Media watch: Aid and it's distribution

After the flow of international aid, it is time for Pakistan to decide on it's internal distribution.

Media watch is a daily round-up of key articles featured on news websites, hand-picked by The Express Tribune web staff.

The aid maze

There being no such thing as a free lunch, the money comes with strings. Not new strings, but old strings retied. Specifically, the World Bank is not prepared to reposition itself regarding financial reforms which include the implementation of the tax and energy sector reform, which includes GST and VAT, a reduction in inflation, a curbing of the budget deficit and full autonomy for the State Bank. (thenews.com.pk)

National flood relief strategy

The prime minister’s decision to convene an all-parties conference (APC) soon to discuss the flood devastation and the subsequent relief and rehabilitation efforts is another welcome step. Mr Gilani should have done this sooner but perhaps the government was still reeling from the shock of the disaster. Now is the time to pull together as a country, which seems to be pulling apart. Mr Gilani’s reconciliation policy has often been a success and hopefully this time too it will help. (dailytimes.com.pk)

Besides floods, CCI may also discuss 18th Amendment

The federal government, the sources said, might present the model adopted for disbursements of aid among 2.5 million people displaced from Swat and other areas of Malakand division and their rehabilitation. The federal government announced earlier that Rs20,000 would be paid to each affected family as an initial grant, but the move was stalled when the provinces failed to present lists of the people and areas affected by the floods. (dawn.com)

IMF emergency aid

Prompt response of the multilateral institutions to help Pakistan at this critical juncture is undoubtedly very encouraging and reflects a very sympathetic attitude of the international community to our plight. With the scale of devastation experienced by the country, Pakistan would have found itself in more dire straits in the absence of the generous flow of assistance from a variety of outside sources. (brecorder.com)

President for generating more resources

“If the foreign governments help us they would pay us from their own taxpayers’ money. Then this question arises that why can’t our own taxpayers share this burden with their brethren in time of need,” Babar quoted the President while addressing the crucial meeting of Sindh Cabinet, which was also attended by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday. (nation.com.pk)