DAWN, 11-11-2011


FEW can rival Pakistan`s procrastination record.

Whatever kept the government until now from importing urea despite clear signs of the fertiliser`s shortage for the Rabi season adds yet another page to our national mystery archives. Indeed, official inaction on a matter that could hugely affect food security in the country reconfirms doubts about the government`s ability to take the right decision at the right time.

Although the government has approved a proposalto import 700,000 tons of urea to overcome shortages, the first shipment of 260,000 tons is not expected to reach the market before the end of this month. The delay is unlikely to prevent hoarding of the fertiliser.

The growers, especially small-holder farmers, will be the ones paying a high price for the government`s foot-dragging at a crucial time ahead of the next wheat harvest.

What has led to urea shortages in spite of a rated production capacity of 6.6 million tons against the domestic requirement of just over 6.1 million tons? The producers blame the shortages on production losses because of the unplanned curtailment and allocation of gas to some of their manufacturing plants being supplied gas by the SNGPL. Citing the curtailment of gas they have already raised their prices to Rs1,580 per bag (inclusive of general sales tax) from Rs850 per bag atthe beginning of 2011. A major producer announced a rise in prices to Rs1,980 per bag this month but had to reverse its decision after the excise department stopped supply at the new price. The books show that urea manufacturers have made huge profits, indicating the price increase is unjustified. The prices were raised to pressurise the government into restoring gas supplies to urea manufacturers at the cost of other sectors of the economy, especially the export-oriented industry.

The producers are not the only ones who have made huge profits at the expense of growers. Their wide dealers` network also charged, with impunity, a premium of up to Rs500 per bag during the Kharif season. In some cases, the producers too clandestinely shared the premium with the dealers. So far, the provincial governments have been helpless in controlling hoarding. Instead, the ruling PML-N in Punjab has chosen to use the issue to embarrass its rivals the PPP and PML-Q in Islamabad. There was nothing stopping the Punjab government from initiating action against urea hoarders in the province. Even sadder, while governments are pitched against one another and greedy individuals are running away with unfair profits, the urea shortage hasn`t quite inspired the urgency with which `urban` issues are routinely discussed in the country.


HE events that led to the murder on Monday of three doctors belonging to the Hindu community in a town near Shikarpur remain shrouded in mystery as conflicting details have emerged in the press.

It is irrelevant whether the Muslim girl at the centre of the murders was an entertainer or simply someone in love with a Hindu man.

The offence committed had all the trappings of a hate crime which was rightly denounced by the highest in the government, Sindh`s opinion leaders, nationalist parties and civil society. It appeared a case of the perpetrators making a horrible example of the members of the minority community in a bid to further push the Hindu community to the wall, with a view to keeping in place the social apartheid practised against it. Unfortunately, as reported by Hindu leaders, there has emerged a pattern in the rising number of cases of kidnapping for ransom, forced conversions and violence against the community over the past few years.

The perpetrators comprise Islamic extremists who see nothing wrong in forcibly converting or harassing theminority community, totally disregarding the deeprooted culture of peaceful coexistence that has been the hallmark of Sindhi society for centuries.

The situation in certain pockets of Balochistan, including Quetta, where such misguided elements have reportedly kidnapped Hindu traders for ransom in recent months is equally cause for concern. There is a need to not allow any such criminal activity to take place under the cover of religion for there is nothing Islamic about terrorising minority communities.

While it is heartening to see civil society joining the ranks of the Hindu minority in Sindh in their protest against the latest killings, state institutions must play a proactive role in rooting out violence against minorities by bringing the culprits to justice. The police must build a prosecution case that stands the test of justice in a court of law and facilitates the judiciary`s role in establishing the criminals` guilt. Meanwhile, sensitising public opinion to the treatment meted out to minorities must be given top priority by civil society groups and government officials.


THE effort to protect the Margalla Hills, decared a national park in 1980, from the rapacious onslaught of illegal quarrying has been continuing for several decades. Yet each time the practice is stopped, the well-connected quarry owners manage to circumvent regulations and continue to denude the hills. As reported in this paper on Thursday, illegal quarrying has resumed in the area a year after the federal government banned it. Due to devolution, the Punjab government is now responsible for protecting the hills. Yet it has shown laxity. Across the province there are reportedly over 120 ongoing illegal stonecrushing operations and excessive quarrying has created a major health risk for the people, besides upsetting the region`s environmental balance.

The level of air pollution in the area is frightening.

According to the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, the total suspended particulate matter in the area has at times reached 20,000 cubic metres when the accept-able limit is 500. The quarrying has also caused streams and waterways to dry up and has endangered Taxila`s archaeological sites.

The government needs to ensure that its own departments are respecting environmental regulations. Currently, several government bodies allow contractors to extract material only from the Margallas. Alternative sites have been proposed for stone-crushing. These should be utilised so that what is lef t of the Margalla Hills can be saved, while it should be ensured these sites are located far from populated areas. Meanwhile, the demand for construction material is high because people build homes that are much larger than what they actually need having a huge house is, of course, considered a status symbol.

Perhaps the state can impose a tax on houses built beyond a certain size.

This may bring down the demand for building material and ultimately halt the further destruction of the Margallas and other natural treasures.