This week was all about fraud. In Lahore, as in the rest of the country, from the number of scams, one could be forgiven for thinking that this is what we are all about. Perhaps we are. In our unbridled pursuit of economic betterment our calloused, mental framework leaves little room for any empathetic values. While the extent to what we can bear, in terms of the cost others have to pay, might vary, it has become an integral part of our fabric. Some examples would attest to this.

Real estate is big business here: a closed investment loop for the well-heeled to gain inordinate windfalls and in certain cases to cleanse their financial resources from illicit means. Many of the key stakeholders come from and or have close ties to the political and other elite. A largely unregulated business, fraught with unscrupulous elements, it has many pitfalls for the average investor. One of the largest recent scandals, DHA Lahore, is a case in point. The Rs.15 billion scam has yet to be resolved. One of the main conspirators, the brother of a former army chief, conveniently remains abroad. Comfortably too, one would assume, since his liability amount to some Rs4 billion or so. Those affected, with some, their lifetime savings invested, run around seeking legal remedies. The latest news is that the interior ministry has lost interest in pursuing the case, according to the NAB: certainly no skin off their backs. This was but one of more prominent and large real-estate frauds, many others remain little publicised and resolved.

Turning to another interesting headline: “Hydroelectric union leaders patronize power theft.” The highest ever pilferage, in any sub-division of Lahore, amounting to one million units, has been discovered. Those responsible are members of the local union, including the local chapter chairman. When faced with the charges, the union resorted to a strike. Imagine how far have we come from the time of ‘workers of the world uniting’, against capitalistic exploitation? Our workers can lick any capitalist, any day of week. The truly interesting twist is that this is prime minister’s constituency: perhaps a trickle down theory of a different variant?

In another case, the illegal organ donor investigation’s scope widens and it seems every day a new culprit is netted in Lahore. Despite the fact that the main doctors involved, belong to two famous hospitals in Lahore, the number of other hospitals used and medical professional involved continues to increase. The latest development in the macabre tale is the death of a Jordanian woman, which was covered-up. Her fake death certificate issued from a private hospital in Thokar Niaz Beg and her body stored at a private hospital in Defence, before being shipped back to Jordan. Apparently, the Hippocratic Oath has little applicability or meaning for a significant number of our medical fraternity.

Finally, our national carrier remains beset by all sorts of scandals; employee corruption scams, smuggling, pilots sleeping on the job, socialising and all manners of aerial shenanigans. Things have come to point where parliamentary committees are discussing its (PIA) closure: another national asset that we used to be proud of, all set to run aground. Where our existing set of values leads to, one cannot truly say, but things do not appear to be too bright at the present.

Turning to pleasanter things, despite the rising temperature, the redeeming feature of Lahore remains its greenery. The ubiquitous presence of Amal Tass (Cassia Fistula) golden rain tree, adorn the city. The yellow bloom speckled on the green, at times, seems to have captured the merciless yellow sun’s hues. Gul Mohar (Delonix Regia) with its flaming flowers, also reflective of the fiery aspect of the weather, are coming to their own and Bougainvillea, of all colours, are draped all over the city. Credit to the government for their addition to underpasses, but please remove the artificial/fraudulent flowers.–(AmLahori@gmail.com)

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2017