Media watch: Trust deficit and Aid

While the UN plans to raise its aid appeal, the World Bank displays its lack of trust on the Pakistan government.

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

Lack of trust

One reason might be the World Bank acting as a front to save those countries which have made pledges, but do not wish to put down actual cash. Since its President is appointed by the US President, it is more than likely that the USA does not wish to fulfill its pledges. However, apart from this, there is also an expression of lack of trust in the government. (nation.com.pk)

UN to raise aid appeal: US

"The UN has initially given its 460 million dollar appeal. That will be augmented later this week," Feldman said, ahead of a meeting Sunday at the United Nations on the floods. But UN figures show that donors have met only about two-thirds of the initial appeal, launched on August 11. (brecorder.com)

An Eid to remember

Whilst some 21 million slept under an open sky, surrounded by the squalor of the relief camps, Eid this year became about helping them. After the initial lacklustre response by the government and the disastrous management (or lack thereof) by the NDMA, it is heartening to note that the civilian relief effort has gathered pace. (dailytimes.com.pk)

Flood-hit to be given waiver on power bills: PM

He (the prime minister) said the government is mulling over providing waiver to flood-hit consumers on electricity bills and he has asked the Federal Minister for Water and Power, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, to look into the matter. The farmers would also get some form of relief in agriculture loans of banks, he added. He announced that growers having landholding below 25 acres would get seeds and fertilizers free of cost. (thenews.com.pk)

Bane of illiteracy

Along with the flood-affected people, one of the chief victims of the raging waters has been the country’s vulnerable education sector. Indeed, even before the floods, the state of our schools had been a constant reminder of how Pakistan is falling behind in meeting the Education For All targets set by the UN. (dawn.com)