Balochistan’s poverty
Tuesday, 23 Jun, 2009
BALOCHISTAN’S budget for 2009-10 is a reminder of the province’s deep-rooted economic and political problems. Facing the challenges of growing political violence and rising poverty, Quetta is in dire need of permanent sources of funds for development. Though the provincial government will spend Rs18.5bn on development next year, the amount is not nearly enough to build a durable economic infrastructure or to provide quality public services like education, healthcare, drinking water, roads, etc to the population of the province. Given its vast size, sparsely scattered population and difficult terrain, Balochistan must spend a lot more on its development than the rest of the country. For example, a road 500km long in Punjab would link scores of villages, towns and cities and connect hundreds of thousands of people if not millions. The same length of road in Balochistan would cost more and hardly connect a couple of villages and a few hundred people.
Nevertheless, in spite of its meagre resources, the Raisani government has done a good job during its first year in power. It created more than 4,200 jobs, constructed schools, colleges and hospitals and tried to provide some relief to the poverty-stricken people. Its budget for the next fiscal also contains several pro-poor measures: food subsidy, increase in the minimum pension of provincial employees, subsidy on agricultural tube-wells, etc. In addition, the provincial development outlay, which is just twice the size of Lahore’s development programme for the outgoing year, seeks to build a definitive social and economic infrastructure and to create employment. The federal government has helped the Raisani government undertake development works. Islamabad has picked up the province’s overdraft with the State Bank of Pakistan freeing annual resources of Rs4.2bn for its development. The federal government will spend Rs71bn under its Public Sector Development Programme in Balochistan during the next one year. There is a clear-cut shift in the federal attitude towards Balochistan’s problems. The change also reflects growing realisation in Islamabad that the ongoing political violence stems partly from the large-scale frustration among the people, resulting from the lack of development over the past six decades. The people of Balochistan must get complete ownership of their natural resources as well as of their coasts. That may not bring about peace in the immediate future.
But that would be the single-most important step towards a lasting solution to the province’s economic and political problems.
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Power of passion
Tuesday, 23 Jun, 2009
THE skipper of the underdogs summed it up nicely after winning the semi-final. There is little to celebrate in Pakistan these days, said the man from Mardan, but the nation’s cricketers are determined to bring a smile to people’s faces. And that the Pakistan team certainly did with sterling back-to-back performances after a lacklustre start to the Twenty20 World Cup. For a while it seemed that the nation’s joy would be confined to seeing India exit the tournament at the Super Eights stage. The clinically efficient South Africans lay ahead in the first of the two semi-finals, a contest Pakistan was tipped to lose. How could so mercurial a side prevail over a machine programmed to win? Never mind, Pakistan did it anyway. And on Sunday, it was Sri Lanka’s turn to be reminded that Pakistan can put in a crackerjack performance when it counts most.
An unpredictable side, of course, but also most sublimely, sweetly brilliant when it matters. As one commentator, former England player David Lloyd, put it: “It’s Pakistan. And yes, you might say fittingly.”
Fittingly indeed. Pakistan’s victory in the T20 World Cup final sends a clear message that we will not be written off, come what may. Yes, it is perfectly understandable that foreign teams are unwilling to play in Pakistan. After all, the Sri Lankan side, which alone stood by us in our time of trial, came close to dying on Pakistani soil. We are now resigned to the fact that we will either have to play our ‘home series’ at offshore venues or not play at all. So how are things any different now? Pakistan’s victory tells the world that we can win wherever we might have to play. Even in India, which with its deep pockets now virtually controls the ICC. It will take some doing to crush Pakistan’s spirit. We will not simply go away and sulk. We can triumph in the face of adversity.
Besides the cup, the best thing this slam-bang version of cricket delivered was a sense of self-belief. Also, this Pakistan side seems to enjoy itself on the field; it’s not just another day at the office for men who once liked playing cricket for its own sake. Gone too for the most part are those pumped up ‘I would be a serial killer if I weren’t a bowler’ celebrations that some subcontinental players had picked up in recent years from Caucasian teams. Why be angry when you take a wicket? That’s not our style. This team smiles and exults when it gets a batsman out, like the West Indians did in their heyday. If there is any friction behind closed doors — and it could well be that for a change there isn’t — it doesn’t show on the field and that’s what counts. This Pakistan side has done us proud.
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Post-election protests in Iran
Tuesday, 23 Jun, 2009
WITH the post-polls protests in Iran escalating by the day, we now have an announcement from the Council of Guardians that some discrepancies have been detected in the results. Three million votes are under scrutiny. This adds a new element to the Iranian crisis that has kept the world on tenterhooks for the last fortnight. State television reported 10 deaths in Sunday’s demonstrations, bringing the total tally of casualties to 17. Until the Council of Guardians’ new position, it appeared that the government, which includes President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who represents the religious establishment, was not willing to accede to popular demand. But the protests do not seem to be on the way to petering out as happened in 2003 and 1998 when Iran was convulsed by demonstrations. Mr Ahmadinejad’s opponents are convinced that the results were rigged, though no proof is available in the absence of independent observers. The president, who claims the support of 63 per cent of the electorate against Mr Mir Hossein Mousavi’s 33 per cent, has denied allegations of foul play. He accuses the US of meddling in Iranian affairs and instigating the protests.
Irrespective of who wins, or if there is a compromise, one fact can no longer be denied. A large number of Iranians, especially among the post-revolution generation, now want reform — albeit within the Islamic system. With the active backing of Mr Rafsanjani and Mr Khatami, both of whom have presided successfully over Iran’s destiny in different official capacities, Mr Mousavi is proving to be a heavyweight. What is more, the religious establishment has split and the clerics in Qom are supporting the opposition. Mr Ahmadinejad is said to enjoy the support of the rural masses who have been won over by his populist politics. He also has the backing of the Revolutionary Guards and its auxiliary — the Basiji — militia. With 35 per cent of the Iranians living in the countryside, Mr Ahmadinejad will have to contend with changing realities. One hopes that the use of force is not an option to maintain the status quo.
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OTHER VOICES - Sindhi Press Blackout in Sindh
Tuesday, 23 Jun, 2009
THE entire province of Sindh including Karachi plunged into darkness when the high-tension power line of Jamshoro developed a fault last Wednesday night. Sindh braved a blackout of 24 to 48 hours. Residents of Hyderabad and Karachi passed the night roaming the roads. Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf and the chief minister of Sindh apologised for this breakdown. The matter was then discussed in the National Assembly along with the provincial assemblies. The Senate’s discussion of the budget was interrupted by an uproar over the power breakdown and the issue was thoroughly debated. The cause of the breakdown was a wind storm of medium intensity which lasted for half an hour coupled with light rain which hit some areas of Sindh. The result was the collapse of the entire power supply system.
The issue was taken up in the Sindh Assembly where the Sindh chief minister admitted on the floor of the House that there was a big power crisis and that the situation in interior Sindh was worse. What has become evident is that if there is a major power outage in Karachi it becomes a national issue and debated at all forums while in the case of interior Sindh the matter is ignored consistently. The Sindh Assembly put forward a motion unanimously seeking a report from Hesco and KESC within 15 days regarding the failure of power supply. KESC and Hesco remain unaccountable, as they are not answerable to any authority. The Met office had been announcing the weather forecast but these power companies failed to take precautionary measures and prepare for any eventuality.
In fact we have no system in place to deal with such situations. Neither the government nor power distribution companies considered having underground lines for power supply. There are countries where heavy rain and snowfall are routine. One cannot even imagine a power outage lasting a few minutes in these countries. We are running the power supply system on an ad hoc basis and are not ready to think otherwise.
Power theft and unannounced loadshedding have become a hallmark of power companies and there seems to be no hope of improvement because theft and corruption are so deep-rooted. While we may be unable to take major decisions and make policy changes, at least line losses can be reduced by streamlining and repairing the distribution system. The minister for water and power claimed that by December there would be no loadshedding. People highly doubt this as indications which may lead to the fulfilment this claim are missing. In fact no relief is being given to the common man as even the subsidy on electricity is being withdrawn. Recently a further rise of 17 per cent in power tariffs has been made. These two decisions are anti-people measures and should be withdrawn.
There is an urgent need to control unnecessary use of electricity by government and private consumers. At marriage halls misuse of power is commonplace which can be avoided. However, all this needs management and commitment. Unfortunately we lack these as time has proved. Cautiousness in power consumption and strict monitoring can yield results. A limit should be placed on operating air conditioners at offices and in residential areas.
This incident demands an impartial inquiry which should bring those responsible to justice and unveil the real reasons behind the failure. — (June 18)
Selected and translated by Sohail Sangi