http://www.dawn.com/2011/04/16/long-hot-summer.html
the Dawn, April 16,2011
Long,hot Summer
THIS is apropos of your editorial ‘Long, hot summer’ (April 9). It has depicted a grim picture of worsening power shortage, which is between 3,500 MW to 5,000 MW.
The fact is that when this democratic government came into power in February 2008, the electricity shortage was much less than it is now. Sadly, despite the passage of three years, no concrete steps have been taken to improve the power sector and facilitate power consumers.
Moreover, during the initial days of the present government, Water and Power Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and his entire team blamed the Musharaf government for the problem.
The minister also assured the nation, time and again, of ending the power crisis by placing deadlines. But when the common man got tired of the false promises, ultimately the federal minister took back his words, declaring that no timeframe could be given to overcome the electricity crisis.
In the face of increasing power cuts, the government has been increasing power tariffs almost every month. It is the history of Pakistan that the poor have always suffered and now they are suffering in both forms: loadshedding and increase in power tariffs.
It is astounding that the government has no short-term solution to meet the power crisis and provide relief to power consumers. However, it is a good thing that the government has long-term planning to meet power crisis, for example Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline that is to materialise in 2015, and Diamer Bhasha Dam which is scheduled to be completed by 2016. But there is a dire need to take measures as short-term solutions along with long-run projects. And it is to be seen whether these future projects complete in time or they would meet the same fate as that of 15
hydropower projects with a capacity of 1258 MW which were scheduled to be completed by June 2007.
Besides, there are three other projects, including the Neelum-Jhelum power project with a gross installed capacity of 1,848 MW, which were scheduled to be commissioned in June 2010. All these were delayed. Just one project of 86 MW (Malakand-III) was completed in eight years against 3226 MW projects.
The impacts of power shortage have been so adverse that over 400,000 industrial workers have lost their jobs and the industries have been facing an annual loss of over Rs240 billion. Besides industries, the agricultural and all other sectors have been among the sufferers.
The government should pay attention to worsening power shortages and take immediate measurers in short-term to meet the power crisis and provide relief to those consumers who pay their power bills honestly.
The government should lay off all corrupt power authorities who are involved in meter tampering, allowing illegal connections after receiving bribes from those who run airconditioners without meters.
The government should remove unnecessary airconditioners from government offices. It should control line losses that are estimated to be around 2000 MW daily.
The smart meter system should be launched which is being used in many developed countries. The government should reduce power tariff till the power outages are stopped.
Work for production of electricity from Thar coal should be initiated without any further delay as electricity production from it would take less than three years duration.
INAYATULLAH RUSTAMANI
Wahi Pandhi,
Johi
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
International Women Day... and Floods in Sindh
International Women Day (2011)
By Inayatullah Rustamani Dadu, Sindh
The recent catastrophic tsunami in Japan has brought extensive loss of lives and property. I salute Japan...
...as soon as possible.
Contributed by Inayatullah Rustamani for the International Women Day held across the world today. IdeasEvolved.com wishes to play her part to spread the noble message.The International Women Day is celebrated on March 8 every year across the globe. The Human Rights Activists and NGOs appear to be champions of celebrations of this day. They make pledges to improve socio-economic and educational status of women wherever they are vulnerable. Pakistan is also apart of such celebrations. It is extremely shocking that these pledges in Pakistan appear to jus as rhetoric. The socio-economic and educational conditions of women have been debilitating in the face of high rate of violence against them and the denial of their rights.
Aurat Foundation presented its report titled “The Qualitative Review of Statistics 2009″ on June 30, 2010. The report revealed increase in violence against women in Pakistan. This further states that in 2008, there were 7571 violence cases in Pakistan, but took an upward trend and reached up to 8548 in 2009. This shows 13 per cent increase in violence against women as compared to incidents in 2008.
It is very much shocking that despite availability of women protection laws in Pakistan and some women themselves occupying high political portfolios in Pakistan, there is no reduction in violence and no protection of poor and middle class women of the country. The staggering violence figures of Aurat Foundation reveal that in 2009 there were 5722 violence cases in Punjab, 1762 in Sindh, 655 in KP, 237 in Balochistan and 172 in Islamabad.
The violence against women is high in Punjab because some Chaudhris are patrons of such shameful acts, while in Sindh and Balochistan the landlords are powerful and in politics also and in the meanwhile some are themselves either involved in such acts or protecting the violators. While in the KP, women are victims of the Jirga system and the so-called Taliban.
In the face of so much given powerful elements, the women protection laws almost remain unimplemented or are twisted at the whims of these influential people. The incumbent government’s Women Protection Law at Work Place; although, carries high punishment and fine for violators, but as the past laws are ineffective thus the results of this may not appear.
Pakistan is a country where women population is 53 per cent. It means that the women constitute bulk of our population. The welfare and protection of women rights is very crucial to improve image of the country within the country and abroad and ensure development of the country. This is possible when women protection laws are strictly implemented and the culprits are punished.
Moreover, the empowerment of women is possible when women are provided education and livelihood opportunities. An equal opportunity based system is in the interest of the country and in true sense will materialize the women
protection rhetoric of the country.
By Inayatullah Rustamani
Dadu, Sindh
The 2010 Floods in Pakistan
The recent catastrophic tsunami in Japan has brought extensive loss of lives and property. I salute Japan for its admirable planning and the way of handling such post-disaster situations. Earthquakes frequently shake that country, but its crisis handling mitigates the aftermath effects and life and development works soon start running smoothly there. But the case is much different in Pakistan. Here, the effects of a disaster remain for years and even for times unmemorable.The effects of the colossal earthquake of Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir, are still evident. The people have been waiting for rehabilitation there for over five years now.
The wounds of Azad Kashmir earthquake were still fresh when the damaging floods hit Pakistan last year. My district Dadu, Sindh, has also been a prey of the flood. The floods passed over seven months ago but in our area still people are homeless living in tents, the students get education under open sky and the roads have not been repaired so far even though the international community donated billions of dollars to Pakistan to rehabilitate its people.
The effects of a disaster never end here. Disaster in Pakistan simply means the end of the livelihood and lives of the people, but the opening of earning avenues for the NGOs and some self-centered politicians.
The fact is that now the entire world is under the threat of global warming and Pakistan is at the 12th number to be affected by it. Such disasters may; therefor, visit Pakistan with greater continuity in the future.
The October 2005 Pakistan Earthquake
Pakistan should learn management skills from Japan like countries to ensure smooth flow of life and development in the country. The solution lies in planning to cope with such floods. This is possible when the government invests much in the repairing of embankments and dykes and providing the proper passage to water, keeping in mind less loss of agriculture, homes and lives.Improving Education Sector
THE reason for the progress of developed countries is attributed to their sustainable policies in the education sector. They spend much more in the education sector than in any other sector.
In our country the most backward sector is education owing to negligence by almost all previous governments, barring Pervez Musharraf’s government, since independence.
I am not an admirer of the Musharraf regime, but there is no denying the fact that the education sector has improved greatly through the launch of new programmes in his regime.
The initiation of the HEC and the start of NIP are remarkable programmes of his government. In a short period of six years, the HEC has awarded more than 2,000 foreign PhD scholarships to Pakistani students. These students are receiving higher education in more than 15 highly technically developed countries. Moreover, the HEC has been conducting seminars and workshops of highly learned scholars for the teachers and students of Pakistani universities. Through the HEC, all the public universities of Pakistan have access to thousands of international books and journals free of cost.
The second programme of his government was National Internship Programme (NIP) for 16-year-old graduates. This was beneficial for thousands of unemployed graduates of Pakistan for a year, but it is disheartening to all fresh graduates that the new government has terminated this programme.
The education sector is considered the backbone of a country. Hence, this government must take measures to improve and sustain the education sector reforms.
Education can be improved in Pakistan by taking the following measures.
*NIP programme should be resumed to reduce frustration among the fresh graduates.
*Education should be free for all males and females up to the college level in the four provinces of Pakistan, and there should be monthly stipends for female candidates.
*All the government schools should be English-medium, for this purpose the teachers should be given special training in getting command over the English language.
*There should be job security for all those who complete their university degree.
*In rural areas, separate schools and colleges should be established for girls.
*Computers must be provided to all the schools and colleges of Pakistan.
*There must be laws that impose fines over parents if they evade admitting their children to a school.
INAYATULLAH RUSTAMANI
Dadu
Sunday, January 23, 2011
A recreational Spot
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Opinions/Letters/03-Jan-2011/Neglected-Gorakh-hill-station
The Gorakh hill station is located in taluka Johi, district Dadu, the province of Sindh. It is the coldest and most beautiful area of Sindh. It is around six thousand feet above the sea level. Its temperature is quite moderate and cool even in the months of June and July, when the rest of the country is facing scorching heat. Its road passes along the most developed Kachho city of taluka Johi. But sadly, the development work of the Gorakh Hill Station had started since the first government of the PPP in 1988, and even after passage of more than two decades, successive governments have so far succeeded in only constructing a road from Wahi Pandhi to Gorakh Satation. Moreover, the then government had also pledged to establish a college and a university there.
There is no doubt that this is an attractive tourist spot of Sindh, but deliberate neglect on the part of the consecutive governments has given this hill the look of a deserted spot. It is heartening to know that at last President Zardari has taken a latest briefing from the concerned authorities on the development projects of Gorakh Hill Station. This is at least a ray of hope. Gorakh Hill Station is a natural asset of Sindh. If developed properly, this spot can work wonders for Sindh’s tourism. Gorakh Hill Station.
– INAYATULLAH RUSTAMANI, Dadu, January 1.
Neglected Gorakh hill station
Daily Nation ,Published: January 3, 2011There is no doubt that this is an attractive tourist spot of Sindh, but deliberate neglect on the part of the consecutive governments has given this hill the look of a deserted spot. It is heartening to know that at last President Zardari has taken a latest briefing from the concerned authorities on the development projects of Gorakh Hill Station. This is at least a ray of hope. Gorakh Hill Station is a natural asset of Sindh. If developed properly, this spot can work wonders for Sindh’s tourism. Gorakh Hill Station.
– INAYATULLAH RUSTAMANI, Dadu, January 1.
http://news.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/letters-to-the-editor/hyderabad-library-neglected-060
The Dawn, Newspaper
Hyderabad library neglected
Libraries are places that attract a large number of students for the purpose of study and research.
Moreover, these are the places where one can study peacefully and comfortably. Shockingly, Allama Daud Pota Library, Hyderabad, is becoming a place of great problems for students coming here to study.
The reason is that the air conditioners and the large generator are lying unused, and can not be used during load-shedding despite the scorching heat.
This state of affairs turns the library to a deserted place. If one arrives here mistakenly during power outages, and finds the air-conditioners and generators switched off, he never thinks of revisiting it.
We the candidates of CSS repeatedly met the director of the library regarding the functioning of the generator and air-conditioners but all in vain. The library director always blames the authorities concerned for the paucity of funds and puts on phoney promises.
Allama Daud Pota Library is the largest public library of Hyderabad containing thousands of books and other relevant material. But the lax attitude of the library staff as well as higher authorities has destroyed the real charm and status of it.
The Culture and Tourism Minister Sasui Palejo visited the library a number of times this year, and inaugurated the Benazir Bhutto section of the library.
She assured the students repeatedly that she would solve their problems, but all in vain.
The politicians of Sindh may remember that this library is the backbone of education of Sindh.
The chief minister of Sindh and the culture and tourism minister are requested to take immediate and practical measures to solve the genuine problems of the library, making the air-conditioners and generator functional. A photocopy machine too needs to be installed there.
Inayatullah
Rustamani
Dadu
The Dawn, Newspaper
Hyderabad library neglected
Moreover, these are the places where one can study peacefully and comfortably. Shockingly, Allama Daud Pota Library, Hyderabad, is becoming a place of great problems for students coming here to study.
The reason is that the air conditioners and the large generator are lying unused, and can not be used during load-shedding despite the scorching heat.
This state of affairs turns the library to a deserted place. If one arrives here mistakenly during power outages, and finds the air-conditioners and generators switched off, he never thinks of revisiting it.
We the candidates of CSS repeatedly met the director of the library regarding the functioning of the generator and air-conditioners but all in vain. The library director always blames the authorities concerned for the paucity of funds and puts on phoney promises.
Allama Daud Pota Library is the largest public library of Hyderabad containing thousands of books and other relevant material. But the lax attitude of the library staff as well as higher authorities has destroyed the real charm and status of it.
The Culture and Tourism Minister Sasui Palejo visited the library a number of times this year, and inaugurated the Benazir Bhutto section of the library.
She assured the students repeatedly that she would solve their problems, but all in vain.
The politicians of Sindh may remember that this library is the backbone of education of Sindh.
The chief minister of Sindh and the culture and tourism minister are requested to take immediate and practical measures to solve the genuine problems of the library, making the air-conditioners and generator functional. A photocopy machine too needs to be installed there.
Inayatullah
Rustamani
Dadu
Gas Supply
The Dawn, January 2,2011.
http://www.dawn.com/2011/01/02/plea-for-gas-supply-to-wahi-pandhi.htmlPlea for gas supply to Wahi Pandhi
January 2, 2011 (3 weeks ago)
THE Zamzama gas unit of the BHP is located in Dadu district. It has reportedly been meeting 60 per cent gas needs of the entire province of Sindh. Sadly, an area of Dadu, Wahi Pandhi, that is just 28km from the gasfield, is devoid of this basic need. Wahi Pandhi is an area of Johi taluka. Its population is around 40,000 and comprises over 500 villages. The non-availability of the gas facility, on the one hand, forces the local people to cut trees for cooking and, on the other hand, the smoke and ashes of firewood are causing eye and skin diseases.
In this age of science and technology, when all countries in the world are committed to providing basic facilities to their people, control deforestation and reduce carbon emissions, the non-availability of gas to towns like Wahi Pandhi that are close to the gasfields raises many questions about the welfare efforts made by government.Importantly, the provision of basic facilities to all citizens on an equal basis is the responsibility of the state, and a constitutional right of all. When Zamama gasfield pipelines stretch to far-away areas, the absence of natural gas facility to a city less than 30km is an injustice and violation of the constitutional rights of the citizens of the area.
There is a pressing need that the government of Sindh should take immediate measures to provide gas facility to the area. The provision of this single facility to the area will serve multiple purposes.
First, it will save the area from further deforestation, which is otherwise a challenge to the state. Second, it would reduce the burning of the woods causing emissions of global warming agents like carbon de oxide. Last but not least, it would relieve housewives of eye and skin infections.
INAYATULLAH
RUSTAMANI
Dadu
Corruption in Pakistan
http://www.dawn.com/2011/01/17/corruption-in-pakistan.html
The Dawn, January 17, 2011.
January 17, 2011 (6 days ago)
Corruption has always been a big problem for Pakistan and is on the rise by the day. Apparently there are institutions like NAB, FIA and Ehtesab Bureau to curb corruption, but these have not succeeded in their efforts.
According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, “In 2010, Pakistan stood at 34th number as compared to 42nd in 2009”.
It means it has plunged eight more points in corruption.
The irony is that before the release of the 2010’s corruption report, some high politicians of the ruling party publicly stated that there is no corruption in
Pakistan and now the country is free from corruption.
The lack of acceptance on the part of the government is the root cause of the problem. Any problem has to be first acknowledged to make a commitment to cope
with it, but this is not the case here.
According to the National Corruption Perception Survey (NCPS) 2010 of Transparency International, “The four top corrupt institutions are Police, electricity, land department and education”.
The chairman of Transparency International, Pakistan, Syed Adil Gilani, said “Corruption is the root cause of poverty, illiteracy, terrorism, shortage of electricity, food, etc. and lack of governance in Pakistan.”
Corruption is the main element and like cancer is eating up every institution of Pakistan.
The most powerful and profit earning institutions of Pakistan such as PIA, Pakistan Railways and Wapda are running in loss and are a burden on the nation only because of corruption. These have been extracting desired heavy charges from facility users, but despite that they are facing losses. Now the Haj Scam has come to the forefront that has brought the present government at the brink of crises.
We shouldn’t forget that corruption is the most powerful weapon that has so far fired many governments in Pakistan, including the second government of the PPP.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan that is trying to expose the corrupt elements and take suo motu actions against them; it has so far exposed many corruption cases like Haj Scam and the Rs193 billion loan right off from 1999 to 2009.
Sadly, the role of the present government is completely disappointing in taking action against the corrupt elements.
In the face of the passiveness of the government, the corrupt elements are powerful and evident in developing sugar and wheat like crises.
Combating corruption is the responsibility of the state and is the only way to strengthen the institutions and lead the country to progress.
This would be possible only when institutions meant to combat corruption are depoliticised and are made independent of any political pressure and interference.
In a parliamentary democracy, no institution should be above the law. Through a system of checks and balances corruption can be combated.
INAYATULLAH
Wahi Pandhi, taluka Johi
The Dawn, January 17, 2011.
Corruption in Pakistan
January 17, 2011 (6 days ago)
According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, “In 2010, Pakistan stood at 34th number as compared to 42nd in 2009”.
It means it has plunged eight more points in corruption.
The irony is that before the release of the 2010’s corruption report, some high politicians of the ruling party publicly stated that there is no corruption in
Pakistan and now the country is free from corruption.
The lack of acceptance on the part of the government is the root cause of the problem. Any problem has to be first acknowledged to make a commitment to cope
with it, but this is not the case here.
According to the National Corruption Perception Survey (NCPS) 2010 of Transparency International, “The four top corrupt institutions are Police, electricity, land department and education”.
The chairman of Transparency International, Pakistan, Syed Adil Gilani, said “Corruption is the root cause of poverty, illiteracy, terrorism, shortage of electricity, food, etc. and lack of governance in Pakistan.”
Corruption is the main element and like cancer is eating up every institution of Pakistan.
The most powerful and profit earning institutions of Pakistan such as PIA, Pakistan Railways and Wapda are running in loss and are a burden on the nation only because of corruption. These have been extracting desired heavy charges from facility users, but despite that they are facing losses. Now the Haj Scam has come to the forefront that has brought the present government at the brink of crises.
We shouldn’t forget that corruption is the most powerful weapon that has so far fired many governments in Pakistan, including the second government of the PPP.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan that is trying to expose the corrupt elements and take suo motu actions against them; it has so far exposed many corruption cases like Haj Scam and the Rs193 billion loan right off from 1999 to 2009.
Sadly, the role of the present government is completely disappointing in taking action against the corrupt elements.
In the face of the passiveness of the government, the corrupt elements are powerful and evident in developing sugar and wheat like crises.
Combating corruption is the responsibility of the state and is the only way to strengthen the institutions and lead the country to progress.
This would be possible only when institutions meant to combat corruption are depoliticised and are made independent of any political pressure and interference.
In a parliamentary democracy, no institution should be above the law. Through a system of checks and balances corruption can be combated.
INAYATULLAH
Wahi Pandhi, taluka Johi
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