14.06.2013 Promising pipeline
The new government’s official announcement on June 12, as part of the Economic Plan for the coming fiscal year, that the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline will not be scrapped, is welcome. In recent days, following the change in government, there had been much doubt over the future of a project which promises to deliver much needed energy to Pakistan. Reports that PML-N energy experts had found flaws in the project and, of course, the looming issue of the US and Saudi Arabia, disapproval meant that this venture was in some doubt.
However, the clear-cut assurance that the controversial pipeline would be proceeded with marks both maturity and wisdom by the PML-N government. The previous policies of doing away with major projects begun by preceding governments have, over the decades, inflicted a great deal of harm on the country and are, in many ways, responsible for the quandaries we face today in various sectors. The PML-N then needs to be lauded for its good sense. It has also stated that it hopes gas will start flowing into the country by December this year and that the project would move ahead during this fiscal year. This would, of course, be good news for all of us. The PML-N has brought down the cost of the project to $1.25 billion from the previously agreed amount of $1.5 billion. This, too, shows good thinking.
It is assumed that Mian Nawaz Sharif and his team are prepared to deal with the US pressure that will come their way. In a welcome move, they have obviously opted to make the country’s urgent energy needs their priority rather than succumbing to the wishes of foreign forces. Indeed, keeping in mind the energy shortfall, the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project is also being seriously considered. The attention given to the energy sector and the ardent efforts to boost it are to be appreciated. It is good that this need has been put ahead of all other concerns, while devising policies for the future and moving on with initiatives set up for this purpose. We must hope the process continues in the future.
Another first
As far as records and victories go, our politicians seem to be faring better than our cricketers. In yet another “first”, President Asif Ali Zardari became the first Head of State to address parliament for the sixth time. Finally, democratic traditions seem to be flourishing in our land and this is certainly something to cheer about given our history of frequent interruptions to the democratic process, and rule for long years by military dictators.
This issue was one Mr Zardari referred to clearly in his mature, poised speech, during which he also wished the incoming government well. The President, who has, of course, seen at close range the ravages inflicted by autocratic rule, stressed that in the Pakistan of the future, there could be no rule for dictators. This is being interpreted as a possible reference to General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, whose fate currently hangs in the balance. President Zardari also called for tough decisions on drones — an issue the previous government had also struggled with. He also stressed that Pakistan must not allow its soil to be used for militancy and it is yet to be seen how the new prime minister and his team handle this matter. The President spoke about the need to address matters such as the misuse of blasphemy laws and to protect vulnerable groups such as women and minorities. Certainly, this is badly needed and is an issue any government needs to be reminded of.
The presidential speech, its tone and tenor, raises hopes that the incoming PML-N government and the presidency can work smoothly together. Certainly, both have stated they intend to aim for precisely this relationship. The removal of powers allotted to the President by the PPP government should help greatly in this matter — and help us walk out onto the open field of democracy. If this pattern continues, we can be confident we may finally succeed in establishing democratic norms in our nation, thus setting for ourselves a brighter future to look towards over the coming few years.