New uplift projects

Thirty-two development projects costing Rs150 billion were approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council on Tuesday. To be implemented over three to seven years, these projects are intended to keep the economic growth on track and to create jobs.

The power sector and water conservation, both of critical importance to farming as well to the economy, have received a high priority. A hefty sum of Rs66 billion has been earmarked for the lining of 86,000 water courses all over the country.

But the largest sum of Rs70 billion will be spent on rehabilitation, upgrading and improvement of Wapda's distribution companies. Cheap and uninterrupted supply of electricity can help modernize farming.

Pakistan boasts the world's largest irrigation network which, unfortunately has been in a poor state of management over the years. As a result, most channels have developed leak ages involving 30-35 per cent water losses.

As a consequence, crop yields are at mere 50 per cent of the output per acre in the adjoining Indian Punjab. Before embarking on the construction of major water reservoirs, the existing irrigation system needs to be revamped for better crop yields.

Labour-intensive work on lining the canals would also provide more jobs than any single dam. The high cost of a major dam has the potential to upset development spending ratios among the provinces.

With continuing drought conditions caused by lack of rainfall there would not be much water to store and again some of it would be lost in transit. In the coming years, the farming community should be ready to share scarcity rather than abundance of water. This calls for better management of water resources.

An integrated approach to development of agriculture in Ecnec decisions is evident from another Rs16 billion set apart for farm-related projects: Rs12 billion for improving water supply, rural development and physical planning and five billion rupees for environment, governance and health.

Obviously, policy makers are trying to make up for the long neglect of the farm sector that feeds the country's population, provides raw material for industry and a market for industrial goods.

Tax payers expect that every rupee for development projects is well spent. Only feasible projects based on economic considerations should be selected for implementation. No scheme should be designed for reasons of political expediency.

This has to be followed up by strict monitoring not only of the financial performance but also of physical targets set for the projects. Delays caused by bureaucratic red tape often result in cost overruns which is being tackled by gradual devolution of authority.

One such measure is the Ecnec decision to empower autonomous institutions to approve of development projects on a self-financing basis with fewer formalities. Ecnec has also decided to set up a four-member cabinet committee to review projects to ensure timely implementation and transparency in public expenditure. So far, it was the sole responsibility of the Planning Commission.

All this raises hopes that the development projects in question would be properly executed to boost economic growth, made more meaningful by a higher rate of employment and income generation.

Karzai in the saddle

For the first time in Afghanistan's history, an elected head of state has been sworn in. The honour went to Mr Hamid Karzai, who was elected president in the election held on Oct 9.

Taking his oath on the holy Quran on Tuesday, Mr Karzai pledged to create "a new chapter" in his country's history after decades of war. He has an uphill task. The Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and the resistance destroyed the infrastructure and led to the flight of technical personnel and administrators.

Any chances of rebuilding the country in the post-Soviet period faded as the victorious mujahideen groups fought a civil war that lasted another decade. The fall of the Taliban regime in the wake of 9/11 and the induction of the Karzai government have not been followed by peace and reconstruction.

Instead, the Taliban continue to attack government targets. Also contributing to instability are the warlords, who have turned the outlying provinces into their fiefdoms. Kabul's writ does not run in most outlying provinces, because the new Afghan army has not reached a stage where it can take on powerful militias.

The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force is small in number and its policing duties are confined to Kabul and Kunduz. Thus, workers of UN relief agencies are kidnapped and sometimes murdered.

The international community needs to do more for Afghanistan. Nato's pledge to increase the size of the ISAF is an eyewash. The real job can be done only by the Afghan army provided it reaches a certain level of strength and professionalism.

Money is also a problem, for all the funds pledged by the donors have not been made available. Poppy production has increased again, and the country is littered with mines, one billion dollars being required for the de-mining process.

All these problems need to be tackled with patience, hard work and sincerity. The redeeming feature is that there is an elected president. He can carry this process by seeking the cooperation of all of Afghanistan's ethnic communities.

The political preponderance of the Tajik community is resented by the Pakhtoons, who are the country's largest group. As a Pakhtoon himself, Mr Karzai is in a position to give the Pashtoons the position they deserve without alienating the Tajiks, Uzbeks, Hazaras and other ethnic groups.

Raising girls' enrolment

Unicef's decision to provide $14.6 million in financial assistance to Pakistan to help increase the enrolment rate for girls at the primary level is a welcome development.

Under the agreement, the assistance will last for four years and help Pakistan increase the enrolment rate for girls at the primary level from the current less than 50 per cent to 80 per cent.

A host of benefits accrue to societies where women are provided the same educational opportunities as men, the main among them being that an educated woman is more likely to marry later, have fewer children, look after family health and ensure that her children receive an education as well.

While raising enrolment rates for girls, the government would do well to also concentrate on doing something to lower the drop-out rate for girls after class V, which continues to be disturbingly high.

Almost half of all girls who enter primary school drop out after class V, for various reasons, though in most cases it has to do with the fact that the girls are needed at home to do household chores or to help out in the field.

Hopefully, the agreement with Unicef will include measures to simultaneously reduce the primary school drop-out rate. One approach would be to reward parents financially, mainly through reduced fees or by helping them in the purchase of uniforms, books or by providing a free lunch to children.

It is imperative that the drop-out rate also be closely monitored. Indeed, there is no point in achieving even 100 per cent enrolment if half of those enrolled drop out after primary education.