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Old Monday, November 29, 2010
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A lot remains to be done

It is time the government establishes district-level bodies to implement laws and policies related to rehabilitation

By Irfan Mufti
The government and civil society are stills struggling with the rehabilitation and reconstruction work after the floods. The gigantic tasks need a clear vision, concerted efforts, long-term planning and uninterrupted implementation and finances.

Without compromising quality and consistency the objectives of rebuilding communities and reconstructing need coordinated actions from all key stakeholders. The preliminary assessment by institutions like The World Bank (WB) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) indicate the urgency of the situation and lack of actions so far.

These assessment reports talk of volumes about the damages and identify the magnitude of efforts required to rebuild these communities. Funding still remains a challenge for the government, including a clear and focused plan for reconstruction and rebuilding.

Civil society groups and communities are already contemplating on coordinated planning for reconstruction, recovery and rehabilitation tasks. There is, however, a realisation that tasks of reconstruction and rebuilding rest with the government that seems unable to come up with coordinated plan or clear directions. The state of the economy also does not support government intentions for rebuilding.

The two-day Pakistan Development Forum held in Islamabad in November also failed to reach to any concrete conclusion or expected pledges of financial support. The meeting was a rare chance for government, civil society and donors to think outside the box for solutions to tackle some fundamental issues thrown up by the floods – one of the most devastating natural disasters this country has ever seen.

The Pakistan Development Forum has remained on the fringes of these problems, rather than boldly tackle them head-on. There were chances to grapple with wide-ranging reforms of existing structural problems about agriculture and the economy. One of the most important missed opportunities was a chance to address land reform, which has the potential to reduce inequality, put earning power into the hands of many landless women and end bonded-labour.

Although the meeting wasn’t billed as a pledging conference, still financial commitments were made to assist with Pakistan’s recovery. These pledges need to be grants that deliver new and substantial humanitarian aid quickly and effectively to the people on the ground that they are in desperate need of assistance.

With winter looming and almost seven million people without shelter, donors must not forget that many parts of Pakistan are still facing a serious emergency even though some areas are moving towards recovery.

There is also a welcoming emphasis on tax reform, especially given that only two per cent of Pakistanis pay tax. However, this should be a more equitable reform that does not put the burden onto the poorest, those who are least able to pay. Any price increase on basic necessities could put post-flood recovery out of reach for the very poor.

The governments’ call for debt cancellation from donors is also a right and fair demand. This year Pakistan will spend $2.9 billion on servicing foreign debts — $1 billion more than is being asked for by the UN appeal. The international community, civil society groups and the Government of Pakistan must ensure foreign debt cancellation is spent transparently on the post-flood response, targeting those hit hardest by the floods.

Civil society representatives at the forum, experts and donors recommended that it was an opportune time to introduce reforms that would have far reaching results, reforms that can enable communities to embark on long-term path of secure and sustainable solutions of problems. These problems are perpetual in nature and make the country vulnerable to disasters, economic shocks, political instability and social upheavals.

Civil society representatives attending the Development Forum also made clear and focused recommendations. These voices are not yet heard but the recommendations put forward are of far-reaching in nature and cover views of neglected and voiceless sections facing hardships in post flood situation. Most of the stakeholders felt that the relief efforts were inadequate and reflected a lack of proper management and preparedness and also show lack of clarity regarding a comprehensive national rehabilitation plan for flood affectees.

Some important and significant citizens charters were also presented. The views covered in charters are of women, non-Muslims, poor peasants and workers often sidelined at policy forums. These voices demand rehabilitation efforts shall follow the vision of a new Pakistan based on the framework of equality, rights, restoration of balance of power. The state shall strike a new social contract with the people that should balance peoples’ immediate development needs and human security entitlements. Reverting to the same old patterns of citizenship, infrastructures, economies and protection will hamper our ability to move forward as a nation.

Other important demands for resettlement and rebuilding exercise shall incorporate the will of the people regarding their choice of relocation, livelihood, and community set-ups. Donor-imposed products should not be imposed on people for resettlement and a focus on indigenous solutions for rebuilding shall be pursued.

Similar voices of reforms came from rural women assembly organized by Potohar Organization for Development Advocacy (PODA), Women Rights Association (WRA) demanding women to be on the centre stage in decision making processes of disaster management.

These forums demanded women with practical experience of disaster management should be engaged through various mechanisms ensuring that women are consulted in all processes of rehabilitation and reconstruction. These rural women made a right plea of allotment of 12 acres of land for women farmers affected by the floods. Special attention must be given to support women in resuming agricultural activities, and, providing training in cooperative farming, alternative cropping, kitchen gardening and preservation of vegetables and dairy products.

Provision of universal social protection, according to Article 38 of the Constitution; self registration of those affected by the flood for social protection; extension of ‘unemployment benefits’, ‘protection against disasters’, ‘old age benefits’, ‘disability allowance were other key points. Suggestions for decentralization of relief operations; complete autonomy for provincial and district-level disaster management machinery; and channeling resources for relief and rehabilitation through the provinces are also important.

On the financing for rebuilding and reconstruction the experts are suggesting massive budget reprioritization to address resource constraints to meet rehabilitation needs. This can include reduction in non-development expenditures of public sector and unnecessary allocation of funds for defense expenditure. It is also recommended that resource mobilization through directly taxing the rich by extending the tax net and also by seriously revisiting government land and buildings including GORs and Cantonment lands for those that are landless and need secured livelihood.

It is also important that assistance from foreign donors and international financial institutions must be in grants or donations and not in loans because in the case of the latter the burden of economic hardships ultimately affects women the most. In consideration of the unprecedented flood crisis that has affected most parts of Pakistan and has severely affected agriculture and economy, the foreign governments and international financial institutions should also write-off their previous loans to Pakistan.

Monitoring of engagement between all humanitarian actors including the government, UN, INGOs, and national and local NGOs to promote empowered partnership. The current unequal relationship is reflected in the issues of accountability, transparency, and resource-sharing that undermines the capacity of national assistance organizations.

Floods have also exposed serious lack of capacity of line departments and disaster management authorities. It is a right time that government shall establish strong district-level structures to implement laws and policies related to environment and disasters, build resource capacity of line agencies, draw new maintenance and design disaster resilient structures in the rural areas to replace the redundant post ’70s structures.

Revision in the educational system is also urgently needed enabling awareness, comprehension, capacity of citizens to deal with challenges, alternatives for livelihoods, promote social cohesion and responsibility, and discourage violence.

Considering the substantial economic and social challenges that Pakistan faces in the current times, it is important that government must take concrete steps to improve its economic recovery. Foundations must be laid to ensure increased reliance on mobilization of domestic resources, increased exports, and charging the economic cost to those that utilizes services deliveries provided by the Government. Going back to business as usual will not only increase vulnerability in future but will also weaken our capacity and strength to grow and flourish as a nation.

The writer is Deputy Chief of South Asia Partnership Pakistan and Global Campaigner

irfanmufti@gmail.com
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