The report projected the same growth rate for Pakistan of 3.7% for 2013 against the prediction of 4% earlier. PHOT: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Asian Development Bank has urged Pakistani lawmakers to introduce legislation to provide legal cover to resettlement activities, as it believes the country pays little respect to those uprooted from their localities due to the construction of mega development projects.
The ADB report categorically states that there is a lot of confusion on sharing benefits and giving special attention to those who actually pay the price in terms of giving up their lands and resettlement in alien territories.
“The absence of a national or provincial policy on resettlement in Pakistan is resulting in displacement and compensation issues being addressed in an ad hoc manner with a high risk of impoverishment to those affected,” the Manila-based lending agency said in its report on enhanced safeguard management.
The report underscores a critical issue that often triggers violent protests, ending up at clashes between security personnel and affected populations.
Officials working in the National Highway Authority and the Water and Power Development Authority, however, say that a mafia is working under official patronage and appropriating billions of rupees through the government’s land acquisition activities. They claim that those with inside information first buy property in project areas and then sell it at higher rates to mint money, while the affected populations complain of remaining deprived of due compensation. While talking to The Express Tribune they claimed that one piece of land was sold twice and billions of rupees were made in various projects development projects for Multan by individuals with political clout.
Regardless, the ADB reiterated that national and provincial commitment was necessary in passing the resettlement act and enabling laws to be more responsive to Pakistan’s development needs.
“One of the key reasons for the delays in implementation of ADB-financed projects in Pakistan is the quality of resettlement plans and [their] implementation,” the report stated. “Pakistan applies the Land Acquisition Act of 1894 for land acquisition for public purpose and for companies.” The report observed that the 1984 Act is not accompanied by sufficient rules and regulations, and that each province interprets and implements the act according to its own systems through their respective boards of revenue.
The government’s inability to provide compensation to affected populations is one of the main reasons behind the ADB’s reluctance to provide funds for the $11.3 billion Diamer Bhasha Dam, according to an ADB official. The government has belatedly enhanced the compensation package, resulting into a cost escalation because of initial ill-planning on its own behalf.
It said that internally financed projects suffer from insufficient compensation for replacing lost assets, delayed payments, insufficient planning for livelihood restoration, social and cultural disarticulation, exclusion of untitled persons from development support, and the general lack of attention to gender and vulnerable groups.
The ADB further said the Planning Commission’s documentation requirements – like PC-1s and PC-2s – often underestimate the costs of land acquisition and resettlement and do not include social safeguards in project management. Social safeguards are viewed as a requirement by international financial institutions and bilateral donors, but executing agencies struggle to comply with these conditions, it observed.
While citing a report prepared by the Water Sector Task Force, the ADB said the Tarbela project – officially completed in 1976 with funding from the World Bank – is still plagued by unsettled land compensation cases, and uncertainty surrounding displaced households.
Pakistan faces a critical situation with regard to water storage and energy. Under Wapda’s Vision 2025, eight priority projects for major dams at an estimated cost of $28.7 billion have been identified. However, the dilly-dallying regarding displaced populations and compensating for resettlement may create hurdles in arranging foreign funding for these projects.
The ADB has said improvements have to be made in the existing laws if Pakistan wants external financing for its public and private sector development needs. The government’s apathy towards affected populations has delayed the completion of many crucial projects, as international lending agencies accord high priority to affected persons, it said.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 20th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (24)
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@True Indian: Dude..its not dignified to kick when someone is down. Our India is not very far from Pakistan. Remember its the people who suffers due to less-than-mediocre governance.
If no loans is going to come for water dams than from where do you expect to get water for agriculture & drinking? Are you expecting a water pipe line from Mars? Get real for God sake!
@Nadir: Do not specify any one. Alla re on the same boat.
The biggest landgrabber in the name of nation building is the Army, but well that is a ok.
Summary of ADB's report: We won't extend loans for Diamer Bhasha Dam as india is opposed to it and since India is now a major contributor to the fund, we won't extend loans for it.
This compensation thing is just a fancy excuse.
I am happy and encouraged when our donor's get tough with us. We need the tough love. I think the common man (person) in Pakistan is happy too.
But don't relent. Hold our feet to the fire.
@True Indian: Tens of thousands of Pakistani's have lost their lives fighting terrorism and yet you point to the fact that "we" contribute to terrorism globally?. You know who started this terrorism, yes uncle sam when they thought it was a "GOOD IDEA" to counter the soviets, why don't you blame them for the mess they have caused both indirectly and directly(e.g. wars in the mideast). But then again you being a "True Indian" probably can't grasp the truth let alone provide justice even while you speak!.
Jeay Bhutto! 5 more years!
When the ruling elite and corrupt politicians, corrupt officials play their part in destroying the well being of the people at large, what is the responsibility of the people. Should they also remain silent and inactive witness in seeing the country destroyed ? Do people not feel responsible to come together to join hands with each other to do something constructive for their country? Yes it is not only the corrupt elite who are responsible, it is also the people at large. If the corrupt elite are not seen to be doing to build the country why the people who suffer the misdeeds of the elites remain silent and inactive in not playing their vital part by organising their union to come tpgether to build the country through, co-operation and self help? Why? Why blame anyone else than ourselves?
Isn't ET a Pakistani newspaper ? why are so many indians here commenting under every story ? Dont they have anything better to do?
I wonder why these institutions keep giving us funding. They know how corrupt our stakeholders are. Why dont they just cut all the ropes??
The ruling elite had not paid proper attention to the rehabilitation of the people affected by 2010 floods what to speak of credible guarantees asked by ADB for the likely resettlement of people to be displaced as a result of construction of DIAMEER BASHA DAM.They do not care about bridging the credibility gap in their dealing with International donor agencies.Quite recently a statement of the Finance Minister was reported in print media about the rescheduling of balance amount of IMF loans and getting fresh loans as well.But the renowned economist Meekal A Ahmad in his comment on the Friday,s statement of Jeffrey Frank, advisor to IMF for Middle East and Central Asia said that IMF and WB loans don't have such a facility.The facility exists in bilateral loans.
Another conspiracy against Pakistan.
This is true. We stii have unsettled and uncashed cheques of the govt. of Pakistan from 1988 floods.
Now by reading the IMF's and ADB's reports regarding Pakistan's economic developments and advancements who can say surely and assuredly this that in Pakistan "all is well"?But the reality is all is not well and all is in the well....
Very strangely and interestingly all the medals,rewards,fame,popularity and achievements of such these types from IMF,International Transparency and World Bank Pakistan is getting in PPP's regime what didn't get in the previous regimes and besides all of these PPP claims that we did what the others having majority didn't do in the last 5 years from 2002 to 2007....
Very good ADB. Now stick to your guns and do not lend money even if the USA winks. Salams
Unless all aid to Pakistan stops say for 2 years, Pakistan will never learn to raise resources through proper and fair taxation, or bring about good governance. Institutions in Pakistan have to reform and bring in good governance and end corruption
Good job ADB!
Good. Don't lend any money to Pakistan.
Very well done ADB. This is how every development agency should focus on while providing funding. We in Pakistan do not have a proper mechanism to compensate the affected populations and government really needs to be pressurized. This is a common phenomenon in Pakistan that with access to insider information few influential persons make lot of money by buying land at a cheap rate from local poor people, and then selling at a very high rate once a project is announced. Dealing with this not complicated at all. A simple land regulation can take take care of that, such as only those land owners will be paid who have the ownership of subject land for the last more than 3 years. Will is required, nothing else.
OMG...why is everybody against Pakistan...why is everybody ignoring Pakistan's contribution to humanity and the world...why doesn't the world realize that Pakistan has helped immensely in keeping a check in the world population....With its terrorist working hard millions of people die every year around the world so that the world can see another day...Kudos to Pakistan...
What a basket case Pakistan has become. Even Planning Commission cannot Plan, when it once had a reputation of being a 1st class institution in 1950s and 60s. Nothing works any longer except politicians, bureaucrats and establishment using Govt quotas at IFIs to get postings for their off-springs and son-in-laws. This material won't become Mahbub ul Haq or Shahid Burki kind of professionals, but be known for their mediocrity. Organize a Long March to uproot these corrupt people and the evil system that supports it. Get rid off the whole lot that impoverishes masses without any guilt.
Thank God!