Ghotki tragedy probe

THE official inquiry into Wednesday’s deadly train crash near Ghotki begins today. Meanwhile, every new day brings a new twist. From the railway minister to the chairman and the general manager of the Pakistan Railways, no one seems to agree on one explanation of the cause or causes of the crash. First it was said that the accident happened as a result of a failure on the part of the Karachi Express conductor to read the signal. The next day the blame was shifted on to the driver of the ill-fated train, who died in the crash. Then came the story that the people responsible for changing tracks were found lacking in the performance of their duty. The latest from the railway headquarters is the version that blames the accident on the malfunctioning of the signal at the Sarhad station, where the terrible triple-train collision took place. Quoting the station master, railway authorities now say a written request had been sent to the Sukkur division superintendent two days before the crash, asking him to remove the technical fault in the signal system but no corrective action was taken. The piecemeal approach by the railway authorities to unveiling facts behind the accident that exclude all but one possibility every time a railway official speaks on the subject has led many to take such explanations with a pinch of salt. The suspension of a number of senior officials held indirectly responsible for the crash has also raised another question. It is being said that they bear the moral responsibility for what need not have happened but did happen. If that indeed is the case, the moral responsibility must also be shared by the railway minister and the chairman, who should have set an example by voluntarily stepping down.

Wednesday’s collision was admittedly unprecedented in the country’s history because it involved three top-of-the-line express trains. Reports now speak of massive cancellation of seats on these and other trains by intending travellers for reasons of safety, with the railways announcing a policy of making a full refund to those not wishing to undertake a train journey. The compensation of Rs. 200,000 each announced by the Pakistan Railways and another Rs. 100,000 each promised by the president for the families of those who lost their lives cannot be recompense for the damage and hurt suffered by those affected. However, the need now is to ensure that the compensation money is swiftly disbursed among the heirs of the victims as well as to those injured and undergoing treatment at various hospitals.

The high-level inquiry into the accident must take all mentioned and unmentioned factors into account and not dwell only on what the PR’s top brass have been saying in terms of the factors leading to the disaster. The inquiry team must also seek evidence from eyewitnesses, if any, of the fatal crash and from villagers who were the first to rush to the scene to help in the rescue work. The report of the inquiry must be made public and not filed away in a departmental library as has been the case in the past. The Ghotki tragedy was one in the line of a number of fatal train disasters that have taken place in that particular area, and must also be probed as such.

Eliminating child labour

THERE is no doubt that the ministry of information and broadcasting’s move to raise public awareness about child labour is both timely and commendable. According to official statistics, there are more than three million (independent estimates: 10 million) children engaged in tedious, often dangerous, occupations in Pakistan, in violation of the country’s laws as well as of international agreements. Children as young as four and five continue to be employed in backbreaking tasks for long hours, and at great risk to their bodies and minds. One hopes that the proposed awareness-raising campaign is not short-lived, as previous such drives have been, and succeeds in its goal of mobilizing public opinion against child labour.

But awareness-raising campaigns alone will not reduce the number of children working in factories, brick kilns, mines and elsewhere. The reality is that with 34 per cent (more than one-third) of the population living below the poverty line, many families have no option but to send their children to work instead of school. With double-digit inflation, the danger is that the number of children entering the workforce is actually on the increase, as without their contribution to the family budget, it would be difficult for poor families to meet even basic living needs. It follows that drives to raise public consciousness about child labour must be accompanied by long-term economic measures to alleviate poverty in the country and to stabilize prices of basic commodities, so that even if they are compelled to work, children need not be employed in hazardous or illegal occupations. This would require the government to work out and implement a comprehensive strategy with the active involvement of major financial institutions in the country. It is equally important for foreign donors to tie assistance to improved social conditions for Pakistani children reflected in figures of a reduced juvenile labour force and a higher school attendance rate. It may be difficult to eliminate child labour altogether in the foreseeable future but through the implementation of long-term measures it should be possible to considerably reduce the extent of the problem.

Aids awareness campaign

THE news that the NWFP Aids control programme wants to bring in the police to help them “check” the deadly disease may run into some snags as people are generally wary of the police. The move does, however, show that officials are serious about combating an ailment that, according to Unicef, kills 800,000 people around the world. Although the number of Aids cases in Pakistan is relatively low compared to other countries, the government cannot afford to be complacent. It must increase campaigns aimed at spreading awareness about prevention. NWFP officials believe the police could help in this regard as they are able to “interact with professional blood donors, drug users and sex workers”. It may prove futile to just arrest and charge the offending groups; knowledge of crackdowns will only force, for example, sex workers to keep shifting from one area of operation to another. It is far more important to acknowledge their existence and profession and spread awareness by engaging them in open, honest dialogue. This may prove particularly difficult for the police who will have the daunting task of winning the trust of those most at risk. The police can take a leaf from NGO workers in the health field and can perhaps adapt strategies to working with them.

Prevention is the key to winning the war on Aids. Unless we remove the veil of secrecy surrounding sex, innocent lives will continue to be put at risk. Migrant workers and truck drivers, for example, are known to practise unsafe sex and can spread the disease to their wives. This group needs to be particularly sensitized to the dangers of HIV/Aids. Far more importance should be placed on an appropriate surveillance system for case detection. This can be done by stricter vigilance at airports and other entry points, which should have testing facilities for those coming from high-risk countries.