Sugar Crisis and Accountability
Monday, November 16, 2009
Forty years ago, one of the reasons of downfall of Field Marshal Muhammad Ayub Khan, then president of Pakistan, was the increase of sugar price from Rs.1.50 per kg to Rs.1.75 per kg. Our country has been passing through the sugar crisis for over two months now. Sugar which was earlier available in the market in plenty at Rs.38.00 to Rs.40.00 per kg is in short supply and the shopkeepers are selling it at the rates of their choice from Rs.50.00 to Rs.80.00 per kg in different parts of the country. And, this is happening despite the ruling of the Supreme Court of Pakistan that sugar be provided to the masses at Rs. 40.00 per kg.
All Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (APSMA) has repeatedly brought out that it had informed the Ministry of Production in early Summers that, in view of less production of Sugar in the country, government should import sugar which was then available in the international market at cheaper rates than now. According to APSMA, Ministry of Production did not follow the advice and this is the main cause of the present sugar crisis. Federal as well as the provincial governments continue to opine that the crisis is prevailing because of the hoarding on part of the sugar mills and the wholesalers. The other opinion is that Supreme Courts ruling has discouraged the market forces to come into play resulting in the crisis. However, the fact is that the ruling came much after the crisis had already begun. Provincial governments continue to boast of administrative measures like raiding of the few of the sugar mills and recover thousands of sugar bags hoarded by them. Provision of sugar to the masses at the rate of Rs.40.00 per kg through government run Utility Stores, too, has been boasted about but once the masses cue up to buy sugar during the announced two hours period, to their total disappointment, they are unable to buy any sugar as either the stores are closed or the sugar is not there to be sold. This is resulting in unrest and agitations in small numbers which is likely to grow with every day passing. Either the government officials are incompetent or they are party to the artificial escalation of prices. Both of these are inexcusable.
Notwithstanding the fact that Field Marshal Muhammad Ayub Khan was a dictator, finding himself being unable to control the agitations, he chose to resign. I doubt if any such option is even under consideration of the worthy president, prime minister, chief ministers or the concerned federal and provincial ministers. We are yet to hear even a single case of proceedings against any of the culprits; government officials, the mill owners or the wholesalers. Not a single head has rolled but for that of poor masses who are in search of sugar from pillar to the post. Initiated by a private TV channel, our political leadership, in the government and opposition alike, could not think of 'Stop using sugar drive' and have not bothered to support it by personal example.
Labels: Corruption, Governance, Government, Leadership, Sugar Crisis
posted @ 2:55 PM,
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Friends, not masters
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The News International, Pakistan in its editorial of Wednesday, October 21, 2009 writes,
Senator John Kerry has described the meetings he held during a brief visit to Pakistan to 'clarify' the concerns raised over conditionalities attached to the $7.5 billion aid to be extended under the Kerry-Lugar Bill as 'positive'. It is significant that the US lawmaker focused the time he had available on meeting those who had most reservations about the bill – Mian Nawaz Sharif and General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani. But reading between the lines, it seems clear that Mr Kerry found the going tough. This is evident from the fact that he carefully declined to say if fears raised by the bill had been allayed and on several occasions looked quite visibly frustrated by the response to it. But the US lawmaker also made several things quite clear. For one, he stressed that the intentions behind the bill were good and that he for one ranked himself as a friend of Pakistan, eager to do what he could to help the country and to strengthen democracy within it. He also pointed out Pakistan was free to refuse the aid package. The plain talking from one of the most experienced US Senators should make us all think. The question is whether as a country strapped for cash, and trapped in a quagmire of problems made up by political instability, economic desperation, a militant threat and a devastating shortage of energy, we are in any position to choose. The country, quite simply, cannot do without assistance. Its people cannot do without the improved access to education and healthcare that the Kerry-Lugar Bill offers. This is the reality that we should be talking about.
Late President of Pakistan Field Marshall Ayub Khan said, " We need friends, not masters". But in the dictionary of international relations, the word friendship does not exist. Agreed, that we are strapped for cash. When have we not been? How many times have we got loans and aids in billions of dollars since independence, all in the name of alleviating poverty and educating the masses? Whither has it gone? Same is going to happen to this money. These loans and aids suit the government officials as it are they who benefit from it the most. So, I beg to differ with the conclusion of the editorial. Losing integrity, allowing other countries to interfere more and more in our internal affairs for any sum what to talk of a paltry sum of $ 1.5 bn which too is going to be eaten by officials in the name of masses isn't a good bargain at all. Let's learn to stand on our own feet.
Labels: Government, US Aid, US Pakistan Relations
posted @ 6:52 PM,
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Fight terrorism actively and not pasively
The News International, Wednesday, October 21, 2009
All government and private schools, colleges and universities have been closed throughout the country because of fears about militant attacks after twin suicide bombings at a university campus in Islamabad on Tuesday, officials said.
Closing of educational institutions all over Pakistan may be a wise step if it's a temporary move for a few days. These few days should be utilized by the administrations to review the security measures and bring them up to the mark. Having done that, the institutions must open. We, as a nation, should not adopt a passive and reactive approach to deal with the terrorists. We must face them fare and square. There is a need to educate all Pakistanis to keep their eyes and ears open and report any untoward activities to the law enforcing agencies. I don't see any public information publicity campaigns by the government. I would go even a step further. Government should organize public awareness sessions with the masses or their elders at the village/mohallah level to educate the masses. Families, shopkeepers, workers in restaurants, hotels, offices, factories and all other sections of the society need to be educated to observe untoward activities and report. Terrorists are living amongst us. Unless all of us unite to identify them before hand, we will continue to be reactive and passive. We need to follow a proactive approach. But for the media, not a single leader has taken the trouble of mobilizing the masses. Who else is going to do this job?
Labels: Government, Leadership, War on Terror
posted @ 6:04 PM,
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Style of governance!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The News International of Tuesday, October 06, 2009 writes,
During the question hour, Mr Tarin made a written revelation that the powerful bureaucrats sitting in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had quietly spent a World Bank loan of Rs150 million on purchase of office furniture from China. At the same time he made another disturbing confession that during the last one year in office, his financial team put a new burden of Rs100 billion loan on the nation to meet the rising difference in income and expenditure.
The above is just one example of the style of governance. Worthy finance minister should be credited with speaking the truth, which I assume it is. However, where are the deeds following the government's resolve to lead the austerity drive?
Labels: Governance, Government
posted @ 10:02 PM,
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30% Parliamentarians fail to submit Assets' details
ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has issued list of as many as 349 parliamentarians who have failed to submit their assets’ details to commission, Geo news said on Tuesday.
Parliamentarians are supposed to be the role models of a country. They were to submit their assets' details by 30 Sep'09. 349 parliamentarians make around 30% of the total. Such is the state of our leadership!
Labels: Government, Parliamentarians
posted @ 9:50 PM,
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Sacking and restoration
Sunday, September 6, 2009
The News International dated Sunday, September 06, 2009 reports,
"Prime minister reversed his earlier decision to sack Khalid Mirza unceremoniously that earned criticism that the incumbent regime had bowed before the influential business tycoons, especially the cement lobby. The CCP had taken the decision to impose over Rs 6 billion penalty on cement manufacturers a few days ago".
Either the sacking was wrong or the restoration is. Decision making at that high level is supposed to be well founded based on sound information and not on personal whims, and the least it is not dependent on the pressures.
"Prime minister reversed his earlier decision to sack Khalid Mirza unceremoniously that earned criticism that the incumbent regime had bowed before the influential business tycoons, especially the cement lobby. The CCP had taken the decision to impose over Rs 6 billion penalty on cement manufacturers a few days ago".
Either the sacking was wrong or the restoration is. Decision making at that high level is supposed to be well founded based on sound information and not on personal whims, and the least it is not dependent on the pressures.
Labels: Government, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani
posted @ 7:03 AM,
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Observance of 63rd Independence Day of Pakistan
Friday, August 14, 2009
The nation celebrates its 63rd independence day. Allow me to write, it would be more appropriate to use the word 'observe' rather than 'celebrate'. It's a day of soul searching for the ones who have souls. I do not know what to say about the soulless ones. Whereas, it is important for each one of us to reflect back and ask ourselves as to what goods and bads we did during the past one year which had a direct or indirect bearing on our fellow Pakistanis, it is more important for the politically, monetarily and socially blessed ones (who, mistakenly, consider it to be a blessing rather than a test) of the society to do so. The latter section of the society needs to ask itself as to whether what they are and what they have is through fair means or otherwise. It's never too late to mend. But, does the ruling elite of the country in which I also include the rich have soul? This section of society is chiefly responsible for all ills prevalent in our society. Most of the ruling elite are busy in power politics and filling its purses. I wonder what does the ruling elite do with their ever increasing accumulation of wealth mostly obtained through unfair means.
Despite being one of the few nuclear states of the world, we are nowhere in terms of development; literacy rate, health, education, per capita income, political and economic health, law and order and so on. Masses are sick of but helpless too facing load shedding, price hike and lack of opportunities of employment or doing business. More and more people continue to fall below the poverty line. The prevailing lawlessness is directly related to the increase in poverty. Once a person, despite the best of his efforts, can't earn livelihood through fair means, can't have himself or near and dear ones medically treated, can't have a shelter to live under, can't educate children, can't have access to clean drinking water etc, the only other options left with him are to either commit suicide or choose to become lawless. And, this is what is happening to our society. The increasing trend of looting of banks and bungalows, kidnapping for ransom, etc are the proof of the same. Although the members of the ruling elite see it happening to their fellow beings on daily basis, they foolishly think that it won't happen to them till their turn comes. It's not late yet. But a beginning has to be made before it gets too late.
Despite being one of the few nuclear states of the world, we are nowhere in terms of development; literacy rate, health, education, per capita income, political and economic health, law and order and so on. Masses are sick of but helpless too facing load shedding, price hike and lack of opportunities of employment or doing business. More and more people continue to fall below the poverty line. The prevailing lawlessness is directly related to the increase in poverty. Once a person, despite the best of his efforts, can't earn livelihood through fair means, can't have himself or near and dear ones medically treated, can't have a shelter to live under, can't educate children, can't have access to clean drinking water etc, the only other options left with him are to either commit suicide or choose to become lawless. And, this is what is happening to our society. The increasing trend of looting of banks and bungalows, kidnapping for ransom, etc are the proof of the same. Although the members of the ruling elite see it happening to their fellow beings on daily basis, they foolishly think that it won't happen to them till their turn comes. It's not late yet. But a beginning has to be made before it gets too late.
Labels: Governance, Government, Poverty, Power Politics
posted @ 1:04 PM,
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Expenses of Democracy
Monday, August 10, 2009
Democracy is considered to be the best recipe for a country to run its state of affairs. Whereas, it is rather difficult to disagree with that, democracy has its own bugs. One of the bugs is the ability of a common person to afford the expenses of effectively participating in a democratic system. Democracy as it exists in the developing countries, wherever it does, is a luxury which only the rich can afford. As far as masses are concerned, they are meant to only cast their vote. No ordinary person can even think of contesting elections. The expenses of electoral campaigns are so high and unaffordable that these are beyond the reach of a poor person or even one from the middle income group. In Pakistan, contesting an election to a provincial or national assembly costs ten to fifty million rupees. So, all persons who do not have this money to spare stand excluded from the candidacy of a seat for provincial or national assembly. Political parties in our country and all other developing countries are not rich enough to support their candidates. In fact, the parties bank upon the huge contributions from the candidates to run their affairs.
Assuming that you have ten to fifty million rupees to spare and that you get elected to one of the assemblies and that you also become a minister. We all know putting all the very lavish pay packages and other genuine perks and privileges of a minister will not make up for the money spent by you to become a minister. So, what will be your first concern? Obviously, it will be to recover the difference between what you spent and the what you are likely to earn if you remain a minister for the entire duration of the government. Your next concern will, quite justifiably, be to be in a position to contest the next election without requiring a penny to spend from your pocket. Your third concern will be to accommodate all monetary or other forms of legal or illegal requests of your chief supporters who enabled to win the election and become a minister. You, certainly, can't say no to these supporters as you have to secure a seat in the next election. It implies that whether you like it or not, you will have to resort to unfair means to remain alive in the politics of democracy. So, where do the "slogans of serving the masses", "alleviating the poverty" etc etc stand? It will be very fair to state that these slogans will be limited to mere rhetoric.
Assuming that you have ten to fifty million rupees to spare and that you get elected to one of the assemblies and that you also become a minister. We all know putting all the very lavish pay packages and other genuine perks and privileges of a minister will not make up for the money spent by you to become a minister. So, what will be your first concern? Obviously, it will be to recover the difference between what you spent and the what you are likely to earn if you remain a minister for the entire duration of the government. Your next concern will, quite justifiably, be to be in a position to contest the next election without requiring a penny to spend from your pocket. Your third concern will be to accommodate all monetary or other forms of legal or illegal requests of your chief supporters who enabled to win the election and become a minister. You, certainly, can't say no to these supporters as you have to secure a seat in the next election. It implies that whether you like it or not, you will have to resort to unfair means to remain alive in the politics of democracy. So, where do the "slogans of serving the masses", "alleviating the poverty" etc etc stand? It will be very fair to state that these slogans will be limited to mere rhetoric.
Labels: Democracy, Developing Countries, Government
posted @ 4:23 PM,
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