National

ISLAMABAD: 

The upper house of parliament is set to resume debate on the budget from Saturday.

Senators from the Awami National Party (ANP) submitted an adjournment motion against the increase in petroleum prices and the 17% sales tax imposition before the budget is passed by parliament.

Though the upper house does not have the power to stop the budget from being passed, it can forward recommendations to the National Assembly for necessary amendments. It is then entirely up to the lower house whether to incorporate the recommended changes or reject them.

Since the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) enjoys a large majority in the National Assembly, it is unlikely that it would give in to the opposition’s demand.

“Under which law has the government enforced the GST well before the budget is passed by parliament,” said ANP Senator Zahid Khan, one of the movers of the motion.

“The government will be questioned in this regard.”

Scores of other issues pertaining to the budget will also be taken up by senators taking part in the debate.

“The government did not raise salaries of their employees, despite announcing an increase in sales tax and withdrawing subsidy on the power sector. This will affect the common man the most,” said Khan.

“It’s a matter of great concern for us that the government has burdened the poor and middle class rather than imposing direct taxes targeting privileged classes,” he maintained.

“The government should take a step whereby it can increase its revenues without it having an impact on the poor.”

Khan said the PML-N has been voted to power in order to bring about a change, but it has disappointed the poor segments again.

PML-Q Senator Kamil Agha said there are numerous issues related to the recent budget which will be taken up in the upper house.

Acknowledging the fact that the Senate only has the authority to send over its recommendations, he said the senators will highlight the common man’s miseries which will be seen after the budget is set in motion.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2013.

QUETTA: 

The Balochistan chief minister has said that the federal government and security establishment would have to play an ‘extended role’ in the restoration of peace in the strife-torn province.

“We are trying to convince the federal government and the military leadership to assist us in overcoming the problems faced by the people,” Dr Abdul Malik Baloch told a news conference in Quetta on Friday.

He added that his administration would need Islamabad’s cooperation in recovering missing persons, putting an end to dumping of bullet-riddled bodies, targeted killings and sectarian violence.

“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is deeply concerned about critical Balochistan issues and has assured me of his full support to resolve them,” Dr Malik said. “If we can have a good strategy in place, all these problems can be resolved,” he added.

Referring to the enormity and multiplicity of issues, the chief minister said every individual would have to play his role to help the government pull Balochistan out of the quagmire.

Expressing concern over the condition of educational and health institutions, Dr Malik vowed to bring necessary reforms in the two important sectors. He said that the fluid security situation has damaged all sectors, including agriculture, trade, education and health.

The chief minister emphasised that the decreasing subsoil water level was alarming for the province. “If the situation persists, this might force farmers to move to other areas in search of water,” he said.

Dr Malik said that his administration, with help from its coalition partners, would try to resolve the issues facing Balochistan. He added that all political parties in the province were determined to steer the province out of crises.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2013.

ISLAMABAD: 

Despite its own claims, the new government seems to be following in the footsteps of its predecessors – at least as far as development funds are concerned.

Budget documents have revealed that Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has included three projects for his constituency, Narowal, in the upcoming fiscal year’s federal development budget by taking advantage of his official position. Iqbal, who is also the new deputy chairman of the Planning Commission (PC), was elected from NA-117 Narowal-III.

The three projects incorporated in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) by Iqbal are the construction of a campus of the University of Engineering & Technology Lahore and a sports complex at Narowal, along with the renovation of the Narowal Railway Station.

According to the documents, the projects have a total worth of Rs2.81 billion – 0.52% of the Rs540 billion allocated against 1,236 schemes of PSDP for 2013-14. A sum of Rs425 million has been earmarked to initiate work on these projects in the next fiscal year, they further revealed.

When asked to explain the rationale behind including the three projects in the new PSDP, PC officials remained tightlipped.

Due to the scarcity of resources, most development projects end up being delayed for years and result in further cost escalation. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has constituted a committee to identify and delete what Ahsan Iqbal himself termed ‘low priority and bogus projects of previous years’. Interestingly, this committee will be chaired by Iqbal.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2013.

KARACHI: 

In an unusual occurrence, three out of the four provinces will be presenting their budgets on Monday, offering voters the opportunity to observe the varying governing strategies of the three major political parties in the country on the same day.

The Sindh, Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa assemblies will all be meeting on Monday for the presentation of their respective provincial budgets. The outlier is Balochistan, where the provincial budget will be presented on Thursday, June 20.

Provincial budgets are always announced after the federal budget, since the provincial governments need final confirmation from Islamabad on federal allocations for their respective jurisdictions. While two provinces presenting their budgets on the same day is somewhat common, three provinces considering their money bills is somewhat unusual.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will start the proceedings, with the assembly in Peshawar set to meet at 2pm. Next in line is Sindh, where the provincial legislature is expected to convene at 4pm. And the Punjab Assembly will begin only a short while later, at 4:30pm.

The current budget cycle is a highly unusual one: never in Pakistan’s history has a political transition taken place so soon before the end of a fiscal year. That compressed timeline has left all of the provincial governments scrambling to prepare their documents in time and present the final money bills before the legislatures.

Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar presented the federal budget to the National Assembly on Wednesday and said that the allocation for provincial development budgets had been substantially increased, ostensibly to allow them to undertake larger infrastructure projects. Yet in Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the provincial governments are led by political rivals of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N). Karachi and Peshawar are unlikely to take dictation from Islamabad and Lahore.

What to expect

Each of three provincial budgets will offer some insight into how the government in question plans to govern over the next five years, or, especially in the case of Sindh, whether or not it plans to govern at all.

The Punjab budget is interesting because this is the first time since the fiscal 2008 budget that Lahore and Islamabad are being governed by the same political party. For the past five years, the PML-N has been complaining that the problems in their province have been caused by an uncooperative federal government. Now that excuse no longer exists and the PML-N will be free to pursue its desired policies in Punjab, knowing that they have the full backing of Islamabad.

In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) inherits a province roiling from the impact of a violent insurgency and military operations. Yet the PTI ran an election campaign on the technocratic credentials of many of its party leaders, foremost of whom is former Engro Corporation CEO Asad Umar. The party has implicitly accepted the challenge of proving its governance credentials in the province as a potential springboard to winning a greater presence on the national stage.

And given the extent to which the party has publicly disagreed with its coalition partner Jamaat-e-Islami on the allotment of the education ministry portfolio in the provincial cabinet, it will be especially under pressure to demonstrate its policy intentions on that front.

As for Sindh, the formerly ruling Pakistan Peoples Party has been reduced to a rump in its home province. The PPP was unceremoniously thrown out of office in virtually every other part of the country and needs to demonstrate its ability to govern effectively through Sindh. Yet paradoxically, the PPP politicians most keen to prove the PPP”s credentials are the ones voted out of office in Punjab. The PPP leadership in Sindh, which won re-election despite a poor record, is unlikely to feel quite the same degree of urgency about reviving the party’s fortunes.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2013.

WASHINGTON: 

The United States and Pakistan have a strong ongoing dialogue in all areas of their bilateral relationship, including counterterrorism, and will work together to address any concerns, the State Department said.

Secretary of State John Kerry is looking forward to visiting Pakistan and India at an appropriate time, State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki told a daily press briefing. She, however, had no precise travel schedule to announce.

Asked about Islamabad’s objections to US drone strikes, the spokesperson indicated that the two countries would work together to address any concerns. “But we do have a strong, ongoing dialogue with Pakistan regarding all aspects of our bilateral relationship and shared interests, including security and counterterrorism cooperation, and we’ll work together to address any of these concerns.”

She confirmed that four US embassy officials, who flew from Islamabad to Karachi, were detained by airport officials and have since returned to Islamabad. “In terms of the reasoning, we’re still gathering information on what happened here … I don’t want to over read, and I would encourage none of you to over read, into it while we’re still looking into what the specifics of the events were.”

Asked about the reaction of foreign countries to revelation of US secret surveillance programme, the spokesperson acknowledged the disclosure has raised concerns with some governments.

“We are, of course, aware recent disclosures in the press about classified US intelligence activities have raised concern with some other governments. I would refer to all of them to speak for themselves. And we have ongoing dialogues with allies and partners around the world on a range of issues, including counterterrorism, cyber-security, and privacy concerns, and all of these programs.  And so we’ll continue to discuss those issues and others raised through our diplomatic channels.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2013.

KARACHI: 

The Muttahida Quami Movement on Friday declared the budget 2013-14, presented by the government a ‘traditional one’ promising no betterment to the public.

Demanding minimum wage of Rs15,000 and a decrease in sales tax, MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar said salaries of labourers should be increased.

The MQM leader lashed out at the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, saying that when the party was in the opposition they had vowed to bring back the plundered wealth from abroad. But now, after the party was in the government they failed to draft any policy over it. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the MQM leader said that the budget will add to the problems of the poor. He said that the entire nation was left in a state of shock after the budget was presented.

“No tax has been imposed on the feudal landlords, instead new taxes have been levied on salaried persons,” he said.

Sattar further stated that by introducing ‘withholding tax’ on traders, the government aimed to hurt them economically. He said that the PML-N budget was perhaps the first of its kind in the world which imposed a tax on education. MQM senator Mustafa Kamal has been included in the Rabita Committee.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2013.

LAHORE: 

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has returned the services of 34 officers on deputation to their parent departments on Friday in compliance with the Islamabad High Court (IHC) orders.

The process of preparing a list of more than 150 officials still serving in FIA on deputation has been started, sources familiar with the matter revealed to The Express Tribune.

In this connection the Establishment Division, Ministry of Interior and the FIA Headquarters have also issued notifications in compliance of the IHC and Supreme Court orders, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The contents of the interior ministry’s notification vide No57/2012-Estt-FIA reads, “In pursuance of Islamabad High Court orders passed in Writ Petition No2703/2013 and consequent upon approval of the competent authority 34 officers/officials are attached/repatriated in their parent departments with immediate effect.”

In search of greener pastures

All these officers were working on grade 16 to 19 and they had got themselves transferred in the powerful investigation agency against the rules with the help of influential persons in the PPP government. Some of these officers had come from traditionally ‘dry’ departments like Pakistan Arts Council, Punjab Arts Council and Evacuee Trust Property Board. Others were from highly transparent organisations like Nadra.

However some officer chose to get transferred to FIA from ‘lucrative’ positions in Income Tax, Bank of Punjab, Employees Old Age Benefit Institution, Information Department Punjab, Intelligence Bureau, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority, Pakistan Public Works Department, and Punjab Prisons Department.

IHC judgment

In its judgment the IHC had declared that the deputation of these officers in FIA followed by absorption is based on political considerations that were unprecedented, illegal, unconstitutional and against the principles of transparency, fairness and merit.

These officers are directed to repatriate to their parent departments in the grade they were holding prior to coming to the FIA, the judgement said.

IHC directed that when these officers return to their departments concerned the post which becomes vacant may be filled through promotion on the principle of seniority-cum-fitness.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2013.

ISLAMABAD: 

The capital’s rural area of Saidpur model village is facing an acute shortage of water for domestic use.

According to the locals, the water supplied is also impure. Residents have demanded authorities to ensure constant water supply to the area. In addition to the problem of water scarcity, dirty water from the high-end hotels located on the Margalla Hills mixes with the water of the streams flowing down to the village.

Rehan Abbasi, a resident of Saidpur village, said the route of sewerage water was a serious threat to the village residents. He said they have asked CDA to separate the route of sewage water from the streams so that supply of clean water might be enabled to the area.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2013.

ISLAMABAD: 

Aurat Foundation staged a play “Domestic Violence and Masculinity,” at a hotel on Friday, focusing on the link between masculinity and domestic violence.

The play was staged to make men revisit their behaviour towards women. The play focused on masculinity and its correlation with domestic violence.

With all male performers, the play revolved around the issues related to established social behaviours that reinforce male domination and lead to domestic violence. The play highlighted the conditions faced by men which lead to violent behaviour.

It started with typical statements men sprout in our society, including “Mard Ban Mard” (Be a Man) and “Mard Kabhi Nai Rota” (Men never cry).

The main feature of the play was that no woman participated in it and an imaginary character presented women’s feelings without speaking or arguing.

The play’s director, Waseem said men need to take responsibility for their behaviour.The play was organised by the Interactive Resource Centre under the Gender Equity Programme.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2013.

ISLAMABAD: 

Old age is neither a disease nor a problem. In fact, older people are an asset, but due to the existence of age discrimination in society, these people suffer various forms of violence and are deprived of their basic rights.

Speakers at a seminar on Friday expressed these concerns over the absence of age-friendly environment.

The event was organised to mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

They also said that the elderly are deprived of their right to have access to healthcare services, subsidised public transport and other privileges.

The seminar was organised by the HelpAge International.

Speakers called on the National Council of Social Welfare, Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) to table the revised draft of the Senior Citizens Welfare Bill and asked the new government to approve it without any further delay.

HelpAge International Senior Advocacy and Communication Officer Waqas Ashfaq Qureshi said, “Older people’s rights are human rights and we have to protect them to end age discrimination.”

He quoted a United Nations Population Fund – HelpAge International report as saying there are 11.6 million people over 60 in Pakistan and this figure will rise to 43.3 million by 2050, accounting for 15.8 per cent of the total population.

“Most elderly people are capable of performing various routine tasks independently, but the absence of facilities for them makes them dependent on others,” he said.

Qureshi said many public hospitals have no wheelchairs or elevators for the elderly, due to which it becomes very difficult for them to get some forms of treatment.

He said that Pakistan has accepted the United Nations conventions on human rights, but stands in violation of it as many of the rights of the elderly are not provided or enforced.

He said many governments have failed to respond to rights violations and see older people only as recipients of welfare, rather than the holders of rights like other citizens.

A new UN convention on the rights of older people is necessary to change this as it would provide governments with the legal framework, guidance and support to help them end discrimination, said Qureshi.

CADD Additional Secretary Abdul Latif Laghari informed the participants that the senior citizen bill draft has been finalised and will soon be presented in the National Assembly.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2013.

ISLAMABAD: 

The Insani Haqooq Ittehad (IHI), a network of Islamabad-based human rights organisations, has demanded that the federal budget 2013-14 be made a “people’s budget,” in which the allocations are made in a more just and pro-people manner, according to an IHI press release issued on Friday.

The release stated that the country’s budgets have historically failed to meet basic needs such as food security, health, education and employment.

Pakistan is ranked 146th out of 187 countries in the Human Development Index, the country has the second highest mortality rate for children under five, the economic impact of neglecting sanitation costs is Rs343.7 billion annually and over 5.1 million primary school-age children are out of school.

The IHI said the defence budget should be made available to people’s representatives and for auditing. The military expenses should be reduced by 30 per cent.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2013.

ISLAMABAD: 

Flaying the electronic media’s coverage of women parliamentarians, politicians complained that it is their appearance, and not achievements, that are highlighted in the news.

They were speaking on Friday at a conference organised by Uks— a research, resource and publication centre working for gender equality and women’s development. A number of women parliamentarians, party members, civil society and media representatives were gathered at a local hotel to identify gaps and changes required in reporting on women.

A recent television news report was shown which highlighted the ‘fashion’ of newly elected women parliamentarians on the first day of the National Assembly. Bags, sunglasses, shoes and jewellery were the items in focus. Disappointed at the deteriorating standard of reporting, a female politician commented that men had come equally dressed up that day but no one reported on them. “Women are women and they will dress up. But men that day wore expensive sherwanis, branded suits, ties, shoes and cufflinks, why wasn’t that reported?” she asked. Instead of highlighting the amount of work these women have done in the past, the media is too busy zooming into unnecessary things, she added.

Pakistan’s Peoples Party member Shama Arif Mithani said , “Looks are always highlighted, and the aged politicians are always sidelined.”

Terming it a ‘ratings race’, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Member National Assembly Nighat Sheikh said, “If only they focused on real issues of women then many ills of society would be resolved through this powerful medium.”

A female politician from Balochistan said it was the mindset of people that needed to change. If we register our complaint with the media, they boycott us and we need them for recognition of work-so it’s a complex relationship between us and the media,” she added.

Concluding the discussion, the participants agreed that the only resolution to the problem is an acceptance by media house owners and editorial boards of equal coverage for men and women politicians.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2013.

ISLAMABAD: 

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) restrained the chief of National Engineering Services Pakistan (Nespak) from performing his duties after his appointment was challenged.

Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui while accepting the petition of Waseemul Haq Ansari, restrained Asad Ismail Khan from serving as Managing Director (MD) till July 7. The court issued notices to Khan, ministry of water and power secretary, Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) chairman and sought their replies. Justice Siddiqui observed that prima facie it seems the appointment was made on a political basis.

The petitioner, through his counsel Hafiz Arafat Ahmed, had challenged Khan’s appointment citing a ‘lack of competitive process’.

Advocate Ahmed maintained that the previous government had appointed Khan as MD in April 2009 for three years and later granted him a year’s extension which expired in April.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that Khan’s appointment was made on a political basis and competitive process was not adopted in violation of PEC Act 1976. He informed the court that PEC, the engineering profession’s regulatory body, had objected to Khan’s appointment.

Ahmed further informed that the caretaker government had appointed Tahir Shamshad as MD, but the Supreme Court had declared all appointments of caretaker premier Mir Hazar Khan Khoso as illegal and Khan was subsequently reappointed. He contended that former PM Raja Pervez Ashraf, who was also minister of water and power, had appointed Khan. “He is an architect by profession and has no background in engineering which is essential for this post,” claimed Ahmed. “He has served his term plus an extension, but he continues to be in office and asked the court to remove him.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2013.

ISLAMABAD: 

In homage to the late legendary singer Mehdi Hassan on his first death anniversary, the Pakistan National Council of the Arts organised a musical evening on Thursday. Ardent followers of classical music absorbed the soothing rhythms of songs and ghazals.

Mehdi Hassan’s story

A short documentary featuring the life and times of Hassan was screened before the concert, wherein scenes from his musical career rekindled ardent fans.

Originally from Rajhastan, India, Hassan migrated to Pakistan and launched his career from Radio Pakistan. With his effortless singing, he reigned over the hearts of music buffs not only in the county but the world over.

On top of the music world during the 60’s to 70’s, he rendered singles and duets for both Pakistani and Indian films.

The documentary shed light on the spiritual side of the legend, who has to his credit renditions of thumri and kaafi. One of his disciples dubbed him a sufi darvesh. The Indian vocalist Hari Haran considers Hassan his spiritual father. Lyricist Gulzar described his musical sensibilities as being “Gul-e-Gulzar” (flower in a garden).

Hassan’s classic “Zindagi mein tou sabhi pyar kiya kartay hai” played throughout as the film transitioned to scenes of an ailing Hassan.

Mixed performances

The concert also revisited the charm of a living legend, Shaukat Ali, who has won several awards for his singing and compositions both nationally and internationally. He has been awarded the “Voice of Punjab” title in Canada. In Pakistan, he has received a Pride of Performance award. His own composition, “Kadi te has bol ve” has garnered international acclaim and has been replicated in various Bollywood songs.

Ali’s voice, fused with the rhythms of flute and harmonium, left the audience mesmerised. His son Mohsin Shaukat Ali opened with one of his unreleased songs, to much applause.

Though popular for her music in television and films, singer Nirmal Shah could not succeed, in comparison, in impressing the audience. She opened with one of her own songs and then went on to sing Noor Jahan’s timeless melodies, including “Mein tere sang kaise chaloon”, “Mujhse pehli si muhabbat” and “Lo Chaldiye.”

An audience member commented that her vocals were not in harmony with the instruments, which marred the experience.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2013.

ISLAMABAD: 

Despite possessing 70 per cent of world energy resources and 40 per cent natural resources, the gross domestic product (GDP) of all member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is less than that of Japan.

This was stated by Chairperson HEC Javaid Laghari while talking to Education Attachés of OIC member states, who called on him at the HEC headquarters here on Friday.

Laghari said that the contribution of OIC member states to world GDP was only eight per cent while 40 per cent of the population of these countries lived below poverty level.

He said only a paltry sum of 0.81 per cent of GDP is spent on research and development.

He also talked about some success stories of the OIC countries in higher education saying Qatar has doubled its spending on research from 0.8 per cent to a 2.8 per cent of GDP while Turkey’s research spending increased by 10 per cent between 2005 and 2010. “Research work is on the rise in Muslim countries and by 2018, Iran will stand at number four, Malaysia at 13, Turkey 18, Pakistan 27, and Egypt 40 in worldwide scientific publication work.”

ED HEC, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, said that “Vice Chancellors Forum” of OIC member states will be held in Islamabad from 23 to 24 September this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2013.

ISLAMABAD: 

The owner of a construction company, which is currently executing the Rs588 million Margalla Avenue project, has failed to submit a bank guarantee, a prerequisite for any scheme.

The firm, Rakhshan, which is owned by a sitting senator of the Pakistan Peoples Party, had submitted insurance guarantees with the Capital Development Agency (CDA) as performance and mobilisation advance, instead of submitting a bank guarantee (equivalent to 10 per cent of the total bid amount) in violation of rules.

“In development projects, a bank guarantee is submitted, so in case the contractor defaults or fails to complete the project on time, the department can encash the guarantee,” said a senior CDA official.

The contract of the project was signed during the tenure of former CDA chairman Farkhand Iqbal. When the contractor approached CDA for the project’s approval, it transpired that he had not to submitted the bank guarantee even after a year.

“As per rules, it is mandatory for contractors to submit bank guarantees. Sometimes to win a contract, a contractor files lower rates and later demands compensation for cost escalation. One can deal with such tactics if there’s a bank guarantee,” said a CDA board member.

In this case, the firm won the contract by offering to undertake and complete the project at Rs588 million instead of Rs1,042 million, which was estimated in the PC-I, around 21 per cent below the scheduled rates of the National Highway Authority in 2009, he added.

The board member said though the contract had been signed, the project needed formal approval from the CDA. “When the contractor was asked to submit the bank guarantee, he refused and started exerting pressure on city managers.” The contractor called CDA high-ups and asked for payment for the work done, he added.

“We are in a fix. If the CDA releases the payment, FIA or NAB will intervene.” It is feared that the contractor will either default or ask for cost escalation and the CDA has nothing in hand to encash in the absence of bank guarantee, as the contract demands,” the board member said.

He said that though the contract needed formal approval, CDA has already released Rs88 million to the contractor as mobilisation advance. “But now further payments to the contractor will be made on the provision of the required bank guarantee,” he added.

The nine-kilometre-long-road Margalla Avenue project, once complete, will connect Sector D-12 with GT Road near Sangjani. The groundbreaking ceremony took place in May, 2012. The completion date of the project is June 30, but on ground, only 35 per cent work has been done.

CDA Member Engineering Sanaullah Aman, told The Express Tribune that the contractor had submitted insurance guarantees against both performance and mobilisation advance. “The submission of insurance guarantee was approved by former CDA chairman after the contractor produced a letter issued by the Pakistan Engineering Council in favour of an insurance guarantee instead of the bank guarantee, which is mandatory,” he said.

Aman dispelled the impression that the contractor may default. “The contractor has completed almost all the earthwork on the site,” he said. “Now it is up to the current CDA chairman to endorse the flawed decision of the former chairman or follow the rules.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2013.

ISLAMABAD: 

Days before Nawaz Sharif took oath as Pakistan’s new prime minister, he announced that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government will not tolerate corruption and will hold the corrupt accountable.

If the new federal government is serious about weeding out corruption, it could find an unlikely ally in a United Nations (UN) agency working in Pakistan.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Pakistan and its new boss, Cesar Guedes, are willing to support the Sharif’s government in its anti-corruption efforts.

Guedes, who took charge as the UNODC Pakistan country representative on June 3, previously worked as the UNODC representative in Bolivia, a country where, Guedes said, he and his staff helped the government rally against endemic corruption.

The UNODC has mandate over three international conventions, Guedes said. One of these is the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).

Pakistan, like the Latin American nation, is a signatory of the UNCAC, and corruption, especially in the public sector, is a major challenge to its prosperity.

In Bolivia, the government took a political decision to tackle systemic corruption, Guedes said. The UNODC helped the government establish the Bolivian Ministry for Institutional Transparency and Fight against Corruption while also passing an anti-corruption law which includes witness protection clauses. It also trained judges and prosecutors in anti-corruption practices.

Guedes said that the democratic transition that took place in Pakistan following the May 11 general elections sent a positive message to the world community. He thinks a UN-Pakistan anti-corruption collaboration would benefit the public.

“I’m new, the government is new,” he said. “It would be a win-win opportunity for us to work together for the good of the Pakistani people.”

Meanwhile, the UNODC has been providing technical assistance to Pakistan in the areas of border management, criminal justice, drug demand reduction and, most importantly, controlling illicit trafficking.

Guedes said Pakistan is in the “eye of the storm” due to being a transit country in the international trade of illicit drugs.

A 2009 UNODC report on Afghanistan’s drug trade estimated that around 40 per cent of Afghanistan’s heroin and 30 per cent of its opium pass through Pakistan to the rest of the world each year. The cross-border trafficking is locally valued between $910 million and $1.2 billion, according to the International Narcotics Control Board’s 2012 annual report.

The money creates its own problems.

“The money that is generated by drug trafficking often supports other illicit activities such as human smuggling, precursors smuggling and violence,” Guedes said.

The drug transit trade also puts Pakistan at the risk of becoming a consumer country, he said.

Around 6.4 million Pakistanis between the ages of 15 and 64 used drugs in the past 12 months and 4.1 million individuals are thought to be drug dependent, according to the Drug Use in Pakistan 2013 report prepared by UNODC, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Narcotics Control.

The use of synthetic drugs, smuggling of precursor chemicals that can be used to make drugs and prescription drug addiction are other major challenges facing Pakistan.

In addition to collaborating with government agencies, Guedes said civil society must also be involved to work against transnational organised crime, such human trafficking and drug addiction, because a lot of people fall prey to such crimes because of ignorance.

“With help from civil society, people could be sensitised on these issues,” he said.

They could be told to say “no” when someone lures them to go abroad on a fantastic salary and they could be alerted to the risks of falling prey to drug addiction, Guedes said.

He said Afghanistan is the key concern for Pakistan in terms of illicit trafficking, but recommended that instead of stepping back and becoming overprotective, the two countries should collaborate to prevent misuse of their borders.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2013.

RAWALPINDI: 

Erected as a safety measure, barbed wire fences all over the city have in fact made residents’ mobility an extremely hazardous affair.

Amid concerns from the city’s residents, the predicament is that there is no particular government office that can redress the issue. All other district administration and police offices, including courts, have razor fences around their buildings for security. The problem arises when these fences protrude into public areas, such as roads and footpaths.

None of the city officials, when asked, were aware about whose responsibility it would be to fix the problem. Executive District Officer (EDO) Planning said EDO Works & Services deals with the issue, but the officer was not available for comment.

According to a Tehsil Municipal Administration official, the city is divided among Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), Cantonment Board, TMA, Potohar Town and Rawal Town. And the fact is that every department is independent do as it pleases regarding razor or barbed wire fencing.

Hasan Nisar, a resident of Saidpur Road, was displeased about the absence of law on a public interest issue. “These fences should be removed from places where they edge a public path. It is a very dangerous practice and can result in severe injuries to pedestrians who have to cross them on a daily basis, he said”.

Mujahid Hussain, a trader who has fenced his building, said, “I didn’t seek for permission to put up barbed wire around my building. If somebody gets caught up in the fence it is his fault.”

Reminiscing about the old days when the city was replete with parks and open spaces, Mujtaba Hussain, a resident of Satellite Town, said, “We have spent most of our lives on the streets of Rawalpindi, however, morning walks and evening strolls have now been ruined by the erection of miles of ugly barbed wire fences.”

Acknowledging the need for security, Moharram Ali, a schoolteacher, laments that his kids play “jail, jail” on their way home from school every day while passing through barbed wire on Murree Road near Chandni Chowk.

There have been numerous incidents of residents injuring themselves, especially kids, while walking along barbed wire fences.  “At many places such as the Fauji Foundation tower, barbed wire has been removed from the road dividers to facilitate people in crossing the road,” said Fazal Elahi, a Fauji Foundation employee.

Ali Naqvi, a resident of Ali Nawaz Chohan Chowk, admitted to the need for fencing, but said “Poorly maintained, drooping or corroded barbed wire is not acceptable” as it can lead to serious accidents.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2013.

ISLAMABAD / NEW DELHI: 

If the Pakistani government has the political will to make a decision, electricity from India could start flowing into Pakistan in a matter of months, say top sources in India’s energy ministry.

Confirming that Pakistan has shown willingness to buy power from India, sources say that setting up the cross-border transmission line is a simple task, provided the two countries decide to facilitate the project.

Pakistan has reportedly sought 500 megawatt electricity from India through transmission lines from Indian Punjab into Lahore, but the details and modalities of the purchase and the techno-commercial and sovereign arrangements still have to be worked out.

Certainly, signals from both countries seem to indicate that this possibility is being seriously considered. Earlier this week, a power ministry delegation led by Indian Joint Secretary Rita Acharya, and accompanied by experts, visited Pakistan to discuss the broad contours of the proposed arrangement. Pakistan, which is reeling under a severe power crisis, plans to import 1,000 MW of power from India alone.

In another move Pakistan High Commissioner Salman Bashir called on the Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma on Friday and discussed enhancement of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, reported The Hindu.

Bashir is believed to have assured Sharma that Pakistan’s new government was keen on strengthening trade and economic relations with India, and that a decision on various issues would be taken in the next few months, according to the news report.

Earlier, a joint delegation of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) called on Bashir at the Pakistan High Commission.

New Delhi is said to be willing to help Pakistan in the energy sector and is exploring points which can be used to connect to the grid in Pakistan through a high-voltage direct current line, government sources said.

The sources added that the two states have to first develop transmission lines for power evacuation. But no timeline was specified for the completion of such a network. Talks between the two countries in this regard are ongoing.

With an installed capacity of over 211,000 MW, India certainly has electricity to spare. It also plans to generate another 88,000 MW of electricity by March 2017. Given India’s capacity and Pakistan’s dire need for energy, it seems that a deal may well be on the cards.

Nawaz wants to import power from neighbours

In a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday to review the worsening energy crisis, Nawaz directed the water and power ministry to explore opportunities to import electricity from neighboring countries without any delay. Sources told The Express Tribune that the PM laid particular emphasis on examining the possibility of importing energy from India on an urgent basis in order to improve Pakistan’s power situation.

The officials were directed by the premier to present a detailed report prior to 20th June. After the cabinet’s approval, a decision will be taken in principal to enter into negotiations with India for a formal electricity deal.

The PM also directed the ministry to develop a long-term energy security policy and officials told the premier that the short-, medium- and long-term policies would be completed this month. Along with this, an action plan is also being finalised for the recovery of power bills from defaulters.

According to the sources, “the meeting decided in principle to take tangible measures both for increasing generation and exploring alternate energy sources.” The meeting also underlined the need to reduce theft, rationalise the power tariff and minimise line losses.

Much of the meeting was taken up by discussions on how to curb the circular debt within 60 days, as per the commitment made in Ishaq Dar’s budget speech.

The main decisions taken in the meeting were to boost the national grid’s generation capacity and to focus on overhauling existing power plants. The PM directed that “providing special care and maximum relief to the common man must be the topmost consideration at the time of validation of the tariff.” The Prime Minister also directed that the provinces be taken on board in the consultative process.

It was also revealed that a professional project management office is being established in the Ministry which includes a policy and an implementation cell. The project management office shall supervise and review the progress on key policy decision and the energy implementation plan.

The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Pervez Rashid, Water and Power Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and experts from the energy sector. It has also been decided that the meeting will be held weekly from now on.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2013.

ISLAMABAD: 

The Supreme Court observed on Friday that petroleum prices had been increased without the approval of the parliament and sought an explanation from the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) in this regard.

“How can petroleum prices increase after the hike in general sales tax (GST), from 16% to 17%, was only proposed?” asked Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

On late Thursday night, the chief justice took suo motu notice of increased petroleum prices, on a note put up by the Supreme Court registrar.

During Friday’s proceedings, Attorney General Munir A Malik justified the move. He said the collection of increased GST was initiated under the Provisional Collection Taxes Act 1931 in a bid to handle hoarding by suppliers.

Malik, however, could not convince the three-member bench.

“Hoarding itself is a crime,” the chief justice remarked. “Both the federal and provincial governments have failed to control the malpractice.”

Earlier during the hearing, the attorney general said he did not have any notification from the federal government which allowed for an increase in petroleum prices. However, FBR chairman Ansar Javaid said the new prices were implemented following a declaration issued by the finance ministry.

Explaining the FBR chairman’s argument, Malik contended that the 1931 act allowed the government to collect increased GST. Initially, the act was applicable to customs duty, however, later it was amended for the inclusion of GST collection, the attorney general maintained.

“Soon after the finance minister’s speech proposing an increase in GST, gas stations sold fuel at higher prices without waiting for the parliament’s approval,” the chief justice said.

To this, Malik said the government should have waited for the approval of the proposal from the parliament but followed the traditions practiced by previous governments.

Responding to a query, FBR chairman admitted that he did not receive a notification showing implementation of increased GST.

Legal counsel for Oil and Gas Regulation Authority (OGRA) Salman Akbar Raja said the increase in petroleum prices was implemented after a declaration from the finance ministry.

The bench hinted at the possibility of recovering extra money collected from consumers as it was taken without parliamentary approval. It, however, stopped short of holding off the collection of the increased GST on petroleum products, saying it would decide the matter after hearing the federal government’s stance in the next hearing scheduled on June 18. The apex court bench directed the attorney general to get fresh instructions from the federal government and asked the FBR chairman to submit his reply.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15th, 2013.