How businessmen can save Karachi
Business leadership must shed personal conflicts and unite to achieve the objectives of peace and security in Karachi.
The near-total collapse of law and order in Karachi — in spite of the ever-presence of the police, paramilitary forces, armed private security guards, salaried neighbourhood vigilantes and even bands of concerned citizens — has shaken its foundation. This has created a panicky situation for citizens who are justifiably terrified and fear that the upward trend has made living in Karachi a nightmare.
Recently, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) held deliberations to evolve a strategy against the worsening and never-ending law and order issue, eventually announcing strikes. The Sindh chief minister tried to convince them to withdraw their calls by giving hollow pledges and the Sindh governor held a marathon four-hour joint session with the FPCCI and KCCI leadership. Finally, the governor was able to get them to postpone the strike.
The strike would only create temporary waves but would not solve the grassroots problem. Its postponement reflects the backfoot stance that is common when people in the corridors of power prevail upon business leaders. It is now time for the business leadership to play on the front foot like cricket players in Super Sixes matches. It should adopt a radical strategy to prove their point. The time has come for Karachi’s business leaders to play like Brian Lara. The writing is on the wall; Karachi is becoming a war zone.
The economy is not encouraging, while transferring assets abroad is not the only viable solution. Business leaders know that diabolical internal and external forces are making it an insurmountable task for them to bring about sanity in their businesses. Therefore, the following actions should be initiated.
When there is a landlord-tenant dispute, the rent is deposited in the court until the matter is decided. Similarly, the leadership should announce that businessmen should deposit their taxes with the Supreme Court, requesting it to decide on the release of the revenue to the FBR after ascertaining improvement in law and order. Secondly, a private security force of retired commandos should be organised to devise and implement a security strategy for trade and industry. The chief of army staff should be requested to delegate a serving major general to assist the security force. The governor should also be advised to order the inspector general of police, director general of Rangers, home secretary and representatives of sensitive organisations to hold a weekly meeting with leaders on a designated day, time and place and update them with the handling of the law and order situation.
The promises of arms licences to businessmen should be translated into practical implementation. Political parties must be given a strongly-worded warning that they should help bring peace to the city instead of playing politics. The COAS should be demanded to come heavy against the banned terrorist groups that have found a haven in Karachi. Finally, the business leadership must shed personal conflicts and unite to achieve the objectives of peace and security in Karachi because Karachi is the economic mega city and any criminal event there is detrimental to prosperity of Pakistan. A lackadaisical attitude towards ushering in peace is against all norms of good governance and reflects submission to terrorists and criminals.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 6th, 2012.
Recently, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) held deliberations to evolve a strategy against the worsening and never-ending law and order issue, eventually announcing strikes. The Sindh chief minister tried to convince them to withdraw their calls by giving hollow pledges and the Sindh governor held a marathon four-hour joint session with the FPCCI and KCCI leadership. Finally, the governor was able to get them to postpone the strike.
The strike would only create temporary waves but would not solve the grassroots problem. Its postponement reflects the backfoot stance that is common when people in the corridors of power prevail upon business leaders. It is now time for the business leadership to play on the front foot like cricket players in Super Sixes matches. It should adopt a radical strategy to prove their point. The time has come for Karachi’s business leaders to play like Brian Lara. The writing is on the wall; Karachi is becoming a war zone.
The economy is not encouraging, while transferring assets abroad is not the only viable solution. Business leaders know that diabolical internal and external forces are making it an insurmountable task for them to bring about sanity in their businesses. Therefore, the following actions should be initiated.
When there is a landlord-tenant dispute, the rent is deposited in the court until the matter is decided. Similarly, the leadership should announce that businessmen should deposit their taxes with the Supreme Court, requesting it to decide on the release of the revenue to the FBR after ascertaining improvement in law and order. Secondly, a private security force of retired commandos should be organised to devise and implement a security strategy for trade and industry. The chief of army staff should be requested to delegate a serving major general to assist the security force. The governor should also be advised to order the inspector general of police, director general of Rangers, home secretary and representatives of sensitive organisations to hold a weekly meeting with leaders on a designated day, time and place and update them with the handling of the law and order situation.
The promises of arms licences to businessmen should be translated into practical implementation. Political parties must be given a strongly-worded warning that they should help bring peace to the city instead of playing politics. The COAS should be demanded to come heavy against the banned terrorist groups that have found a haven in Karachi. Finally, the business leadership must shed personal conflicts and unite to achieve the objectives of peace and security in Karachi because Karachi is the economic mega city and any criminal event there is detrimental to prosperity of Pakistan. A lackadaisical attitude towards ushering in peace is against all norms of good governance and reflects submission to terrorists and criminals.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 6th, 2012.