Task beyond press freedom

The World Press Freedom Day on Monday helped focus attention on the role of the media in conflict and post-conflict zones, the theme for this occasion in 2004. Given the fact that the world has experienced an upsurge of conflict in the last year or so and the media's role has been in the limelight in Afghanistan and Iraq, this theme proved to be most pertinent.

As Unesco's director-general pointed out in his message, wars can be self-perpetuating. To bring peace, it is important to provide a vital space for dialogue which an independent media can create by encouraging the articulation of pluralistic views.

In this context, the role of the press should not be underestimated, especially if it acts with responsibility to promote reconciliation and reconstruction rather than jingoism and militancy.

The very high casualty figures for journalists - 42 were killed last year - shows that journalism still continues to be a hazardous vocation and press freedom cannot be taken for granted.

Pakistan has come a long way from the days when the press was virtually in chains. It is more lively and certainly enjoys greater freedom than in the past. But one cannot ignore the official constraints and economic pressures that are still brought to bear on a paper when those in power want to suppress information or check dissent.

Strong language and threats continue to be thrown at media people when they enjoy no protection against the militancy and aggressiveness of many parties/groups that generate a climate of insecurity in which the press has to function.

It is therefore commendable that the media in Pakistan functions fearlessly in what is more or less a conflict zone. It has played an admirable role in exposing many social evils, the plight of disadvantaged groups, the weaknesses and wrongs in government policies and actions, the corruption of powerful elements and vested interests and in providing information to the people about issues of direct concern to them.

Its advocacy function has generated public pressure on the powers that be, forcing them to take some action in cases which otherwise would have gone by default. Even in promoting a dialogue between India and Pakistan, the media's role has been a positive one.

If the press has not been able to achieve as much as was expected of it, there are two main factors responsible for it. First, a free press is only one institution that facilitates the working of democracy.

There are other institutions which must also play an active role in promoting the greater good of the largest number in a democratic society - namely, parliament, the judiciary, the executive and other public agencies and institutions.

The press can at best inform and create general awareness; it cannot legislate or enforce measures without which not much can be achieved. The second important factor is creating the legal and social framework for the media to operate in. Much remains to be done in this respect.

For instance, the information ordinance which was promulgated in 2002 does not ensure that information can be obtained just for the asking on all matters of public interest.

As a result, investigative journalism is not easy since information is often difficult to obtain. It is, therefore, important that the work of the media as an independent and free institution is facilitated by giving it free access to information and in every other way desirable.

Gwadar bomb blast

It is with shock and horror that one notes Monday's bomb blast in Gwadar, which led to the death of three Chinese engineers as well as injuries to six others. This is the first occasion where Chinese working or living in Pakistan have been targeted.

Given China's long-standing friendly relations with Pakistan, the terrorist act is all the more deplorable. It is also the first major attack on foreigners since the 2002 suicide bombing in front of the Sheraton Hotel in Karachi that left 11 French engineers dead.

The $250-million Gwadar project is a strategically important venture being built with China's help and currently employs over 400 Chinese engineers and construction workers. The first phase is due for completion in September this year.

The bomb attack could have been aimed at scaring away foreigners and investors from both Gwadar and elsewhere in Pakistan. The choice of Gwadar, which is seen as one of the key areas of growth and investment in the coming years, may be an indication of the motives of the terrorists.

In this regard, the Chinese assurance that they will continue with the project needs to be appreciated.

Gwadar's development has not been without its political controversy. The nationalist parties have criticized the manner in which jobs are allegedly being outsourced to non-locals.

There have been murmurs of discontent over land deals too. Balochistan is also believed to be home to both remnants of the Taliban regime and other extremist groups. All these various strands ought to be taken into account in the context of Monday's bombing.

Our intelligence agencies need to track down those responsible and the government must act swiftly to punish them. Authorities in Quetta and Karachi have made several arrests, but all too often in the past we have seen premature claims of terrorist suspects being arrested and the cases against them then quickly disappearing from the radar screens.

The government would also be well advised to make an effort to address local grievances in Gwadar. More needs to be done to develop indigenous human skills and resources so that there is a feeling of involvement amongst the local population.

Power outages unending

The Karachi Electric Supply Corporation has denied reports that any power riots broke out in parts of the city on Sunday. Whatever the truth of the disclaimer, the fact remains that the consumers are putting up with frequent and long power failures as the temperature goes soaring.

Summer is not thecalamity that the utility's poor state of preparedness to handle the higher demand for power during the hot and humid season makes it out to be.

The KESC's repeated failure, summer after summer, to plan for the high-demand season is a measure of the way the utility is being mismanaged. What is worse is that it is just the beginning of summer and, as expected, there will be long, hot and humid spells in the days and weeks to come.

Gone are the days when the KESC could lay the blame for frequent interruptions in power supply on scarcity of electricity. There is no such dearth of power now, but the long and frequent outages have continued unchanged.

This is because the KESC has failed to maintain its distribution network in good working order. Its line losses account for a mammoth 40 per cent in power wastage from the total supply being distributed through the network.

This is a national loss and can be reduced to a more acceptable level - 10 per cent being the average internationally. If only proper maintenance and repair, along with the efficiency of operation, were there as a matter of routine, the situation today would have been very different.

Power riots may not have broken out just yet but the way things are with the city's power system, they cannot be ruled out. It would be foolish to wait for a bigger calamity to take place to act as a wake-up call for starting to mend matters. It is also the duty of consumers to help by reducing the load during peak hours and by checking power pilferage through neighbourhood groups.