Where is the power for the people?!?

A system of democracy stands as a fundamental means to empower people. “Power to the people, by the people, for the People” is the slogan that democracy chants. The democracy that we live in knows only one out of the above mentioned three parts of the slogan, that being “power by the people”. With a population as vast as the one we have, a power generation capacity of 19,505 Megawatts, as per 2007 authenticated figures, just doesn’t cut it. The end result is widespread load shedding that affects households and industries alike.

To further worsen situations, the government has a very consistent habit of privatizing key public sector institutions. Before I comment any further, let me just state that the basic function of public sector enterprise is to provide services to people without singularly focusing on profit maximization, instead, providing relief and welfare to the masses. And this is why, the sectors of energy, health and education are responsibilities of the state, because if these institutions were to function with the sole and primary purpose of making profits, the essence behind their functioning, that being providing welfare, is lost. Profit maximization and welfare are seldom anything but mutually exclusive. After the privatization of the KESC (Karachi Electric Supply Company), the problem has gone a step further. The problem took another turn for the worst when irregularities were found by the Auditor General of Pakistan in the above mentioned privatization of KESC. Continuous intermittent increases in power tariffs and rampant voltage fluctuations continue to add misery to the citizens of the Metropolis that used to be called The City of Lights.

As if the current ongoing crises that the power sector is facing weren’t enough, the government, under the Ministry of Water & Power, decided to embark on yet another audacious adventure, that of installing Rental Power Plants. If an optimistic reader were to accidentally think that these power plants would be really efficient, cost effective and state-of-the-art, let me be the first to bring you out of the bubble you are in by telling you that not only the critics in Pakistan have said so, but so has the Asian Development Bank that rental power plants are not suitable for Pakistan nor are they cost effective. 14 rental power plants are in the process of being set up and will commence power generation shortly. However, some of these are second hand power plants, some with manufacturing dates as old as 1992.  Their effectiveness and efficiency, in conclusion, is debatable, as is the current affairs of the current government.

Afghanistan points a finger in our direction

 The Washington post has reported Afghanistan’s National Security Adviser Rangin Dadfar Spanta as saying that the USA should impose sanctions against Pakistan, stating that their support for the flood ridden country is a strategic mistake. Mr Spanta went on to support his views by saying that the war on terror was proving ineffective because USA was not directing its drone attacks towards Pakistan where all the terrorists are “supposedly” hiding. He also pointed fingers at Pakistani generals saying that the USA should not grant visas to Pakistani nationals, specially the generals as they are directly involved with several terrorist groups.

               He went on to say that the drone attacks in Afghanistan were not effective because the real concern was the existence of international terrorist leaders based in Pakistan. Another government official backed these claims by suggesting that president Hamid Karzai had expressed irritation at USAs continued support of Pakistan when it was apparent that they were the real culprits. The official also reported the president as saying that Pakistan was training its military forces and sending them into Afghanistan to kill the afghan forces.

             As was expected, the US state department rejected Mr Spantas ideas, stating that Pakistan was an important strategic partner for the USA in the war on terror. They discarded any notions of USA cutting its ties with Pakistan, stating in the process that it would be much better if Pakistan and Afghanistan could have a better relationship. Needless to say, it was surprising when Afghanistan pointed a finger at Pakistan. So I guess we’re supposed to believe it’s a misconception that all terrorists originate from Afghanistan. How could we ever be so naive?

Why the new round of Middle East Peace Talks cannot succeed?

In the year1972, Richard Nixon’s visit to Chairman Mao was the defining event of the Cold War which led to China’s entry into Security Council and made it one of the key players of global politics. It was also under his administration that U.S.-Soviet relationship was able to adopt the policy of détente. But this was no sign of softness towards communism; rather, it was a manifestation that the task of reestablishing normal diplomatic relationships with the enemy always falls to its lifelong basher, in this case Nixon – whose anti communist credentials no one could question.

The latest episode in the Middle East peace talks is a display of the same principle; you can handicap a weak rival temporarily, but you can never wriggle your motive out of him. Resumption of peace talks in the absence of Israel’s willingness to make any concessions to a politically weak Palestinian govt. (which by the way is known to be pro Israel) will only aggravate the situation for the ruling Fatah group. Israel’s insistence on the continuing construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank has helped paint Hamas as the only hope of the Palestinians in their struggle for survival. Every time Israel coerces the Fatah govt. into a compromise, it strengthens the hands of the very group it has worked so hard to declare as terrorists.

It is not rocket science to suggest that no solution to the Palestinian issue can materialize into reality unless the hardliners such as Hamas are taken on board. When Palestinian homes are bulldozed in West Bank, Hamas jumps on the opportunity by championing the cause of homeless while the Fatah moderates stand aside like silent spectators. If Israel wants to demonstrate the seriousness of its efforts, it should at least “pretend” to talk to those who are perceived as its real enemy, not to those who are seen as its accomplice in oppression.

Independence Day 2010, a Wake Up Call perhaps?

“True independence and freedom can only exist in doing what's right.” Brigham Young

The 14^th of August each year is celebrated with great fervor and gusto in our part of the world.  And why shouldn’t it be, it marks one more year of independence for the people of Pakistan. This year however it was decided that the day would not be celebrated as a show of moral support to those who have been affected by the devastating floods that hit Pakistan mid July this year.

And yet we heard guns go off, celebrating wildly what sadly few of us seem to really value. In times like these we should look to remember those who have left us and to come together and help those whose homes have been destroyed. Why do we time and again fail to act rationally? Why do we continue being insensitive? Why blame corrupt and incompetent leaders then, are they all that different from me and you? 

You and I should be looking to look to help the affected in every way possible. These are Pakistanis, who need our help, are they not? As it becomes more and more apparent that each new disaster will catch us off guard and unprepared we should be more proactive in our approach, knowing full well that the response of the government machinery at times is sluggish and disorganized.

Let this day be a day where we make a promise to ourselves to bridge distances and to reach out to help the people who need our help the most. Then and only then can we truly be ‘Independent’

Independence for a Calamity-Struck Nation

Pakistan completes 64 years this year but natural catastrophe seems to hit Pakistan quite often now. A massive Earthquake in October 2008 and now destructive floods which drown our nation. Opposition accuses present government for carelessness and spending money opulently while we observe massive bloodshed on the streets of Karachi. An urchin nation with its father abroad now finds reasons to bring down the government. It seems as if accusation or criticism could not bring back our president to the calamity-struck country, then why do we raise questions against Zaradari of being out of town, an issue our country politicians can’t live without. In any case what would have our president done if he was in town? Probably a sense of conscientiousness that our president should have. But I have seen the opposition and other political parties acting the same way. What have they done? What change have they brought in? Alas! Nothing. We need to stop playing the blame game and be together in this phase of wreckage. A disaster, rated as the most destructive one by the United Nations Organization, even worst then Tsunami has no solutions yet. Floods roll over to Sindh now. It would be immense if we keep this year’s independence celebrations light and help those in need. What if your city was struck with such a misfortune? What would be your stroke of action?