- Responding to the trust deficit in relief work By Shams Kassim-Lakha
- Letters to FreePakistan
- HumorWise
- Issue of the Month: Mismanaging the disaster
- Basic social services to all
- CSR Views & News
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Quotes of the Month:
Those who give up justice in pursuit of bread and butter are ultimately destroyed.
[Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday]
The state is the great fictitious entity by which everyone seeks to live at the expense of everyone else.
[Frederic Bastiat, Selected Essays on Political Economy]
Rights are conditions of existence required by man's nature for his proper survival. If man is to live on earth, it is right for him to use his mind, it is right to act on his own free judgment, it is right to work for his values and to keep the product of his work. If life on earth is his purpose, he has a right to live as a rational being: nature forbids him the irrational.
[Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged (1957)]
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By Shams Kassim-Lakha
[This article first appeared in Business Recorder on August 28, 2010. Shams Kassim-Lakha is Chairman of the Board, Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy www.pcp.org.pk.]
The floods in Pakistan are described to be of "Biblical proportions". The same rivers that provided a lifeline to its people over the centuries have now submerged a fifth of Pakistan's landmass and made 20 million homeless. Along with the daily dose of newspaper stories and television footages showing images of destruction, destitution, hunger and disease are tales of governmental apathy and mismanagement.
While it would be easy to sensationalise such a situation, it can be said that the magnitude of the tragedy is beyond the scope of any single government. The Katrina tragedy in New Orleans showed that even the most powerful government on earth proved ill equipped to handle the situation. This does not of course excuse a perceived lack of timely action. Nor should it cast a shadow on the heroic work of the military and some local governments.
Perhaps the most effective in the delivery of relief at the grass roots level is Pakistan's civil society. Pockets of credibility and excellence in the civil society sector have slowly become major recipients of flood relief aid donated by local and international philanthropists. Robust as it is, civil society too is not fully equipped to match the task at hand without continued support of government, the people and the international community.
A 1999 landmark study of philanthropic giving by Pakistanis representing all economic segments showed them to be among the most generous on earth, far exceeding the charitable giving in most developing countries. In fact, they gave the same in terms of their per capita income as did US citizens who are regarded the most generous.
Yet many did not give as much as they could afford simply because they lacked trust in those charged with responsibility to direct funds where they were most needed. As a result, leaders of civil society, business and government in Pakistan, with backing from the Geneva-based Aga Khan Development Network, itself a major non-profit social development agency of the world, established the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy (PCP).
PCP's objective is to enhance the effectiveness and volume of giving in the country. Private and independent from government and other influences, it has devised a means of identifying and certifying other private, non-profit organisations that could be trusted to distribute donor funds where they are needed, without being diluted by malpractice or excessive administrative charges by unscrupulous administrators.
Today, PCP's certification is accepted as one of the means for assessing the reliability and credibility of CSOs by national and international donors. Certification is also a requisite for recognition by the Government of Pakistan as a basis for tax exemptions. Aid agencies of Australia, Italy and Norway only disburse their support to PCP certified CSOs.
Of the 167 PCP certified organisations, 26 are directly working in relief and rehabilitation of the flood affected people. Some of these organisations have previously been involved in providing relief assistance during the earthquake of 2005, and more recently to over 2 million internally displaced persons in 2009.
Fortunately, the level of credibility presented by PCP certified CSOs is now assisting them and the PCP in mobilising funds for flood relief. The Citizens Foundation, a PCP certified CSO has received tremendous response from the public in support of its programme to provide 20 million meals to the flood affected families, using its network of 650 schools across the country.
Bunyad, another certified organisation working through a network of over 600 schools in the Punjab has set up Child Friendly Places for traumatised children and those who have been separated from their parents. Clean drinking water has also been distributed to 48,000 people as all regular water supplies have been contaminated. The Participatory Village Development Programme in Sindh is already planning the provision of sustainable livelihoods besides providing immediate food relief.
While the trust deficit looms large as a determining factor for philanthropy and international aid to flow into Pakistan, it is heartening that for PCP-certified CSOs, this is not as big an impediment as it once was. This is a time when Pakistan needs all the support it can get to mitigate the suffering of the millions left wrecked by an exceptionally brutal natural calamity.
Reconstruction will be another phase. For the moment, let the citizens of Pakistan carve out a reputation for their exceptional initiatives in alleviating suffering from one of the greatest natural calamities in our country's history. They have demonstrated the ability to stand on their own feet even when government support is hard pressed.
Donors seeking information on how they can help in flood relief may wish to visit the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy's Web site at www.pcp.org.pk. Information is provided on the role PCP-certified organisations are playing in the current disaster, as well as bank details for both the PCP and its members where donations may be sent. The application of funds sent directly to PCP for distribution through its certified organisations will be monitored and reports sent back to each donor. [Courtesy Business Recorder]
IF THE WORLD BANK IS TO REFORM, THEN WHAT REFORMS?
[David Shaman]
Previously, I offered thoughts on drivers of reform for the Bank. External pressure has compelled the Bank to review what reforms it should implement. In the last few years, many development think tanks and NGOs have focused their attention on: Open and transparent selection of future Bank presidents; increasing the voting weight of developing countries on the Bank’s operating boards; realigning the representation, composition and responsibilities of its Board of Directors; and, increasing access to Board proceedings and materials and Bank project documents. All have merit. They will make the Bank’s decision making more representative of its membership.
In recent years, a number of academics have analyzed how the Bank reacts to reform efforts. Research on the implementation of the Strategic Compact of 1997 (a series of reforms launched by former president James Wolfensohn) was conducted. The academics came to a universal conclusion: The bureaucracy of the Bank internalized the new reforms to converge with its existing norms. Translation: The Bank adapted the reforms to fit into its existing status quo. This is important research. Indeed, the Bank’s history has been to use commissions, panels and reports to mute or escape criticism of its internal governance. When compelled to change, reforms enacted mirror existing practices or contain loopholes that allow internal players to bypass full accountability.
As noted above, these types of reforms are important steps in changing the way the Bank does business. They seek to restructure the high-level relationship between the Bank and its stakeholders and shareholders. I also believe they are not enough. Perhaps because of my own experiences within the organization, I think a different series of reforms designed to alter the institution’s cultural norms are in order. Changing how people internalize incentives will change how they behave and ultimately how the Bank performs. To address internal structural inefficiencies that impede the institution’s ability to implement its poverty reduction mission, Bank stakeholders and shareholders should consider the following:
1. Accountability mechanisms within the Bank are flawed because there is an inherent conflict of interest when the Bank is both judge and jury. Therefore, establish an evaluation unit of its lending activities that is completely independent and unconnected with the Bank.
2. Moreover, reform the Bank’s Conflict Resolution System so that decisions are in the hands of independent arbitrators.
3. Revise the managerial selection process to emphasize leadership and entrepreneurial skills rather than relying primarily on academic or technocratic excellence.
4. Create a seat on the Board for a civil society representative.
5. Reconfigure the World Bank Institute (WRI), the pedagogical arm of the institution, so it moves away from its current model that imposes institutional viewpoints of development theory and practice upon borrowing country officials and toward a model of open-learning that not only tolerates but fosters contradictory views.
6. Reestablish a transparent and uncensored broadcasting medium that provides access to all development practitioners and creates a platform of debate and discussion on development ideas, theories and practices.
I expand more fully on these observations at The World Bank Unveiled blog at: http://theworldbankunveiled.wordpress.com/
This is the sixth of a series of blogs on the World Bank and transparency, accountability and reform issues. I invite you to share your own opinions with a wide community of international development practitioners and interested readers.
[David Shaman worked at the World Bank for 12 years. He was the architect and manager of B-SPAN, the World Bank’s webcasting station for development. He is the author of The World Bank Unveiled: Inside the Revolutionary Struggle for Transparency. For information about the book, please visit www.worldbankunveiled.com]
FLOOD RELIEF
[Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd), Rawalpindi]
The PM announced setting up of a Flood Relief Fund and directed the federal ministers to donate one month’s salary to it. He also directed all federal government officers in Grade-17 and above to donate one-day salary for the flood victims. While it is a good step and all provincial government should follow suite, my only request to the authorities is that please do make sure that the relief does reach the flood affectees and not land up in the pockets of those entrusted with the sacred task of its distribution. I am sorry to say so, but this is what is complained far too often by the disaster hit public in Pakistan.
ABYSMAL RESPONSE
[Kadar Khan]
Abysmal response to the disaster is an understatement! Miserably failed to anticipate, prepare and plan for the disaster(s) in making.
SC AND THE LOANS
[Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd), Rawalpindi]
“SC calls SBP details on waived off loans” reads prominently a headline of daily Pakistan Observer. Details being asked are of since 1971 and amount to a staggering Rs. 54 billion!! MiLords, may I pray not to waste your time, effort and breath. Nothing will come out of it. The cases if opened and pursued will be in thousands and run for decades. The crafty, cunning and calculating borrowers – mostly the scheming politicians – will join hands and the present government will come to their aid, leaving your lordships as helpless as in a few other recent matters. Not much is likely to be reimbursed either to the exchequer and only the high profile advocates like Khosas, Sajjads, Qayyums and their likes will stand to gain with hefty fees. Why not resign to the inevitable and utilize the time and effort thus saved in adjudicating the long overdue pending cases before the SC?
US FLOOD AID EQUALS...
[Kadar Khan]
The drug dealers are none but the leadership! When the leaders are dealers the nation is orphan! That is what happens! First exploitation and then the misery on sell without any shame. An opportunity for the Developmental Diplomacy depending whoever is in the market bidding!
RELIEF FUNDS
[Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd), Rawalpindi]
Pakistanis have always risen to the occasion and donated generously in cash and kind to alleviate the miseries of fellow countrymen in times of natural disaster and calamity. October 2005 was probably the most shining example of it when Mansehra and Muzzafarabad were literally flooded with not only all kinds of provisions, foods, medicine, tents and shelters but also by the young volunteers including doctors and paramedics who came in hordes from places as far as Karachi. People did it again in 2009 for the IDPs of Swat, Buner and Bajaur and donated generously and most willingly. Surprisingly that spirit is not visible now in spite of repeated appeals by the government and ministers. especially when the present floods are rated to be the worst floods in the history of Pakistan. Much more loss of life and damage to the property has been done by this natural calamity than ev er before. Why is then the nation so indifferent and unresponsive? From my interaction with the general public, I find it to be a case of trust deficit. The political governments – federal as well provincial – do not enjoy the confidence of the people, who think that the money donated by them will not reach the people it is meant for. Like it or not, they still want army to handle the distribution of funds, commodities, and other supplies. Isn’t it sad?
ALTAF’S POLITICAL ACUMEN EXPOSED.
[Mahabat Khan Bangash, Peshawar]
Mountains have brought forth a mouse when the acumen of Altaf Hussain was exposed in his interview with Suhail Warraich on Geo TV. His doctrine of a new system with patriotic generals, honest bureaucrats, judges, intellectuals and journalists to replace the present corrupt system, to which his party is component, seems to be his illusions or day dreaming. This would obviously need a wide based survey in the country to bring out a list of persons of Altaf’s agenda! How ever the interview on the whole was disappointing as the replies were irrelevant, inexpert and shroudy. I shall request Altaf Hussain to reply the following questions to this nation:
Didn’t Altaf opted to join the present PPP corrupt Govt. and earned lucrative ministries for MQM and is reluctant to leave it?
Didn’t MQM voted for controversial Asif Ali Zardari as President?
Didn’t his MPs voted in favor of controversial 18th amendment?
Does he consider necessary to visit flood affected areas and console the affectees?
Can he tell the nation about the source of income which is incurred for his UK livings, and which is reported to be .06 million Pounds a month making about 8 crores in Pak rupee?
How ever it was news for every one that Altaf Bhai is a good singer than a politician.
SIALKOT & INTERIOR MINISTER
[Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd), Rawalpindi]
In a live tv show the anchor person and the participants were at their wits’ end as to how could the Interior Minister pronounce in a show of vengeance that the perpetrators of the gruesome crime would be served with the severest punishment and that too at the same spot where they had brutally lynched the two brothers. While seriously and earnestly expecting the law to take its course, we all know that what the Minister said can’t be implemented under the law unless the very people responsible for the law think there is none. The minister like an ‘astute’ politician got hold of the unfortunate opportunity and with a display of charged emotions made the statement for the gallery to gain political mileage. Dear countrymen, that’s the kind of rulers we are blessed with and we have to suffer them, like it or not.
DASTI DEGREE
[Dr Irfan Zafar, Islamabad]
Our civil society seems to be expecting too much from the parliamentarians and the establishment to get rid of the fake degree holders. It requires a lot of integrity and morality on the part of the leaders, attributes that have been long lost. However, a more practical approach is to regulate the degrees by classifying them in different categories: Dasti Degree, Awan Degree, Genuine Degree, etc. Let us put an end to this controversial issue once and for all. [Daily Times]
SHOE THROWING EPISODE
[Mahabat Khan Bangash, Peshawar]
To me the shoe throwing episode in Birmingham was not so important. Such gestures are for those, whose conscience is alive, and not for those who are brazen faced and without conscience. This reminds me of an event of my boyhood when we five-six friends some times caught hold one of our partners and gave him a good friendly beating. Once a friend who was contemptuous, when came out of the beating, shamelessly said, “No matter, I was just performing physical exercise,” and we all had a good laugh. [The Frontier Post]
[Rasul Allahbux Chandio, Garhi Khuda Bux] [The Nation]
Every Pakistani believes in that old nugget of wisdom that Pakistan is run by three A’s———Allah, America and Army. This is true but I believe Pakistan is run by three C’s also and they are Cheats, Comedians and Criminals. A number of cheats sitting in our Parliament are ‘proclaimed’ fake degrees holders. The comedians that I have referred to include people like the CM Sindh who recently told flood-affected people to “enjoy life for two weeks that they are out of their homes”. This is a great piece of advice by the visionary CM. Another comedian from the PPP is Senator Faisal Raza Abidi. For the last six months he has been telling us that killers of Benazir Bhutto shall be arrested and presented handcuffed on TV———within six months. Yet another one of our comedians is Raja PA and if you need to laugh really hard, there is always Dr Babar Awan———the ‘doctor’ without an MBBS or PhD.
The rest of comedy team includes Tasneem Noorani, Imtiaz Warraich, Qammar Zaman Kaira, Fauzia Wahab and many others. Have I missed someone? Ooops, Altaf Bhai cannot be missed.
Look at his comic timing that he is advising Zardari not to visit Britain as a protest against statement of the British PM and does so sitting in England. He also constantly tells Pakistanis to reach all flood-affected areas to help people and does so ensconced in Britain. The fact that criminals, the third of the three C’s that I have mentioned, run this country is most obvious of all. Most people agree that 99 percent of those sitting in the Parliament have committed crimes ranging from murder, kidnapping, rape, loan-default, land-grabbing, tax evasion to you-name-it-and-they-have-done-it. [The Nation]
“Joining shoe club”
[Anjum James Paul, Lahore]
According to media reports a Pakistani Shamim Khan tried to throw his shoes towards Mr. Asif Ali Zardadi, the President of Pakistan during his address to the Pakistani community in Birmingham. He has done an uncivilized act. He could protest in a civilized way as some Pakistanis were protesting outside the meeting hall. The world media highlighted their protest but no one knows whether this incident really took place, as there is no other evidence. He must feel sorry by his nefarious act, as he has proved to be an uncivilized person. Perhaps he remembered the incident of Baghdad but forgot the treatment with Muntzir ul Zaidi when he joined the Shoe Club during a press conference in France by his countryman. Shamim Khan must thank God that he did this criminal act in England otherwise he would have lost his life by now in Pakistan. He seems to have cheap popularity through a Pakistani channel. Pakistani electronic and print media must behave gently. It must abstain from sensational and breaking news as Pakistan is already in many crises. It is astonishing that every news is presented here as a breaking news. Leaders of the political parties must be careful befooling the nation, as no one from them is sincere with this country. They are playing foul with the fate of the Pakistanis. They must also bear in mind that they can also be the part of Shoe Club at any moment. Mr. Shamim Khan must be careful now because I am quite sure that he will not be spared but treated in the same manner whenever someone gets chance and he will also join the Shoe Club.
[The Frontier Post]
FLOOD RELIEF FUND
[Dr Irfan Zafar, Islamabad]
The prime minister has set up a Flood Relief Fund asking for donations from the public to help the people affected by the recent floods. Being a patriotic citizen of this country, I am willing to help the people through a reputable well respected local and foreign relief agency rather then giving my hard earned money to the government functionaries who, in all probability, will spend it to satisfy their lavish lifestyles. Regrets Mr Prime Minister. [Daily Times]
A LIE A DAY
[Khurshid Anwer, Lahore]
Many lies have to be told to cover up the first lie. The first lie, in face of severe criticism was, that the president was not in UK for the coronation of Bilawal. “I am here to get funds for flood relief.” Was the trip planned for this purpose? Did he know about the floods when the trip was planned? “I wanted to confront Cameron.” Was the trip planned for this purpose? Did he know at that time that Cameron would make such a statement? “The situation demanded action.” Was the trip planned for this purpose. Did he know then that the situation would demand action? He has justified his trip by saying substance was more important than his symbolic presence. But he had also said: “If I had known about the heavy rains I would not have planned my trip.” In that case would his symbolic presence have become more important than substance. I will repeat a question I have often asked, “Don’t these people have grown up children who could ask awkward questions?” Bilawal know what the trip was for, Bukhtawar knows what the trip was for, Asifa knows what the trip was for. How must they all be feeling seeing their father coming out with a lie-a-day. [The Frontier Post]
PROSPERITY
[Aurangzeb, Swat]
If a constituency wants prosperity, then it should so arrange that its members frequently resign and by-elections are held. This way all else will be ignored and the government will spend all it has in their constituency. Like usual in Pakistan where we announce results before an event even starts, the prime minister says that his party candidate will win. It means he must have made sure that he is not proved to be a liar later. [The News]
NEW SHOE CLUB MEMBER
[M Jamil Ather, Karachi]
The final leg of President Asif Ali Zardari’s British trip has made history. Two shoes were hurled at him by a 60-year-old, British national of Pakistani origin. Zardari has now joined the exclusive “shoe club” where former US President George W. Bush and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will warmly welcome him. Last year India’s Interior Minister P. Chidambaram also faced a Sikh shoe-thrower enraged over his remarks on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi. Several senior members of India’s Congress and BJP parties also faced the same fate during the recent election campaign. Zardari was addressing the rally of his party workers in a convention centre in Birmingham when this incident happened. The shoe-thrower was escorted out of the venue and later released by the police. Hundreds of demonstrators also gathered outside the convention centre chanting and waving placards against Zardari’s visit to britain. Zardari’s visit was marred with controversies from day one. It was opposed by leading politicians, including his coalition partners; some people opposed it because of British Prime Minister David Cameron’s remarks against Pakistan. Others questioned the wisdom of such a trip when Pakistan is facing devastating floods and an upsurge of violence in Karachi. Earlier his son Bilawal Zardari was scheduled to address the rally but due to growing opposition, the plan was dropped. We hope Zardari’s camp will learn some lessons from all this. No leader should go against the sentiments of the people. Zardari and other political leaders should realise that, thanks to a resourceful and independent media, general public is aware of what is going on around them. [The Frontier Post]
THE “BARS”
[Dr Irfan Zafar, Islamabad]
Law Minister Babar Awan is doling out millions to different Bars all across the country with the sole intention of bribing the lawyer community. Expecting anything from the Law Minister, we can only hope that the “Cocktail Bars” are not the beneficiaries of the Tax Payers hard earned money. [Pakistan Observer]
WARDROBE WIDE OPEN
[Muhammad Azhar Khwaja, Lahore]
In response to a popular columnist who had written in a recent article that the ‘popularly elected’ PM of this country wears expensive designers suites and neckties but only once, he never wears a thing a second time, the PM has opened up his wardrobe to the public. Addressing journalists at an Iftar Party at his Lahore residence (curious, he had banned such parties himself), Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani declared he had put his wardrobe on sale in order to collect money for (his own) Flood Relief Fund. I do not know whether he said this jokingly or seriously but one has to find out which clothes he is going to put on sale, the ones he has not used yet or the ones he has already used (once). Either way, he has not spent a penny from his pocket as dressing him up is done from taxpayers’ money. It would be a contribution to the exchequer if he instead announced to dress himself up with his own money. [The Nation]
END TO LOAD SHEDDING
[Dr Irfan Zafar, Islamabad]
Two weekly holidays have been extended by the Cabinet for another two months based on the pretext that the Load Shedding will be reduced through this “innovative” policy. Why do we need to go for such an expensive power generating projects whereas the same can be achieved by reducing the number of working days. Five Days off and Two working days will for sure put an end to the load shedding in a very effective way provided an oath be also taken from the Government functionaries that they will work with utmost dedication during the two working days.
[Pakistan Observer]
THE STATE OF PAKISTAN
[Sameen Gauhar, Lahore]
Keeping the current situation of Pakistan in view, a couplet always comes to my mind that I would like to share with the readers: Aanjaam-e-gulistaan kiya hoga, Har shakh pe ullu baitha hai (I shudder to think of the fate of the garden, Whose each bow is home to an owl!) [Daily Times]
STATE VISIT OR ESTATE VISIT?
[Mahabat Khan Bangash, Peshawar]
According to an official source in the Foreign Ministry of France the visit of President Asif Ali Zardari was planned to visit his estate and palace in Normandy (France). Millions of Pounds would cost this private trip, when his country men are drowning in floods and facing unlimited miseries while taking refuge on road sides without water, food and shelter. Would some one throw some light on the special conscience of the President who is on excursion trip and playing flute abroad? My views have been confirmed by the news item published in an English daily caption “UK media fire on Zardari.” [The Frontier Post]
STARS OF THE LYING SHOWS ON TV
[Adnan Fateabadi, Gujrat]
I wonder what kind of a breed are these ministers, spokesmen and spokeswomen of the ruling people party. All they tell are lies, lies and more lies whenever they appear on television channels. They tell you President has no Swiss bank accounts, has no palace in France, has no palace in Rockwood, Surrey, no shoe ever got thrown on President in Birmingham, etc, etc, etc. The country was sinking in floods while President was on a trip abroad and they were all justifying his tour with a million and one lies. Do these spokespersons have no self-respect, no conscience? They are more like slaves of the Bhutto household assigned with the single most important assignment of protecting the President.
Sometimes they are wont to say the opposition has a right to differ with the government and that is the beauty of democracy. If right to differ is such a beauty of democracy, why can’t these PPP-wallas differ with their President? Is there no democracy within the party? Or all the ministers have realized that this is one time they have to stick it out with the President because that is the formula for staying in power. Staying in power is important because they can only make hay while the sun shines. May Allah save us from these unscrupulous camp followers of President Zardari!
[The Nation]
Issue of the Month: Mismanaging the disaster
FLOOD DISASTER
[Badar Ul Islam, Islamabad]
The floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have caused havoc, destroying large areas of land and houses, leaving many homeless. The bridges in KP are completely cut off or collapsed due to pressure of the floodwater, which was a communication link between the rescue workers and the flood victims, which leaves helicopters as the only form of communication. The rescue workers of Pakistan Army are doing their best to save lives and transport people to safer areas while we have no effective civil disaster management authority to help in the face of such tragedies, nor civilian helicopters. Had we not had a dedicated army for rescue tasks, the scenario would have been worse. Even though the government is trying to accommodate the affected people in schools, many still await help. I request everyone to kindly step forward and help the flood victims as these people are in desperate need of food, clothing and shelter. The government should establish a flood relief fund. Parliamentarians should donate 10 percent of their income to this fund. This is the time to show that we are one nation and we share each other’s problems. This would help bring hope and a better life to the innocent flood-affected people. [Daily Times]
UNPRECEDENTED CALAMITY
[Syed Sayef Hussain, Karachi]
Pakistan is under heavy deluge. Pakistan is facing unprecedented calamity. In such a situation, where is the student force, youth wing and workers’ wing of Pakistan Peoples Party, which claims its presence all over Pakistan, which claims itself to be “charo subo ki zanjeer” (the binding force of all provinces)? PPP has already shown its forces of students, youth and workers coming out on the ground to provide protection shield to Benazir Bhutto when she returned to the country from self-imposed exile. Why are not they here now, working round the clock among the tragedy stricken ‘awam’? Same is the question to another big political party of the country, Pakistan Muslim League-N, which is waiting on the wing to take the power and authority to rule this country. Where are the students, youth and able bodied workers of this party at the hour of need of this country and its people? One may say that, due to ban on student unions, students have become insensitive and inactive. Let’s accept this bizarre logic for a minute or two. But then, where are the youth and workers, who should always be active and kicking under any party discipline, particularly when they all unashamedly crave for democracy, and that is also under party politics.
The media is all against the government machineries, and the government itself, for its failure to rise properly and timely to the occasion. The media is right. But at the same time, the media should specifically take the political parties, particularly PPP, PML(N), ANP and MQM, to task for not being able to bring their ‘organised’ (if at all organised!) youth forces on to the battle ground to fight against this unprecedented calamity of the centuries. [Pakistan Observer]
CHARITY WINGS OF TERRORIST OUTFITS
[Sadia Hussain, Islamabad]
In the aftermath of the tragic floods that have held the country hostage, various banned militant outfits have surfaced to carry out rescue operations and have set up camps for the collection of donations. While the rehabilitation of flood victims remains the government’s first priority, such organisations cannot be allowed to carry out their activities in the name of welfare. Charity is used as a disguise to conceal their terrorist activities. This is a matter of grave concern, and the government needs to take strict action. Various legitimate charity organisations are in place and they should be motivated and facilitated to carry out comprehensive relief operations. [Daily Times]
FLOOD AVOIDS VIPS LANDS?
[Iqbal Hadi Zaidi, Kuwait]
At this juncture when almost whole country is devastated by high floods it is more unnatural than unbelievable to know that the landed estates of our top brass are untouched or at least not reported. To the best of my knowledge and belief, the water can not distinguish between the governor and the governed but yet how it is not reported as to what music has our VVIPs faced. There can be some peculiar circumstances to explain as to what can be the reasons otherwise it is next to impossible that they can be left untouched and unaffected. First and the foremost reason can be that perhaps they are landless but I am afraid this is not true for the simple reason that a politician in general and our in particular simply can not be landless. The other possibility could be that their lands must be much elevated so how could flood water reach there but it is next to impossible since the water level had been too high and hence the farms in question simply could not left untouched.
Yet there can be another argument that special protective measures had been taken including erecting flood resistant walls around their lands and or breaching or diverting water to other areas but it quite absurd to construe alike for the simple reason that they being truly elected people can not harm others to save their own neck. The last, though not the least, it could be that their farms and lands etc too have been inundated by cruel flooding waters but they have issued strict instruction forbidding the media to flash any news about such destruction. The rationale behind such move is that they never wanted the general public to feel pity on them on this account. Please do at least let me know, if not others, as to what is the ground reality so far as our President and Prime Minister is concerned. Let me appeal my country men and women not to forget to compensate both of them also if they have also sustained some loss like the rest so that it is proved to the world at large that we are much judicious and not biased in our dealings. [Pakistan Observer]
MISUSE OF INTERNATIONAL DONATIONS
[Mustafa Hussain, Copenhagen, Denmark]
The floods that have destroyed the lives of millions of Pakistanis seem to be a double tragedy. Note this observation: just a few months after a devastating earthquake in Kashmir, the world community helped generously to help their victims. One day, I visited a commercial shopping plaza in Gulberg and the one item I picked from this affluent consumer’s market was a woollen sweater donated by the Australian Red Cross for the earthquake victims. I picked it to keep as a souvenir to remind me of how these foreign donations reached the commercial markets instead of the needy victims, since I had already heard a great many stories from friends and family about the misuse of international donations under the military regime.
Today I have a better understanding of why international help is not forthcoming with the same enthusiasm for the relief of the flood victims. And why the few donors, who have their hearts in the right place, would rather do the good work themselves, than trust the government agencies. It saddens my heart, first as a human being and then as a Pakistani, that in its first two days of campaigns, the Danish Red Cross could not collect more than $ 3,000 in one of the richest nations on earth. The chairman of the Danish Red Cross had an explanation for this in a TV interview. It is the image of Pakistan, he said. But if you read between the lines, he wanted to say corruption, mismanagement, Islamism, political signals of negotiating with the Taliban and sheer nepotism and anarchy in the governance of the state. Pakistan is slowly drifting towards becoming a new Somalia in South Asia. I hope my reading is wrong. But there is one thing for certain: no Danish media, private or even the public-service, is paying any attention to this great tragedy, which it deserves, and which could mobilise thousands of Danes to react to the appeals of the Red Cross for donations. [Daily Times]
FLOOD: DIFFICULTIES IN RESCUE OPERATIONS
[Rao Mohammad Faisal Iqbal, Lahore]
This is with reference to a Dawn TV report regarding the difficulties faced by aid and rescue workers in evacuating the flood-affected people and in supplying food and medicine due to inadequate transportation means. It has to be said that the government has a large fleet of luxurious 4x4 vehicles used by those who primarily do desk jobs. I suggest that all government-owned off-road and high-road clearance vehicles should be temporarily given to rescue agencies for evacuation and supply missions. I don’t think our bureaucrats would suffer if they are made to use smaller cars for a little while. On the other hand, if even a single life is saved through adequate transport to the flood-affected areas, it would mean that such luxury off-road vehicles are worthy enough. [Dawn]
A NEIGHBOUR’S PRAYER
[Shivkumar, India]
It is very sad that millions of people in Pakistan have been badly affected by the devastating floods. It is sadder that as next-door neighbours, we cannot even assist each other at such times. One can only pray that the misery and sufferings of the affected populace are minimised and peace be upon the departed. We share the sadness of your country. [Daily Times]
TERROR IN FLOOD
[M.A. Khan, Lahore]
Either the droughts or the floods, they come on us as unwelcome guests to play havoc with the peace and stability. The Global warming or the wrath of Almighty? Lack of dams or the lack of good governance in successive regimes? Whatever the cause, we seriously need to get farsighted now and plan some flood management strategies which may include extensive building of levees, bunds, weirs and reservoirs to avert future catastrophes but before that our fellow countrymen suffering and terrorised from this disaster must be rescued before it gets too late! [The Frontier Post]
A HUMBLE SUGGESTION
[Shovan Das, USA]
Owing to the disastrous floods in Pakistan, I have a suggestion: a Cricket ODI between Pakistan and India should be arranged in Dubai. Every player would donate his match fees for the flood relief programme plus the revenue generated through gate receipts and advertisements. The goodwill and the money that this will generate will be priceless. [Daily Times]
LOOK AT THE HEFT OF WHAT WE ARE GETTING!
[AMNA ZAMAN, Lahore]
According to a report by United Nations, 14 million have been left homeless due to devastating floods in Pakistan and they say, we should expect a second wave of more flood-affected people to arrive. The city of Nowshera, like scores of others, has been completely destroyed, its inhabitants wandering the land in search of shelter. The UN has demanded $459 million in aid for launching a proper relief effort. The US and some other countries have come forward to provide for rehabilitation of the flood affectees, the US aid contribution being $76 million in aid along with the helicopters Washington has sent to assist relief. Over and above this, the Pakistani-American community has raised $5.5 million as well. What is now important in this testing time is that transparency is ensured in utilization of these hefty amounts. These funds need to be used in such a way that the flood-affectees can be rescued from their misery. [The Nation]
INDIA HELPING PAKISTAN
[Vikas Sethi, Pune, India]
This is with reference to the letter by Shovan Das, ‘A humble suggestion’ (Daily Times, August 17, 2010) wherein he asks for an Indo-Pak cricket match in Dubai to raise funds for the flood victims in Pakistan and generate goodwill. It is a noble thought no doubt. And it is also a tragedy of sorts that Pakistan will be willing to accept Indian money thus generated or through the UN but is reluctant to accept direct Indian aid of $ 5 million and even more. Will this snub not deter the Indian donors or even compel many Indians to object to an Indo-Pak match, thereby generating unnecessary ill will rather than goodwill between the two countries? When Pakistan is frantically in search of international aid, which is not very forthcoming, and India is willing to chip in with that much needed aid, then why on earth can the two countries not deal directly rather than enact the theatre of the absurd. It is this mindset that needs to change. In fact, due to its close proximity to Pakistan, India can actually send aid much faster to the devastated areas than even the UN or any other country. But is Pakistan scared of the goodwill it may generate for India that is forcing it to ignore the direly needed help at hand? [Daily Times]
NEED FOR FOOD CONTINGENCY PLAN
[Engineer S.T. Husain, Karachi]
The Government must prepare contingency plan to meet the shortage of essential daily use items the desperate situation demand desperate measures and the goods governance demand that no one should be allowed to make profit from the helpless consumers. The prices of 53 essential items of daily use have started swirling up in the midst of the worst-ever flood hit Pakistan. As the floods have affected about one fourth of the entire agriculture land and displaced over 20 million peoples depending on the agriculture and livestock farming. Hundreds of thousands of livestock heads have perished, food crops flushed away and roads, transport networks collapsed. In the coming weeks, there is likely to be increase in the prices of essential items. Already most of the essential items, prices are out the reach of the ordinary citizens fruit and vegetables are in short supply and their prices are skywriting.
It is time that federal and provincial governments should establish food supply prices control authority, which will be responsible to monitor hoarding and short supply of essential items and their demand requirement on scientific lines the existing system of price control at districts levels has miserably failed to protect the consumers and in checking the increase in prices. The government must replace those committees, departments, which are not equipped with modern knowledge and tool of administration and operation. There is no authentic data at each district level to determine the consumptions of various items of daily use and their stock positions. There are reports of criminals looting the relief goods in Sindh and also depriving the floods affected persons of their livestocks. The civil government must co-ordinate with the Pakistan Army to protect the peoples from such incident. [Business Recorder]
INDIA’S AID OFFER
[R S Johar, India]
The news that Pakistan is still considering accepting the five million dollars aid offered by India is disturbing. Though the money offered by India is not too substantial, but it is still more than what five European countries have offered. According to some leading English dailies in India, the government of India is contemplating sending additional millions of dollars aid that may not be followed up due to Pakistan’s response. I would appeal to the government of Pakistan to accept India’s offer; it can help a few thousand marooned people on humanitarian grounds, cutting across political considerations. [Daily Times]
THE NODMC
[Murad Ali, Massey University, New Zealand]
Though there is no dearth of institutions in the country for various aims and objectives, yet the establishment of the National Oversight Disaster Management Council (NODMC) seems a reasonable step. Being a researcher in the field, one comes across innumerable loopholes and grey areas in the way foreign assistance is allocated and delivered: be it normal ODA or humanitarian aid during natural disasters and calamities. In normal circumstances in Pakistan the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) is the principal government body authorised for the negotiations and dealings with bilateral aid donors and multilateral organisations. However, the EAD does not possess the capacity to do so due to various factors. In Pakistan there is no clear policy regarding the delivery of aid by donors. The government's policy documents and long-term plans such as the PRSPs, Medium-Term Development Framework (MDTF) and Vision 2030 etc. do not indicate the prioritised 'aid modalities' (though these documents have identified prioritised areas/sectors).
The new council should not only oversee the way aid is spent on whom and by whom, but also the way how aid is given by international bodies. It should clearly prioritise the areas in close collaboration with line ministries/departments. Besides choosing men of good repute, the council should comprise experts who are aware of the good and bad practices in the international aid industry. Just one example: according to the US embassy spokesman, Richard Snelsire, the US provided 436,000 Halal meals to flood victims costing $3.5 million. Each meal costs about Rs700. This is very obvious that despite inflation and related problems, Rs700 can buy meal for the whole family (five to six persons) rather than one person only if we are given the cash instead of imported cooked food. Having aid in cash rather than commodity will help revive the local economy and generate employment in the country. In turn, this will help the country in early socio-economic recovery. Therefore, the council should be comprised men of repute as well as gifted individuals in the field who could convince donors to align their efforts with the national and local priorities and needs of the affected people. [The News]
INDIA’S AID OFFER
[M Rafique Zakaria, Karachi]
India has offered five million dollars as aid for flood victims. According to press reports, our foreign ministry has indicated that the acceptance of the offer is being considered. I think the government should accept the helping hand extended by India. No doubt the amount will not make a huge difference as far as rehabilitation of the affectees is concerned, but it will definitely send a positive signal to the world that Pakistan is always willing to establish friendly relations with its neighbouring countries. If we can ask for aid from countries like the UK and US, whose carrot is always accompanied by the stick, then why can we not accept aid from our neighbour? We live in a house but whenever we are in trouble, the first people to come to our aid are our neighbours; relatives come to the rescue later. Atal Bihari Vajpayee once commented with reference to Indo-Pak relations that “you can change your friend, but not your neighbour”. This is the time to mend fences with our neighbour and reciprocate the same gesture, if (God forbid) India faces any natural calamity in the future. [Daily Times]
WHERE ARE OUR POLITICIANS?
[Riaz Qureshi, Karachi]
I just read the news item (Aug 19) that Hollywood actor Angelina Jolie donated $100,000 for flood victims. Where are our politicians? I believe they are richer than Miss Jolie. Some of them can easily donate a minimum of $100K each. Where is the commitment? [Dawn]
INFIDEL NATIONS
[Michael Jolley, Arizona, USA]
It is somewhat ironic that ‘infidel’ nations such as the US and the UK have reacted quite generously and quickly by providing cash, men and helicopters to help those Pakistanis who are suffering from the terrible floods. As a US citizen, born in Britain, I am amazed that Pakistan’s Muslim brethren still seem to have their hands in their proverbial pockets. Surely Saudi Arabia with its huge oil income could set an example and encourage other Muslim countries to give the desperately needed financial aid to a country that deserves their generosity. [Daily Times]
ONE VOTE OF TRUST …AT LAST
[Bilal Ahmad Khan, Lahore]
US Ambassador in Pakistan Ms Anne Patterson has done the generous bit, even if gratuitously. Ms Patterson has issued a credibility certificate to the PPP government saying that her country believes in credibility of Pakistan government and trusts it would be able to deliver in the prevailing havoc caused by recent floods. In this hour of trial, the government and people of Pakistan are united and determined to help their flood-stricken compatriots to the maximum, with or without the foreign assistance. But it is essential to point out that foreign aid is trickling in at a drip-slow pace. Perhaps the US Ambassador needs to tell this bit about credibility of our government to the world at large and may be even do a bit of talking to allied countries of United States. That would help do more about helping millions of Pakistanis stranded by this unprecedented calamity.
Pakistanis, for Ms Patterson’s information, are already smarting from US ally and British Prime Minister David Cameroon’s recent statement, that too on Indian soil, that Pakistan is exporting militancy and terrorism to other countries. One wonders if that has been a deterrent too in donor agencies and countries having second thoughts about contributing to the relief effort in Pakistan?
Ms Patterson herself has been rather kind to Islamabad but her superiors in Washington not quite so. Perhaps, we should request her to convince her government to review its earlier decision about not entering into a civil nuclear technology deal with Pakistan, which she must know as envoy to Pakistan, is in desperate and dire straits as far as need to generate power from all sources is concerned. Needless to mention that Pakistan is a responsible nuclear power with a fool-proof command and control system in place at the appropriate level for effectively safeguarding its nuclear assets. [The Nation]
‘BUND POLITICS’ IN SINDH
[Hashim Abro, Islamabad]
Besides floods and torrential rain, it is despicable to see ‘Bund politics’ (embankment politics) playing havoc in Sindh. A few callous feudal lords, who are reported to have occupied hundreds of thousands of acres of land in the Katcha area, have developed their own ‘bunds’ (embankments) in the main water flow of the Indus River. It is a contemptible deed that has devastated almost 16 districts of Sindh out of 23. These feudal lords built bunds that have hampered the flow of the Indus River, and inflicted cuts on the bunds where it was not desirable. Resultantly, the flow of water was diverted to the settled and civic areas of the province, ravaging everything in its path.
According to estimates, four million people in Sindh have been affected directly. The second flow of water that is above 12 million cusecs has entered Sindh and it is estimated that at the end of the catastrophe, some 20 million people (half of the population in Sindh) will be victims. This situation cannot be coped with by the provincial or the federal government alone; the entire nation has to come forward to help through supply of cooked food, medicines, baby milk, fodder for livestock and covered latrines for IDS women. The worst hit areas are Ghotki, Kashmore, Kandhkot, Larkano, Dadu, Shikarpur and Khairpur. I request the concerned authorities to take strict action against those individuals who have inflicted such colossal losses. [Daily Times]
PERTINENT QUESTIONS
[Ali Querashy, Dubai]
I would request the experts on floodwaters, rains, glaciers and barrages to help me with the following information. First, what finally happened to the Atabad Lake and did it have any impact on the current floods? Second, by what percentage did the rains in northern areas, Swat Valley, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan contribute to over all floods in rest of the country. What was the contribution of Swat, Chitral, Kabul and other northern rivers and how much did the discharge from Tarbela and cuts at various other points like Kalabagh, Chashma, Taunsa, Guddu, Sukkur, Kotri etc contribute to the over all flood? Why was the situation of barrages so precarious and at what places were breaches made by whose orders and how? Who were the concerned government officials and MNAs, MPAs etc? I also wish to know what impact did Chenab and Jhelum waters have on floods? Why were there no floods in Kabul, indeed in entire Afghanistan and the Indian side up north? Are we in a wet cycle or is it the impact of deforestation or it because of negligence in our duty of looking after the river banks, barrages, levees etc. I would request the government to punish the looters in flood-affected areas and also those who have been profiting by manipulating prices.
[The Nation]
A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
[Bilal Habib, Rahim Yar Khan]
I want to share my experience at the flood relief camps and with the affected refugees at the Minchan Bund. For over 22 days, I have not seen even a single bag of food supply. The flood relief bodies are absent; malaria, fever, skin allergies and eye infections are common diseases. May I know where has all the aid gone? Have journalists not noticed this ghostly picture? All the affectees seem to be, as Christina Lamb wrote in her book, “waiting for Allah.” Nonetheless, there is freshness on their faces and great confidence. Irrespective of all our absent conscience and heedless attitude, the people are dependent on their own assets — slaughtering animals for means of life and being optimistic about the regression of the floods. [Daily Times]
…AND HEAR OTHER VILLAGERS TOO
[M. Rafique Zakaria, Karachi]
While watching the flood devastation on television the other day, I heard a villager in Sindh tell an anchor of a private television channel that PPP’s Minister for Labour and Manpower Syed Khurshid Shah had diverted flood waters to his village in order to save his own lands from floods. Similar allegations were leveled against Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and PPP’s federal Minister for Sports Mir Ijaz Hussain Jakhrani who has been accused of breaching a bypass in order to save his own lands. I request the Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to take suo moto action against these ministers. If the allegations leveled against them are found to be true, these people should be deemed responsible for the mass dislocation of people in Sindh. [The Nation]
CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF INDUS FLOODS
[Zain Daudpoto, Hyderabad]
Floods in the Indus River actually mean inundation of the riverside area, which expresses itself as rehabilitation of deforested area and improvement of damaged forest cover. Natural forests historically covered the riverbanks of the Indus. Inundation is life for the forests and they provide resistance to protect non-riverside areas from the destruction of floodwater. Floods in the Indus are not a disaster but we have changed it into a disaster by cutting 617,545 acres of forests adjacent to the river in Sindh. The government should declare the entire riverside forest area protected.
[Daily Times]
FLOOD RIOTS
[Anwar Parveen, Rawalpindi]
It was very depressing to read a news report that the flood affected people in need of food started fighting when the food arrived. The images on the media also highlight a very grim situation of women and children who with tears in their eyes wait for help. The emotional trauma they are going through cannot be explained in words. They have left their homes and all assets. Now they are at the mercy of others. Deprivation leads to frustration and disappointment which further creates anger against self and others. The present deprivation of people is extreme as they feel insecure without a proper house or place of safety. They do not have food which leaves them weak and fragile and vulnerable to water prone diseases. They are worried about future because the magnitude of the disaster is to such an extent that the recovery and rehabilitation phase will take time. Out of job and work and without any earning also makes one feel insecure. All these problems cause anxiety leading to aggression. Such behaviours of fighting on survival items are the outcome. In such situations such actions are expected as the person becomes self centric and thinks of himself and his family alone. The immediate requirement is to set priorities and look into the basic needs of these people. Provision of basic necessities would make them feel a part of the society and community. Taking care and making them understand the ground realities would help to console and motivate to help themselves and others. It will take time but moral and material support would encourage them to stand on their own feet again. [The Frontier Post]
MEDIA’S ROLE IN DISASTERS
[Zulfiqar Haider, Islamabad]
The role of the Pakistani media in highlighting the present disaster has been phenomenal. Personnel from different TV channels are constantly updating the population at large about the damages incurred so far. These updates are not only revealing for the people but also act as a roadmap for the government as well. These ground realities help in gathering relief for the flood-affected. Of course, those living away from the flood-affected areas are not aware of the reality and only media coverage allows them to take a closer look at what is happening. It is a fact that positive coverage of an incident changes the whole scenario and vice versa. It is expected from the media channels that they stay vigilant during these floods and keep on playing this vital role as the only source of information the majority of the public has. [Daily Times]
IMPECCABLE TIMING!
[Wg Cdr (R) Fardad Ali Shah, Chitral]
Prime Minister has announced he is setting up a National Disaster Oversight Management Council (NDOMC) comprising "people of impeccable character" says a news item. Now, now, one wonders if a disaster committee needs "people of impeccable character", why does not the rest of country need them too? How can we have an NDOMC of such noble souls but have a parliament with "corruption is our right" and "a degree is a degree, fake or genuine" type of overlords? The disaster committee is a temporary arrangement whereas the politicians, bureaucrats and all the other sacred cows that run this country are a permanent weight milling around our neck. Either Prime Minister should hand over reigns of government to these "people of impeccable character" or induct some fake degree holders into the disaster committee too. One cannot be both hypocrite and righteous at the same time. [The Nation]
PRAYERS FROM ACROSS THE BORDER
[Subramanyam Sridharan, Bangalore, India]
Pakistan is reeling under a devastating flood, and trying to pick up the threads once again. It must be remembered that the worst is not yet over, as more rains are likely to batter the country and the immediate after-effects of the flood will begin to manifest themselves. The international community has just about woken up to the grim reality as indicated by the slight upswing in aid offers. At the same time, it is appalling to see some of the richest nations and friends of Pakistan not rising to the occasion. I want to assure your readers that there is a groundswell of goodwill, pious hopes and prayers in India for the affectees in Pakistan. [Daily Times]
CLEAN COMMISSION
[Hameed Akhtar Niazi, Islamabad]
Your esteemed newspaper carried three spirited comments upon our nation's disjointed and highly disappointing response to the calamity that has befallen us. Two columns have been written by two respected journalists, namely, Anjum Niaz and Rahimullah Yousufzai (Aug 25) while the third is a letter written by a disturbed Pakistani sitting in Oslo, Dr A P Sangdil. All three have bemoaned the lack of unity amongst various forces even in the wake of a calamity of such unprecedented proportions. Remember that the entire population of Lebanon closed its ranks to fight back the US-inspired Israeli attack on that country. That is the way nations must fight the tragedies befalling them. Our rudderless, highly fractured and seemingly selfish response to the present massive deluge must have further lowered us as a nation in foreign eyes.
There appeared a sign of hope though. Prime Minister Gilani and Nawaz Sharif addressed a joint press conference befittingly on August 14 to announce the setting up of a Nawaz Sharif-proposed clean commission, headed by the highly respected Justice Bhagwandas. Among the other proposed names for the commission was that of our world-renowned social worker, Abdul Sattar Edhi. I was thrilled to read that news and almost dashed off a letter to Justice Bhagwandas to volunteer to be on his team. But alas, that was not to be. The excuse given was the negative response to that commission by the provinces. Anjum Niaz has found fault with the response of our foreign friends. How can we blame others when our own response is like this? I beseech Pakistanis of all shades to stop building the proverbial mosque of one and a half brick (derh eent ki masjid). I request the government to please go ahead with the establishment of the clean commission and everybody should join it in a concerted effort. Please rise to the occasion and leave politics for another day. And a word about Altaf Hussain's proposal about the army takeover. Do we still have the stomach for that kind of thing? The armed forces are currently doing a highly commendable job but they should do this in aid of the civil authority, not on their own. [The News]
DISASTERS REQUIRE MORAL STRENGTH
[Raja Masroor Hassan Qazi, Karachi]
One of the ugly aspects of any disaster is that it makes the invisible miseries of the rural population visible. Besides, it damages the moral strength to act decently and deal courageously with challenges. We witnessed the feudal lords in Sindh diverting the natural course of flood water to save their own lands at the cost of innocent children, women and the elderly in the remote areas of Sindh, which got inundated by such crass acts of water diversion, resulting in death and displacement of many innocent villagers. I personally witnessed armed criminals wandering, looking for an opportunity to loot and plunder while visiting Aqil Agani near Larkana. Even the recently built wall of the Rice Canal in Larkana has nearly eroded and a portion has been completely destroyed. The local people invested a little amount of money by fixing a wall of reeds, lest the water should enter their houses. I went to visit the office of DCO Larkana to apprise him of the broken wall of the Rice Canal, but I failed to approach him as the sahib was busy and did not have time for a nobody like me. [Daily Times]
KILLINGS OF FLOOD VICTIMS
[Mohammad Khan Sial, Karachi]
Recently in Karachi, at least two flood victims who had taken temporarily shelter in Chapple Sun City apartments were brutally killed by Police besides injuring many people. The dark aspect of the story is our media without investigating further, labelled them as ‘land grabbers’ as dictated by Police without giving other party sufficient opportunity to present their stand and this practice is highly condemnable and against norms of justice. Since the owners of apartments were influential, therefore, they called police immediately instead of trying to resolve the problems through negotiations. While regretting on the one-sided attitude of our media and mysterious silence by various NGOs and Human Rights organizations on the killings of two innocent people, I hereby request the Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan to take sou motu action and also Sindh government to hold judicial inquiry into the killings and pay a sufficient compensation to the victims immediately. [The Frontier Post]
POST-DISASTER MANAGEMENT
[Raja Masroor Hassan Qazi, Karachi]
In the wake of devastating floods that affected millions, we need to set our priorities right for post-disaster management. The top priority should be the mitigation of the shocking effects of the disaster on human lives, alleviating suffering by ensuring relief and response on emergency basis such as provision of drinkable water, food aid, setting up shelters and health camps. The most immediate threat from floods is contamination. Floodwaters contain contaminants, toxins, sewage and toxic chemicals. There is an urgent need to minimise chemical pollution by using absorbent material to capture spills as well as constructing bunds around spills so as to avoid any threat. As the waters recede, paths, road surfaces, bridges, buildings, homes and other structures may be still unstable.
There is a need to minimise water pollution by building toilets only in locations identified according to the Sphere Standards. There is also a need to minimise solid waste by disposing of it at locations identified by local DCOs. Individuals at shelters must be trained to dispose of waste besides providing safety training and involving communities in sorting waste. People need to be educated about the environmental challenges that we are faced with. [Daily Times]
…LUTTIA SHEHAR BHUMBHORE
[Mohammad Khan Sial, Karachi]
People of Sindh are in a state of shock paralysis. The unprecedented floods have rooted out from abodes a very large population (some say more than thirty percent of the entire province) in 17 out of a total of 23 districts of Sindh. The ruination of flood continues unabated while these people sit on their haunches in numerous flood relief camps established by the Sindh government. These camps, too few and much too dilapidated in view of the mammoth number of affected people also lack basic amenities of health and sanitation. As per press reports, when a group of female teachers went to a flood camp outside Karachi to start classes for children, they were shocked to see that almost all the children were hungry———for the last two days. They had to, therefore, pay for their food first before the classes could begin. Press reports tell you of thousands of people, especially children, suffering from various diseases. A large number of children are dying daily due to acute shortage of medical facilities in camps. The incidents of looting of the affected people, happening constantly, is another tragedy that continues as do the floods. It appears the Sindh government has miserably failed in everything. Gastro and diarrhea have broken out in camps simply because standards of hygiene and food safety are not being maintained nor any proper medical facilities being provided to the sick among residents. The NGOs are the only one playing their (limited) part actively. [The Nation]
FAKE CHARITIES
[Sana Ali]
It is good that everyone in the country is generously donating for the people hit by the devastating floods but at the same time it is very shameful after coming across such people who in this time of hardship are trying to make money. I came across some newly sprung up ‘trusts’ asking for donations on the roadside. God knows from where these people have come out. I would like to suggest to everyone not to donate anything to such people and only to recognised institutions and individuals. I think they are far more trustworthy than any other fly-by-night organisation.
[Daily Times]
SAVE 70,000 CHILDREN
[Mohammad Khan Sial, Karachi]
Every one of us must be in shock to read the recent UNICEF report about the fear of dying of 70,000 children owing to numerous diseases as a result of drinking contaminated water. I request our elected government to declare 'health emergency' in the country and utilize all resources to save the lives of flood victims, particularly children, on priority basis. I also suggest President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani to instruct the provincial governments to provide us make-shift hospitals on urgent basis as our brother Muslim country, Turkey has done and already sent such hospital to Dera Murad Jamali in Balochistan. Such hospitals would definitely be useful and ensure tremendous decrease in untimely sad demise of our children by providing them treatment. In this regard, Cuba would be more useful as it has very vast set up of medical manpower and other related facilities by sending us medical manpower along with make-shift hospitals on short notice as it had done in 2005 when earthquake made extensive losses in Northern Areas and AK.
While emphasising on the need of immediate treatment of children in the whole country, I request the President as well as Prime Minister to pay particular attention to Sindh where the number of dying children, as per press reports has increased alarmingly. Needless to mention here, it is our duty of all to save the precious lives of our children on priority basis. [Business Recorder]
TTP PLANS TO ATTACK AID WORKERS
[Tahmina, Canberra, Australia]
What a pity that these disgraceful criminals want to assault those workers who are working only for a humane cause! The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has no respect for human life or even for the people suffering due to the floods. Have these criminals already not done enough to add to the misery of Pakistanis? [Daily Times]
SO…WHO…IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS?
[Altaf Hussain, Hyderabad]
The government of Sindh was precisely aware of the magnitude of super flood torrent the province was to receive after it had destroyed much of Pakhtunkhwah and inundated almost the entire southern Punjab. This massive torrent was ultimately destined to discharge in the Arabian Sea through the Indus River that runs in the middle of Sindh. The super flood ultimately hit Sindh with full ferocity and the fragile dykes of the province gave way which caused inundation of almost 1/3rd of the province. Most of the northern districts of Sindh got submerged in floodwaters that left millions shelterless. Their only source of livelihood, the standing crops and livestock, sunk without a trace in water. Their small huts and kiln homes in which they had been dwelling for centuries gone, these people are now nomads in their own homeland, malnourished, sick and without hope of a future in sight.
The obvious question is that who is responsible for the agony of these millions of afflicted people? Although floods of high magnitude have passed through Indus system every once in a decade but the scale of present destruction is unheard of in the history of floods. The reason, of course, is the official negligence in upkeep of protective levees, a responsibility that was completely ignored and left to the builders mafias. They kept digging for gravel to use in their construction, especially near big towns. All this while, the loggers were constantly hacking our riverine forests that existed on both sides of the riverbed and used to protect the dykes. This mercilessly slaughter of our natural protection against floods left the land vulnerable. The policy of allotting lands to influential people also helped the flood kill. They created their own dykes to protect their crops, one major cause of damage to the protective bunds. The maintenance and upkeep of the levees/ bunds is the sole responsibility of provincial Irrigation Department for which sizable allocations are made in budget every year. The Irrigation Department not only failed to maintain these protective structures but when the crisis unfolded, actually abandoned its responsibility by handing over the maintenance to Pakistan Army. The handing over of this safety mechanism to Army at the eleventh hour could not save the millions that have perished in the run of water that came in million of cusecs this time.
[The Nation]
THE FLOOD COMMISSION
[Engr S T Hussain, Lahore]
The government has dropped the idea of forming a new flood commission. The prime minister and Nawaz Sharif had announced in a joint press conference the formation of a neutral commission to oversee the operation of relief rehabilitation work in the flood-affected areas. Why did the prime minister agree with the PML-N chief in the presence of an already existing National Disaster Management Commission (NDMC) and its executing agency National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)? It should be the responsibility of NDMC and NDMA to produce pre-emptive strategies and warnings in time. People have the right to know what NDMA had been doing since its formation in 2005. Moreover, what role has the Flood Control Commission (FFC) played in controlling the floods? Since its establishment, the FFC has cost us Rs 88 billion. What is the use of having such a body that has failed miserably to justify its existence? [Daily Times]
ARE WE POOR OR MEAN?
[Mahabat Khan Bangash, Peshawar]
No doubt we are called a poor nation but as human beings we remain to be mean. May it be the upper class of our society or the lower one, when it comes to our actions and behaviour we stand big liars, dishonest, unjust, and unfair and cheats? The fact behind this vice is the tendency of unending greed. Societies and nations are built by the leaders, clergy, scholars, authors and poets. Unfortunately our leadership and clergy could not deliver because they proved to be the big cheats and greedy. Then it is our misfortune that the nation remained illiterate, who could not learn from the books. The unending and unlimited greed has completely destroyed our society right from the Presidency down to a peon, a farmer or a petty vender. The other day I and my spouse arranged relief packages for 100 families in a flood affected village in Charsadda with the help of elders of that village. Every one tried his best so that the relief packages could reach every family. But at the end of the day we found that 20 packages were short which were taken away by deceit by those who had already received their shares. Therefore, we had to purchase 20 more packages to compensate the deprived families the next day. [The Frontier Post]
EMBEZZLING AID
[S Hassan Naqvi, Karachi]
I want to draw the attention of the concerned authorities towards embezzlement in provision of aid from national and international organisations. The countrymen are mourning their losses but are eager to help; national and international communities are sending millions of dollars to soothe the pain of the flood victims, and many people are volunteering to ensure the transparency of the relief procedure. But I was flabbergasted when I heard that aid items from the UN had been sold openly in Karachi. One of my relatives saw an individual eating biscuits that had a seal of the UN flood relief programme. I was shocked more when a police official was caught taking away aid from the flood victims. We must help the flood affectees and the government needs to ensure that the aid reaches the deserving people. [Daily Times]
It is for the people, especially for the think-tanks and NGOs, and no doubt for media also, that the big issue for the next election should be the provision of basic social services (water supply, sanitation, public transport, roads, paved streets, street lights, libraries, parks or playgrounds, and noise and pollution free environment) to all the citizens in Pakistan not only ensured in the constitution but binding on the next government also. If achieved, that will be a great step forward towards the unification of the ordinary and elite Pakistans. Is there any political party ready to take up this at the top of its agenda? [Editor]
‘SUKKUR LIBRARY SOLD TO BUILDER’
[Abdul Samad Samo, Karachi]
This is with reference to the letter ‘Sukkur library sold to builder’ by Raheed Mirani (July 25). I was really saddened to learn that the Mir Masoom Shah Library of Sukkur has been sold to builders to construct residential and commercial flats on the site. The above-referred library is a very old one and is the only facility in Sukkur where people of all walks of life come to quench their thirst for knowledge. Besides this, the library has been providing a good platform to all those poor but studious people who go there for the preparation of their competitive examinations such as CSS, PCS, etc. The Mir Masoom Shah Library has produced many brilliant officers who used to go there for their studies. Shakeel Ahmed Mangnejo (DMG), Munir Shaikh (PSP), Yakoob Mako (Customs), Ghulam Mustafa Samo (Audit & Accounts), Hanif Shaikh (Income Tax), Abdul Hafeez Shaikh (Audit & Accounts), Kashif Gulzar Shaikh (OMG) and Shahid Soomro (Income Tax) are some of the names worth mentioning in this regard. The sale of the library to builders for commercial purposes is beyond my comprehension.
This clearly shows the apathy of the local administration towards this important and vital component of social development. Since I too belong to Sukkur and have used the library for the preparation of my competitive examinations (CSS and PCS), I can easily feel the sadness of other students on the decision of the local administration to sell the library. It is my humble request to the government of Sindh that the local administration of Sukkur should be prohibited from allowing the builders to use the building of the Mir Masoom Shah Library for commercial purposes. [Dawn]
LAYARI'S CIVIC WOES
[Zaheer Ahmed Shaikh, Karachi]
Karachi's oldest settlement, Lyari, is in the grip of multiple civic and social problems and there seems to be no solution to these problems unless the administration bosses take serious and solid steps to tackle them. Residents of Lyari are facing problems of unemployment, severe water shortage, shabby roads, choked sewerage, dismal education and healthcare facilities. People are critical of the attitude of the officials of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) and said they were responsible for artificial water shortage in Lyari town. They said if water came in the pipelines, it is mixed with sewerage water, causing epidemics amongst the people, especially children. Manholes are without covers, stagnant water can be seen in street, beside power shutdowns are more frequent in Lyari than other towns of the city. Residents said that sometimes the power outage lasts for 24 hours, creating immense problems for children and women especially for students preparing for exams. Garbage dumps could be seen in almost all the streets.
'Concerned authorities are continually showing negligence towards these basic problems, which could lead to spread of major epidemics in the area', a resident said. Half of Lyari's population lived in Nayabad, Khadda, Moosa Lane, Kalri, Baghdadi and there was not even a single government hospital in these areas. Residents demanded of the government to set up at least a dispensary in the area, which could provide medical treatment to locals. Lyari always faced lack of educational facilities. It has few government schools and has insufficient number of male and female teachers. The schools had no facility of drinking water and toilets causing problems for students.
[Business Recorder]
ALL POWER TO…BE TURNED-OFF
[Syed Gohar Altaf, Islamabad]
One part of government strategy for tackling the unprecedented energy crisis in Pakistan is closing down all libraries of the country even on Saturdays. I can’t think of any other decision of policymakers that is so myopic in vision. True, the country is facing a disastrous situation due to the enormous scale of power shortage we are having but isn’t this disaster an offshoot of the over all crisis we have of a lack of vision and lack of culture of research in the educational realm? What we lack most of all are specialist researchers from the fields of natural and social sciences which could have lead the country out of this catastrophic situation. We need the power of intellect to close the Pandora’s Box from which all of these crises seem to be emanating. My request to the ministry of education, culture or whatever is that they should let the next generation break the shackles of illiteracy. Please exclude the cradles of education, innovation and progress, the libraries, from your list of power cuts. [The Nation]
OVERFLOWING GUTTERS IN GULSHAN-E-HADEED
[Hafiz Muhammad Noman, Karachi]
Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Steel Town, was founded in 1990s. This area was facilitated by Steel Mills. As time passed, the population increased and many problems, including the sewerage have cropped up. Initially the plots in Gulshan-e-Hadeed were allotted to the employees of Steel Mills, but due to the constant chaos in Steel Mills, many employees took VRF and sold their houses to others. When newcomers shifted here, they built some more storeys and started to rent them out. In the early days, the sewerage lines and other facilities, were laid in the area according to the need of the population. But with the increase in population, these facilities could not sustain the pressure of the growing population, sewerage lines have been choked, resulting overflow of gutters.
Now the position is that not only the lanes and by-lanes, the main road is also flooded with stinking and filthy water. On the other hand, the situation is completely different! When the residents of the area complain to the UC office, they are told that this is responsibility of Steel Mills authorities because the area comes under the jurisdiction of Steel Mills administration, but the Steel Mills authorities claim that the UC office is responsible for this matter. I would like to request the authorities, both the Steel Mills and the UC office, instead of shifting their responsibility, to solve the problem. [Business Recorder]
MARITIME INDUSTRY - CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
By Captain Anwar Shah
[This article first appeared in Business Recorder on August 4, 2010. The Writer is Governor, World Maritime University, Malmao, Sweden]
It is indeed commendable that our national flag carrier in a recent board meeting has taken the initiative of corporate social responsibility, rewarding PNSC afloat staff on yearly performance. The new management is dedicated not only to keep the organisation in green, but has embarked on replacing old tonnage. The welcome news is induction of two double hull Aframax Tankers and plans to purchase a bulk carrier. The management is fully alive to its responsibility and, being public sector organisation, is making profit without any liability on taxpayers. The accelerated growth in tonnage is good one and even private sector is willing to join hands with PNSC, due to its performance, based on market reports.
Shipping is able to boast of its history and tradition that few other industries can match. And yet it remains as relevant to the modern world as it has ever been, perhaps, even more so because, without it, today's global economy simply could not function and half of the world will freeze. The legacy that seafarers hand down to one another is one of the pride in a job well done, of attention to details, of innovative skills assiduously learned and in short pains-taking application of seamanship. It is widely predicted by maritime analysts, that unless something is done sooner, shipping is bound to face manpower crisis and there will be acute shortage of qualified officers to manage the ever-increasing world fleet.
There is a strong evidence that today educated young population does not find it an attractive career, thus industry cannot ignore the current shortage of good entrants. It is on record that in the recent past, shipping has done well to improve its safety/environmental records and complied with the stringent regulatory regime of IMO. Recently, STCW 95 has been revised in a diplomatic conference held in Manila, thus it is imperative for the industry to complement the simultaneous developments with sense of corporate social responsibility to attract young educated officers. Unfortunately in the past, there was no formally established and internationally accepted standard or principle for CSR and nobody was clear as to what the concept means and its application. It was addressed by the international standard organisation and now the ISO 26000 is the principle of CSR. The UK nicely summed up in a seminar, attended by me, that CSR is about how a business takes account of its economic, social and environmental aspects in the way it operates maximising the benefits and minimising the downslides.
The world business council for sustainable development defines corporate social responsibility in the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as local community and society at large. It was heartening to note that the management of PSNC has comprehended the issue of staff morale, motivation of brand loyalty, reputation risk and environmental sustainability, widely recognised as drivers of competitive advantage. CSR has come to mean more than charity or philanthropy. It has moved from margins to mainstream of corporate strategy being inter linked objectives of doing business.
Needless to mention, in the 19th and 20th early century industrialist luminaries, W.H. Lever, George Cadbury, Rockefeller exposed visions of content, healthy and as a consequence, efficient workforce to place their countries on world map. Today environmental considerations, the fair treatment of workers and the duty of care businesses have toward their customers are of increasing concern. The status of employee as a " sensitive asset" has led the companies to perceive the value of creating work place attractive to applicants and corporate values that are aligned to wider social interest.
Ships today are indeed technologically advanced, workplace and, in future, it may be controlled by a single joy stick and a mouse ball in the arm of helmsmen sent out, and engineers will have probably clean hands and the calluses on their finger will be from tapping a keyboard rather than wielding a spanner. The crew accommodation will be clean and food will be good. I simply wonder if we are preparing for future by training the educated officers strictly on merits and changing the syllabus of our training academies and school.
Pakistanis need to work hard to remain employed on the ships of the future and there is a dire need to recruit quality officers and train them for future needs. Shipping is no different from other industries, and it was pleasing to participate in a seminar organised with the support of PNSC at Karachi where shipping was introduced to audience from different walks of life, ie businessman, bankers, insurance and investors, a first ever good effort to market the industry. In Pakistan, shipping still suffers from relatively poor public image, probably through lack of understanding of its true importance and the fact that it only seems to grab the headlines when, an inevitably accident or pollution occurs as was the case of M.T. Tasman Spirit in 2004, which spilled 30,000 metric tonnes of crude oil.
The unique hazards confronting the seafarers are pirate attacks, unwarranted detention and abandonment, which serve as disincentive to recruitment, although seafaring is potentially exciting, financially rewarding career. Shipping carries more than 90% of the world trade safely, but it surely needs to attract and retain the sort of educated, qualified and motivated workforce of high calibre, to secure its own future, but without CSR application, it may not attract qualified educated youth. The most welcome development for the seafarers is the adoption in 2006 of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) consolidated maritime convention dealing with seafarers working condition. I am proud to be a contributor at ILO and I hail this as the fourth pillar of regulatory regime for quality shipping, complimenting three IMO key conventions, SOLAS, MARPOL and STCW these treaties address the all-important social dimensions.
The IMO has launched go to sea campaign in 2008, which has been endorsed by all seafaring nations except Pakistan where it did not receive any attention, although we have young educated youth, who can readily fill the world seafarers shortage only after intense training. I hope some realisation may dawn on the concerned ministry to use this window in time, getting our due share in world maritime jobs. The IMO has declared 2010 as year of the seafarers, thus appreciating the 1.5 million seafarers, who are serving the industry. The concerned ministry may pick up the blueprint of PNSC-CSR and implement same through the government shipping office as incentive to seafarers working on foreign fleets remitting about 100 million dollars to the exchequer. The problem of the global seafaring shortage of 34000 persons can only be resolved through CSR initiatives by the ship owners, industry and concerned ministry. [Courtesy Business Recorder]
Edited and prepared by
Khalil Ahmad
[FreePakistan Newsletter, among other things, is a compilation of views and news taken from the national newspapers’ print and online editions. It is not possible to mention the source of every piece of news or view made use of herein; but as a matter of policy, where possible the source is mentioned with due thanks. However, no opinion expressed here should necessarily be taken as reflecting the view of Free Pakistan Newsletter.]
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