the illegal marriage case of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, criticising the intrusion into a woman&#39;s private life within the judicial process.

Read also: Experts don&#39;t foresee &#39;independent&#39; candidate becoming PM post-election

Hussain expressed concern that this case differs in nature from others, implying that Khan may be facing targeted political revenge.

Ayaz Khan, the Group Editor of Express News, shared his opinion that the issuance of judgments against Khan and Bushra Bibi before the election might have aimed to disillusion voters. However, he noted that the voters remain intact, questioning the need for such a case to be entertained when it had been dismissed multiple times before.



بانی پی ٹی آئی کو سزا، تجزیہ کار ایاز خان غمزدہ کیوں؟ اہم شخصیت نے مقبولیت سروے کے حوالے سے کیا بتایا، سنیے اہم تجزیہ@MuhammadIlyaspk @RanaAamirilyas@navidjourno @Duaakanwal1 @itsmeayazkhan @s_faisalhussain pic.twitter.com/KjxnVGQRvg
&mdash; Experts (@express_experts) February 3, 2024


Faisal Hussain, Express News Karachi&#39;s Bureau Chief, expressed hope that if this decision does not proceed to court, it would be beneficial for Pakistan and its political history. He remarked that Imran Khan&#39;s political influence had already been curtailed with restrictions on his election campaign.

Amir Ilyas Rana, Express News Islamabad Bureau Chief, expressed satisfaction with the court decision against Imran Khan and his wife, accusing them and Bushra&rsquo;s ex-husband Khawar Maneka of dishonesty.



طاقت کا نشہ یا کچھ اور： ن لیگ کیا کچھ کررہی ہے، سنیے
تجزیہ کار فیصل حسین سے@MuhammadIlyaspk @RanaAamirilyas@navidjourno @Duaakanwal1 @itsmeayazkhan @s_faisalhussain pic.twitter.com/3UF8UFylwU
&mdash; Experts (@express_experts) February 3, 2024


&ldquo;After six years, Imran Khan acknowledged the date of his marriage as reported by a journalist, on which the journalist had faced criticism and trolling. Khan should have apologised to the journalist,&rdquo; Rana suggested.

The Islamabad bureau chief asserted if Nawaz Sharif is asked for a money trail even after being acquitted by the courts, then Khan should also clear his position. &ldquo;Being a prime minister nothing is personal,&rdquo; he added.



پی ٹی آئی کے کارکنوں اور ووٹرز کو کیسے اپنا غصہ نکالنا چاہیے؟ تین بڑے جھوٹے کون ، تجزیہ کار عامر الیاس رانا نے بتادیا@MuhammadIlyaspk @RanaAamirilyas@navidjourno @Duaakanwal1 @itsmeayazkhan @s_faisalhussain pic.twitter.com/9bjElkXuaB
&mdash; Experts (@express_experts) February 3, 2024


Mohammad Ilyas, Express News Bureau Chief Lahore, emphasised the impermanence of political situations. He believed that when the time comes, Khan will devise a policy to address the current challenges in his political career.



سیاسی جماعتوں کے انتخابی وعدے، عوام نے اس بار کیا فیصلہ کرلیا،
تجزیہ کار محمد الیاس نے اہم خبر دے دی@MuhammadIlyaspk @RanaAamirilyas@navidjourno @Duaakanwal1 @itsmeayazkhan @s_faisalhussain pic.twitter.com/7G1HmfZqzo
&mdash; Experts (@express_experts) February 3, 2024


&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Analysts sceptical of PPP, PML-N ‘impractical’ manifestos</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2454689/analysts-sceptical-of-ppp-pml-n-impractical-manifestos</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2454689/analysts-sceptical-of-ppp-pml-n-impractical-manifestos#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jan 24 13:27:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Noman Awan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2454689</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Observers argue manifestos lack substance and fail to address pressing realities of Pakistan]]>
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				<![CDATA[The electoral manifestos recently unveiled by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People&rsquo;s Party (PPP) just two weeks ahead of the general elections have left political analysts and observers unconvinced.

Critics argue that both parties&#39; manifestos lack substance and fail to address the pressing realities of Pakistan, adding that they rely on promises without offering concrete implementation plans.

Chief Editor of The Express Tribune, Naveed Hussain, giving his insight on Express News&rsquo; talk show &quot;Experts&quot;, moderated by Dua Jamil, expressed disappointment with the manifesto of both parties deeming them impractical.

In a satirical tone, Hussain remarked about the PML-N&#39;s electoral manifesto, saying that it is so comprehensive and detailed that it may prove challenging to read within the limited time left before the elections.



ن لیگ کا منشور قابل عمل یا الفاظ کا گورکھ دھندہ ؟ تجزیہ کار نوید حسین کا اہم تجزیہ@MuhammadIlyaspk @RanaAamirilyas @navidjourno @Duaakanwal1 @itsmeayazkhan @s_faisalhussain pic.twitter.com/N7hSddkxIX
&mdash; Experts (@express_experts) January 27, 2024


&ldquo;We should not forget that before the 2018 elections, a more detailed and comprehensive manifesto was also given by PTI, which later proved futile,&rdquo; he added.

Hussain also scrutinised the points of the manifesto concerning the willingness to amend the Constitution and foster friendship with arch-rival India. He highlighted the need for a two-thirds majority for constitutional amendments, expressing scepticism by stating, &quot;I don&#39;t even see that any party will be able to get even a simple majority.&quot;

While citing the statement made by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, in which he ruled out the possibility of a better relationship with India, Hussain asserted that friendship with the neighbouring country is not possible in present regional scenario.

Regarding PPP&#39;s manifesto, Hussain believes it is attractive on paper for people but not workable, highlighting the need for a stable economy before any significant achievements can be made.

Group Editor Express News Ayaz Khan, concurring with Hussain, raised serious questions about PML-N&#39;s claims made in the manifesto, particularly regarding the ambitious goal of providing 10 million jobs in five years.

&nbsp;



ن لیگ نے اپنے منشور پر عملدر آمد کرنے کے لیے کیاپلاننگ کرلی؟ سنیے تجزیہ کار عامر الیاس رانا نے بتادیا@MuhammadIlyaspk @RanaAamirilyas @navidjourno @Duaakanwal1 @itsmeayazkhan @s_faisalhussain pic.twitter.com/z5DEShimCg
&mdash; Experts (@express_experts) January 27, 2024


Khan also criticised the party&#39;s stance on the agriculture sector, accusing Nawaz Sharif of contributing to its destruction during his previous tenure.

He expressed disappointment with the policies of former finance minister Ishaq Dar, suggesting that his return would not lead to an economic revival.

Comparing PPP&#39;s manifesto to PML-N&#39;s, Khan applauded the introduction of the hari (farmer), mazdoor (labourer), and youth cards. He believes that these cards, similar to the health cards issued during Imran Khan&#39;s tenure, are attracting more people.

Express News Karachi&#39;s Bureau Chief, Faisal Hussain, countered Khan&#39;s stance for the implementation of PPP&#39;s proposed cards. He emphasised the importance of spending funds on education, health, technical skills, and the establishment of factories to uplift the nation.



سیاسی حکومتیں عوام کو کیسے &quot;فقیر&quot; بناتی ہیں؟ تجزیہ کار فیصل حسین نے بتادیا@MuhammadIlyaspk @RanaAamirilyas@navidjourno @Duaakanwal1 @itsmeayazkhan @s_faisalhussain pic.twitter.com/XdmMzueYA3
&mdash; Experts (@express_experts) January 27, 2024


Faisal criticised political parties for neglecting substantial investment in national development, prioritising fame over progress. He expressed doubt about the feasibility of their manifestos, citing insufficient resources to fulfil their promises.

Bureau Chief of Express News Islamabad, Amir Ilyas Rana, holds a contrary opinion to his colleagues, expressing confidence in the PML-N manifesto and believing it will bring visible change to the country.

&nbsp;



ن لیگ کا ایک کروڑ نوکریاں دینے کا دعویٰ ، تجزیہ کار ایاز خان نے بڑے سوال اٹھادیے@MuhammadIlyaspk @RanaAamirilyas @navidjourno @Duaakanwal1 @itsmeayazkhan @s_faisalhussain pic.twitter.com/r6rK9oIAZp
&mdash; Experts (@express_experts) January 27, 2024


Rana cited the achievements made by PML-N during its previous tenure and criticised the performance of PTI, claiming it failed to implement its manifesto.

Conversely, he notes PPP&#39;s historical failure to enact its manifestos, regardless of their content be it was roti (bread), kapra (cloth), makan (house) based manifesto or subsequent ones.

Senior journalist and analyst Khalid Qayum highlighted the economy as the top issue and questioned how both parties plan to reduce inflation by 10% in one year amid significant circular debts in the energy and gas sectors.

&nbsp;



ن لیگ اور پیپلزپارٹی کے منشور میں سب سے اہم کیا ہے، سنیے تجزیہ کار خالد قیوم سے@MuhammadIlyaspk @RanaAamirilyas @navidjourno @Duaakanwal1 @itsmeayazkhan @s_faisalhussain pic.twitter.com/a6utmvAXAD
&mdash; Experts (@express_experts) January 27, 2024


Qayum doubts the extent of relief that will be offered amid the formidable economic challenges engulfing the country.]]>
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			<title>Analysts suggest 'favourites' to win polls should advocate level playing field for all</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2452159/analysts-suggest-favourites-to-win-polls-should-advocate-level-playing-field-for-all</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2452159/analysts-suggest-favourites-to-win-polls-should-advocate-level-playing-field-for-all#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jan 24 16:16:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Noman Awan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2452159</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Say banishing key political player from electoral arena would only make entire democratic exercise controversial]]>
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				<![CDATA[Political observers have said that political figures, especially those who are being dubbed as &ldquo;favourites&rdquo; of powers that be, should demand a level playing field for all contestants of the upcoming general elections and win in a fair contest for the credibility of the electoral process.

The observers, speaking during the Express News political talk-show, &quot;Experts,&quot; moderated by anchor Dua Jamil, emphasised that banishing a key political player from the electoral arena would only make the entire democratic exercise controversial, leading to political instability in the country.

&ldquo;The new political favourite (ladla) first demanded the removal of the rival team&rsquo;s captain, then dispersal of its players, followed by a demand for a pitch of its liking. However, after all this he realised that it is still difficult to win; therefore, he insisted on snatching the bat from it,&rdquo; said Naveed Hussain, Chief Editor of The Express Tribune while sharing his insights on the current political situation using cricketing jargon.

Read also: PTI moves SC to restore &#39;bat&#39; electoral symbol

&ldquo;If the favourite political party believes in the power of people and power of vote, then it should call for a level-playing field for all, return the rival team its captain, players, and bat, so that the game can be won on merit,&quot; he said while referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which alleges that it has been denied a fair chance to contest the election.



بلے کا نشان کس لاڈلے کی خواہش پر چھینا گیا؟ تجزیہ کار نوید حسین نے بتادیا@RanaAamirilyas @itsmeayazkhan @s_faisalhussain@Duaakanwal1 @MuhammadIlyaspk @navidjourno pic.twitter.com/6hYGtg7WJl
&mdash; Experts (@express_experts) January 3, 2024


Hussain referenced reports from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) which express scepticism about the credibility and transparency of the upcoming elections. &ldquo;I would say if the results of the 2018 elections were controversial, the 2024 elections have become controversial even before they take place,&rdquo; he added.

Amir Ilyas Rana, Express News Bureau Chief in Islamabad, echoed Hussain&#39;s sentiments, stating that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had become a party by pursuing an appeal. He expressed hope that PTI would regain its &quot;bat&quot; symbol, relying on the Supreme Court as the ultimate institution of justice.

Read: Political analysts sceptical of PPP manifesto&rsquo;s feasibility

Ayaz Khan, Group Editor at Daily Express, raised concerns about the influence of the establishment on political matters, noting that engaging with politicians might not be productive if decisions are made elsewhere.

He emphasised the need to address crucial issues at the appropriate forums, suggesting that leaders should focus on resolving matters in the right context.

Khan also expressed scepticism about the ECP&#39;s actions, stating that its involvement in a review appeal implies external direction. He questioned the fairness of the process and pondered the potential influence on the upcoming Supreme Court judgment.



پی ٹی آئی کے ساتھ یہ سب کیا اور کیوں ہورہا ہے؟ تجزیہ کار ایاز خان کا بے باک تجزیہ@MuhammadIlyaspk @navidjourno @RanaAamirilyas @Duaakanwal1 @itsmeayazkhan@s_faisalhussain pic.twitter.com/ihGjxgRuQO
&mdash; Experts (@express_experts) January 3, 2024


Reflecting on the evolving role of the judiciary, he mentioned the significance of the bench&#39;s composition and remarked on the Chief Justice&#39;s statement about not watching the media during hearings.

He raised questions about imposing personal preferences on the public and apologised for his previous remarks to avoid any contempt of court issues.

Turning to the electoral symbol&#39;s importance, Khan stressed its significance in influencing voters. He expressed confidence that the PTI would reclaim its symbol through the Supreme Court, emphasising the court&#39;s role as the highest institution of justice.

In his perspective, Faisal Husain, Express News Bureau Chief in Karachi, stressed the importance of understanding the motives behind withdrawing the &ldquo;bat&rdquo; symbol.



بلے کا انتخابی نشان چھیننے کی قیمت کس کو چکانی پڑے گی، فیصل حسین کا بڑا انکشاف@MuhammadIlyaspk@RanaAamirilyas @navidjourno @s_faisalhussain@Duaakanwal1 @itsmeayazkhan pic.twitter.com/5L0YgXxofE
&mdash; Experts (@express_experts) January 3, 2024


He highlighted escalating tensions between the former PTI chief, Imran Khan, and the establishment, questioning why political parties were not capitalising on the ongoing power struggles in social media and traditional media.

Mohammad Ilyas, Express News Bureau Chief in Lahore, foresaw challenges for PTI&#39;s election campaign without the &ldquo;bat&rdquo; symbol and Imran Khan. He predicted that PTI, unwilling to leave an empty field, would struggle to contest the election vigorously and secure the targeted seats.



اگر پی ٹی آئی کو آؤٹ کیا گیا تو جیتے گا کون ، آزاد امیدوار یا ن لیگ، تجزیہ کار محمد الیاس کا دلچسپ تجزیہ@itsmeayazkhan @MuhammadIlyaspk @s_faisalhussain@RanaAamirilyas @navidjourno @Duaakanwal1 pic.twitter.com/5uG9zWOLWi
&mdash; Experts (@express_experts) January 3, 2024


&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Political analysts sceptical of PPP manifesto’s feasibility</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2451446/political-analysts-sceptical-of-ppp-manifestos-feasibility</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2451446/political-analysts-sceptical-of-ppp-manifestos-feasibility#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 28 Dec 23 13:34:14 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Noman Awan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2451446</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Critics doubt PPP's 10-point manifesto, calling it political gimmickry and stressing the need for economic stability]]>
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				<![CDATA[The unveiling of a 10-point manifesto by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has sparked scepticism among political observers, who question the practicality of the promises made during a public meeting commemorating the death anniversary of his mother and former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh.

&ldquo;These are no more than hollow promises. It is a political gimmick to hoodwink voters once again,&rdquo; said Naveed Hussain, Chief Editor of The Express Tribune, while speaking in the Express News political talk-show, &ldquo;Experts&rdquo;, moderated by anchor Dua Jamil.



بلاول کی جوشیلی سیاست اور زرداری کا تجربہ ؛ پیپلزپارٹی کو کتنا فائدہ پہنچ رہا ہے؟@MuhammadIlyaspk@navidjourno @RanaAamirilyas @SFaisal_Hussain @Duaakanwal1 @itsmeayazkhan pic.twitter.com/afTe2wofib
&mdash; Experts (@express_experts) December 27, 2023



&ldquo;The PPP and PML-N have taken turns in power over the past 76 years and brought the country to the economic morass that we find ourselves in today,&rdquo; he said.



بلاول بھٹو کو کس نے &quot;زیرو&quot; کردیا ؟ سنیے تجزیہ کار فیصل حسین سے@RanaAamirilyas @SFaisal_Hussain@Duaakanwal1 @itsmeayazkhan @MuhammadIlyaspk @navidjourno pic.twitter.com/6xOL6e5IVH
&mdash; Experts (@express_experts) December 27, 2023



Hussain believes Bilawal&rsquo;s promises are impractical because the country needs economic stability to offer free electricity, hike salaries by 100%, and increase budgetary allocations for health and education.



کیا بلاول بھٹو کا 10 نکاتی ایجنڈہ حقیقی یا گپ اورخیالی پلاو ؟ سنیے تجزیہ کار عامر الیاس رانا سے@MuhammadIlyaspk @navidjourno@RanaAamirilyas @SFaisal_Hussain @Duaakanwal1 @itsmeayazkhan pic.twitter.com/fQmTiZ3bBV
&mdash; Experts (@express_experts) December 27, 2023



&ldquo;For economic revival, you need political stability, but do you think a political dispensation coming into power as a result of the current sham election would be able to stabilise the country politically?&rdquo;

He regretted that the country&#39;s political parties have not learnt any lessons from the past. &ldquo;In 2018, the economy was wrecked by manipulating the electoral process in favour of PTI, all other political parties agitated the brazen political engineering throughout the tenure of Imran Khan,&rdquo; he said, adding that today the same parties have become willing pawns on the political chessboard to banish a democratic force from the arena.



کون معاملات کو &quot;برباد&quot; کررہا ہے؟ حالات کتنے خراب ہونے والے ہیں؟ تجزیہ کار ایاز خان نے بڑے خطرے کی نشاندہی کردی@MuhammadIlyaspk@navidjourno @RanaAamirilyas @SFaisal_Hussain @Duaakanwal1 @itsmeayazkhan pic.twitter.com/py0qlSOkgE
&mdash; Experts (@express_experts) December 27, 2023



Hussain voiced his criticism of Bilawal&rsquo;s political attack on the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), stating that the PPP also doesn&rsquo;t have any concerns for democracy in the country. He pointed out that Bilawal&rsquo;s party had also voted in favour of a slew of controversial legislations that the PDM government rushed through parliament in the final months of its 16-month tenure.

He advised the PPP to present an economic revival plan because Pakistan&rsquo;s young voters are politically aware and hence cannot be deceived into believing in empty promises.



پاکستان کے ساتھ کونسی گیم کھیلی گئی اور اب کونسا کھیل کھیلا جارہا ہے؟ سنیےتجزیہ کار نوید حسین سے@RanaAamirilyas @SFaisal_Hussain @itsmeayazkhan@Duaakanwal1 @MuhammadIlyaspk @navidjourno pic.twitter.com/F3AYa4sHgR
&mdash; Experts (@express_experts) December 27, 2023



Read also: Nawaz&rsquo;s regime was dictatorial for PPP workers: Bilawal

Faisal Husain, Express News Bureau Chief in Karachi, raised concerns about Bilawal&#39;s political maturity, referencing Asif Ali Zardari&#39;s statement suggesting that Bilawal is still undergoing political training. &ldquo;How can you trust his words while he is still under training?&rdquo; Husain said.

He likened the PPP manifesto to previous promises made by Imran Khan, questioning the feasibility of the proposed initiatives.



کیا پیپلزپارٹی انتخابی وعدے پورے کرپائیگی؟ تجزیہ کار محمد الیاس نے بتادیا@itsmeayazkhan @MuhammadIlyaspk @navidjourno@RanaAamirilyas @SFaisal_Hussain @Duaakanwal1 pic.twitter.com/q8GilXycCV
&mdash; Experts (@express_experts) December 27, 2023



Amir Ilyas Rana, Express News Bureau Chief in Islamabad, criticised the PPP&#39;s governance in Sindh, pointing out that the manifesto&#39;s points could have been implemented during their 15-year rule if there was genuine intent.

He pointed out the dependency on the International Monetary Fund (IMF), stressing that decisions cannot be made without their consent.

Referencing historical elections, Rana argued that if the 1977 elections, with the exception of Balochistan, had not been rigged during PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto&#39;s tenure, the course of Pakistan&#39;s history might have been different.

Ayaz Khan, Group Editor Daily Express, observed a shift in Bilawal&#39;s focus from criticising Zardari to targeting the PML-N and Imran Khan. He labelled promises of free electricity as &quot;lollipops for voters&quot; and urged attention to essential economic elements.

Mohammad Ilyas, Express News Bureau Chief in Lahore, also questioned the feasibility and timeline of the manifesto&#39;s implementation, cautioning against empty slogans that might not materialise within the stipulated timeframe.

As the PPP&#39;s ten-point manifesto faces scrutiny from seasoned political observers, the scepticism raised suggests a need for a more detailed and concrete economic revival plan to win over an increasingly politically aware electorate.]]>
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			<title>Pakistani migrants bounce back</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2370889/pakistani-migrants-bounce-back</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2370889/pakistani-migrants-bounce-back#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 12 Aug 22 20:47:25 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Salman Siddiqui]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Analysis]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2370889</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Increase witnessed in wake of rising income of oil-exporting Arab countries]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The number of Pakistani nationals migrating for work mostly to the Gulf countries has bounced back to the pre-Covid-19 level to around 65,000 per month in January 2022 in the wake of rising income of oil exporting Arab countries and advanced economies around the world.

&ldquo;The monthly flow of Pakistani workers (abroad) has reverted to pre-Covid levels,&rdquo; the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said in its half-yearly report on the State of Pakistan&rsquo;s Economy for July-December of fiscal year 2021-22 released on Friday.

Over 70% of Pakistani workers go to GCC countries mostly to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The number of migrating Pakistani workers plunged to zero during the initial five months of the pandemic &ndash; April-August 2020, according to the central bank&rsquo;s report.

The normalisation of the flow of workers to foreign countries along with a surge in the income of oil exporting GCC countries indicates the inflow of workers&rsquo; remittances to Pakistan will remain steady at around &ldquo;$32 billion in the current fiscal year 2023 compared to $31 billion in FY22&rdquo;, Topline Research projected last week.

As many as 458,257 Pakistanis proceeded abroad for employment in the first seven months (January-July) of 2022. This translates into 65,465 in each of the seven months, according to the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment&rsquo;s (BE&amp;OE) official website.

A record high number of 946,571 Pakistanis went abroad for employment in 2015, translating to 78,881 each month during the year, according to the Bureau.

According to the SBP report, it took almost two years to normalise the monthly flow of Pakistani migrants for work to the Middle Easter countries to pre-pandemic level. It was January 2020 when around 65,000 Pakistani went abroad for job purposes last time before the outbreak of the virus in Pakistan in February 2020.

The central bank&rsquo;s report said no word on the economic outlook for the current fiscal year 2023, as it usually does in its quarterly, half-yearly and annual reports. Instead, it gave an outdated outlook for the second half (January-June) of FY22.

To recall, the country achieved economic growth of 6% for the second consecutive fiscal year in 2021-22.

The central bank said in its latest State of Pakistan&rsquo;s Economy report that the collection of revenue in taxes to the government increased notably, but mostly due to increased imports during the first half of the previous fiscal year ended June 30, 2022. 

Federal Board of Revenue&rsquo;s (FBR) collection of revenue in taxes increased by 32% in the first half of FY22, notwithstanding somewhat slower growth in the second quarter (Oct-Dec FY22), as economic activities improved and general price levels rose as compared to last year.

&ldquo;However, most of this increase stemmed from import-related taxes, on account of the broad-based increase in import volumes, international commodity prices, and PKR (Pakistani rupee) depreciation,&rdquo; SBP said in the report.

The government, however, sharply cut imports in the first month (July) of the current fiscal year 2022 to $4.9 billion to avert the risk of default on international payments ahead of the resumption of IMF&rsquo;s extended $7 billion loan programme in last week of the current month of August 2022.

The imports had hit a five-month high at $2.3 billion in June.

Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said the other day the curb on imports would remain in place over the next three to four-month to improve the country&rsquo;s capacity to make import payments and foreign debt 946,571 repayments.

The import curtailment may compromise FBR collection of revenue in taxes in the three to fourth-month of low imports in FY23.

From the perspective of the first half of FY22, the large-scale manufacturing (LSM) exhibited broad-based expansion, exports grew buoyant alongside growth in FBR taxes and Kharif crops recorded higher production, the central bank said.

However, amid multi-year high global commodity prices, rising inflation and current account deficit posed a challenge as the year progressed, it said.

&ldquo;These pressures necessitated monetary tightening amidst other regulatory measures to moderate demand.&rdquo;&shy;&shy;

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2022.

Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.]]>
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			<title>Senate panel seeks details of PIA pilots</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2310861/senate-panel-seeks-details-of-pia-pilots</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2310861/senate-panel-seeks-details-of-pia-pilots#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jul 21 06:16:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Our Correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2310861</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Looks into measures taken by Aviation Division to improve performance of attached departments]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Senate Standing Committee on Aviation on Thursday sought details of the pilots working with the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and was briefed on the functions of the Aviation Division and its attached departments.

The committee meeting, chaired by Hidayatullah, reviewed working procedures, budget, number of employees, challenges faced by the Aviation Division and its subsidiaries and the performance of the institutions.

Among others, the meeting was attended by senators Syed Muhammad Sabir Shah, Faisal Saleem Rehman, Mian Raza Rabbani, Aun Abbas, Faisal Javed, Saleem Mandviwalla, Afnanullah Khan, Dilawar Khan and Sherry Rehman, besides Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Aviation Secretary Ali, Adviser to CEO PIA Amir Hayat, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Director General Flight Lieutenant (retd) Khaqan Murtaza, Airport Security Force chief security officer, Pakistan Meteorological Department director general and other senior officials.

It also looked into the measures taken by the Aviation Division to improve performance of the attached departments and its future plans to tackle challenges confronted on the professional front.

It was the committee&#39;s first meeting after its reconstitution followed by the Senate elections.
Hidayatullah said the committee proceedings would be made more effective with mutual consultation of the members so that the confronted issues could be removed in an efficient manner. Senator Sherry Rehman said that the previous body had worked very hard and made some decisions which would have benefited, if implemented, in improving institutional affairs.

Aviation Secretary Shoukat Ali gave a detailed briefing to the committee on the Aviation Division&#39;s mission, subsidiaries, functions, organisational structure, number of employees, aviation budget and performance. APP]]>
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			<title>3 uncapped Pakistanis who can help beat South Africa in Tests</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2280695/3-uncapped-pakistanis-who-can-help-beat-south-africa-in-tests</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2280695/3-uncapped-pakistanis-who-can-help-beat-south-africa-in-tests#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jan 21 10:50:19 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Abdul Majid]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2280695</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Out of nine uncapped players, Ghulam, Tabish and Saud have the ability to spring a surprise against South Africa]]>
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				<![CDATA[South Africa have landed in Pakistan after nearly 14 years to face the hosts in two Tests and three T20Is and Men in Green&rsquo;s new chief selector believes giving chance to uncapped players can help Babar Azam and co come out on top against the visitors.

Some believe Muhammad Wasim has named the 20-man squad to please the audiences in order to become a popular chief selector, while others believe that he is the first man to give preference to domestic performers rather than the usual faces.

Openers Abdullah Shafique and Imran Butt, middle-order batsmen Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha and Saud Shakeel, spinners Nauman Ali and Sajid Khan, and fast bowlers Haris Rauf and Tabish Khan have been named in the squad for two Tests, first in Karachi and the second in Rawalpindi.

Here we take a look at three players who can help Pakistan come out on top against the Proteas in the five-day format.

1. Kamran Ghulam

Kamran Ghulam may not be a household name yet since he hasn&rsquo;t represented Pakistan national team till now, but people who follow domestic cricket closely know him as the next big thing.

The right-handed batsman, in the recently concluded Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, bettered the record for most runs in a single QeA Trophy season. The record, earlier held by Saadat Ali with 1217 runs, was broken by Ghulam in the final of the tournament where he was representing Khyber-Pakhtukhwa.

However, this is not the only thing that pushed Wasim to include the 25-year-old in the squad.

Ghulam boasts a first-class average of over 53 with 31 matches to his name. He has scored nine 100s and 11 fifties to amass 2,413 runs, with a highest score of 166.

If he can build on his current domestic form when playing against South Africa, the visitors will find it hard to beat Pakistan in the two-Test series.

2. Tabish Khan

If you&rsquo;re a pacer outside Pakistan, you&rsquo;ll probably start your career in mid or late-twenties and end it after your mid-thirties. However, right-arm medium pacer Tabish Khan will start his international career at 36.

Some may say he was not international material, but with 598 wickets in 137 first-class matches, there is and there never was a valid reason to keep him out of the national fray. Well, he&rsquo;s not the only one who had to wait a long time to get his chance, Fawad Alam is another case study in this regard too.

There is light at the end of every tunnel and Tabish had to travel miles to find his light and he would love to grab the chance with both hands when he bowls to the South Africans in Karachi and Rawalpindi in the two Tests.

Jury is out on whether he will be able to live up to the hype after spending his heydays in the domestic wilderness, but if Tabish wants to question a system which gives multiple chances to a few and nearly zero to some, he will have to utilise all the experience he has gained and get his first and maybe final hurrah on the international level.

3. Saud Shakeel

Another youngster, with heaps of runs behind him and a first-class average of nearly 49, Saud Shakeel will don the greens of Pakistan during the two Tests against South Africa.

At the age 25, Shakeel has 3220 runs in his books in 46 first-class outings. He also has 10 tons and 17 fifties to boast about and if this is not enough, he can bowl left-arm slow.

Shakeel has come to the fore through the Pakistan cricket ranks and has played for the U19 team, which may prove to be a point in his favour as he had the grooming of a cricketer from an early age.

All in all, Pakistan have played a big gamble by benching their usual suspects and giving the domestic performers a chance to shine. This move may turn new chief selector Wasim into a hero that many were waiting for, however it can backfire too.]]>
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			<title>4 players who can help Pakistan beat New Zealand in third T20I</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2276840/4-players-who-can-help-pakistan-beat-new-zealand-in-third-t20i</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2276840/4-players-who-can-help-pakistan-beat-new-zealand-in-third-t20i#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 21 Dec 20 09:53:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Abdul Majid]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2276840</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Instead of carrying water, Pakistan can utilise Sarfaraz, Hasnain, Musa and Qadir to try and beat New Zealand]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan are against the ropes in the three-match T20I series against New Zealand as they&rsquo;ve lost the opening two games and only a win in third shortest-format game can help them gain much-needed confidence when going into the Tests.

Pakistan stayed rigid in their approach and played the same elevens in the first two T20Is, but with the series already lost, it is high time Pakistan try something new on the field against New Zealand.

While the option of chasing may present itself if Pakistan win the toss third time on the trot, a few changes in the eleven can also be beneficial for the stand-in captain Shadab Khan.

Here are the three players who can walk in and help Pakistan win the third T20I against New Zealand.

1. Sarfaraz Ahmed

If you ask a Pakistani cricket fan why Sarfaraz Ahmed was sent into the wilderness, even after taking Pakistan to the summit of the T20I rankings, they would not mention his batting, his wicketkeeping or his captaincy, but they&rsquo;d rather blame it on him being a Karachi player.

Whether this theory of the Pakistan Cricket Board being biased against Karachi players is true or not, one thing everyone can agree on is that Sarfaraz brings something to the field which many other players can&rsquo;t &ndash; the much-needed energy.

Sarfaraz was famous for his animated and chatty wicketkeeping when he was captaining Pakistan in all formats and even though some may disagree, the energy he brought with his shenanigans was contagious.

Him walking to the bowler before and after every delivery, his comments when someone dropped a catch or did a great job in the fielding, all of that is missed with Muhammad Rizwan behind the stumps.

With Shadab at the helm against a New Zealand side which he is finding very difficult to outwit, an experienced former captain behind the stumps can go a long way in helping Pakistan enforce a win when everything has failed to work.

2 and 3. Mohammad Hasnain and Muhammad Musa

Wahab Riaz is not doing what he is supposed to do in New Zealand &ndash; be the experienced leader of the young bowling pack, and this gives way to Pakistan go for the young but express pace duo of Mohammad Hasnain and Muhammad Musa.

Inclusion of Musa can also help Shaheen Afridi take a much-needed rest before he is asked to run in and fire on all cylinders during the upcoming Tests.

Also, if Pakistan really want to make things interesting, they can always replace Haris Rauf with Iftikhar Ahmed. Iftikhar is considered to be a big-hitter, and also can bowl four overs of off-spin. Since New Zealand are perfectly fine when dealing with pacers, a spin of strategy may work in Pakistan&rsquo;s favour.

4. Usman Qadir

We all saw what the legendary spinner Abdul Qadir&rsquo;s son Usman Qadir got from his father &ndash; a spin bowling masterclass.

Shadab has been off colour in the bowling department in the first two matches, maybe because of his increased focus on batting and recently captaincy and Usman can help fill the shoes of team&rsquo;s first-choice leggie.

If there&rsquo;s a question of who he should replace in the side, anyone between Khushdil Shah and Abdullah Shafique can give way to Usman, as many may still now know that he has the ability to bat quite nicely in the lower order.

Pakistan will be concluding their shortest-format series in the third T20I against New Zealand on Tuesday and they will need something new to surprise the hosts and make them submit. However, if they play safe and don&rsquo;t make any changes, they will surely lose again, with dignity yes, but they will lose.]]>
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			<title>3 reasons Pakistan lost first T20I against New Zealand</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2276467/3-reasons-pakistan-lost-first-t20i-against-new-zealand</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2276467/3-reasons-pakistan-lost-first-t20i-against-new-zealand#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 18 Dec 20 12:36:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Abdul Majid]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2276467</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Shadab and co went into the match without specialist openers and the rest is history]]>
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				<![CDATA[There was never a doubt that Pakistan would find it difficult to beat New Zealand at the latter&rsquo;s home and the theory was proven true when the Kiwis beat Men in Green by five wickets in the first T20I of the three-match series on Friday.

With the defeat, Pakistan will have to pull up their socks for the next two T20Is if they want to salvage the series and win it.

It was also a sad day for Pakistan stand-in captain Shadab Khan who lost the very first T20I, where he stood as captain.

A closer look of the first T20I shows there were a few things Pakistan could have changed or could have done to prevent the loss in the tour opener.

1. No specialist openers

Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first, but they missed the trick when they asked wicketkeeper-batsman Muhammad Rizwan and newcomer Abdullah Shafique to open the innings against New Zealand.

Unfamiliar with the opening role, Rizwan lost his wicket due to a callous drive and a smart delivery by Jacob Duffy, while Shafique was found out in the second delivery he faced against the Kiwis. Shafique couldn&rsquo;t fathom the bounce on the pitch and flighted one into the hands of mid-on fielder for an easy catch.

With the openers gone quickly, as has been the case for Pakistan since eternity, the middle-order, lacking the services of the great Babar Azam, fell like a deck of cards, thus the question of why did Pakistan go with two batsmen upfront who don&rsquo;t understand the demands of the opener&rsquo;s role.

2. Batting failure (again)

With the openers gone, the onus fell on the middle-order to stabilise the innings, but a young Haider Ali was not up to the task. Here, once again, Pakistan did not think twice before sending him at the one-down position, where teams tend to send their best and most in-form batsman.

Haider is all that and a little more, but he lacks the experience of playing at the third spot. However, the next best option to bat at number three, veteran Muhammad Hafeez, did equally bad in batting after being dismissed on the very first ball he faced.

All thanks to Shadab&rsquo;s 42 off 32 and a late flurry by Faheem Ashraf, who scored 31 off 18, Pakistan were able to put up a fighting total, but if the top and upper middle-order would have added an extra 20 or 30, the match could&rsquo;ve shifted in the visitors&rsquo; favour.

3. The Wahab dilemma

To play him or not to play him has become one of the major questions Pakistan faces whenever they go out in the field. If Afridi&rsquo;s is the pinnacle of mercurial batting, Wahab is all that in the bowling department.

One day, he would pluck the moon out of the sky for Pakistan and the next day he would turn a certain victory into a miraculous defeat. Is it just bad luck, or is it just his bad bowling at some points, no one can truly answer.

The latter happened on Friday, when Wahab gave away 45 runs in just 3.5 overs after being hit for two sixes and five fours. New Zealand batsmen were bamboozled in the middle of the innings by some top-notch bowling by Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf, but Wahab leaking away runs gave New Zealand the much-needed confidence.

And if all that was not enough, Faheem dropped a catch off Wahab at fine leg and to add insult to injury, let the ball crawl away for a four.

It is quite evident now that people are prone to dropping catches off Wahab&rsquo;s bowling at fine leg and square leg region. Everyone would remember the disastrous drop in the 2015 World Cup by Rahat Ali where Wahab had setup Shane Watson perfectly with world class short-pitched bowling.

So, do we curse the man or do we curse his luck, at least I can&rsquo;t answer this dilemma.]]>
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			<title>3 reasons Pakistan will find it difficult to beat New Zealand</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2274087/3-reasons-pakistan-will-find-it-difficult-to-beat-new-zealand</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2274087/3-reasons-pakistan-will-find-it-difficult-to-beat-new-zealand#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov 20 07:44:32 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Abdul Majid]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2274087</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Babar will have to come up with a magical formula to lift the spirit of the Men in Green]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan contingent is currently in quarantine in New Zealand as they prepare for face the hosts in three T20Is and two Tests, and there is only one thing that is certain in the current uncertain Covid-19 time &ndash; it won&rsquo;t be easy to beat the Kiwis.

Here are the three main reasons why Babar Azam can return winless, in the series and in all the T20Is and Tests, from New Zealand.

1. Bad morale

After news of Pakistani players testing positive surfaced, the team must have seen a fall in their morale as, according to reports, many first team players were affected with the virus.

This could have led to drop in motivation, while a warning to send the whole squad home after some players breached the Covid-19 protocol was also not inspiring.

Pakistan players may be pumped up to beat New Zealand in the latter&rsquo;s own yard after such humiliation, but with players in gloomy isolation, losing hope and feeling down may be the most probable outcome of the saga.

2. Lack of fitness and practice

Everyone knows about Pakistani&rsquo;s love for food and our cricketers are just humans. With nothing much to do in hotel rooms, food might be the only entertainment they&rsquo;ve had through the first half of their quarantine. Hence, a lack of practice may cause lethargy when they hit the ground.

All this may result in lack of efforts in the field and as the adage of catches win matches goes, a few slipups are a possibility too.

Pakistani players will have to put some extra yards in before the matches, otherwise, if they do just enough, the performances will also be just enough and New Zealand will roll over the Men in Green with ease.

3. New Zealand&rsquo;s form

New Zealand may not have won many global cricketing tournaments, but they are not known for their big trophy cabinet, they are known for their consistency.

If they are not the best on a given day, you can surely expect them to be at their minimum best at least. Meanwhile, their opponents Pakistan are known to be the most mercurial cricketing side in the world &ndash; &ldquo;one minute down, next minute up&rdquo;.

It is this consistency in New Zealand&rsquo;s performance that makes them a difficult side to beat and add home advantage to that and it becomes a perfect recipe for Pakistan&rsquo;s destruction in the series.

Also, they are unbeaten in the T20Is in the series against West Indies. Their form can be seen in the fact that they have scored quickly in the first two matches, setting a 239-run target in first and chasing a 180-run target in just 16 overs in the second.

Meanwhile, Pakistani players last played cricket during the remaining matches of the PSL5.

Momentum will be on New Zealand&rsquo;s side when they host Pakistan, first for T20Is and then for Tests. Babar will have to come up with a magical formula to lift the spirit of the players who will be feeling under the weather, homesick, and also out of form and practice. If the skipper can do that then he may not only go on to become a batting legend, but also a captain whose name would be written in golden words.]]>
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			<title>Is Trump right in saying ‘India is filthy’?</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2270253/is-trump-right-in-saying-india-is-filthy</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2270253/is-trump-right-in-saying-india-is-filthy#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 20 13:11:05 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Adeela Naureen]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2270253</guid>
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				<![CDATA[India tops the list of the most polluted countries in the world in sanitation, water, air, hygiene and even noise]]>
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				<![CDATA[While the final presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden produced fireworks, Trump&rsquo;s remarks in the environmental context that &ldquo;India is filthy&rdquo;, became a matter of heated debate within Indian media. Indian social media went berserk and its reaction also became prominent on mainstream media. Some went on to ask Trump for an apology on these remarks, which most of Sanghi trolls thought had hurt millions of common Indians.

While any nation would react to such remarks from any leader of global stature, Trump&rsquo;s remarks had a profound effect as Mr Modi has done a lot of work to develop a personal relationship with Trump through the &ldquo;Howdy,Modi!&rdquo; rally in the United States and &ldquo;Namaste Trump&rdquo; programme duringTrump&rsquo;s visit to India this year.

While we respect Indian sentiments, it may be interesting to conduct an analysis of where does India stand in terms of cleanliness and environment.

According to IndiaSpend&rsquo;sState of Global Air 2020 report,116,000 infants died in India due to air pollution in 2019 &mdash; meaning one infant died every five minutes due to air pollution. The data further reveals that 1.67 million Indians died in 2019 due to air pollution causes.

As per a World Health Organisation report, approximately 120,000 children under the age of five years die due to diarrhoea every year. This indicates that waterborne diseases are rampant in India due to contaminated water and poor sanitation.Hookworms, which can spread through open defecation, cause diarrhoea, anaemia and weight loss in women, according to the report. These problems are linked to low birth weight and slow child growth &mdash; 38% of children in India under five are stunted, according to the National Family Health Survey data.

The Indian magazine, The Wire, reported in 2017, that India, the world&rsquo;s second-largest country by population, had the highest number of people (732 million) without access to toilets. The report by WaterAid, titled &ldquo;Out Of Order: The State of the World&rsquo;s Toilets 2017&rdquo;, further stated that 355 million women and girls lacked access to a toilet. If they were to stand in a line, the queue could circle the Earth more than four times.

The problem is that Modi&rsquo;sSwachh Bharat or Clean India programme built millions of toilets at avery fast pace across Indian landscape; however, these have become dilapidated and unusable,adding to the problem. Adding to that is the factor of demographics: Indian population has grown from 1,330 million in 2017 to 1,380 million in 2019, that&rsquo;s an additional load of 50 million. So even if India builds one million new toilets every year it cannot match the pace of population growth.

A CNet report published on September 11, 2020, states that India spent $30 billion to fix its broken sanitation. It ended up with more problems. The Swachh Bharat mission, launched in 2014, was an ambitious effort to stop open defecation. It&#39;s far from reaching that goal.Lack of enough water to use in Swachh Bharat was bound to make it a failure. Imagine a community toilet built for 500 people in a cramped city with irregular or no supply of water. Within a week, it will not only become unusable but also become a source of disease spread. A survey of open source pictures and videos of Swachh Bharat toilets in overpopulated cities indicates that this grand programme has become a virtual dustbin.

In 2019, India was also home to 21 of the world&rsquo;s 30 most polluted cities, studies say, based on air-quality data. Coal usage in power generation stands at a whopping 75% and coal is notoriously bad for environment. No wonder New Delhi maintains the record of being the most polluted capital of the world for the second consecutive year. Even drinking water of the Indian capital is contaminated, The Hindu, in 2019,sarcastically remarked, &ldquo;If it wasn&rsquo;t enough that Delhi air is among the world&rsquo;s most polluted, a new study has now shown that the city&rsquo;s tap water is the most unsafe among 21 states within India.&rdquo;

Indian rivers have become almost toxic due to overpopulation and flow of sewage and industrial waste into rivers which hug large cities.Oceanplasticcleanup.com conducted a study of the most filthy, polluted and toxic rivers in the world called the &ldquo;Dirty Dozen&rdquo;, and lo and behold, India gets another honour with the Ganges as the second most polluted river in the world and Yamuna as the fifth filthiest.

The Ganges has a perennial problem of religious rituals.Gangapollution.com keeps a watch on issues related to it. One of its report highlighted the pollution in Indian rivers: many parts of the Hindu faith revolve around the Ganges River, who they believe is the form of the goddess Mother Ganga on Earth. Because of this, many people&rsquo;s bodies and ashes are placed in the river. Large amounts of ashes from crematoriums along the Ganges River in Varanasi are dumped in each year. Majority of Hindus are cremated and placed in the river after being burned by Dalits along the ghats leading into their goddess&rsquo; body. These ashes are keeping the river from being clean.

Dead bodies are also a huge pollutant to the already dirty water, with 35,000 bodies estimated to be discarded into the river,yearly. This is huge amount of dead people to be floating in an important source of water for millions of people. Many times, international observers have pointed out to the Indian government to take effective measures for respect of human remains as pictures of human bodies floating in the Ganges River surface almost every month.

Other than air pollution, poor sanitation, filthy rivers and water contamination, India stands tall in noise population as well.A LiveMintreport on noise pollution in India describes an alarming picture.

The red light at a traffic junction is the universal sign for vehicles to stop &mdash; but in India, it is also a signal to start something else: relentless honking. When noise from constant honking is added to the general cacophony in cities, it becomes noise pollution &mdash; and this pollution can be costly and dangerous too.

Knops.co conducts regular surveys of noise pollution across the globe. Its 2018 report puts India in the top noise polluted countries in the world. The Worldwide Hearing Index was created some time ago by digital hearing app founders, Mimi Hearing Technologies GmbH. They analysed the hearing test results of 200,000 of their users. They combined their results with data on noise pollution from WHO and SINTEF, a Norwegian-based research organisation, and used it to plot noise pollution in 50 different cities. The top five cities with the worst noise pollution include Delhi and Mumbai.

To conclude, President Trump may have casually mentioned &lsquo;filthy India&rsquo;, referring to environmental issues without much attention to research and scientific evidence, but he has been proven right. India tops the list of the most polluted countries in the world in sanitation, water, air, hygiene and even noise.]]>
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			<title>Why we need fear for effective disaster risk reduction</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2268212/why-we-need-fear-for-effective-disaster-risk-reduction</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2268212/why-we-need-fear-for-effective-disaster-risk-reduction#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 20 13:18:35 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[mavra.bari]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2268212</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Pakistan has many seismic zones and as many high-rises are vulnerable to earthquakes and not always structurally sound]]>
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				<![CDATA[Today is the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and living in a time of a global pandemic, the need to prioritise disaster risk reduction has become resounding and all too very real as almost every person and community is suffering from institutional and socio-economic lack of preparedness. 

Pandemics are not new. Scientists and historians have been warning against a global novel virus for the past few decades. Beating their beakers and drums, trying to raise awareness among governments and businesses that this is not of a matter of if, but when. When the Ebola outbreak wreaked havoc in West Africa, the US State Department, under then president Barack Obama&rsquo;s administration developed a comprehensive guide in dealing with and mitigating infectious diseases. This was of course completely thrown out by President Donald Trump&rsquo;s administration.

On October 8, just a few days ago, Pakistan saw the clock tick to 15 years since the devastating earthquake of 2005. Pakistan bore colossal losses then. Nearly 20,000 children died while they were attending classes. In total, about 85,000 people died, another 140,000 injured and 3.5 million became homeless as 0.6 million houses were severely damaged.

Pakistan&rsquo;s north was particularly devastated and Balakot, the epicentre, was destroyed in a matter of seconds and 15 years on is still struggling to re-build infrastructure and lives. There is hardly any significant rehabilitation or reconstruction. Rather, the funds that were allotted for Balakot&rsquo;s rehabilitation have been redistributed to the Benazir Income Support Programme(BISP) and Covid-19 Emergency Fund. This speaks to how ill-prepared our DRR is, that funds for one disaster are siphoned for others.

DRR is an incredibly lofty goal for a country that cannot rehabilitate its citizens from disasters that took place almost two decades ago. Pakistan is not the only country unable to learn from past mistakes and lack of preparedness. As stated above, the US, and rather most countries during the Covid-19 pandemic have proven the amnesia that collectively surrounds us when it comes to the destruction of disasters.

Danish philosopherS&oslash;renKierkegaard makes a distinction between the concept of dread and fear calling attention to fear as having an object, a definable threat that we can identify. Whereas, dread is a response shrouded in unknowns, is speculative, not belonging to parameters or definitions. 

We are unequivocally living in a global time of fear. We fear the coronavirus, we fear loss of jobs, lives, travel, routine, any semblance to the &ldquo;old normal&rdquo;. Our fear is driving conversations and changes around the &ldquo;Great Reset&rdquo;: how can this disaster be learned from in such a way that we build back the world, better?

What can be changed about the status quo that protects citizens beyond economic and political interests? 

How can this &lsquo;new&rsquo;normal truly be transformative and inclusive?

Fear&rsquo;s object allows for these conversations to have actionable points and attainable goals. Fear makes having a game-plan easier. Fear divides people into groups of: &lsquo;part of the solution&rsquo; or &lsquo;part of the problem,&rsquo; as is evidenced by corona-shaming of non-mask wearers and political leaders who had to retract fake news and disinformation.

DRR for objects of fear, such as the current Covid-19 pandemic, is timely and due to its global nature, which unlike Ebola which was predominantly contained within the context of &ldquo;poor&rdquo; countries, Covid-19&rsquo;s fear is ubiquitous and has spread to contexts that are not used to suffering &mdash;&lsquo;developing country&rsquo;ailments. The politics of fear is also always at play. Who is fearful,who is bearing the brunt of the threat is always imperative. Thus, DRR for infectious diseases is at the forefront of the priority list and perhaps, rightly so.

Dread on the other hand, is objectless, casting anxiety far and wide without aim and thus, is much more insurmountable than fear. Many of us dread climate change in an abstract way. We hear the news of sea levels rising. We notice the irregularities of the seasons. We breathe in toxic air like it is a non-negotiable aspect of nature. We watch gut-wrenching clips of starving farmers and drowning residents. 

Often though these realities are not directly our own. The dread and threat of climate change is still far away, neatly tucked away somewhere in the future. This is why business-as-usual is the state of affairs when it comes to the economy, government, consumer behaviour and social order. 

DRR for dread does not have the same timely impact as DRR for fear.

Unlike DRR for infectious diseases, DRR for climate change is failing to account for human, social and political disaster amnesia.

When dread turns to fear, as one may have experienced during the recent floods that engulfed Karachi and other parts of the country, there is suddenly an actionable sensibility that grips citizens and governments alike. Especially when those citizens were elites and urbane. The problem solving caps come on as people are united against a common threat.

However, as human populations have made unprecedented exponential advancements in the last three decades, the myriad of threats have also of course, multiplied. Existential threats such as Artificial Intelligence, climate change, cyber warfare, pandemics, to name a few, have caused mounting existential dread invariably leading to inertia of sorts.

I guess the trillion dollar question is: how do we capture what we know about the difference between fearand dread to formulate and implement DRR that works with the psychology and sociology of communities and countries?

This year, the theme of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction is governance which is defined as the measure by which&ldquo;lives are saved, reduced numbers of disaster-affected people and reduced economic losses. Covid-19 and the climate emergency are telling us that we need a clear vision, plans and competent, empowered institutions acting on scientific evidence for the public good.&rdquo;

Unfortunately, we are all still enveloped in a fear-centric mode of thinking when it comes to DRR. For instance, Prime Minister Imran Khan has recently approved the construction of high-rise buildings in Islamabad. This is problematic for several reasons from a DRR and urban planning perspective.

Firstly, contrary to popular opinion, high-rises are not green solutions. In fact, high-rises encourage vehicular clutter causing serious damage to both environment and humans alike, by increasing air pollution. Vertical urban sprawl wreaks havoc on air quality. 

Secondly, high-rise buildings are energy-intensive as glass is simply not very good at keeping excessive heat out, or desirable heat in. Even with technological advancement, the amount of power it takes to keep high-rises going poses a huge opportunity cost to greener solutions. 

Lastly, Pakistan has many seismic zones and as many high-rises are vulnerable to earthquakes and not always structurally sound, the proliferation of high-rises in the country can pose mammoth near-future risks. Furthermore, high-rises, pose evacuation concerns. If you live or work in a high-rise apartment, you&#39;ll face a harder challenge trying to evacuate due to emergencies, such as natural disasters or fire.

It is said, &ldquo;earthquakes don&rsquo;t kill people, buildings do,&rdquo; which begs the question why is our government taking urban planning measures that are increasing disaster risks rather than reducing them?

Our Prime Minister has repeatedly said, &ldquo;ghabrana nahi hai (don&rsquo;t get scared)&rdquo;; but, when it comes to disaster risk reduction, it would be very wise to be fearful.]]>
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			<title>Public complaints</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265484/public-complaints</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265484/public-complaints#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 20 19:06:54 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2265484</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Rural population might not be getting the facility of online PCP because of the unavailability of internet services]]>
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				<![CDATA[In order to further facilitate the public and speed up redressal of their grievances, the government plans to link up all complaint management systems of federal ministries with the Pakistan Citizen Portal. Prime Minister Imran Khan recently issued instructions in this regard. All existing 33 complaint cells of federal ministries will be connected with the centralised complaint system. The PM&rsquo;s Performance Delivery Unit (PMDU) will decide the modalities in consultation with relevant institutions and devise integration plans. The PMDU has been asked to complete the process within 60 days. The idea is to avoid delays resulting from a multiplicity of complaint cells and duplication of efforts thereby undertaking the process of complaint rectification on a fast track basis. This will also save time and resources. The purpose is to put in place a universal system with many-faceted connectivity features for a comprehensive global grievance redressal mechanism.

The centralised system will help citizens avoid confusion as now a number of complaint cells are functioning causing problems to both the people and government functionaries working for redressal of public grievances. The integrated system will help eliminate the delays involved in manual processing of complaints. It will bring the whole process of receipt, processing, and removal of complaints under one window, and help citizens get information about the status of their complaints and things related to them. The PCP started functioning as part of the PMDU from October 2018. During the past two years, as many as 28 million people have registered 115,000 complaints, on average, every month, with it. According to official figures, 2.2 million complaints have been resolved with 40% confirmed satisfaction. The rural population might not be getting the facility of the online PCP because of the unavailability of internet services in villages and small towns. This needs to be rectified.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2020.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>Jodhpur killing</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265483/jodhpur-killing</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265483/jodhpur-killing#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 20 19:06:21 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2265483</guid>
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				<![CDATA[The case itself is interesting for the secretive manner in which India has acted]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistani Hindus have begun protesting against the Jodhpur incident as well as the hardships faced by members of the minority community that migrated to India in search of a better life. The false dreams that many of them have are regularly shattered by the harsh reality of India&rsquo;s still-strong caste system, which rarely allows lower-caste Hindus to rise. Many of the Pakistani Hindu migrants are from those lower castes. For this, they often end up having to wait for decades to be allowed to become citizens of a country that claims to welcome all Hindus.

Pakistan Hindu Council Patron-In-Chief Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani made a much more explosive claim that Indian intelligence agencies have been forcing Pakistani Hindu migrants and tourists to speak against Pakistan and even killing people who refuse to do so. As evidence, Vankwani referred to the last month&rsquo;s case of 11 members of a family who died under mysterious circumstances in the Indian city of Jodhpur in Rajasthan. The family had moved there years ago, motivated by those same false promises of a better life in India. Instead, they ended up being poisoned in their home.

The case itself is interesting for the secretive manner in which India has acted. The family of subsistence farmers was clearly not spies, yet India has refused to share any investigation details with Pakistan or allowed access to the survivors, even though they all were still Pakistani citizens at the time they died.

Vankwani implied that this was because a surviving family member had nominated the RSS and the ruling BJP in the police report. He also noted that no arrests had been made in the case which is extremely concerning.

After decades of throwing accusations about the treatment of Hindus in neighbouring Muslim countries, India has shown that it is just as dangerous. We would think that now, at least New Delhi would try to show that it takes justice for dead migrants seriously.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2020.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>Encouraging young entrepreneurs</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265482/encouraging-young-entrepreneurs</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265482/encouraging-young-entrepreneurs#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 20 19:05:45 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2265482</guid>
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				<![CDATA[So far, the focus is only on CPEC, which will have knock-on benefits in other areas of the economy]]>
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				<![CDATA[The government is doubling down on its efforts to encourage young entrepreneurs through the Kamyab Jawan Programme, allocating Rs100 billion in the first phase. Scrutiny of applications has started, with a few hundred youths already given loans. We should know relatively soon which of the thousands of other prospective projects end up getting money. The government also claims that the programme will generate one million jobs for the burgeoning youth population. While the plan is well-intentioned and appears to have most of its parts in order, at least on paper, we will have to wait for quite a while to judge its success. This is because success is dependent on several external factors, some of which are not entirely in the government&rsquo;s hands.

Still, the government is trying to do what it can by improving the ease of doing business and the cost of doing business &mdash; both things being major controllable external factors. At the same time, the positives of focusing on youth entrepreneurship and employment are undercut by the reality of the broader economic picture. Economic growth projections remain bleak, and the prospects of a spike in foreign investment remain low as long as the world economy is still in recovery mode. There is also the issue of the two targets of growth and employment not matching up very strongly with other goals.

The government is also making a strong &lsquo;digital&rsquo; push. One thing we know about tech companies is that when they succeed, they make piles of money. Unfortunately, with a few rare exceptions, tech companies are not drivers of employment. For that, we need to focus on traditional labour-intensive industries for skilled and unskilled workers. That will be even more difficult than the more limited scope of youth-oriented projects, because it requires successful reforms and infrastructure development that encourage manufacturing. So far, the focus is only on CPEC, which will have knock-on benefits in other areas of the economy, but at the end of the day, these will be restricted to areas near the project route.

We need plans for parts of the country that CPEC misses, and we need them soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2020.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>Futility of suppressing independent thinking</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265481/futility-of-suppressing-independent-thinking</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265481/futility-of-suppressing-independent-thinking#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 20 19:05:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Vaqar Khamisani]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2265481</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Dissent cannot be eradicated even with the use of relentless propaganda and censorship]]>
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				<![CDATA[Our government of late has indulged in a concerted drive to enforce intellectual conformity on its citizens, despite their varied sense of history and belief systems. At times, the impositions have used sophisticated means, such as a slick use of propaganda to relay a curated narrative. At other occasions, the approach has been coercive, such as censorships or outright pressure to influence those that deviate from the official account. Although following a rigid ideology might be considered a useful trait for some professions, its application across the entire population is neither feasible nor desirable. In fact, multiplicity of opinion is inborn for people and its suppression is simply not sustainable. Hence, in the long run, irrespective of what mechanisms are used for mind control, these efforts will end up being exercises in futility. 

The presence of conflicting opinions within a population has historically been encouraged by many early civilisations. For example, within the ancient Greek philosophy, the term dialectical process refers to a system of seeking the truth through a logical debate between divergent viewpoints. In that way, dialectics is even thought to have provided the very foundation for an independent judicial system. Its impartiality is safeguarded by having the prosecution and defence argue their respective versions to support the jury in determining a fair outcome. Hence, in many ways, this exemplifies how the state could aptly channelise dialectical thinking to achieve broader societal objectives.

Hegel (1770-1831), a renowned German philosopher, presented a modified version of dialectics that explains the evolutionary growth of civilisations. The Hegelian dialectical process, which was introduced a couple of centuries ago, consists of three main stages. Firstly, the presence of differing societal beliefs that are referred as thesis and their respective antithesis. Secondly, the conflict resolution process that results in the synthesis of dissimilar viewpoints. And finally, the emergence of a fresh antithesis to counter the new synthesis, which takes us back to the first stage and then the nonstop recurrence. In a general sense, the dialectical system describes the journey of a civilisation that continuously changes through the repetitive interplay of divergent set of ideas. During this voyage, every iterative cycle is a progression to a higher form of maturity when compared to its previous level. Therefore, the word &lsquo;zeitgeist&rsquo; is often linked with the dialectical process since it encapsulates the ever-changing nature of societal morals and defines it strictly in association with a specific time period.

Any state that wishes to curb the dialectical process by pushing a specific doctrine is bound to fail since diversity of opinions is innate for humans. In the field of psychology, the phenomenon of cognitive bias highlights that people arrive at differing conclusions even when they are exposed to the same content. This surprising outcome occurs because an individual often draws conflicting inferences from an experience, and cognitive bias helps with its resolution. It does that by constructing a digestible summary that is influenced by that person&rsquo;s unique circumstances. Therefore, an identical narrative often evokes opposing sentiments within different individuals reflecting their specific traits. There are many examples of cognitive biases, although a popular one is called confirmation bias, which refers to our tendency to favour deductions that validate our existing beliefs. Hence, even if a dogmatic script is forced down our throats, the mere presence of variety in our background ensures that our learnings stay distinct.

A simple but somewhat theoretical example will further elaborate the concept of cognitive bias. Imagine an instructor displaying a photograph of a red flower against a blue backdrop to infants that may never have seen similar images. The teacher could then, without making any gestures, make an announcement that the picture is that of a flower. Now, a few students might reasonably conclude that the flower is being referred to the red colour, whereas, some others could associate flower with its shape. Additionally, a few more learners may relate flower to the blue colour in the background. The key insight here is that there are several valid hypotheses, and it is completely logical for children to settle on any one of them. So, what makes a pupil choose one inference over the others despite all of them being consistent? That is where cognitive bias plays its role and based on an infant&rsquo;s past exposure, their mind converges to any of the viable alternatives. Therefore, the net result will be a classroom full of students that have different interpretations of what it means to be a flower. Hence, this example highlights that even though the children went through an identical situation, they naturally ended up forming multiple clusters of varying opinions.

In the above example, the divergent inferences drawn from the picture do not always stay the same. In fact, as more images are presented, the children are likely to modify their interpretations. For instance, let us suppose that the instructor now presents the same picture of the flower, but now in yellow colour and with the same blue background. In this case, those students that had linked the definition of a flower to the red colour are likely to modify their beliefs. In simple situations as above, the conclusions will converge to the correct definition, such as that of a flower. However, in real life situations, due its vastness and sheer complexity, the opinions will continually evolve independently but without ever achieving total unanimity. 

In summary though, the presence of dissent in an environment is both dependent on the type of information we consume, as well as the variety that exists in our personalities. When a state puts limitation on the dissemination of free speech, it is at best controlling only one out of the two main factors. Hence, even in such draconian environments, dissent will eventually flourish so long as there is diversity in the characteristics of the population. Therefore, it is not surprising to find authoritarian regimes failing to eliminate their opposition, even with relentless relaying of one-sided broadcasts to its citizens.

Recently, the US federal government has announced a grant to support the development of what it calls a &lsquo;patriotic&rsquo; curriculum to teach nationwide in schools. Although the government can control the version of history promoted within its population, it cannot regulate how it will be received, interpreted, and what is learnt from it. This is simply because the state can never eliminate the varied upbringing, beliefs, gender, and language of its population. Hence, the so-called patriotic curriculum will induce different opinions when examined by various communities, such as the African Americans, or by specific population segments such as women. In the long run, irrespective of how it is tailored, any dogmatic curriculum will ultimately fail in its objective of achieving indoctrination. Therefore, instead of enforcing a tailored narrative, the states are better off in embracing cognitive diversity and facilitating the dialectics to work its magic. By following this strategy, a society will grow intellectually by progressively improving its understanding of the world and its history.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2020.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>India’s new killing fields  in IIOJK</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265479/indias-new-killing-fields-in-iiojk</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265479/indias-new-killing-fields-in-iiojk#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 20 19:04:28 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Dr Moonis Ahmar]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2265479</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The failure of Islamabad to effectively use its cards against India further encouraged New Delhi]]>
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				<![CDATA[Another round of Indian brutality in Illegally Occupied Jammu &amp; Kashmir (IIOJK) began on September 17, when police and paramilitary forces surrounded the Batamaloo neighbourhood of Srinagar and killed four people who were hiding in a house. Labelling those killed in the firing as &ldquo;militants&rdquo;, Indian security forces fired teargas shells and used pellet guns to disperse protesters who were enraged against the &lsquo;cold-blooded&rsquo; murder of three &lsquo;suspected fighters&rsquo; and one young woman by Indian forces.

According to reports, around 192 fighters, three Indian forces personnel and 47 civilians have been killed in various acts of violence in IIOJK in 2019. At a time when the 75th session of the UN General Assembly has commenced on September 21, Indian killing fields in the occupied region pose a major challenge to UN and its Charter.

In order to cover up its brutalities against innocent and unarmed Kashmiris, an Indian army defence spokesman in Srinagar, Rajesh Kalia, on September 19, said, &ldquo;The army has launched disciplinary action against soldiers who were accused of killing three Kashmiris in counter-insurgency operations.&rdquo; The evidence found from the inquiry against such killings revealed that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) of 1990 &mdash; which granted the army immense powers including those related to shoot-to-kill &mdash; was misused. Such superficial and artificial investigations conducted by New Delhi probing the abuse of AFSPA are meant to conceal heinous crimes committed by the Indian army since its deployment in the disputed region in 1990. The surge of human rights violations committed by the occupying Indian army in IIOJK got an impetus in August 5, 2019 when the Indian parliament revoked articles 370 and 35(A) and cancelled the occupied region&rsquo;s special status.

The incident of September 17 reminds one the helplessness of the so-called international community as well as Pakistan to stop gruesome acts which tend to put the lives of eight million Muslim Kashmiris at stake. Since August 5 last year, when India unilaterally annexed the occupied region and divided it into the union territories of Ladakh and Jammu &amp; Kashmir, there is no let-up in atrocities committed by more than half a million Indian army forces deployed to sustain the occupation by cruel ways. The Indian civil society, saner political parties and human rights organisations which had earlier raised their voice against brutalities in IIOJK are now almost silent. Only Muslim Kashmiris of the valley who are facing humiliation and genocide at the hands of Indian security forces are raising their voice in the form of protest marches and demonstrations. Yet the Modi regime has become more belligerent and aggressive in expanding its killing fields in IIOJK. 

If the resilience of Kashmiri nationalists to seek freedom from Indian occupation is a challenge to the Modi regime, at the same time, within the rank and file of Kashmiris there are elements which are waiting for an opportunity to render their support to India&rsquo;s so-called developmental programmes, particularly in the valley. Will Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, the former chief ministers of the occupied valley, take a U-turn from the existing anti-Indian stance and join hands with New Delhi for benefits? Dividing the Kashmiri resistance is a fundamental Indian objective because it knows that in the absence of any external military and logistical support, the Kashmiris&rsquo; defiance which got an impetus after August 5, 2019, will diminish with the passage of time leading to the &lsquo;Hinduisation&rsquo; of the Muslim-dominated Kashmir valley. &ldquo;Master Plan 2035&rdquo; which was approved by New Delhi a few months before the scrapping of articles 370 and 35(A) resembles the Israeli settlement model. Such a plan aims to construct 200,000 houses in Srinagar thus creating around 100,000 jobs to be filled by non-locals who will be eligible to get domicile certificates. Lake Dal, a famous tourist resort in Srinagar, will be under the special investment corridor described as a conservation site with floating gardens. 

Based on such ground realties, India is confident of sustaining its occupation, particularly over the valley of Kashmir, by issuing thousands of domicile certificates to non-Muslim Indian nationals and seizing local lands for establishing Hindu settlements in the valley. Yet, one must consider two major factors which have caused great harm to the cause of liberating Kashmir from the Indian occupation.

First is the failure of Pakistan to effectively challenge the absorption of occupied Kashmir through the revocation of articles 370 and 35(A) which, at least on paper, ensured the special status of that occupied territory. Bad governance, political polarisation, fragile economy, rampant corruption, nepotism and the absence of rule of law create a very bad impression of Pakistan and negatively impact the Kashmiri freedom movement. When India revoked the special status of occupied Kashmir, it must have calculated the capability of Pakistan to react to that act. Unfortunately, Pakistan&rsquo;s response against the absorption of occupied Jammu and Kashmir by the Indian state has not gone beyond verbal statements and rhetoric. Had the Kashmiri resistance movement launched by the Hurriyat Conference and the Jammu &amp; Kashmir Liberation Front got an active support from Pakistan, India would have bogged down because of popular Kashmiri defiance and hatred against the lockdown, humiliation and genocide. Had Pakistan been strategically wise, it would have given an ultimatum to the Modi regime to roll back its unilateral acts of August 5, 2019, and withdraw its occupation forces from the disputed region or face nuclear retaliation. The use of the nuclear option for the cause of Kashmir would have compelled the Modi regime to relegate. But, the failure of Islamabad to effectively use its cards against India further encouraged New Delhi. 

Second, Pakistan should have called a special UNGA session of a meeting of the Security Council to discuss the violation of the UN Charter by India as well as to threats to peace in South Asia due to the Indian acts in IIOJK. The meeting of UNSC held earlier on, was informal, passed no resolution and had no legal or moral impact. According to the UN Charter, any member of the UN has a right to call a formal meeting of the Security Council, and the Secretary-General of the UN can call a special session of the General Assembly and Special Emergency Session of General Assembly to discuss an issue which is a major threat to regional or international peace and security.

The situation in the IIOJK demands an urgent intervention before it is too late and India is able to drastically change the demographic complexion of the occupied valley by establishing Hindu settlements. The 75th UNGA session is a test case for the global organisation to bail out the beleaguered population of IIOJK from perpetual humiliation, oppression and subjugation by more than half a million Indian security forces.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2020.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>The problem with neoliberal feminism</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265478/the-problem-with-neoliberal-feminism</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265478/the-problem-with-neoliberal-feminism#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 20 19:03:43 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Syed Mohammad Ali .]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2265478</guid>
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				<![CDATA[Feminists around the world have long been struggling with multiple forms of gender discrimination]]>
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				<![CDATA[Feminists around the world have long been struggling with multiple forms of gender discrimination. They have good reason to do so, as we still live in a world which exhibits varied forms of discrimination against women and girls. However, it is also important to note that so-called &lsquo;feminists&rsquo; around the world are not necessarily on the same page in terms of causes they espouse, and how they go about working on them.

Categorising feminists based on geography alone (those in the global south as opposed to the global north) does not adequately encapsulate major differences in how feminists see the world or try to change it. Consider, for instance, how many feminists and other advocates of gender rights around the world (in rich and poor countries alike) are suspicious of multinational corporations trying to champion the causes of empowering women and girls. On the other hand, other feminists (in both rich and poor countries) have been seduced by neoliberal ideals. 

In the past, corporations and big businesses used to show their benevolence by contributing to social causes by making donations to varied causes. Now they are increasingly trying to integrate social responsibility into their core business operations, and to use a share of their corporate profits to directly support goals such as gender empowerment.

Seemingly motivated by the desire to fulfil their corporate social responsibility, there is a plethora of corporate marketing campaigns which now explicitly aim to improve the lives of women and girls. Brand-conscious consumer product companies such as Unilever and Kraft, or garment-industry giants like Gap, aim to promote gender empowerment. Many projects have been formulated to connect multinationals with NGOs in poorer countries to deliver social benefits alongside pursuing goals of profit maximisation. 

In India, for example, Unilever&rsquo;s Shakti Project is trying to help women generate income while also advancing public hygiene and helping the company conquer difficult-to-access markets. It has established a network of close to 100,000 &ldquo;Shakti Amma&rdquo;, women who sell Unilever products to rural consumers in India&rsquo;s villages. This initiative is described as a win-win situation that provides rural women an income while they help the company enter a growing market, while promoting public health and hygiene in rural areas. 

Critics, however, rightly point out how such a project is blind to the racist messages conveyed via problematic products and the impact it has on the livelihoods of other people. Besides poor women have been recruited to sell Unilever&rsquo;s skin-whitening products, these recruits are also creating a larger market for Unilever&rsquo;s product, which directly displaces traditional soap makers.

Despite seemingly altruistic goals, many corporate efforts to focus on women&rsquo;s empowerment tend to myopically foster entrepreneurship development and approach women individually. Big business has no interest in promoting collective action whereby poor women could become organised and formulate their own demands about wages and working conditions. Conversely, voluntary codes of conduct to change the way big businesses operate so that they benefit rather than harm women remain unable to go beyond tokenistic measures, and they cannot assure decent working conditions and wages for all the exploited women ensnared within their convoluted supply chains.

The movement for gender equality becoming entangled with neoliberalism is thus seen to undermine oppositional politics and instead advance market penetration via seemingly &lsquo;win-win&rsquo; solutions. Some women become beneficiaries of corporate beneficence. Others may even make it to the top of corporate hierarchies. Yet then these women must serve profit maximising policies which continue to exploit labour, the lowest rungs of which are occupied by over-worked and under-paid women struggling to ensure household survival. 

Pakistan too has its share of women entrepreneurs, who rely on corporate benevolence, and speak the language of women&rsquo;s socio-economic empowerment, yet the means they advocate to achieve gender empowerment provide little more than opportunities for self-advancement. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2020.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>Education and the opposition</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265477/education-and-the-opposition</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265477/education-and-the-opposition#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 20 19:02:57 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Dr Pervez Tahir]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[It is obvious that higher education has a strong lobby and pressure groups]]>
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				<![CDATA[The latest All Parties&rsquo; Conference (APC) of the opposition asks the government, among other things, to raise the allocation for higher education. In an otherwise rights-based agenda and pleas for upholding the Constitution, the inclusion of this demand is surprising. In the Constitution, the only fundamental right related to education is Article 25(A), which neither talks of higher education, nor one of its specific forms made another demand, the medical and dental education. The Article bears repeating: &ldquo;Right to education &mdash; The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to 16 years in such manner as may be determined by law.&rdquo; These laws have since been enacted. The persistent violation of this fundamental right of some 23 million citizens in the age group of five to 16 years has not merited the attention of the APC. Coming as it does from those swearing by the 18th constitutional Amendment that inserted Article 25(A), the exclusion is even more disturbing. This very amendment also fully devolved education in all its forms. In 2011, the Council of Common Interests (CCI) decided that the federal funding of higher education would continue during the currency of the 7th National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. 

It is obvious that higher education has a strong lobby and pressure groups. University students have street power; professors have fora to make themselves heard. Politicians have their own interests in visible projects such as a university in each district, if not tehsil. Organised, sometimes violent, protests by doctors do get the attention of the decision-makers. The higher education lobbyists are capable of direct contact with the MNAs/MPA, even to the extent of participating in political campaigns. Better media access also works for them. Lectures by the resource-constrained governments to generate their own resources have, in general, fallen on deaf ears. In sharp contrast, primary school teachers are invariably lathi-charged whenever they manage to take to the roads. As for the 23 million girls and boys waiting to go to school, there is no danger of them organising the mass protests. They are the silent majority of the education sector. The task is left to occasional storms-in-a-teacup by NGOs, depending on the length of the purse held by donors. In theory, higher education increases employability yielding personal returns, weakening thus the case for public funding. With larger social returns, elementary education has a stronger claim on public resources. However, the allocation pattern reflects the opposite in the most seriously affected provinces: 70% of Balochistan&rsquo;s school-age children are out of school. Yet the provincial government chose to increase its budget only by 0.3% and that of higher education by 13.3%. Next comes Sindh. With 52% of children out of school, school education gets an increase of 2.3% against the increase of 8.4% for higher education. Sindh&rsquo;s allocation of Rs156.8 billion in the current year is less than Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa&rsquo;s Rs183.8 billion. In the current year, of the Rs50.6 billion increase in allocation for school education for the country as a whole, 65% is contributed by K-P. This jump should help bring down the high proportion of out-of-school children of 53% in the merged districts, compared to 34% for the settled districts. But the province did not forget to join the rat race for higher education by contributing 22% of the increase in the current year at the national level.

Indicting the British on their &ldquo;jog-trot pace&rdquo; in 1912, the Quaid feared that &ldquo;it will take 175 years in order to get all school going age children go to school&rdquo;. Jog-trotting Article 25(A) continues.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2020.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>Medicine prices</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265389/medicine-prices</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265389/medicine-prices#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 20 03:01:53 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2265389</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The increase in prices of life-saving drugs is preferable to their non-availability]]>
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				<![CDATA[After recently allowing a 10% increase in prices of common medicines, the federal government has announced an upward revision in the prices of 94 life-saving medicines on the plea that this will help in ending the long-persisting shortage of these drugs in the market. The government has further justified the move that allowing a rise in prices will help control overcharging and black marketing. It says the former prices were unrealistic and there was a need for rationalisation of prices to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential medicines.

The special assistant to the PM on health says prices had to also be hiked in view of the devaluation of the national currency. According to him, the increase in prices will incentivise manufacturers to make life-saving medicines available to patients. There is one exception, however. The price of Ramsdevir, an experimental medicine used for treating Covid-19 patients, has been reduced from Rs10,873 to Rs8,244. The price of insulin too has been kept unchanged. Insulin shots are essential for chronic diabetics to keep their blood sugar level under control.

If one looks at the whole thing dispassionately, the increase in prices of life-saving drugs is preferable to their non-availability, provided the fresh hike in prices does not make essential medicines go beyond the purchasing power of the common people. We hope that the government has factored in all aspects while fixing medicine prices. The government should, at the same time, keep a strict watch on hoarders and black marketers of medicines. However, the increase in medicine prices would hit the low-income groups the most, so doctors should come to the rescue of patients from this group, for experts say good doctors prescribe few medicines.

We know that inputs from medicine manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers are taken into account while fixing medicine prices, but it remains unclear whether views of patients and their carers also count in the process.]]>
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			<title>Flames and fumes</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265388/flames-and-fumes</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265388/flames-and-fumes#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 20 03:00:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2265388</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The court decision proved that the Baldia factory fire was an act of terrorism rather than an accident]]>
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				<![CDATA[At long last, the court decision in the Baldia factory fire case is here. It took no less than eight years for the families of as many as 264 people &ndash; who were burnt alive or suffocated to death in Pakistan&rsquo;s deadliest industrial inferno &ndash; to get some sense of closure. On Tuesday, an anti-terrorism court in Karachi sentenced MQM workers Abdul Rehman Bhola and Zubair Charya to death &ndash; convicting the two on a total of 11 counts &ndash; for torching the garments manufacturing factory by using a certain chemical over non-payment of extortion money worth Rs250 million demanded of the factory owners. Of more than one thousand workers present in the factory at that unfortunate hour, 264 were consumed by the flames and fumes while 60 others were left incapacitated to varying degrees.&nbsp;

Four gatekeepers of the factory were convicted of facilitating the carnage and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for life on two counts, besides being slapped with fines. They were also ordered to pay Rs27,77,353 as blood money to the families of each victim. The court, however, acquitted MQM leader Rauf Siddiqui, who was then minister for commerce and industries in Sindh province, and three others. The court also issued perpetual arrest warrants for Hammad Siddiqui &ndash; the then chairman of the MQM&rsquo;s influential Tanzeemi Committee in whose name the extortion money was demanded &ndash; and a Hyderabad-based businessman who allegedly acted as&nbsp;a middle-man over the extortion deal between MQM and factory owner Abdul Aziz Bhaila and his sons, Arshad and Shahid.

The court decision proved that the fire at Karachi&rsquo;s Ali Enterprises on September 11, 2012 was an act of terrorism rather than an accident as was being thought of initially &ndash; in fact being portrayed on purpose due to political pressure. Even the investigation in the initial years kept revolving around finding any technical fault or any negligence on the part of the factory operators. So much so that an FIR had been registered against the factory owners who had left Karachi for Larkana &ndash; where they were reported to have obtained protective bail &ndash; before flying out to Dubai. It was not until a joint investigation team was formed after three years of the incident that the case took a new turn and the names of Bhola and Charya surfaced who made startling revelations about the fire.&nbsp;

The court decision did lead to the conviction of six accused, but all of them were executors. Who masterminded the terror activity remains unanswered. The dots can, however, be easily connected to draw approximate conclusions in the context. At the very best, the court issued perpetual warrant of arrest for Hammad Siddiqui, who was named by Bhola to have directly given him orders for the arson attack. One hopes that when and if Hammad Siddiqui &ndash; whose whereabouts are a mystery &ndash; is arrested, we will be able to see a lot of gaps filled up and a lot of influentials exposed, formally.&nbsp;

Among the major conflagrations in recorded history, the Baldia factory tragedy holds the grim distinction of being the deadliest industrial fire in Pakistan. It was thus expected to have led to a drastic overhaul of the laws governing working conditions in industrial units in the country. Unfortunately though, there has been no progress as regards improvement in the safety conditions at the workplace to prevent such accidents in the future. If an incident as big as this cannot serve as a watershed, then what would?

Coming back to the case, the court judgment has still to go through the appeals stage at superior courts &ndash; something that would cause further delay in the dispensation of justice. One would only want to mention here that justice delayed is justice denied.&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Plastic scourge ruining our planet and our children future </title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265387/plastic-scourge-ruining-our-planet-and-our-children-future</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265387/plastic-scourge-ruining-our-planet-and-our-children-future#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 20 02:55:56 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Durdana Najam]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2265387</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Each one of us will have to play a role]]>
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				<![CDATA[\A country which should have been actively involved in observing the World Cleanup Day falling on September 19, 2020, has been appallingly silent given that for weeks during the recent heavy monsoon rains, its largest cities sank into the water because of garbage and industrial waste choking the nullahs and drain ways. Though a one-day celebration might not have made much difference, it at least would have given us the chance to find the causes of environmental degradation. 

Climate change has made it abundantly clear that we have very little time to decide how to realign our goals to reverse the damaging effects of climatic dissonance. A lot of attention has been given to the importance of trees in preserving the Earth&rsquo;s temperature, but very little thinking has been done for changing how we consume. Not a day passes by without us hearing the damage plastic has caused to our environment that includes both the oceanic and the earthly life. New initiatives and projects appear every now and then to put a curb on the usage of this non-degradable and insoluble product. Practically speaking, there is not much to celebrate that a change has occurred.

The statistics are even worse. We consume mind-boggling amounts of plastic. According to an estimate, more than 500 billion disposable plastic bags are used annually. People purchase a million plastic bottles every minute around the world, and we throw away plastics equivalent to our body weight each year.

The amount of plastic thrown in the ocean is also astronomical. Almost eight million tons of plastic is thrown in the ocean each year. As of now, at least 93 million tons of plastic have been dumped in the ocean putting the marine wildlife in perpetual danger. Nearly 500 dead zones (lacking dissolved oxygen) covering 245,000 square kilometres are found in the waterbed. Now almost every marine species have come into contact with plastic because of which every year, one million marine birds and 100,000 marine mammals die.

Talking of hope for improvement has become a clich&eacute;. Estimates show that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in our oceans. By the same year, 99% of marine birds would have ingested plastic in micro or nanoparticle form. 

Plastic is everywhere. The plastic containers/pouches used to cook food lose about one gram of plastic that ends up in our food.

Pakistan started several campaigns to discourage the use of polythene bags but not much has been achieved in this regard. The absence of will on the part of the authorities appears to be the reason behind plastic bags being still in use in one form or the other. This yet another administrative failure has forced the superior courts to intervene. The Lahore High Court has ordered the replacement of plastic bags with recyclable paper bags. The Environment Protection Agency has been asked to enforce a complete ban on the manufacturing, sale, and use of polythene bags across Punjab. 

A global campaign called #CleanSea has been launched with an aim to end ocean pollution. The target of the campaign was to eliminate two major sources of marine waste: microplastics and single-use plastic items. The former is used in cosmetics. Industries the world over have been requested to reduce the production and usage of plastic products.

A lot is in the hands of the consumer. They can make or break the policies that do not support the environment&rsquo;s wellbeing. By aligning local awareness programmes, a lot can be achieved, that too at a faster rate.

Take for example the recent initiative taken by the Omar Harfouch Foundation in Tripoli, Lebanon. The organisation with the support of the city&rsquo;s Chamber of Commerce waged a war on pollution. The entire city was involved in the project. The one-point agenda of the organisation was the elimination of plastic bags and the administration was asked to empty an open-air landfill site that was nearly 45 metres tall. The gigantic project became possible because of the institutional support of the UN under the leadership of Under-Secretary-General Philippe Douste-Blazy.

The younger generation will have to understand the gravity of the situation unlike their parents, who lacked the resolve to implement decisions to reduce damages induced by climatic change. They will have to work to protect their interests. 

Each one of us will have to play a role. Sorting recyclables is the place to start with. In spite of decades-long efforts, this habit has yet to take hold on us. Advanced countries have set themselves the target to become zero waste. San Francisco is a case in point. By 2025, it will be the first to proclaim itself as a zero-waste city thanks to its incentive programmes.

Creating awareness through educational programmes, changing our habits, and promoting research to produce alternative products is the way forward. We are confronted with a challenge to our survival. It cannot be taken lightly. To use a plastic bag, or throw plastic in the water, or buy a plastic packaging to store food, or warm food in a plastic container should make us think about the world that we would be leaving behind for our children and posterity.]]>
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			<title>The underlying constants of Afghan crisis</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265386/the-underlying-constants-of-afghan-crisis</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265386/the-underlying-constants-of-afghan-crisis#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 20 02:52:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Inam Ul Haque]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2265386</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Afghanistan remains one of the most widely covered crises of modern times]]>
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				<![CDATA[Afghanistan remains one of the most widely covered crises of modern times. True to 21st-century fad, there is a mushrooming army of so-called &#39;Afghan experts&#39;. These experts &mdash; to quote former Afghan cabinet minister Mohammed Ehsan Zai &mdash; &quot;read &lsquo;The Kite Runner&rsquo; on [the] plane and believe they are [an] expert on Afghanistan.&quot; There are desk officers with no ground experience who cobble together books from hearsay and claim greatness. These tenure-based bureaucrats tend to make faulty assumptions. There are military veterans with limited/sectoral exposure, who end up creating personality cults. Then there are freelance writers who tend to become outright racist and bigoted in their description of Afghans and Afghanistan.

It is strongly felt that in the absence of a multidisciplinary approach, cutting across political science/economy, international relations, sociology, and anthropology&hellip; for example; such analyses risk becoming personal experiences with limited universal applicability. Sociology strongly rebuffs sweeping generalisations about people and countries. Unless backed by rigorous analysis, academic adroitness, and fieldwork; Afghans and Afghanistan would remain an enigma. 

The following Op-Eds continue my earlier work on Afghanistan and aim at distilling some &#39;constants&#39; gleaned from some three centuries of Afghan history. These have helped shape attitudes and policy formulation in Afghanistan and are by no means exhaustive. 

First, the nature of the Afghan monarchy. Unlike the contemporary monarchies, the Durrani monarchy created by Ahmed Shah Baba around 1747 was a &#39;tribal confederation&#39; with the king deriving power from the tribes, and not the other way round. This shaped subsequent Afghan approaches towards authority and governance.

Second, and following from the above; modern state formation in Afghanistan has, therefore, remained a failed exercise, whether under the erstwhile farangi , later Shoravi (Russian) or modern Amreeki tutelage. Afghan political culture abhors a strong centre, especially if it is imposed.

Third, Afghans (the term by extension covers Pashtun tribes on both sides of the Durand Line) are almost entirely Muslim, converted en-bloc around the times of the pious caliphs. They did so, as they find no major deviations in Pukhtunwali/Pashtunwali &mdash; the operative code covering everyday life &mdash; and the teachings of Islam. Both reinforce each other in major areas. All Pathan tribes are Sunni except the Bangash tribe west of Kohat and Turi tribes in Parachinar, Pakistan. The latter are actually Turkic. 

Interestingly, the Taliban worldview of Islam is essentially the rural Pashtun worldview... although interaction with the wider world, as refugees, has introduced reform and changes in this outlook.

Fourth, paradoxically if ever there is a conflict between code (riwaj) and Islam, Pukhtunwali would prevail. Literature aplenty to substantiate that major decrees of the Peoples&#39; Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA) &mdash; during the 1979 Saur Revolution &mdash; were reinforcing Islamic teachings; yet the society revolted. The white-bearded elderly cadre (spin-geeree masharan) scoffed at the clean-shaven, Moscow-educated young communists, who asked them to change the social status quo. They fumed at these young zealots telling them how to live.

Efforts to speed up societal change in riwaj-bound Afghan society would eventually fail, even if the change is good overall. The &#39;nation-building&#39; plans of the US &mdash; launched with much fanfare later, lie in the dust. The world still doesn&#39;t seem to have learned any lesson. Outsize emphasis on women/minority rights, freedoms, and constitution, etc would complicate the ongoing intra-Afghan dialogue.

Fifth, it is interesting to see self-appointed experts criticising Afghans for being undemocratic. They need to know that Afghanistan had the representative Loya Jirga (Lower House) and Masharano Jirga (Upper House) since much earlier. Afghans are extremely egalitarian. It is only in the developed democracies that federating units enjoy greater autonomy like in the present political dispensation of Afghanistan. Therefore, the imposition of a strong centre in an intensely democratic Afghanistan has and would never succeed. 

Sixth, despite inter and intra-tribe differences and conflicts, all Afghans (including the non-Pashtuns) subscribe to a unique sense of nationhood. This is the binding glue, preventing any touted division of Afghanistan along ethnic lines. 

Seventh, like all tribal societies, Afghanistan has an inherent conflict resolution mechanism in the form of the jirga. This mechanism works effectively in the absence of foreign interlocutors, with no Afghan faction looking over the shoulder. Repeated interference has battered this system, hence the prolonged conflict and instability. 

Eight, under the tenets of Pukhtunwali, khegara/shegara (doing favour/good to others) occupies a central place. But the favour has to be returned in order to re-establish the social equilibrium that is disturbed when an Afghan receives a favour. Having done so, the Afghan feels being on an equal footing, unencumbered by complexes. The Afghan does not feel to be perpetually indebted. Pakistan&#39;s hope of Afghanistan remaining grateful to us in eternity is, therefore, a misplaced over-expectation, based on lack of sociological understanding.

Ninth, following on from the above postulation, it is instructive to sometimes listen to the Afghans about our continued harping on hosting Afghan refugees and Pakistan&#39;s help in the Jihad since the Soviet times. They reckon, Afghans fought Pakistan&#39;s battle, as, without Afghanistan, the Soviet Bear would be sunbathing on the beaches of Karachi. And for refugees &mdash; they cite &mdash; it was Pakistan&#39;s religious obligation to provide refuge in line with our lofty claims of Muslim solidarity.

Lastly, massive migration and continued life under different social underpinnings have changed Afghan society marginally. The newer power elite have emerged, as during my fieldwork in a refugee camp in the 1980s; &#39;ration malik&#39; was the emerging power elite, responsible for the camp&#39;s ration distribution. Afghans have otherwise tried to jealously guard their traditions. Dead bodies are still sent back as far as possible and there are negligible inter-marriages with locals.

The continued conflict has exacted a deadly cost in human and material terms from Afghanistan, yet to be accounted for. The hapless, ragtag but determined Afghans have forced two superpowers in our lifetime to bite the dust. Faith and commitment were central to their success, besides other reasons. The Afghans deserve empathy in the world, not disdain or racial-profiling. 

Moulvi Abdul Ghani Baradar standing next to Mike Pompeo is an epoch in the making. Afghan Baqi, Kuhsar Baqi. Alhamdo-Lillah, Alhamdo-Lillah [Afghans and their mountains would keep standing, praise to Allah].]]>
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			<title>No more monkeys jumping on the bed</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265385/no-more-monkeys-jumping-on-the-bed</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265385/no-more-monkeys-jumping-on-the-bed#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 20 02:46:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Imran Jan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2265385</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The truth is that real leaders don’t run away, they stay put and fight where the fight is]]>
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				<![CDATA[If Pakistan were a bed and these politicians monkeys, it&rsquo;s not hard to imagine that my favourite thing on YouTube then would be the kids&rsquo; song above.

Nawaz Sharif and Zardari appearing on a video link for the much-hyped All Parties Conference (APC) felt like teenagers teaming up and with complete strangers over PlayStation or Xbox in their fight against a common adversary. Because teenagers don&rsquo;t play the game to revolutionise the world or change the conditions of the people in the country they are in. The only difference is that teenagers do so to distract their own minds, the criminals disguised as leaders in Pakistan do to distract the people&rsquo;s minds.

When Nawaz said the struggle of the opposition was not against Imran Khan but&nbsp;&ldquo;against those who had imposed such an incapable person on the country through a rigged election&rdquo;, his language can be deciphered even by those gaming teenagers to mean that Nawaz is not complaining about the people&rsquo;s plight but about not being the&nbsp;&ldquo;incapable person&rdquo; imposed on the country by&nbsp;khalai makhlooq.

When Pakistan was about to become a nuclear state officially, it was Nawaz who was reluctant to stand up to India and the world. In 2015, when Nawaz was the PM, Modi visited Nawaz&rsquo;s residence in Lahore. Modi, who is addicted to hating Muslims and Pakistan, was all cordial towards Nawaz. Later, we found Nawaz had business interests in India.

This is eerily similar to the Trump-Putin bromance. Putin wanted Trump to win the US presidential election in 2016. He&rsquo;s still allegedly working in the shadows to help Trump win in 2020. Putin is doing so not because he thinks Trump would make America great again, but because he believes Trump could make Russia great again. No wonder, Modi is showing extreme anger towards Imran and Pakistan Army. They&nbsp;are Modi&rsquo;s Hillary and Biden.

It&rsquo;s also no surprise that the Indian media has jumped on Nawaz&rsquo;s statement as a Godsend. For them, to discredit Pakistan, anything goes. It&rsquo;s quite a display of chutzpah for Nawaz, Zardari, and their children to chant slogans about protecting Pakistan. Imran has rightly reminded us when he said,&nbsp;&ldquo;I had predicted much earlier that they all would unite for personal interests.&rdquo; And I might add, it&rsquo;s the same cycle we have seen over and over again.

The cycle starts with these corrupt politicians losing an election followed by them crying foul. Their corrupt entrepreneurial activities are unearthed, to which their reaction is to get sick and go in self-imposed exile to escape the Pakistani customised&nbsp;air-conditioned jails. Abroad they enjoy a luxurious lifestyle while Pakistan&rsquo;s poor pay the price of what their corrupt leaders had been doing to the economy. After many lazy days and nights and enough movie watching (since they don&rsquo;t read books), they raise slogans about returning to protect Pakistan. This level of chutzpah is not even displayed by professional prostitutes.

For Nawaz to keep repeating the gibberish about Imran being installed by the army is the same as the dog-ate-my-homework excuse. He lost because someone cheated is very convenient. If it helps Nawaz sleep well at night, then he can keep repeating it to himself but to make noise about it to the country, and the world is filled with a more sinister agenda: maligning state institutions and providing India the much-needed fodder to create problems for Pakistan.

The truth is that real leaders don&rsquo;t run away, they stay put and fight where the fight is. While Bilawal is trying and failing to look and act like his grandfather, Nawaz is acting successfully like his grandchildren.]]>
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			<title>APC hasn't moved the oracle</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265384/apc-hasnt-moved-the-oracle</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2265384/apc-hasnt-moved-the-oracle#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 20 02:44:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Jahangir Kakar]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2265384</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Democracy requires not only the wisdom to lead but also the wisdom to follow]]>
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				<![CDATA[The oracle has not been touched by the All Parties Conference (APC) held a few days back in terms of it making any concrete impact. The reason behind such an attitude is of course the low level of political parties in appealing public support. These political parties could create a crowd effect able to sustain for a few weeks with the inherent weakness of fragmenting apart on account of dissipating coherence.

In democracies of the world, the people from the deep centre of power that enables them to govern themselves through the tools of parliaments, free judiciary, and constitution. Political parties are a way of accessing these tools. These parties express the collective will and wisdom of the citizenry. They educate people on issues of governance, right and wrong, freedom and despondency, economic well-being, and exploitation and give them the sense of being the individuals who decide how to rule themselves.

The political education brings in political awareness and maturity in people. They develop a sense of relationship not only with the state but with the political parties who lead them. They own the state apparatus and equally apply sense to watching it be used judiciously.

The oracle is right in predicting the failure of any political party including the ruling ones to be able to mobilise people towards any grand political change. What would require the people to march towards such change would be an absolutely articulated political ideology. The case of political parties in Pakistan is a sad one in terms of harbouring any lucid political thought ever.

None of the political parties, except for the short respite of PPP that too until the assassination of the Daughter of the East, could have ever been able to express a clear political ideology. When such is the situation, the followers can be motivated for a short while but cannot be said to behave in a manner of expectations such as in other countries, for instance, Turkey.

Political education provides the cause of existence to the people. When they foresee such a cause being mishandled or tampered with by such anti-democratic elements, this becomes their battle of survival and they fight tooth and nail thence. In paradoxical circumstances like the ones with us, people can be said to be subscribers to certain political clans but when it comes to measuring the level of relationship, it is non-existent.

The extreme and rigid colonial formations within any given political party in the country are staggering blockades of them being democratic. The family, bloodline, and hereditary built-in and built-up of the political parties have rendered them from behaving in any manner but democratic. The strong feudal controls within the political parties never allowed democracy to flourish in their lines, what to speak of democracy without.

This too is a strongly strange phenomenon that whenever there has been an attempt in devolving power to the people at the grass-root level, it has always been the so-called dictators who accomplished this. The democratic regimes, rather than delegating power, centralised them excessively ending at the nucleus of a single personality &mdash; the state&rsquo;s premier. The so-called democratic political parties always remained fearful in sharing power with the people they clamour to lead.

The system of local government is a globally tested and tried mechanism for sowing the graceful oak of democracy world over but in our case, it still remains a dream far from being materialised. What the political parties must do is deliberate on forming a successful system of local government which will mark the birth of democracy in our country. We must remember that democracy is not the game of numbers alone but is the numerology of calculated arithmetic. It requires not only the wisdom to lead but also the wisdom to follow.]]>
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			<title>One step forward</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264888/one-step-forward-1</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264888/one-step-forward-1#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 20 18:08:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[kamal.siddiqi]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2264888</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[When do we panic and when do we go into lockdown?]]>
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				<![CDATA[One step forward, two steps back. We are told that this is the new normal. Within days of the re-opening of educational institutions across the country, the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) closed 13 educational institutions for flouting health guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs). Prior to this, it had announced the closure of 22 schools. It seems many institutions are ignoring the SOPs despite repeated reminders.

There is confusion all around. While the NCOC is a federal institution, it seems not to be representing the thinking of the Centre. Many provinces have decided to go with the flow. But the move by the NCOC prompted the Sindh government to also look at its own situation and decided to postpone the second phase of the re-opening of educational institutions. The decision makes sense.

And yet predictably, the move by the Sindh government has caused friction with the federal government. As the two bicker over specifics, the number of cases rise and parents of school-going children are at a loss on what to do. Nobody seems to have taken their concerns into consideration.

It may be recalled that educational institutions were opened on September 15 for the students of Matric and above grades, which included institutions of higher learning. In the second phase, secondary schools were scheduled for reopening on September 23, while primary schools would reopen on September 29. All this is now under a cloud.

Predictably, several Covid-19 cases emerged at different educational institutions after the first phase of the re-opening. As a result, the Sindh government postponed the re-opening of schools for classes VI to VIII amid concerns over violation of the SOPs. In response, Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood took to Twitter to insist that there would be no change in the timetable announced earlier after an inter-provincial meeting of education ministers. One wonders why they can&rsquo;t talk amongst themselves instead of arguing in public.

In response, Sindh Education and Labour Minister Saeed Ghani told a press conference that he had reviewed the situation regarding implementation of the SOPs. Some had made good arrangements, while others did not, he claimed, adding that while SOPs were being flouted, it did not make sense to take the re-opening forward.

The confusion that now exists is that while Ghani says that the situation might worsen with the increase in the number of students coming to attend classes and the decision to resume secondary classes from September 21 has been postponed, Shafqat Mahmood tweeted that there is no change regarding the timetable announced earlier.

But the worry from Sindh is not without foundation. Sindh&rsquo;s announcement came after 89 Covid-19 cases emerged among students and school staff during random tests conducted at private and public schools across the province. The provincial government says that the number of cases could rise to hundreds when more test results come back.

There are many questions one can ask here. To begin with, we must be mindful of the larger picture. The national number of cases has started to creep up. This was expected given the re-opening of schools. But not enough monitoring is being done to see whether the re-opening of educational institutions have had a major part to play in this. After all, the government has also allowed the re-opening of business and entertainment activity across the country.

One also has a right to ask whether the government has a fallback plan in case the number of infections rises beyond a certain point. When do we panic and when do we go into lockdown? While there are many who argue that re-opening is the only way forward, this comes at a cost.

Many countries across the world have opted for caution and not lifted restrictions as fast as Pakistan has done. The results have been mixed. There is not enough debate in Pakistan on how to move forward or what to do if things get worse.

Time and again we have seen that the difference of opinion between the leadership at the Centre and that in Sindh, where the only opposition-led government functions, has resulted in confusion and chaos. One blames the other for the problems and it seems both get away without doing anything of value for the people. In the case of Covid, this comes at a huge cost to many.

&nbsp;

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2020.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>Setting the stage for Afghanistan negotiations</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264887/setting-the-stage-for-afghanistan-negotiations</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264887/setting-the-stage-for-afghanistan-negotiations#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 20 18:07:30 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Shahid Javed Burki]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2264887</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[For the Afghans, the creation of a nation out of diversity has been a long struggle]]>
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				<![CDATA[Getting the warring people of Afghanistan to sit face to face at a negotiating table was one very difficult act; the other, much more difficult, will be to have the country&rsquo;s very diverse people agree on one system of governance. The Taliban agreed to talk to the government in Kabul they had repeatedly called a lackey of the West &mdash; of the United States in particular &mdash; only after Washington agreed to two demands. The first was to pull out its troops from the country in which its presence had lasted for 19 years. The Americans agreed to follow a withdrawal timetable that would have all their troops out by May 2021. The US has implemented its part of the bargain. It has drawn down its troops from 12,000 to 8,600 by the end of summer 2020 and President Trump is interested in bringing the count down to 4,500 by the time of the November 2020 elections.

The insurgents&rsquo; other condition was to have the Kabul government release 5,000 prisoners the government had taken over the years. Washington could do little to implement this demand; it could pressure the Kabul government to satisfy the Taliban wish, who had clearly indicated that they would sit down with the government only after all those who were in prison would be let go. Some of those incarcerated had committed serious crimes. It took Kabul 10 months before this demand was met to the satisfaction of the Taliban.

In return, the insurgents agreed not to target US and other international troops and break ties with Al Qaeda. While the growing presence of the Islamic State was of concern to both the government in Kabul and the US, the Taliban said they did not have control over this particular group. The Taliban also did not promise to spare government security personnel. According to independent observers, continued attacks on government forces had killed or wounded more than 10,000 security personnel since the accord with the US was signed on February 29, 2020.

Whether the symbolism was intended or accidental, the delayed peace negotiations between the Government of Afghanistan and the Taliban started in Doha, Qatar, on September 11, 2020. This was the 19th anniversary of the terrorist attack on two of the three intended targets in the US. Of the four planes hijacked by a group of Muslim radicals, two flew into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan and one was crashed into the Pentagon building near Washington. A fourth plane was brought down by its passengers in a field in Pennsylvania. It might have been heading towards the Capitol, the building that houses United States Congress, or the White House.

The administration headed by President George W Bush that had come to office eight months before this incident concluded that the militant group Al Qaeda was behind the attack. Headed by the Saudi billionaire Osama bin Laden, the group had been given a sanctuary by the Taliban government that had governed Afghanistan for almost five years. Washington concluded that the Taliban had to be punished for giving space to Al Qaeda. It ordered the invasion of Kabul and the removal of the Taliban from the Afghan capital. This was done in late December with the help of the Tajiks who live in the northeast of Afghanistan and were the main component in a coalition of forces that had operated under the name of the Northern Alliance. Ahmad Shah Massoud, a Tajik who led the Northern Alliance, was killed in a suicide attack a couple of days before the terrorist attack on the US.

In coming to an agreement with the Taliban, the US had one overriding concern. The country should never allow a group of extremists to operate from its soil. The Taliban had two interests: to get the Americans and their allies to leave their country and to have the Kabul government release 5,000 of its people who were languishing in the country&rsquo;s jails. It took the two parties one year to thrash out an agreement that would reconcile these three interests. Ultimately in the February 2020 Doha Agreement, the Taliban leadership promised that their soil would never be used for operations by extremist organisations; that the Taliban would begin talking to the Kabul government after the latter had released all prisoners, and that a timetable would be drawn up for taking out all foreign troops from Afghanistan.

The agreement left a number of important issues to be settled by the Afghans themselves. These included the accommodation of many ethnic groups into a political system that allows the sharing of power. While religion will be used to define the main elements of governance, the system to be adopted would grant full human rights to the country&rsquo;s women. The government structure would also fully accommodate all religious minorities, in particular the Shiites who made up an eighth of the country&rsquo;s population. Whenever differences cropped up between various groups of the Afghan population, they would be resolved within the context of the new Constitution that would be the product of these deliberations. The Constitution that was written by the Americans and agreed to by a segment of the Afghan population in an international gathering in Bonn, Germany, in late 2001, would be repealed. It will be replaced by a system that is more in tune with Islam.

For the Afghans, the creation of a nation out of diversity has been a long struggle. It has lasted for centuries. There are other differences that have made nation-building difficult. Although Islam is the predominant religion in the country, two of its prominent sects &mdash; the Sunnis and the Shiites &mdash; have often been at war. This has especially been the case following the rise of the Taliban who follows the extremist Sunni sect of Islam. The Sunni-Shiite divide affects external relations. While the Taliban looks to Saudi Arabia for inspiration and also for financial assistance, the Shiite community of Hazaras has the support of Iran. However, ethnic differences make it really difficult to build a nation out of diversity. In the multi-ethnic Afghanistan, the Taliban drew their strength from the Pakhtun (or Pashtun) community that makes up 45% of the country&rsquo;s population of 34 million people. This means that of the 62 million Pakhtuns in the world, 15.3 million live in Afghanistan. The Tajiks are the second-largest ethnic group in the country with 27% of the total population. The 9.2 million Afghan-Tajiks are located in the country&rsquo;s northeast. There are more Tajiks who are citizens of Afghanistan than of Tajikistan. The Tajik population of Tajikistan is 7.6 million out of 9.5 million. The Uzbeks and the Hazaras make up the same proportion of the population &mdash; 9% or 3 million people each. Settling these diverse ethnic groups in one political system will be one of the more difficult tasks before the parties involved in the Doha negotiations.

&nbsp;

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2020.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>Rethinking social science</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264886/rethinking-social-science</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264886/rethinking-social-science#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 20 18:06:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[M Zeb Khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2264886</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The dominance of materialism has made us humans subservient to vanity, lust, and self-gratification]]>
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				<![CDATA[The dominance of materialism has made us humans subservient to vanity, lust, and self-gratification. We are in the process of getting alienated to such qualities as altruism, honesty, and modesty. The triumph of matter over soul has created chaos, oppression, and hopelessness. This is the result of humanity&rsquo;s persistent failure to strike a balance between sense and soul of science and religion.

The history of modern science is rooted in the idea of finding the &lsquo;truth&rsquo; through objective means. Nothing can be believed until there is scientific proof of its existence, or until it can be logically accepted by the rational mind. The &lsquo;pure&rsquo; scientific method that modern scientists use is simple: it involves empirical observation, deduction, induction, experimentation, and conclusions reached in a way that is completely detached from human and cultural elements. Morals and value judgments have no role to play in drawing conclusions.

The contemporary understanding of science, however, demonstrates that science is a human activity, encompassing and subject to the whole spectrum and complexity of human behaviour. Emotions, beliefs, values, and interests join the scientific &lsquo;enterprise&rsquo; right from the selection of problems to the funding of research projects and the interpretation of results. Modern scientists and philosophers including Kuhn, Marx, and Hilary Rose contend that scientific decision-making is basically a political affair, in which prestige, power, and ideologies play a cardinal role.

The issue of the relevance of Islam to modern &lsquo;scientific&rsquo; thinking is flanked on both sides by extreme positions. On the one hand, there are Muslim social scientists that believe that integration of revelation and science is an abortive and impossible effort, for the former talks of reality in &lsquo;absolute terms whereas the latter regards knowledge of reality &lsquo;relative&rsquo; and tentative. Thus, they suggest that Islam, or any other religion for that matter, has nothing to do with theory building. This attitude is, however, the product of indoctrination of positivist-empiricist science, which separates religion from science. In this regard, the US National Academy of Sciences states, &ldquo;Religion and science are separate and mutually exclusive realms of human thought, presentation of which in the same context leads to a misunderstanding of both scientific theory and religious belief.&rdquo;

On the other hand, some Muslim scientists think that schism between modern science and religious beliefs is unnecessary, artificial, ideologically inspired, and the result of historical and geographical events. The contradiction between religion and science comes either from misinterpretation/distortion of divine scriptures or the positivist-empiricist limitations and paradigmatic hegemony.

Since 19th-century science was materialistic, mechanistic, and reductionist (Newtonian formulation), humanity was attributed to similar characteristics. All this was done without serious reflection on how the subject matter of social sciences differed, in very significant ways, from that of the physical sciences. This type of confusing and different phenomena is called a &lsquo;category error&rsquo; which occurs when very different categories of the phenomenon are treated alike. The &lsquo;human realm&rsquo; is different in considerable ways from the physical phenomenon.

The general agreement on positivist-empiricist tradition as the foundation of knowledge was the bitter harvest of the unfortunate church-science conflict during the Renaissance in Europe. The scientists who were studying the physical phenomena had considerable success in attaining certain knowledge about it. Hoping to achieve a comparable degree of success in the study of humanity, scientists (or rather philosophers) demanded that the methods used in natural sciences be applied to the social sciences.

A human being, according to Islam, is not entirely a material being. Rather, he/she combines material, observable, empirical aspects (body) with spiritual, non-empirical aspects (soul), in an integrated, indivisible unity. Human behaviour is the result of a dynamic interplay between these forces. Social scientists can achieve true insights into the &lsquo;unseen&rsquo; human makeup and its impact on individual and collective behaviour by going back to revelation for guidance.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2020.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>Plastic bags</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264885/plastic-bags</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264885/plastic-bags#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 20 18:05:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2264885</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Pressure has been growing on retailers to reduce use of plastic bags, packaging to promote the sustainability effort]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pressure has been growing, off and on, on Pakistan retailers to reduce their use of plastic bags and packaging to promote the sustainability effort. But often, despite loud pledges by the provincial governments to gradually phase out the environment-destroying single-use polythene bags, not much in the way of success has so far been achieved. A lack of will to implement the ban on the part of the authorities appears to be behind this failure. This is why, now superior courts have stepped up to make sure the plastic bags are shoved out of the market and recyclable paper bags are introduced in their place.

The Lahore High Court on Thursday directed the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to enforce ban on the manufacturing, sale and use of polythene bags in entire Punjab. Justice Shahid Karim was hearing a public interest petition when the petitioner&rsquo;s counsel said at present the ban on plastic bags was enforced in Lahore, Gujranwala and Faisalabad districts. He said except three, the bags were being used in all districts of the province, posing a great hurdle to achieving the real purpose of the ban on environmentally hazardous polythene bags. The judge ordered the EPA to extend this ban in the entire province and give ten days to mega stores and shopping malls for compliance of the order.

Earlier, a law officer filed a report about the ban on plastic bags in three districts and the action taken against the violators. A separate report was also submitted about the action being taken against the factories for violation of environment laws. The petition filed by a citizen stated that the plastic products caused harmful effects on human health and environment. It said the polythene bags were single-use products which took thousands of years to decompose and that they had been causing havoc in various areas of Punjab by damaging the sewerage system of cities, spreading epidemics, polluting soil, causing water pollution and endangering aquatic life.

&nbsp;

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2020.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>Do as I say, not as I do</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264884/do-as-i-say-not-as-i-do</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264884/do-as-i-say-not-as-i-do#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 20 18:04:56 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2264884</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[One wonders what our lawmakers really think about those who vote them to power]]>
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				<![CDATA[The phrase &lsquo;do as I say, not as I do&rsquo; appears to be as old as time &mdash; or as old as language, at the very at least. Given how ubiquitous it has been through the ages, one wonders if being a hypocrite is an intrinsic part of being in charge. It is almost predictable at this point. Whenever the government releases a tax directory, how little those at the very top contribute to our national revenue never ceases to amaze. Publicly, they may rail at length at the &lsquo;corrupt&rsquo; and spare no effort exhorting the masses to pay backbreaking taxes. But when it comes to their own selves, well &ldquo;do as I say, not as I do&rdquo;.

Only five parliamentarians make for as much as 60 per cent of the taxes paid by our so-called public representatives, the recently released tax directory for the 2018 tax year shows. Ironically, it is a member of the ruling party&rsquo;s rival faction &mdash; former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi &mdash; who leads the list of the highest taxpaying lawmakers in the country. How far the taxes our legislators pay reflect their income is for the experts to figure out. But it does not take more than a lay person to notice that by and large, our leaders&rsquo; lifestyles are incommensurate with what they pay back.

One wonders what our lawmakers really think about those who vote them to power. Do they really believe that people buy what they peddle or is it a case of outright contempt for the common person&rsquo;s intellect? In any case, for them and for the country, this path is ultimately untenable. As our experience with the novel coronavirus pandemic and indeed that of many other nations showed, in times of real crisis, there is nothing worse than having a &lsquo;low-trust&rsquo; society to deal with. Unfortunately, that is what is borne out of such blatant disregard for laws that our leaders themselves frame.

&nbsp;

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2020.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>Proceed with caution</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264883/proceed-with-caution-1</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264883/proceed-with-caution-1#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 20 18:04:21 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2264883</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The rest is up to fate]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[It seems that the apprehensions of many have come true after the NCOC ordered the closure of 22 educational institutions across the country for failing to comply with SOPs in just 48 hours after the first phase of reopening. At present the Punjab province has reported that 32 students and 2 school employees were found to be carrying coronavirus and while official figures haven&rsquo;t been announced, the situation in the rest of the provinces are somewhat similar. Even though the decision comes with much fear and little shock, students, teachers and parents remain vexed.

The prevailing situation has best been expressed by Dr Atta-ur-Rehman, Chairman of Prime Minister&rsquo;s Task Force on Science and Technology, in a recent TV interview where he asserted that it is practically impossible for a large number of schools to effectively implement strict SOP protocols. He further claimed that primary school students are not only too young to fully understand the extent of safety measures the schools have to take, but are also a threat to the elderly and sick at home since reports indicate that many could be asymptomatic carriers. As a result, the rate of spread could very well exacerbate out of control if schools remain open. On the other hand, the shutting down of educational institutions had already ensued multiple problems, ranging from unfair assessment and grading to lack of technological equipment and internet access for students. Thus, the current scenario has proved that the two apparent possibilities remain impractical.

However, little can be blamed on authorities as the only way to move forward amid such unprecedented conditions is through trial and error &mdash; the third and final option &mdash; where multiple different possibilities are tested until an implementable system is established. With the future riddled with uncertainty and a vaccine nowhere in sight, the authorities will need to resort to a hybrid form of education system comprising subsequent shifts from online learning to attending schools, depending on the rate of the spread. &ldquo;Proceed with caution&rdquo; can be the only advice that one can give as the slightest lapse in judgment could easily lead to the emergence of a second wave. The rest is up to fate.

&nbsp;

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2020.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>The Algerian resistance movement and Kashmir</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264882/the-algerian-resistance-movement-and-kashmir</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264882/the-algerian-resistance-movement-and-kashmir#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 20 18:03:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Arhama Siddiqa]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2264882</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[IIOJ&amp;K is fast becoming an immutable anamnesis of an unachievable struggle for self-determination]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Regarded as one of the world&rsquo;s most militarised places, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&amp;K) is fast becoming an immutable anamnesis of an unachievable struggle for self-determination. Forced demographical changes, uncensored torture mechanisms forced disappearances, indiscriminate targeted strikes and raids are just a few of the ways to describe the adversities the Kashmiris are enmeshed in. The UN has so far failed to adequately respond to the propaganda being pushed by those in India who dream of establishing a Hindu Rashtra. Despite various meetings, powerful rhetoric, diplomacy &mdash; backdoor or otherwise &mdash; no tangible result has so far been realised.

Over the years various comparisons have been drawn to the Kashmiris, including the Northern Irish, Basque Spanish, and of course the Palestinians. Another analogy rarely discussed is the correspondences to the Algerian resistance movement, which represents revolutionary paragons for the past and present and displays the spectrum of one of the world&rsquo;s most uncompromising stands against freedom of expression.

The Algerian resistance, the apex of which was the Battle of Algiers (well documented in a 1966 movie of the same title) involved various Algerian independence groups that fought for 160 years against French rule. Though the movement had many aspects, it was essentially ideological warfare as well as a rejection of French colonialism.

On July 5, 2020, coincidental with its 58th independence day, the Government of Algeria received the skulls of 24 resistance fighters who had been executed during France&rsquo;s arrogation of Algeria. In the 19th century, these skulls had been taken to France as trophies and later put on display at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris. Till now, the Algerians&rsquo; persistent demands for their return had gone unanswered. This gesture came two years after France&rsquo;s President Emmanuel Macron, during a speech invariably admitted to how his country had sanctioned the use of torture during the Algerian war. Many purport the motivation behind such an admittance &mdash; after nearly 60 years &mdash; was to achieve increased international standing under the hue of humbleness.

In 2017, it was estimated that victims of French colonial rule numbered over 10 million. During French control, various demoralised and depraved torture techniques were carried out &mdash; the most widespread method documented was the g&eacute;g&egrave;ne, a powerful apparatus that administered shocks. One journalist even likened the Algiers prison of El Biar, to &ldquo;a school of perversion for the French nation.&rdquo; Algerians also accuse the French of endeavouring to annihilate Algerian identity by waging wars against mosques and other religious faculties. Moreover, discriminatory laws that permitted the colonisers to seize Algerian lands were also passed. Supplementarily, another sensitive issue is the appropriation of thousands of Algerian artifacts, books and maps by the French. Paris has blatantly rejected Algerian demands for their return.

In February 1957, the UNGA opened the first debate on the Algerian issue. Unsurprisingly, the French protested that this was an internal matter. Subsequent UN debates were quelled by the French who kept stating their &lsquo;willingness&rsquo; to devote all efforts to an essential settlement. As usual, the UN finally reclused to its customary line where it &lsquo;hoped&rsquo; for a fair solution to the problem, in line with the principles of the UN Charter.

The mere fact that even after five decades the Battle of Algiers holds a bearing on contemporary issues, is unambivalent evidence of the folly of an international order bent on keeping such stories germane even today. It shows us how even now, the ubiquitous goal is to attain world domination. Hence, as a corollary, revanchist powers are constantly engaged in violent campaigns to achieve their objectives. Objectives that will no doubt eventually culminate into international hara-kiri.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2020.

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			<title>Tech-savvy workers boost Nordic economies</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264850/tech-savvy-workers-boost-nordic-economies</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264850/tech-savvy-workers-boost-nordic-economies#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 20 16:08:10 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2264850</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Well-developed digital infrastructure helps these economies weather pandemic]]>
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				<![CDATA[Helen Balfors, a project leader at Norwegian conglomerate Orkla, has been working from home for longer than most of her colleagues after returning from a skiing trip to Italy in February as the new coronavirus took hold in Europe.

The mother of three said that while the company had always encouraged a good work-life balance, some managers had required their employees to be in the office before the pandemic hit.

&ldquo;But now they realise it works just as well to be at home,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I just needed an extra screen and an extra keyboard from the office, which I got in a couple of days.&rdquo;

Well-developed digital infrastructure has helped the Nordic economies weather the pandemic better than most of Europe. Britain&rsquo;s economy contracted by around a fifth in the second quarter, Spain registered an 18.5% drop while the eurozone economy as a whole shrank 11.8%.

In contrast, Finland&rsquo;s gross domestic product (GDP) fell just 4.5%, although Sweden and Norway saw larger hits of 8.3% and 6.3% respectively.

&ldquo;Better digital infrastructure means we were quicker at being able to work from home. The infrastructure is there and we are used to using it,&rdquo; said Robert Bergqvist, chief economist at Swedish bank SEB. &ldquo;That has helped hold up production and consumption.&rdquo;

Denmark, Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands had the most advanced digital economies in the EU in 2018, a research paper from the European Commission showed, based on connectivity, human capital, internet use and extent of e-commerce.

The Nordics &ndash; home to telecoms infrastructure firms Ericsson and Nokia &ndash; topped the EU table for home-working even before the pandemic.

Sweden, in first place, had just under a third of workers working from home, at least occasionally, in 2019, according to the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound), an EU agency. The EU average was around 10%.

Long-term flexible employment practices, such as allowing parents to stay home with sick children, and emphasis on a healthy work-life balance have encouraged remote working. During the pandemic, around 60% of Finns have been able to work from home, around double the level in Spain. Sweden and Denmark are also well above the EU average of less than 40%, according to Eurofound.

A high proportion of information technology-focused jobs that lend themselves to distance working has helped but businesses and individuals have been quick to make the digital leap.

That, along with well-established rules for furloughing employees, means working hours have dropped less than in most of Europe &ndash; by 4.2% in Norway in the second quarter against a drop of 10.7% for the euro zone as a whole, Eurostat data shows. With workers retaining at least some income, household spending and consumption have held up well.

Eurofound&rsquo;s survey showed around 70% of Swedes, Finns and Danes were optimistic about their future against just 45% across the EU.

&nbsp;

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2020

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			<title>A nation of tradesmen seeking peace</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264849/a-nation-of-tradesmen-seeking-peace</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264849/a-nation-of-tradesmen-seeking-peace#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 20 16:07:28 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AHMED MUKHTAR]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2264849</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Though not key economic power, Afghanistan’s geographic location makes it important]]>
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				<![CDATA[Afghans are one of the best tradesmen in the world. An Afghan trader would carry a bag of numerous goods on his back and move from door to door to sell his wares.

The interesting aspect of this approach is negotiation over prices, which will come down drastically from the rates quoted initially. However, if one were to match those rates with local market prices for the same goods, these would be double the prices in the local market.

This was the scenario back in the 1990s. When the Afghans entered into a war with Russia, their markets, skills and tradesmen talent eroded and they were forced to sell whatever goods they got in Pakistani markets. They settled in every city of Pakistan and sold old clothes sent to them from Europe or America for help.

The poverty-stricken Afghans along with local (Pakistani) Pashtuns also ran other businesses like timber business and lent money at very high rates.

Interestingly, the total Pashtun population is estimated at around 63 million (roughly 60-70 million worldwide). However, this figure is disputed because of the absence of an official census in Afghanistan since 1979.

Around 42.5 million Pashtuns live in this region. They reside mostly in southern Afghanistan and northwestern Pakistan.

Pashtuns are the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan and constitute around 42-60% (16-24 million) of the population, as per various claims. Afghanistan&rsquo;s population stood at around 39.9 million in 2019 with gross domestic product (GDP) size of $18.63 billion.

Meanwhile, the country&rsquo;s GDP per capita is $565 per person. Afghanistan&rsquo;s exports of around $863 million include lithium, natural gas, gold, silver, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulphur, lead, zinc, iron, edible salt, precious and semi-precious stones. On the other hand, its imports stand at around $7 billion.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), India, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, China, Germany, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkey, the US, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Brazil are among its main trading partners.

In December 2020, Afghanistan is hosting a trade fair in Kabul to showcase its products. Success of the event will open many trade avenues for the Afghan traders.

However, prior to the trade fair, another series of meetings have been held between the Afghan Taliban and the Kabul government, backed by the US, in Qatar, which also involved Pakistan and other important players.

Parleys between the central government and Afghan Taliban for a peace agreement seem to be a good omen for the future of Afghanistan.

Afghanistan may now not be a key economic power in the region but its prime geographic location as a neighbour of China, Central Asian states, Iran and Pakistan makes it more important, even without the presence of US army.

As the US is withdrawing from Afghanistan and China is entering the scene, Indian influence in Kabul is likely to lose its strength and the Afghanistan-India partnership will come to an end soon.

Chinese and Russian influence can bring about a change in the region when Iran, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other countries are now more likely to move away from India towards China.

Though the chief driver is economic interest, the move will also impact foreign policy decisions. The proximity of China and Russia can overcome the technological advancements made by the US, attract local market buyers and promote industrial linkages.

A sharp reduction in global crude oil prices may divert the interest of world powers in the petroleum-producing Middle Eastern region to other parts of the globe.

Technological advancements like battery-driven cars may also dent demand for petroleum products and energy tools over the next couple of decades. The attraction of the Middle East as an investment hub may evaporate.

This may shift focus from the Middle East to elsewhere, making China and Russia the next attraction points for the world after the US and Europe.

The same stands true for the Afghans, who earlier scouted for jobs in the Middle East during the days of war. They are looking for stability and economic turnaround, which may take some time.

Afghans are trying to establish themselves without any huge economic linkages with any one nation, which is a sensible approach and will win approval of many, if not in the short run but surely in the long term.

An agreement among themselves to settle many issues, especially ensuring lasting peace, may help the Afghans to draw a new roadmap and may trigger a new era of peace and stability.

The writer is a journalist and media strategist

&nbsp;

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2020

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			<title>Make exporters more responsible</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264848/make-exporters-more-responsible</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264848/make-exporters-more-responsible#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 20 16:06:49 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[SYED HARIS AHMED]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Pay-for-performance culture needs to be introduced for export industries]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan now earns more through remittances than from merchandise exports. Even combined foreign exchange earnings of merchandise and services&rsquo; exports are only a few billion dollars larger than remittances.

In July-June 2019-20, the country&rsquo;s merchandise exports (free-on-board value) were around $22.51 billion, which were lower than inward remittances of $23.11 billion, according to the State Bank of Pakistan&rsquo;s balance of payments report.

This is not a good sign for the economy. It is a poor reflection of the country&rsquo;s ability to tap its resources for producing quality goods for international markets in large volumes. It also indicates that the country is not progressing well in offering to the world the kind of services in demand.

The growth in remittances is always welcome but with certain conditions. If remittances grow due to export of highly skilled workforce able to earn high per-person wages or if they grow due to foreign exchange sent home by expatriate entrepreneurs, that&rsquo;s good.

However, if remittances rise only because a large number of people, mostly unskilled and semi-skilled, go abroad to earn livelihood, it means their home economy is not working well to absorb employable people. That is exactly what is happening in the case of Pakistan.

Even before the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, the drive for localisation of jobs in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, from where the bulk of Pakistan&rsquo;s remittances come, posed a threat to further dispatch of large numbers of Pakistanis to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain.

Now, with the pandemic having affected economies of these countries and other host countries of Pakistani diaspora ie the US, UK, Malaysia and EU nations, there are slim chances of growth in export of manpower from Pakistan.

This is going to slow down the growth in remittances &ndash; if not in the coming months but surely in the coming years &ndash; unless global economic realities change for the better.

Forget the recent growth in remittances, which is because of the fact that the Pakistanis who lost jobs in the GCC and other parts of the world after Covid-19 triggered recession or slowdown in economies are returning home with their life-long savings.

That also partly reflects the effect of diversion of a few billion dollars in remittances from informal to banking channels as Pakistan launched a successful crackdown on the illegal transfer of foreign exchange back home by the overseas Pakistanis.

Over-reliance

Even if, for argument&rsquo;s sake, the remittances continue to grow year after year, over-reliance on them make us forget the urgent need for boosting exports of goods and services.

Countries that have made dazzling economic progress in recent decades have all relied much more on boosting exports and not on remittances. The reason is that the export-led growth leads to qualitative and sustainable growth of the economy &ndash; and reliance on remittances to make up for the shortfall in exports puts real economic issues under the carpet.

When goods exports are allowed to remain stagnant in an economy, as we have seen in Pakistan, industries become complacent and self-serving and do not invest in innovation and modernisation. That is what we witness in Pakistan.

When low growth in services&rsquo; exports are tolerated, education and skill development become a low priority, depriving the nation&rsquo;s youth of their right to excel in fields of higher learning and training. We also continue to witness this in Pakistan. But these things have to change now.

Pakistan can no longer afford to run a high deficit in goods and services&rsquo; trade and must aim to turn this deficit into surplus in the medium term. Without that, sustainable and job-creating economic growth is not possible at all.

To make that happen, exports of both goods and services need to be put on a high growth trajectory.

Cash handouts

However, that cannot be done unless policymakers conduct an honest and ruthless study on why Pakistan&rsquo;s exports have remained range bound between $25 billion and $30 billion over the past 10 years despite all the so-called incentive packages of hundreds of billions of rupees doled out to merchandise exporters.

If that study exposes the unscrupulous role played by some policymakers and exporters, responsibility must be fixed after a forensic audit of incentive packages, and those responsible for that must be taken to task.

There are several structural problems with exports but no responsible government should let inefficient exporters hide behind them and live on cash handouts and subsidies, ultimately financed by ordinary citizens.

Pakistan&rsquo;s merchandise exports rely heavily on textile and food. Top exporters in the two sectors enjoy a lot of political clout in the country. That is why they manage to get incentives every time in the name of export enhancement but deliver very little.

The auto sector is also notorious for its manipulative skills to get support from the government of the day. But automakers, too, have done very little to contribute significantly to the growth in exports over the past decade.

Living on cash incentives and subsidies and contributing little to export growth is not just limited to these three sectors but all other export sectors also suffer from this malice.

This should now come to a halt and incentives and subsidies to exporters must be linked to their performance. A pay-for-performance culture needs to be introduced in export-oriented industries.

In services&rsquo; export, the culture of living on incentives and subsidies is not that common. This sector rather suffers from neglect by the policymakers. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government should introduce a comprehensive scheme to boost services&rsquo; exports, particularly in the area of ICT.

Tech starts-ups must get policy attention. Future lies in growth of these tech starts-up that can bring in billions of dollars with enough official support.

The writer is a mechanical engineer and is doing masters

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2020

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			<title>Jobless growth plaguing economy</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264847/jobless-growth-plaguing-economy</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264847/jobless-growth-plaguing-economy#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 20 16:06:08 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Dr Fahd Rehman]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Unemployed workers must enhance skills to match emerging requirements]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Much has been written on Pakistan&rsquo;s economy from the perspective of macroeconomic stability where economic indicators such as gross domestic product (GDP), fiscal deficit, trade and current account deficits and debt consisting of domestic and external components draw the attention of readers.

However, media commentators, economists and policy analysts hardly discuss the phenomenon of jobless growth, which has started to plague the economy since 2000. Jobless growth is an international phenomenon, which started to emerge across the globe in early 2000. Proponents argue that this is the downside of corporate globalisation. Although corporate globalisation started in the late 1980s, this phenomenon got ascendance in early 2000.

Analysts and economists, who studied this phenomenon, stated that corporate globalisation shifted the focus of business firms from the domestic market to the external one. This shift of focus increased the significance of capital and technology. Business firms started to substitute labour for capital and deployed modern technology. The capital-intensive nature of manufacturing and production rendered many workers jobless.

Apart from manufacturing, advanced techniques have been adopted in distribution, which even reduces the significance of low-skilled workers. As a result, there is a steady increase in labour productivity of workers in organised manufacturing and even in distribution. Interestingly, low-paid unskilled workers are taking refuge in the informal sector.

Usually, the developing economies face the problem of informal employment where people end up in low productivity jobs, which do not increase the standard of living of people. Official documents hardly pay attention to the significance of informal sector. There has been growth of the informal sector in the economy since the early 2000s.

This growth in the informal sector affects the psychology of people. A business firm and its managers do not trust government officials and consider them corrupt, while government officials declare private entrepreneurs opportunist.

The lack of trust decreases the productivity of business firms, which is reflected in the aggregate economy. If economists describe the phenomenon of jobless growth, they will argue that the workers who have become jobless will find jobs elsewhere.

They go on to state that capital intensity will increase productive capacity of business firms and those firms will produce more output than before and there is a need that those jobless workers enhance their skills to match the emerging requirements.

Hence, the human capital story gets the front seat. For this to happen, the government should provide re-training facilities to those workers and subsidies to business firms.

On the contrary, the proponents of jobless growth phenomenon pose a question: from where demand comes?

They are of the view that workers create demand and spend what they get. If workers are not in job, they will not have buying and consumption power.

They further state when skills of workers become obsolete, profitable business firms will not hire them. Even those business firms will be reluctant to train them, since they will find less costly workers.

Regardless of the divergent views about this phenomenon, we need to understand that jobless growth is going to stay as this is one of the manifestations of corporate globalisation.

In order to compete in the international market, business firms either adopt cost-cutting measures in the short run or pursue revenue-enhancing strategies in the long run. In order to effectuate these measures, the business firms employ highly skilled workforce while outsourcing peripheral functions.

In a nutshell, Covid-19 has already compelled business firms to look for innovative ways to provide services to their customers. These innovative ways will help the firms to grow by employing a handful people.

Hence, gainful employment will remain a challenge for successive governments in the years to come.

The writer is the Assistant Professor of Economics at SDSB, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS)

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2020

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			<title>Social disruption and our politics</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264758/social-disruption-and-our-politics</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264758/social-disruption-and-our-politics#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 20 19:07:01 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Dr Muhammad Ali Ehsan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2264758</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Asian values and more particularly ours are quite different from the Western ones]]>
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			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Information age passed by us and we as a country stood on the sidelines and watched. Early 90s which was the beginning of this age was also the beginning of a period of new democracy in Pakistan. Had the two political parties &mdash; the PML-N) and the PPP &mdash; not wasted that decade of politics in destabilising each other&rsquo;s governments, we like much of the rest of the world could have built on the core democratic values of freedom, liberty and equality. Information age brought about an explosion of freedom of choice and while the people and the society were free and willing to make those choices, politics in this country was not; it was busy destabilising existing governments. The result people liberated politics didn&rsquo;t.

Sad part of the history is that it was not just the information age from which we could not take benefit, the early 90s was also the beginning of the period of &lsquo;great disruption&rsquo; and we were least prepared to see it coming. As the people felt free to make more choices, the physical capital, the human capital and the social capital shifted gears. A huge shift in the societal norms took place challenging the existing customs, traditions, limits, boundaries and rules. People were exposed to multiculturalism that was brought from outside world through internet to their doorsteps. No government, even the military government of Gen Musharraf, invested in the social capital and it nose-dived; and the war on terror further marginalised and removed it and the importance of investing in it from the political radar screen.

It is extremely easy to measure social capital. One can do that by looking at crime rate, family breakdowns, suicide rates, divorces, rates of unemployment, cases of rapes, tax evasion and even increased cases of litigation in a society. For the past few days, the case of the rape of an unfortunate woman on the motorway dominated the news headlines. While the discussion revolved around the inability of the &lsquo;crime protectors&rsquo; to safeguard public life to the ability of &lsquo;crime generators&rsquo; to commit heinous crimes in the broad daylight, little or no discussion took place on the social disruption caused by our lack of investment in the social capital. The western world believes that the best form of crime control is when civil society socialises so much that it produces young men and women to obey laws not under state pressure and control but through informal community pressures. What was done in the democracies of Athens and Greece is true even today. There is no substitute of community politics, autonomy of power and its decentralisation leading to community policing. Community appointed crime controllers responsible not only for crime control but steering the violators back into the mainstream society. Introducing such a system is not a rocket science and in such a system a community that takes the responsibility of its own wellbeing essentially ends up settling many issues through handshakes rather than taking them to the courts.

We failed. Our politics failed and me and every one of my generation &mdash; whether he or she likes it or not &mdash; failed this country. I say so because we allowed our social and democratic values to be disrupted and although we are making a great comeback, the social disorder that makes us close to a dysfunctional society in some areas speaks of how politics is a name that in this country can easily be associated with wasted time and opportunities.

Politics and people moved in different lanes in this country. In the fast lane social movements demanded liberty, equality, social justice and human rights. In the lazy and slow moving political lane politics could not decide what could be the right pattern of social adjustment to the economic modernisation being offered by the information age in the globalised world. Could it be keeping our children outside the fold of mainstream education? Could the social disruption be averted by educating our children by providing them one dimensional religious education in madrassas? Could the return to religious orthodoxy or any form of orthodoxy be a solution to our social disruption? Or keeping 25 million children out of schools or having ghost teachers and ghost schools? I would like to stop it here and only wonder loudly &mdash; &ldquo;Can these politicians who are collectively responsible for our social disruption and social disorder think that they can hold an All Parties Conference and people will take whatever they say seriously?&rdquo;

Beginning the Information age, like all cultures of the world, ours also got exposed to the outside world but our politics didn&rsquo;t shield and protect it. That could have been done by timely resisting the social disruption. The word culture is associated with the concept of choice and while the people can make choices about the languages, food, dress and their behaviours, politics also needed to make a choice of protecting the core values of our culture. 

Asian values and more particularly ours are quite different from the Western ones. When a police officer spoke about them, all hell broke loose. But are the women and men not treated differently in our country under the labour laws? In the West and even by the social movements moving in fast lanes, in Pakistan this is considered as gender discrimination but would we allow our women to work on holidays and late night? 

Lastly, how can we now re-build social capital? One thing is given &mdash; social order is not hierarchal and never proceeds top-down. It is an outcome of a horizontal process of interconnectedness and interdependence resulting through negotiations, dialogues, arguments and even disagreements. But when politics is not able to create an enabling environment to achieve this, all that the resulting social disorder does is make us all Hobbessians &mdash; Thomas Hobbes the author of Leviathan suggested in a natural environment of &lsquo;war of all against all&rsquo;, the State must act as a great monster to impose order. This country still needs the State to play this role.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20th, 2020.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>Certainty and severity</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264757/certainty-and-severity</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264757/certainty-and-severity#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 20 19:06:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[shahzad chaudhry]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2264757</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[When the state and people are so disconnected fragmentation and dissolution results. A nation-state ceases to exist.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[When little angel, Zainab of Kasur, was mutilated by her violator and the spark of her life extinguished the event took a life of its own for barbarity. This was the dark and the heinous part of our society that had grown alongside our rhetorically pure and sublime culture in the Islamic Republic. It was the society we had become. Why and how had we touched these depths and how as a state and a society had we lost our moorings, I will come to later, but its monstrosity pointed to normalised inhumanity. Numerous Zainabs have since become victims of this unexplained societal deprecation. 

This wasn&rsquo;t the first in Kasur, innocence of many more young boys and girls was being traded by those supported by the politically eminent. The case has beggared closure and most accused have been paroled. Those in the know need to introspect, just a bit, beyond the perfunctory message of sadness and blame-game when another as dastardly an event recurs right in our midst. A young mother was desecrated before her three young children by two detestable purveyors hunting innocence who found the family stranded on a lonely road and turned them into opportunity victims. Rapists are pathological criminals and thus immune to any sense of the right, but how their act will impact the conscience of those perceptible young minds makes it against humanity and worthy of a compatible retribution. 

So the debate that followed week after week after the Zainab murder rested on what should be done to the perpetrator of the crime after he had been apprehended and moved before the law in express satisfaction of the various statutes that obligate rights due to a convict. Those on the progressive side of the debate felt the society needed to first examine why and how does a man become the animal that he does. An animal alright but with human rights! Or, that death penalty was too uncivil and most of the progressive world had given up on it for it being savage and ruthless. Perhaps correction and deterrence could be achieved with far less. Most liberal thinkers and writers have spelled a similar sentiment. With one caveat though: they are talking to a progressive society and of a progressive society. 

To a differently developed Pakistani society it has always been Greek. Somewhere along the way we lost the society that could resonate with such decency and refinement. We wish to apply the gold standard to a trashed people. Why was the society dumped may be explained by the attitude of the rulers of the past but we made no amends either and found it opportune to perpetuate the rot. This gave us, the rulers, the control of these dispossessed barely humans. If the ruled turned into sub-humans in the manner of their conduct or baseness why should their animalistic recourse surprise us now? It seriously questions the paradigm of distributive justice which needs to be addressed forthwith. This is our new political challenge which needs redress not the politics of the past which created these issues for us and the society today. The young Turks in each political party need to understand and realize this fault-line and face up to it. They have a responsibility to build the future society and preserve the state. Hope, they know, are equipped and are listening and can get away from the politics of their forbears. 

On the issue of retributive justice the debate is stuck between certainty of punishment Vs severity of punishment. Certainty and proportionality together form the principle of deterrence. And this is universally applicable in any form of competitive existence whether social or strategic but where proportionality other than being an arguable aspect is also superimposed by a leaky and a compromised justice system the criminals find an easy escape. The crime thus keeps getting repeated. It translates into impunity which mauls societal values which found a society. This mutates the society into sub-to-semi-human form and life into animalistic existence. Add to it the inequity and segmental polarisation and you come across a state with a fragmented and a dissolving society. That creates &lsquo;otherness&rsquo;. So when the two despicable chose to do what they did, in their mind perhaps the otherness ruled. To them she was another specie not one from among them. They will recognise their own mother, sister or daughter but to them the victim doesn&rsquo;t fit in any of those classifications except a commodity to be reviled. Rape is the ultimate expression of venom and debasing another soul.

This kind of animalistic behaviour may not be treatable with conservative responses only. A moral regression will need to be equally shock-treated to instill fear and thus deter from recurrence. If a justice system is as inefficient as it is unfortunately it just might help to make a few exceptions. Death for such violators of human dignity as in a rape is a given but how public it should be or how expressive or severe it needs to be to make an impact and treat what is endemic is what needs consideration. Mere public hangings were resorted to and left an impact but crime reappeared as soon as the purveyors sensed laxity. Our children and women need to be protected by legislative authority on the finality of punishment and its exemplary execution where it can serve as a persisting deterrent. Public execution through firing squads is one such example where minors and women are the victims. Let this not be clouded by ideational debates. This society needs to be put back on track through as much of a shock retribution for violators of human dignity as their dismissal of remorse for their acts.

Why have we become as heinous a people without the slightest sense of wrongdoing is a result of a misdirected society which has no anchor. Any society would have four thought leaders to give shape to its mental make-up: its teachers; its religious scholars; public intellectuals, who along with the media enable a public discourse; and the political leadership, who at all times must relate to their constituents and anchor the evolution of society. The teacher has lost his place and relevance when he was dropped in the societal pecking order; the religious scholar is perceived compromised and polarised towards his own belief system and is an element of further segmentation of the society; the media is largely perceived to be sold out to the highest bidder &mdash; most if not all. That only leaves the politicians who can still boast of active links with the people and shape their minds and humanism. They are instead taken by the lust of making more for themselves or their ilk and have left the people to their fate. In policy, governance and administration political governments have through neglect closed options on the deprived and the common to develop differently. When the state and the people are so disconnected fragmentation and dissolution results. A nation-state ceases to exist. In such a state human decency and consideration is the farthest from anyone&rsquo;s mind.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20th, 2020.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>Should we pursue happiness or success?</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264755/should-we-pursue-happiness-or-success</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264755/should-we-pursue-happiness-or-success#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 20 19:05:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[m.bilal.lakhani]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2264755</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Perhaps I put the cart before the horse]]>
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				<![CDATA[Throughout my life, I thought happiness could be achieved after I reached a certain station of success. Even when striving so hard for success that it robs me of my happiness in the moment, I thought it was worthy to sacrifice happiness at the altar of success. Even when things other than the pursuit of success brought me happiness, I chose to diminish their importance and prioritise the pursuit of success. In the end, I was neither happy nor did I achieve the station of success I was chasing. What went wrong? 

Perhaps I put the cart before the horse. I always saw success as the means to an end, with the end state being happiness. But what if this lens through which I viewed my goals was the reason my life played out like a bad Bollywood movie on repeat. What if happiness was the means to an end, with the end state being success? Stay with me as I unpack and then attack this statement. 

Consider the everyday choices that stitch together the fabric of our lives, the biggest one being, how we choose to spend our time. From the moment we wake up, especially in these Covid times, we make micro-decisions. Should we indulge in a morning routine &mdash; where we take a walk, pray/meditate, break fast &mdash; or do we dive right into work and count the blessing of not having a commute while we work from home? Should we take a break during the day and call a friend/have a lazy lunch or keep going a mile a minute at work?

The lazy joy of happiness becomes hard work when we&rsquo;re so hard at work. To slow down and enjoy the moment &mdash; savour the happiness of our health, family, friends, little indulgences &mdash; appears to conflict with the time we could invest in the pursuit of success. The irony is that without taking these moments to feel joy and decompress, one has no fuel or mental energy to pursue success at their peak. But if one is constantly self-critical in these moments of joy, worrying about taking time away from the pursuit of success, then one is really operating in the worst of both worlds. 

Shouldn&rsquo;t happiness trump success anyways? Why do we pursue success if it causes us so much heart ache? The easy answers to this is that we pursue success because it&rsquo;s how we&rsquo;re wired personally (type A personality) or because of how we&rsquo;re socialised. A marginally deeper answer is that we want to be successful to prove to others that we are better than them. A slightly deeper thought is that we want to prove to ourselves that we are better than others by proving to others that we are better than them. Another tangent is that we just want to be loved and respected. Success is an easy shortcut to securing the love and respect of others. 

In my case, I over-compensate for my insecurities by trying to pursue success. If I&rsquo;m successful, people will love and respect me. But this is such a narrow, fearful expression of my human potential. On the flip side, I believe God has blessed me with certain gifts that I want to use in service of humanity and my country. My core purpose then is to be in service of society rather than pursuing stations of success. I can pursue this purpose without the crushing pressure of a deadline, while being happy along the way. But I don&rsquo;t give myself the licence to do so. I must fight this impulse as it&rsquo;s unhealthy but where do I start?

I guess a good start is to be kind to myself. Building an everyday routine that prioritises happiness first will automatically fuel success as it creates mental bandwidth versus eating it. Next, it&rsquo;s important to ask myself uncomfortable questions about why I want to pursue success on a deadline and what is the real purpose of my life. It&rsquo;s amazing how much we worry about so little in the grander scheme of things. How fast we run in the race of the day to day life without stopping to ask deeper questions about why we&rsquo;re running in the first place and what we&rsquo;re running away from.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20th, 2020.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>Trans rights</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264753/trans-rights</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264753/trans-rights#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 20 19:04:39 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2264753</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[It is encouraging that the voice of the unheard is being heard now]]>
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				<![CDATA[With consistent efforts of enlightened people, societal attitude towards the transgender community is gradually improving. They are now being largely accepted as no different from others deserving all human rights like any other humans. They have been issued National Identity Cards giving them the right to get all other rights granted to all citizens of the country. However, we still have a long way to go to get society&rsquo;s mindset changed to remove the long-held bias against this disadvantaged segment. Despite having achieved notable success in prevailing over society to give up prejudices against this community, they are being subjected to various kinds of violence, mistreatment and even murder. The sad reality, however, remains that recent years have seen a rise in crimes against transpeople like sexual assault, intimidation, harassment, murder and murderous attacks.

In view of their increasing exposure to a variety of dangers, the community has once again called for enactment of laws to ensure their safety. Recently, a consultative meeting was held in Hyderabad under the aegis of an NGO where the Sindh Transgender Protection Policy was discussed. Representatives of transpeople present at the meeting forcefully presented the case for treating them like other humans and for providing them effective protection. A trans rights activist said recommendations were being gathered from stakeholders and collated to ensure that the law provided them the required protection and treated them as equal citizens. She expressed determination that they would make sure the law was not only enacted, but implemented as well. Also in attendance was the chairperson of the Sindh Commission on the Status of Women, who affirmed that transgender persons are an integral part of society and deserved all the rights guaranteed in the Constitution.

According to independent sources, 65 transpersons have been killed since 2015 in the country and another 1,500 have been subjected to violence. On September 9, a transwomen named Gul Parna was murdered in Peshawar. It is, however, encouraging that the voice of the unheard is being heard now.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20th, 2020.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>Karachi calling</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264752/karachi-calling</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264752/karachi-calling#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 20 19:04:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2264752</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Karachi is desperately waiting for its saviours]]>
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				<![CDATA[Karachi has yet to recover from the wrath of the August rains. The rains were unprecedented in terms of the volume &mdash; 484mm in a single month, of August, including 223.5mm in a single day, on August 27 &mdash; and the damages it caused were unparalleled. Nearly 50 people lost their lives to the devastating rains in the metropolis; the entire civic infrastructure caved in; and the public and private properties, including cars, household appliances, and industrial stocks and merchandise, were spoiled. The rains even left many houses in a state where they cannot be inhabited again.

The rain wrath was widespread, and both poor class localities and upscale neighbourhoods were on the same page in terms of devastation. The roads and highways got flooded, cutting off one part of the city from another; the stormwater drains, already choked and encroached upon, failed to absorb the heavy cloudburst; the rainwater made way into the houses and shops like never before, with some of the neighbourhoods went several feet under water, and people were forced to take refuge on the rooftops; the power supply was suspended, not to be restored for days in some parts of the city; and the communications system was also disrupted affecting cellphone networks and internet services. 

The rain has long gone and it&rsquo;s been dry for more than three weeks now, but the signs of the rain destruction are still visible. Roads and thoroughfares in nearly the entire city stand dug up and driving to office and back home is a daily agony for motorists. Gutters continue to overflow, even in the post neighbourhoods, with the air filled with the stinking smell. Residents in many areas are complaining of the sewage water seeping into the drinking-water pipelines, with none of the authorities bothered. The mounds of filth and dirt keep growing as an eyesore across the city. And to add to the agony, the duration of electricity loadshedding has increased of late, reportedly due to the K-Electric power stations getting low gas pressure. 

Many parts of the metropolis &mdash; Naya Nazimabad and Old City areas to name a few &mdash; are still not completely cleared of the rainwater. The authorities concerned simply don&rsquo;t realise how dangerous the accumulating rainwater can be. To quote an instance, a four-storey building collapsed in the city&rsquo;s Korangi area on September 11. According to the residents of the building, the rainwater had been standing in the basement of the building since end August, but none of the civic agencies were bothered. An SBCA official was of the view that the building collapsed due to weak foundations and columns which were further weakened due to the accumulating rainwater. Karachi&rsquo;s twin city, Hyderabad, also witnessed loss of human life due to the standing rainwater. A boy, 8, disappeared in a pond of rainwater in Latifabad neighbourhood only to be found as breathless corpse hours later. 

The rain devastation did bring the neglected financial capital of the country into national focus and led to the Centre and Sindh &mdash; the two political adversaries &mdash; joining hands for fixing the perennial problems that Karachiites have been suffering from for decades. The two sides announced a joint Rs1.1 trillion worth of &lsquo;Karachi Transformation Plan&rsquo; aimed at reviving the lost glory of a city that welcomes everybody into its fold but that nobody owns. However, despite the passage of two weeks, things don&rsquo;t seem to be moving in line with the announcement. Not even the first steps &mdash; like lifting the garbage and clearing the streets and roads of the sludge the rainwater has turned into &mdash; have been taken. Karachi is desperately waiting for its saviours.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20th, 2020.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>On state and civil society</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264751/on-state-and-civil-society</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264751/on-state-and-civil-society#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 19 Sep 20 19:03:38 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Shakeel Ahmed Shah]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2264751</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The difference is possibly due to different political theoretical standpoints]]>
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				<![CDATA[The notion of civil society has a long history. Its roots can be traced to Aristotle&rsquo;s writings. Jean Cohen and Andrew Arato argue that &ldquo;political community&rdquo;, as was used by Aristotle, refers to what we call civil society today. Other terms like &ldquo;social capital&rdquo; and &ldquo;mass society&rdquo; have been used by modern writers on democracy like Habermas. Hegel&rsquo;s description of civil society is what attracts me &mdash; &ldquo;Sphere of civil society is the territory of mediation&hellip; where there is free play for every idiosyncrasy &hellip; and where waves of every passion gush forth, regulated only by reason.&rdquo; However, in considering the various definitions, it appears that civil society refers to institutions, organisations and platforms that aren&rsquo;t part of the state, but are independent with an aim to facilitate society&rsquo;s advancement.

When there is involvement of different institutions, organisations and platforms, a high possibility of differences in approaches of these civil society entities also exists. Pamela Paxton rightly points out that civil society&rsquo;s role has been appraised by different scholars in different contexts &mdash; Habermas would support it as a positive force that ensures liberty and individual freedom; but in Antonio Gramsci&rsquo;s context, civil society is a positive force as in the case of trade unions led by bourgeoise which helped elites sustain their political hegemony.

The difference is possibly due to different political theoretical standpoints. While Habermas appreciates civil society for allowing &Ouml;ffentlichkeit culture to flourish, which is characterised by dialogue between state and society; for Gramsci, civil society is not good as it helped progressives win in the East. Reflecting on the relationship between civil society and state and the outcomes of the relationship, Gramsci in his Prison Notebooks says that the winning of progressives in the East was because &ldquo;in Russia the State was everything; civil society was primordial and gelatinous. In the West, there was a proper relation between the State and civil society and when the State trembled a sturdy structure of civil society was at once revealed.&rdquo;

This explanation is actually a critique on civil society from a communist point of view, but is also significant in understanding the important role of civil society. In times when the state trembles a robust civil society can be helpful in sustaining it and can help the state win the situation.

Pakistan&rsquo;s situation is not very encouraging due to its weak economy and ensuing poverty. A robust and vibrant civil society is what can help Pakistan sustain itself as a strong country. But unfortunately, the relationship between the state and civil society in Pakistan is marred by strong conflicts between civil society and government possibly because of the sea gap between the two. It seems the government doesn&rsquo;t take civil society seriously as there is not sufficient room for it to flourish. Meanwhile, civil society continues struggling against the force exerted by the government. In such a case, civil society efforts would be arbitrary, and the result would be a sporadic brawl with harmful outcomes. Some examples being violent conflicts between lawyer groups and government forces.

A properly defined and harmonious relationship between the state and civil society seems a necessity now. The responsibility lies on the government&rsquo;s shoulders to allow civil society to grow and open the space for mediation for rational dialogue, the result of which can hopefully re-direct the course of the country into being a welfare state and help democracy take root. Otherwise in the absence of a properly defined relationship, the rift between civil society and the state would add to the problems rather than contributing positively towards national prosperity.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20th, 2020.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>The myth and reality of Afghan-owned peace process</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264454/the-myth-and-reality-of-afghan-owned-peace-process</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264454/the-myth-and-reality-of-afghan-owned-peace-process#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 20 18:29:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Dr Moonis Ahmar]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2264454</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Ownership of the peace process by Taliban and other stakeholders is the only way to give people a break from bloodshed]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The so-called Afghan peace process has reached an interesting phase with the opening of the Doha talks between warring Afghan factions. Participated by the concerned stakeholders including the United States, Pakistan, China as well as representatives of the Taliban and the Afghan government, Doha talks focused on issues which, for decades, have been a cause of war, violence, terrorism and political polarisation in Afghanistan. 

What is the Afghan-owned peace process and to what extent is it a myth or reality? How can the four-point peace proposal presented by Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister help the process of peace and stability in Afghanistan? Why do the Taliban still insist on introducing their version of sharia and how is their non-compliance with democracy and political pluralism a non-starter of the peace process? These are questions which are raised in the context of the prevailing peace talks on Afghanistan. 

The four-point peace plan presented by Pakistan addresses the core of conflicts in that unfortunate country which has been mired in violence, terrorism and political and socio-economic predicament since 1973. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has suggested that one should learn lessons from the bitterness of the past faced by Afghanistan. His last three points focused on economic engagement, reconstruction and a time-bound return of refugees. Taliban political office director Mullah Baradar called for an Islamic system in Afghanistan and assured the world of a peaceful and prosperous life for the Afghans while Abdullah Abdullah, the Afghan Peace Council chief, called for adhering to democracy, the Constitution, freedom of speech, rights of women and minorities, rule of law, and civil and political rights. He asserted, &ldquo;We call for a humanitarian ceasefire. The declaration of humanitarian ceasefire will enable humanitarian aid and development programmes to reach all parts of Afghanistan and benefit our people.&rdquo;

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, whose country has a key role in the Afghan peace process, is confident that following the February 29 agreement with the Taliban, the US will scale down its forces to 4,500 by October this year. Such a reduction will be in sharp contrast with the surge of American forces in Afghanistan which had totalled 100,000 in 2011. Yet, the US intends to maintain its strategic presence in Afghanistan despite considerable withdrawal of its forces unlike abandoning the country after the signing of the Geneva Accords on April 14, 1988.

The Doha talks on Afghanistan which were to commence in March were derailed because of a deadlock between the Afghan government and the Taliban on the release of thousands of Taliban prisoners. It was only after a breakthrough between the Taliban and the Kabul regime on that contentious issue that the intra-Afghan talks began on September 12. Since the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan in February 1989, and the outbreak of civil war leading to the seizure of power by the Taliban in September 1996, the absence of an Afghan-owned peace process galvanised violence and bloodshed in the country. 

The occupation of Afghanistan by US-led coalition forces in October 2001 and the transformation of the Afghan conflict reflected the failure of Afghan stakeholders to start the process of dialogue. Given the complicated geographical location of Afghanistan and the lack of ownership by Afghans, violence and terrorism continued which not only deepened conflict fatigue but also compelled the Taliban and the Afghan regime to unleash the process of dialogue. 

There are three major requirements to bridge the gap in myth and reality of the Afghan-owned peace process.

First, despite assurances by the Afghan government and the Taliban about establishing peace in Afghanistan through dialogue, there still exists a huge trust deficit between the two major stakeholders. It is for the first time that there are direct talks engaging the Taliban and Afghan government representatives in Doha as since the induction of Hamid Karzai as Afghan president in December 2001 and the formation of the Kabul regime with the support of US-led coalition forces, the Taliban had refused to accept the Afghan regime&rsquo;s legitimacy and had demanded its dismantling as a precondition for peace talks. Now, the Taliban have, after reaching a deal with the US in February, agreed to initiate dialogue with what they called the illegitimate Afghan regime. Unless the trust deficit is bridged between the Taliban and their Afghan counterparts, including the Afghan government, there cannot be any breakthrough in the Afghan peace process.

Second, the Afghan-owned peace process is still a myth because local stakeholders lack political will, determination, commitment and clarity to pull their country out of decades of civil war, violence and terrorism. Unless, those engaged in the intra-Afghan dialogue in Doha and elsewhere are professional in their approach in terms of reaching a durable ceasefire, demilitarisation, deweaponisation, rule of law, good governance and upholding democratic process, one cannot expect peace in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the Taliban are unable to understand that their country cannot revert to the past, and governance based on a ruthless and suppressive order in which women and minorities live as sub-human creatures cannot work. The Taliban&rsquo;s interpretation of sharia is a major problem in pulling Afghanistan from the web of social and economic backwardness. 

Post-Taliban Afghanistan cannot impose a political order based on an orthodox and ultra-conservative way of life. A major requirement in the Afghan-owned peace process is tolerance, adherence to political pluralism, rule of law, good governance and justice. If the Taliban reject democracy as a mode of governance, it would prolong stagnation in the so-called peace process. Furthermore, if the Taliban want peace, stability and well-being of their people, they should cease violence and attacks on Afghan forces. There cannot be meaningful dialogue in Doha unless the Taliban agree to a permanent ceasefire and the Afghan government accept the Taliban as a major stakeholder for peace in their country. 

Third, unless civil society groups, political parties and vulnerable segments of Afghan society are included in the peace process, one cannot expect any smooth sailing of Doha talks. An inclusive approach, instead of an exclusive one, needs to be pursued for accomplishing the goal of a comprehensive peace in Afghanistan. 

Afghanistan, like other conflict zones, is at crossroads. In this scenario, Pakistan&rsquo;s stakes are obvious because unless violence ceases in Afghanistan and the Afghan-owned peace process reaches its logical conclusion, refugees will not go back to their country and the security of Pakistan&rsquo;s western border would remain an issue. Yet, Pakistan has, unlike three decades ago, marginal influence over the Taliban who are still a cause of violence and terrorism in Afghanistan. 

Unless, the Afghan majority who resent the Taliban&rsquo;s use of violence as a weapon for seeking power are united and isolate them, the situation in Afghanistan would remain chaotic. Ownership of the peace process by the Taliban and other Afghan stakeholders is the only way to give the people of Afghanistan a break from decades of bloodshed in their war-torn country.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18th, 2020.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>Covid-19 and climate change</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264453/covid-19-and-climate-change</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264453/covid-19-and-climate-change#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 20 18:28:21 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Syed Mohammad Ali .]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2264453</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Poor are expected to bear the brunt of climate change, which will exacerbate already glaring global inequalities]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Covid-19 has caused unprecedented upheaval globally, impacting all facets of life, and its consequences will be felt for several years to come. The global threat posed by the pandemic is by no means over, yet another major crisis is brewing which deserves urgent attention of policymakers around the world as well. 

In a recent blog, Bill Gates again warned that &ldquo;As awful as this pandemic is, climate change could be worse.&rdquo; While Gates places much faith in the power of technology and global elites to address the impact of global challenges, he does aptly point out that the impending threat of climate change can unleash impacts more varied and long-lasting than those of Covid-19.

Governments in poorer countries like ours are already experiencing pressures to contend with severer floods and droughts, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change. As the situation worsens, already struggling governments will have little choice but to spend more of their scant resources dealing with the effects of climate change.

Social media was abuzz with images of the pollution clearing up as the global economy came to a grinding halt due to worldwide lockdowns due to Covid-19. However, the global response to Covid-19 has barely made a dent in the causes of climate change, according to a new UN report. The United in Science report brings together experts from international organisations to provide a snapshot of the state of global climate today. It notes that despite CO2 emissions plummeting during a few months of Covid-19 lockdown, emission concentrations continue to rise. The past five years are the warmest on record.

Scientists are warning that global warming can also create more opportunities for pathogens to thrive and spread. Climate change caused by deforestation, urban crowding and wet markets for wild game create enabling conditions for future pandemics.

There are evident lessons to be learnt from Covid-19. Inequality can be evidently exacerbated by pandemics. Covid-19 forced lockdowns which have hurt the poor disproportionately, who have been more susceptible to the virus due to their cramped living and working conditions, and also had less opportunities to seek adequate treatment. The poor are expected to bear the brunt of worsening climate change too, which will exacerbate already glaring global inequalities.

Delaying climate change mitigation will prove to be costly. We should learn from the devastation caused by Covid-19, which could have been significantly curbed had there been more transparency around its initial spread, and less lethargy in government responses.

Some, like the EU, have been wise to opt for green stimulus measures to overcome the Covid-19 crisis. In the US, the Covid-19 response has been a disaster, and if President Trump secures another term, the situation could be bleak not only for contending with pandemics and environmental challenges within the US, but for multilateral efforts for which US financial support remains vital.

Unfortunately, many governments tried to use diversionary tactics rather than addressing their own incompetence to deal with the Covid-19 crisis. As the virus wreaks havoc in India, its government has ramped up its populist messages and used Covid-19 as an opportunity to clamp down on dissent. Other countries ranging from Turkey to Venezuela have employed similar strategies.

Pakistan is in a self-congratulatory mode, as it has been relatively spared by Covid-19 thus far. But we are not adequately prepared for future pandemics nor the varied threats of climate change. Pakistan does not have a share in the global economy to make a drastic impact on global warming, but we are not doing enough to contend with its consequences or curb local causes of pollution. Flood mitigation and contending with drought are not getting the attention they deserve. We are set to proceed full speed ahead with investing in a coal dependent energy portfolio. No long-lasting measures have been implemented to lessen air pollution, which bring large parts of the country to its knees every smog season.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18th, 2020.

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			<title>Books come to rescue</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264452/books-come-to-rescue</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264452/books-come-to-rescue#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 20 18:27:31 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[Dr Pervez Tahir]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Some pieces remarkably put together interesting debates on the fashionable league tables on competitiveness]]>
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				<![CDATA[I had resisted the temptation to delve into the Single National Curriculum (SNC) until this week when I thought there was nothing else to write home about. But I found two newly published books in my mail, just in time to rescue. The first, Alternative Vision: Voices of Reason, is written by Zaman Khan, a friend from the days of the fervour to make a revolution overnight. It dons a foreword by the indomitable IA Rehman, now Ibn Abdur Rehman. (No more need to be underground, perhaps!) He was a sane voice then, as he is now. To him, the book is a treasury of free voices. The other book by Jamil Nasir, Development for an Equitable Society, is a lament on the treasury of the usual kind. Nadeemul Haque, also from the heady days of shouting radical change, has done the foreword. Once he, too, hid behind &ldquo;Abdus Samad&rdquo; to write for newspapers. His current &ldquo;webinar a day&rdquo; activity seems like a run up to be the IA Rehman of economists.

Back to the books. Both are based on the authors&rsquo; contributions to the newspapers. Perhaps they found out that I also published a book of my newspaper pieces in 1974, Pakistan: An Economic Spectrum, in the Spectrum Series started by that kind soul, Sheikh Sahib of Co-opera Book Shop &amp; Art Gallery on the Mall, Lahore. Professor Siddiq Kalim&rsquo;s Pakistan: A Cultural Spectrum was published a year before. But I digressed again. Zaman Khan&rsquo;s book is a collection of 67 interviews with literatures, artistes, historians, politicians, champions of rights, famous women and some not-so-famous men. Those interviewed are not confined to Pakistan or South Asia or Britain. There is a poet from Sweden, a South Asian scholar from France, a historian from Japan, a scholar from Russia and a Turkish intellectual. Hussain Naqi is the only missing person. While most conversations have a punchline or leave a thought to ponder, my favourites are those with a no-holds-barred Kishwar Naheed and the working class leader, Mirza Ibrahim.

He was once produced before Lahore&rsquo;s deputy commissioner, who asked whether he knew him. &ldquo;No, but I do know Tegh Allahbadi,&rdquo; the pen name Mustafa Zaidi.

The starting point of Jamil Nasir&rsquo;s book is the claim that his newspaper articles are not quickies, but analyses drawing on serious academic research. Going through the book, one finds it hard to challenge him. Some pieces remarkably put together interesting debates on the fashionable league tables on competitiveness and happiness. Others convey, in an intelligible manner, what is wrong with growth, even with prefixes of pro-poor, inclusive or whatever. An interesting piece relevant to the situation today highlights the short-lived excitement about exports following depreciation pushed by the IMF. In dealing with the main question raised by him &mdash; development for an equitable society &mdash; he uses the familiar sleight of hand seen on opinion pages. &ldquo;Ours is a particular case of &lsquo;King John Redistribution&rsquo; where the rich are getting richer through subverting institutions and political processes and the poor are suffering due to acute inequalities in the society. Do we need a &lsquo;Robin Hood Redistribution&rsquo; through a social and political revolution? I leave it to the readers.&rdquo; The only regret by one who actually tried, Mirza Ibrahim, was that &ldquo;We could not bring revolution in Pakistan.&rdquo; With the age of revolution gone, Jamil Nasir&rsquo;s prognosis is to reform and strengthen the institutions of growth, besides investing in the education and health of the poor &mdash; a reorientation of growth narrative, that is.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18th, 2020.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>City on islands</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264297/city-on-islands</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2264297/city-on-islands#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 20 19:43:43 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Haphazard actions don’t bring results. Such actions could be cited as a bad example.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The announcement by the federal government to build a new city on the twin islands of Dingi and Bhandar along Karachi coast seems to be made for the consumption of some particular groups of people, since it has met with stiff opposition from the Sindh government and the province&rsquo;s civil society. Ismail Rahoo, a provincial minister, says the federal government cannot undertake construction work on lands under the jurisdiction of provincial governments without the concurrence of the latter. He has contended that the Centre&rsquo;s proposal is in violation of both the Constitution and laws governing rights of nations over islands. Under international conventions, provinces are the rightful owners of islands and sea resources within 12 nautical miles off their coasts.

Civil society members have also come out in opposition, expressing fears that the proposed city would deprive 800,000 fishermen residing on these isles of livelihood and further impoverish the already poor fishermen and other residents. They are afraid that the proposed construction would also destroy the mangrove forests spread over thousands of acres on the islands. Their fears about destruction of mangroves are not unfounded as mangroves&rsquo; obliteration would result in multiple dangers. Mangroves help protect coastal areas from tsunami and other such threats. Their destruction will further upset an already deranged ecology. These forests serve as nurseries of fish and shrimps and creeks from Karachi to Thatta as fishing areas, so their disappearance would only result in miseries for residents of the islands. Civil society members are also critical of the proposed setting up of the Pakistan Islands Development Authority in connection with construction of the planned city and other such constructions.

The plan to build a new city defies comprehension since the authorities have failed to provide basic necessities to the already existing cities. Haphazard actions don&rsquo;t bring results. Such actions could be cited as a bad example.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17th, 2020.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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