| December 17, 2007 | Monday | Zilhaj 6, 1428 |
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Gulf states challenge US
Manifestos or wish lists
Import of wheat by TCP
Watch your gold
Plight of a farmer
Early recall: discrimination
Bahbood certificate
Cellphone thefts
Readers are requested to restrict their comments to a maximum of 400 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for reasons of clarity and space. Letters, including those by e-mail, should carry the complete postal address of the sender. The views expressed in these columns do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper.—Editor
ENERGY resources have depleted. Whatever resources are available are simply too expensive to buy or already acquired by countries which had planned and acted a long time ago. Delayed efforts in the exploration sector have not been able to find sufficient amounts of energy resources. Nations of the world that have their own reserves are not supplying energy resources anymore; only the old contracts made decades ago are active.
Airplanes, trains, cars, motorbikes, buses and trucks, all modes of transportation are coming to a standstill. Many industries have closed due to insufficient power supply. Price of oil has gone above the ceiling. At the domestic level, alternative methods like solar, biogas and other methods are being tried for mere survival.
The above is a likely scenario of Pakistan and around the globe after 25 years. A pessimistic view, but realistic enough to think about and plan for the future. But are we doing anything about it? Let’s have a look at the current energy situation of Pakistan and the world.
Pakistan’s economy is performing at a very high note with GDP growing at an exceptional rate, touching 8.35 per cent in 2004-05. In its entire history, there has been only a few golden years where the economy grew above seven per cent. This year official expectations are that GDP growth rate will be around 6.5 to sevent per cent. For the coming years, the government is targeting the GDP growth rate to be above six per cent.
As the economy grows at such a pace, the energy requirements are likely to increase with a similar rate. For 2004-05, Pakistan’s energy consumption touched 55.5 MTOE (million tons of oil equivalent).
The energy consumption is expected to grow at double digits if the overall economy sustains the targeted GDP growth rate of six per cent by the government. Pakistan’s energy requirements are expected to double in the next few years, and our energy requirements by 2015 are likely to cross 120 MTOE.
By 2030, the nation’s requirement will be seven times the current requirement, reaching 361 MTOE. Pakistan’s energy requirements are fulfilled with more than 80 per cent of energy resources through imports.
On the other hand, international oil prices have not only broken all records but are touching new highs, with every news directly or indirectly affecting the black gold industry.
Moreover, speculators all around the world expect oil prices to touch $100 per barrel in medium term. With concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme, terrorism issues in Nigeria and high economic growth in China and India and their ever rising energy requirements, oil prices don’t see any another way but to shoot upwards.
What is the government doing to ensure a sustainable supply of energy resources for economic growth? What strategic steps are being taken to acquire energy resources in future? Is private sector willing to invest in Pakistan’s oil industry?
What hurdles are stopping other big players around the world from entering Pakistan? What is the role of gas distribution companies so far? Will the government be able to provide enough sources to the citizens for a sustainable economic growth? Have we lost the race for acquiring maximum energy resources for future survival?
BILQUEES ANWER
Karachi
AT the Gulf Cooperation Council’s conference in Bahrain, on Dec 8, Gulf Arab countries challenged US Defence Secretary Robert Gates on US policies towards Iran and Israel. Answering a challenging question, Mr Gates described the government in Israel as more responsible than the one in Iran. US and Western hypocrisy is limitless, democratic states by definition produce responsible governance and since Israel is a democracy, does it mean that Israel has the right to hold enough power to blow our planet many times over!
During his speech Mr Gates stressed the danger of Iran’s nuclear programme, despite the release of National Intelligence Estimate report earlier this week that Iran halted its nuclear weapons development in 2003 and hasn’t resumed it since.
Actually it’s not the nuclear Iran’s danger, but the fear factor attached with it. It means that Iran with nuclear capability would simply upset US military encroachments in the Middle East, which would also create a rival to the state of Israel. Michael Rubin of the American Enterprise Institute, a major hub for America’s neoconservatives, was honest in Middle Eastern Outlooks. He summarised the US position in a few simple words: “A nuclear Iran would represent a fundamental shift in strategic balance.”
Neocons seek max chaos and instability in the ME in order to justify long-term US occupation of the region. The neocons and their media allies have succeeded in causing the public to confuse Iran’s legal nuclear energy programme with a weapon’s programme.
This is on record that UN inspectors have protested to the US government and a Congressional committee about a report on Iran’s nuclear programme, calling parts of it ‘outrageous and dishonest’ according to a letter received by Reuters.
Diplomatic experts point out that the US is isolated in its desire to isolate Iran and has no ally except Israel, thus validating Muslims’ claim that the US is Israel’s instrument against Muslims. Experts note that military aggression is a war crime and that US violation of international law isolates it further.
ABID MAHMUD ANSARI
Islamabad
VARIOUS parties contesting elections are coming up with attractive goals in their manifestos. Although headings are different, they don’t differ much in substance. All these manifestos claim that they would make Pakistan a heaven on the earth and would alleviate all problems of the people.
The question is how they would achieve these goals. Rather than public meetings, these leaders should be brought on the media and face intellectuals and economists to explain how they would achieve the ends which they are claiming in their manifestos to achieve.
Every problem has three aspects: What, Why and How. What is the problem and what are its affects? Why has the problem arisen? The most important thing, though, is: How should a problem be solved? This is the question they should be asked.
I did a course in development management from the Asian Institute of Management, Manila, the Philippines. In essence, development of any community, area or country is like a triangle. The apex is the objective, which should be ‘clear and achievable’.
The two sides of the triangle are resources: internal and external, which should be ‘sufficient enough’ for achieving the objective. The base is strategy, which is as important as the other two factors.
For Pakistan, one important question is the resources. Do we have enough resources to tackle the problems we are facing? If not, how are we going to generate sufficient resources to meet our needs? Of course, then the question is of strategy. What strategy are we going to adopt to achieve the required ends? Let the people know which party has most convincing answers to these questions.
Like other democratic countries, every party leader should be confronted with the above questions. We have an excellent electronic media available and there are great many intelligent people – in politics, administration, economics and development management – who should be invited to question the political leaders.
SHAHABUDDIN KHAN
Islamabad
I HAVE been reading in your daily the irregularities committed by the TCP with regard to placement of awards for import of wheat. These corrupt practices are not new in the TCP. Since assuming charge, the chairman has brought a group of officials from such departments as FIA and income-tax who prepare favourable cases of only those who first meet their demands and then respective approvals are released.
Suppliers are not only blackmailed but their cases, even the same are on merit, are not decided for weeks/months. As a result, when approvals are given, those are of no use to the suppliers as by that time the purpose for which approval was sought is no longer viable.
After award of commodity contracts to the successful suppliers, this group then starts twisting local vendors, i.e. suppliers of empty bags, vessel agents at discharge ports, transporters, inspection agencies and stevedores, as placement of awards for all these activities is totally at the discretion of the TCP without any formal tender.
The TCP’s role in the last several years has been to import commodities as directed by the ministry of food and agriculture and in lieu of this service the TCP charges them heavy commission (two per cent plus) of the total value.
However, it has been observed that the TCP neither arranges timely import of the required commodities nor does it conclude deals on a competitive basis simply because of its own vested interests.
It is time for the ministry of food and agriculture to think to re-establish its own import wing to meet the timely import demand of essential commodities like wheat, sugar, fertilisers and cotton as it used to have before 1999 so that suppliers in international and domestic community can be saved from the existing corrupt practice, and the common man can benefit from the availability of essential items in the market.
I hope my suggestion will find approval of the Minfal which will do its bit to get rid of malpractices.
M. H. MURAD
Karachi
IN view of the rising incidents of house theft/robbery and daylight snatchings, it is the need of the hour to adopt a lifestyle on a self-help basis and do away with all sorts of domestic servants, including housemaids, ‘khansamas’ and sundry attendants.
As a result, not only your schedules/secrets but also cash, gold, and groceries will remain in tact within four walls of your house.
A.RAUF SOZER
Karachi
FARMING is Pakistan’s single largest economic activity, contributing 25 per cent of GDP and accounts for half of the employed labour force and is the largest source of foreign exchange earnings. It feeds both the rural and urban population.
However, unfortunately, it is the most neglected and highly exploited sector of the economy. The farmer, who ploughs the land, sows the seed and waters it and, finally, if produce is saved from unforeseen climatic changes, it is the middlemen or the cartels or mafias of sugar, wheat and cotton who manoeuvre the lion’s share. The grower always remains hand-to-mouth.
Subsidies are given to farmers in other parts of the world to encourage better crops but in Pakistan it is the trader/industrialist (such as the textile industry) who get the subsidy because of strong lobbies.
The problem which hit our agriculture hard was the recent ‘wheat crisis’, artificially created by the profiteers and hoarders with the palpable connivance of men in power. Some newspaper/channel also discussed this issue but the root cause of crisis was not explored.
The core problem is the fixing of support price without considering the cost of inputs such as seed, fertiliser, pesticide, and electricity/diesel for running tube-wells.
For instance, after seven years the present regime fixed the support price of wheat at Rs425 a maund as against earlier price of Rs300 a maund. Whereas during this period, the DAP jumped from Rs600 to Rs1,200, urea from Rs300 to 540, diesel from Rs8 a litre to Rs37. The price of gunny bags jumped from Rs30 to 60.
With all these injustices and inequities, when produce leaves the farm, it is left to market hounds. It is these unscrupulous market forces that reap the benefits. Besides, procurement is handled by the food department, and that’s where everything goes wrong.
Gunny bags are provided by the food department. However, what they do is dump the bags in private storages with advance cash and the farmers sell wheat at Rs390 to Rs415 per maund which is further sold for Rs550 to Rs650 per maund. The food department mostly gets back the empty gunny bags or which were filled with 12 kilos of sand with substandard wheat which previously had been forcefully given by the food department. How much the farmer gets, fleeced and blackmailed, nobody bothers.
Has the government taken cognizance of the food department’s highhandedness and ever proceeded against its secretary, director/ DFC? If the food department and farmers involved at the time of procurement are not taken to task, things will continue to be mismanaged and, as a result, interest of the latter jeopardised.
The government, after its failure to handle the crisis, has now decided to import one million tons of wheat to meet the shortage, although till recently we were exporting 0.5 million tons. Imported wheat is no less than three years old and, therefore, not as good a quality as the fresher one, and with much higher price, that too payable in foreign currency. Thus the government is prepared to forgo all the negatives only to benefit a few importers and subsidise the millers but is not prepared to give financial support to encourage local farmers to grow more.
The beneficiaries are the traders/importers, the officials of food department and mill owners.
It is the farmer who is living in perpetual misery. If he is given the right price of his product after considering the cost of inputs and is freed from the hold of corrupt food officials and avarice of traders/industrialists, entire society will reap its benefit.
Cncrete efforts are needed by the government to end the discrepancies which have kept a large segment of the country under inhuman conditions.
ZAHID HUSSAIN JATOI
Mehar, Dadu
I HAIL from Balochistan and have more than 15 years of civil service to my credit. I was selected for the post of Commercial Secretary, Pakistan Trade Commission, Johannesburg, with 10 other colleagues, after going through the standard selection procedure and for a period of three years.
Interestingly, despite confirmed airline tickets, I was stopped from proceeding to Johannesburg by the commerce ministry for almost two months, without giving any reason verbally or in writing, whereas all my other colleagues left one by one around June/July 2004. Finally, I was allowed to proceed abroad after approaching the then commerce minister and I joined my duties on Aug 28, 2004.
The discrimination meted to me by the commerce ministry for reasons best known to them did not end there. Eventually, I learnt that I was the only one being recalled by the commerce minister, whereas all the other 10 selected officers who had proceeded to different stations even before me were not disturbed.
This was appalling for me. I requested the ministry to let me continue on the present post until August 2008 like my other colleagues, but this was not acceded to. I again made a request that I may at least be allowed to work until the completion of my twin children’s academic year at school, but this request too was turned down.
On the contrary, after I completed my three years on this post on Aug 28, 2007, the ministry directed our high commission in South Africa to take charge from me on Aug 29, under duress. I then approached the high court as a last resort, and eventually got some relief from there.
Now again the commerce ministry has directed the Pakistan high commission to take charge from me on Dec 15.
If performance is any criterion, then the Johannesburg station is performing far better than the other stations, which is evident from the fact that out of top 20 countries, it is on No. 16 where exports have increased during the last three years, as per the statistics provided by the TDAP/Federal Bureau of Statistics.
Pakistan exports to South Africa are even higher than those of the countries like Canada and Bangladesh, and, interestingly, the officers posted there along with me are not being recalled.
I would request the ministry to let me continue in my present job without any let or hindrance and I may not be subjected to any further personal dislike and victimisation, particularly when a person is from a backward province like Balochistan.
AZRA JAMALI
Commercial Secretary
Trade Commission of Pakistan, Karachi
OFF and on, the rate of profit is increased on savings certificate. But the increase is not given on certificates purchased before the date of increase. To avail the increase, a cumbersome procedure has to be followed.
First, a Bahbood certificate has to be encashed, penalty is charged on encashment. A second application, with one more copy of NIC, has to be submitted for a new certificate. The encashed amount is not paid to the beneficiary.
Minus the penalty, the unpaid amount is treated as reinvestment in new certificate. All exercises are done on the spot simultaneously. Why encashment, why penalty, why a second application and one more copy of the NIC and why the new certificate?
Unnecessary repetition of paperwork costs more time, more labour, more stationery, etc. Automatic grant of increase on certificates purchased before the date of increase can save all wastage.
The scheme of the Bahbood certificate has been especially introduced for widows and senior citizens who deserve facilities and relief. Simple procedures solve problems. Creating problems by making rules and regulations rather complicate the system.
MUHAMMAD TUFAIL
Karachi
SNATCHING of cellphones on the streets, outside the residences and while travelling in buses or in commercial vehicles has become a routine matter. It is reported every day in newspapers that almost 60 to 80 cellphones are snatched away.
I have yet to see a day when newspapers print news that no mobile phones were reported to have been snatched. Why are the authorities concerned sitting silent on the issue? Can’t they help the general public in their security of the cellphones? It was published in the newspaper that the PTA, along with the police authorities, is developing some rule and procedure whereby any person who is deprived of his cellphone can approach the police or the CPLC which will immediately direct the cellular company to block the said cellphone.
When my cellphone was once snatched, I tried to lodge a complaint with the police and the cellular company but nobody was ready to help me and I went on putting in all my efforts to at least get the cellphone blocked by the help of its serial number but it proved in vain. I would like to request the authorities concerned to look into this issue and provide us security.
KANWAL NAEEM
Karachi
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