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Voice of People
Trade barriers
Assiya Tabassum
Just a few years ago global competition was best described in term
of country against country –the United States versus Japan, France
versus Germany, Mexico versus Canada. Now the international trade
has been reshaped by the creation of regional trading agreements
including the European Union, North American Free Trade Agreement
and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and others.
The Third World countries have to face a lot of problems while
introducing their products in the foreign markets. Firstly all the
foreign markets have already filed up with local and foreign
products. Secondly cut-throat competition is there. Businessmen of
Pakistan are also depressed by these worsening situations. Threats
of tariffs, dumping, taxes, duties, border controls, nationalization
policies and protected industries have become a big hurdle Pakistani
entrepreneurs.
If we compare our country with China we know that they are offering
their products throughout the world at the lowest prices. Population
of developing countries do not bother much about the quality. People
buy those products which are comparatively cheaper. Our local
manufacturer cannot offer the same quality product with same price
as our industrialists do not have those facilities which Chinese
Governments offer to their traders and manufacturers. Ultimate in
Pakistan many domestic industries and mills have been closed. Since
most of the industries, located in Karachi have now stopped
manufacturing as they are unable to produce when there is
electricity failure of 18 hours a day. Chamber of Commerce and
Industry is also sleeping over the situations. Though WTO has made a
reasonable number of effective policies for the betterment of the
developing countries yet our poor entrepreneur is still waiting for
the rising of the new sun.
—Islamabad
Death of a visionary leader
Iqbal Hadi Zaidi
The death of HRH Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Al Salem Al Sabah was
indeed a sad event. Kuwait in recognition and appreciation of the
services of HRH Sheikh Saad, elevated him to be none but Father Amir
which is unprecedented and unparalleled in the history of nations. I
am a Pakistani expatriate living in Kuwait since 1978 and can vouch
that all be men or women working in public or private sector,
educated or uneducated, young or old and rich and poor had been full
of praise for the departed soul. He had vision, determination,
mental acumen and leadership qualities to steer the nation and his
great contribution to the society and the country will be remembered
for time to come. May Almighty Allah showers his bounties on HRH
Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Al Salem Al Sabah, Aameen.
—Kuwait
Tongas & donkey carts
Dr Irfan Zafar
With the prices of petrol and diesel reaching beyond the reach of
the ordinary people with no immediate or long-term solution in site,
it is requested that Government should allow the running of Donkey
Carts and Tongas in the city jurisdictions. Furthermore the car
manufacturers should think of modifying the vehicles to make them
dual purpose with the installation of the necessary accessories to
enable the donkey or a horse to pull them. By the way who said that
we are living in the 21st century?
—Islamabad
Independent Judiciary
Dr Abid Rauf Orakzai
Democracy bubble was flying high after Feb election. The split over
the judicial crisis between N and P has forced it to fly low. Now
‘naughty boys‘ can puncture it any time. If judicial crisis is not
solved it will lead to democracy crisis because true democracy
require true independent judiciary. There cannot be genuine
democracy in absence of independent judiciary and there cannot be
independent judiciary in absence of true democracy. It is strongly
correlated.
The coalition between past foe was very envious and was applauded by
almost everyone yet its split just after few weeks is regrettable.
It can be emphasised that the struggle for independence of judiciary
must continue. It is this black coat struggle which will ultimately
decide the future of this country. The N and P needs to go together,
if they are really interested in the uplift of this country. It can
be predicted, if the judiciary will get independence, the country
will survive. If God forbade, not ,then the candle of hope for this
country will extinguish.
—Islamabad
Deceiving the nation
J P Mousevie
The judicial impasse was not as complicated to resolve as made up by
PPP-Zardari.If only they would have searched their souls and
conscience to find a simple answer. Were Mushraff actions of 3-11-08
legal, constitutional, which he himself admitted as extra
constitution? Despite such dastardly, gory, unconstitutional acts
Zardari very conveniently condoned its perpetrators under the cover
of ‘reconciliation’ and infamous NRO. But point to ponder-wonder
here is. He could condone himself, others of every wrong under’ NRO’
yet not illegally ousted Judges, CJP and often tarnish their image.
He would cite personal instances of CJP to have not heard his case
etc some years back, taking oath on old PCO, which was ratified by
Parliament, his party was part of it and its reaching ‘NRO’
arrangements with Musharraf. Besides discussing legal aspects of
judicial impasse his personal biases ,prejudices against judges make
his case-position on judges: void and redundant.
—New York
Indian soldiers
Ali Hassan
The 1st Gorkha Regiment of the Indian Army conducted a 10-day
company level counter-terrorism exercise with the 15th Marine
Expeditionary Unit of the US Army at Camp Pendleton, California last
month. At the termination of the exercise, two Indian soldiers went
missing, absent without leave, and got their way into some hiding
place in California, for the purpose of enjoying better life and
earning. The Indian embassy has also confirmed the incident but this
however exposes the myth of ‘shining India’ where the level of
poverty, disappointment, despondency, usurpation, unemployment,
exploitation, is higher than ever.
The suicide rate amongst the Indian army is said to be 24 percent,
according to the statistics released by India’s Human Rights
chapter. The incidents of desertion, absent without leave, soldiers
opening guns at the officers refusing them leave and psychological
disorders, is the order of the day. The longest ever stay of around
700,000 troops in Kashmir has given birth to hundreds of such
incidents which continue to take place, as the India-Country Report
on Human Rights 2007 released on March 11, 2008 by the US State
Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor has
observed serious violations in the occupied state of Jammu and
Kashmir, as well as several states in the north and east.
—Muzaffarabad
