| 01 May 2004 | Saturday | 10 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425 |
Combating terrorism
Oil-spill victims' case
The report that the Asian Development Bank is working on a package to provide security or terrorism risk guarantees to prospective foreign investors in Pakistan is welcome.
At a press conference in Islamabad on Thursday, the country head of the ADB said that Pakistan faced a problem of wrong international perception and that was why foreign direct investment here remained low.
The ADB chief hoped that the proposed risk guarantee would help foreign investors overcome their initial reluctance to invest in the country as it offers very promising business opportunities.
While hoping that the move by the ADB will help attract direct foreign investment, there is much that the government will need to do to back up this initiative. Apart from improving Pakistan's image among foreign investors, there are a number of other areas on which the government must concentrate its efforts and energies.
In this regard, one must take note of the ADB's effort in helping with urban renewal by initiating a $800 million programme that concentrates on upgrading the infrastructure in the major cities of the country.
This is an area where a comprehensive process of repair and rebuilding is needed so that foreign investors are able to operate in conditions that are conducive to industry and business.
Another area of concern is law and order. More serious preventive and control measures are needed to arrest the deteriorating law and order situation all over the country, especially in urban areas.
In addition to a rise in terrorist activity, the crime rate has also gone up in the last couple of years. Despite having a large-size police force and various auxiliary services to help it in crime control, there is very little to show for all this.
Armed robberies, thefts, kidnappings, assaults and petty crime have all marked a visible increase. In addition, politically inspired violence as well as acts of terrorism have also dented the country's image abroad.
To add to this is the inefficiency of the intelligence agencies to follow up on specific criminal offences and to bring the offenders to book. This only makes matters worse. Then there is the issue of continuity of policies. The government needs to ensure that policies relating to foreign investment, repatriation of profit, etc, are not changed frequently as these act as a disincentive for them.
In addition, red-tapism has to be curtailed with a firm hand. Foreign investors must be offered a one-window facility that will take care of all their requirements and not leave them at the mercy of bureaucrats is various departments and agencies for securing the necessary permissions, clearances and so on to do business here.
Foreign investment is a barometer of confidence in a country's economy and its decline in Pakistan means that perceptions about the country as a market for investment are changing for the worse.
This is an issue that the government has to look into and check. The decline in foreign investment by 12 per cent to $568.8 million during nine months (July-March) of the current fiscal year as compared to the corresponding period last year is a wake-up call for Pakistan to heed.
While the ADB initiative will certainly help attract foreign investors, it is time the government got serious about improving the on-ground situation for both foreign and domestic investors.
Combating terrorism
The admission yet again by the US State Department that Pakistan remains "one of America's most important partners" in the global war on terrorism should put to rest the misgivings to the contrary expressed by certain elements in America.
The latest acknowledgement of Pakistan's positive role came on Thursday, absolving this country of all terror-related charges levelled against it by the likes of Mr Zalmay Khalilzad, the American envoy to Kabul.
The State Department's report on Pakistan, which was released along with its annual 'Patterns of Global Terrorism' report, says that the US-Pakistan joint drive against terrorism has been extensive.
Especially mentioning the action undertaken by the Pakistan Army in the tribal belt along the Afghan border, the report reveals that Pakistan has apprehended "hundreds of suspected operatives" belonging to Al Qaeda and the Taliban militia.
Recalling the convictions handed down by anti-terrorism courts in cases involving four men accused of bombing the US consulate in Karachi and another three involved in the killing of 11 French engineers, the report commands the Pakistan government's efforts to curb terrorism.
There can be little doubt about the intent of the government in combating global terrorism. However, a major area of concern is sectarian and other forms of terrorism confronting the nation on the domestic front. Not many perpetrators of such crimes have been apprehended and brought to justice.
The carnage in Quetta on Ashura, the killing of Maulana Azam Tariq in Islamabad and two attempts on the life of the president himself in the past few months are but a few cases in point.
One hopes that at least a part of the financial and technical assistance being provided by the US to help our law enforcement agencies combat terrorism will be spent on devising an effective strategy to curb acts of terror within the country as well. Terrorism needs to be confronted on all fronts and in all its forms, be it sectarian, political, domestic or international.
Oil-spill victims' case
A meeting between the federal communications minister and the owners of the Tasman Spirit oil tanker in the Pakistan high commission at London is a welcome first step towards reaching some agreement on compensation for those affected by the oil spill last year.
This follows the release from nine months of detention of the ship's crew and raises hopes that justice would be done in the affair. The Greek government has reportedly given an undertaking to the Pakistan government that the vessel's crew will be brought back if court proceedings so require.
However, the meeting in London is probably an effort to settle the matter out of court. Pakistan's position is hampered by the fact that it is not a signatory to any of the international conventions that would facilitate its efforts to seek compensation for the environmental damage done by the oil spill.
It is encouraging that the meeting agreed to give priority to the claims made by coastal fishermen and beach vendors affected by the spill. Hopefully, the process of locating, identifying, verifying and settling the claims of the affected persons and families will be thorough and transparent to ensure that those whose livelihood or health were harmed by the spill are duly compensated.
Perhaps, advertisements should be placed in the print and electronic media asking those affected by the spill to come forward and put up claims for scrutiny and assessment.
One hopes that various agencies concerned, including the Karachi Port Trust, will play an active role in helping the affected persons and groups in presenting their cases and getting the compensation they deserve.
In addition, Pakistan should become a member of the international convention related to oil spills so that its position to demand and receive compensation in such eventualities will be strengthened.