 |
|
|
|
Tuesday, August 4, 2009, Sha'aban 12, 1430 |
|
|
|
|
Voice of People
| |
Islamic economics
Moez Mobeen
It seems that our naive financial managers have no idea about the
dynamics of revenue generation. The classical rules of economic
science define two factors for a healthy economy which will generate
enough funds for the government at the same time keeping the
individuals wealthy: Stable Currency and low Taxation. However our
government, on the diktat of IMF, is doing the exact opposite on
both counts. Inappropriate and heavy taxation reduces economic
activity and hence revenue generation for the government. The
argument which our financial managers give, with innocent faces,
when asked about heavy taxation: “where would the government
generate funds from?” is at best naive and worst ignorant. Moreover,
manipulation of currency through interest rates and quantitative
easing (money publication) results in inflation and instability in
the economy. Islam has solved this problem by fixing both factors.
The tax regime in Islam is fixed and constant and it is based on
taxation of those commodities which for centuries are known to
generate the maximum revenue for every government. It is not
permitted in Islam, for a government, to add more taxes. The Islamic
model of economy is less regulated and very lightly taxed resulting
in huge number of people maintaining their wealth thus increasing
the tax net and hence the revenue for the State. And with regards to
currency, Islam rejects fiat currency and advocates the Gold
Standard, which effectively renders the Interest based monetary
policy useless and which completely eliminates inflation due to
depreciation of the currency as the Gold standard, is for centuries
, known to be the most stable of all currencies.—Islamabad |
|
|
|
|
|
Gojra incident
Dr Alfred Charles
I would like to ask the Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif
where is his good governance? When first he received initial report
of the looting and burning of the Christian community houses what
was his reaction and what directions he issued to his ministers, the
local administration? After destruction of several houses and damage
to property what preventive measures should be taken are quite
obvious and clear. Only suspension of the DPO and SHO is not
sufficient in this case. If we talk about good governance then a
high level inquiry should be ordered to probe carelessness and
slackness of the local administration. This is because of total
failure of the administration what had happened on Saturday in which
several Christians burnt alive. Hope that Mian Shahbaz Sharif will
look into this matter according to his claim of provision of the
good governance. Those who are responsible for this incident they
must be brought to the courts to face justice for their wrong
doings.—Karachi
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pakistan’s predicament
Irfan Butt
The only redeeming factor in Pakistan is the independent judiciary
led by Chief Justice Chaudhry Iftikhar, to help cleanse this country
from the massive corruption and show zero tolerance for those who
rob this country and yet manage to get away. The post Zulfiqar Ali
Bhutto era, saw this country and its rulers develop a common desire
to pick up street smart, semi literate crooks, instead of picking
highly qualified specialists with unquestionable integrity. In
countries like Pakistan, those common crooks who manage to make
money, without getting caught are considered to be street smart.
Corruption is no longer an issue, while integrity is not considered
a virtue for being given key assignments.
This was what was done during Zia’s tenure, followed by tenures of
BB and NS. Musharraf carried on this trend and took it to a level,
which was never witnessed before. The present regime of Mr Zardari,
is carrying on with their preference for street smart men to achieve
the targets assigned, which may not necessarily be in the national
interest. By the way the term national interest is also the most
abused in this land. The military juntas of Zia and Musharraf,
sacked elected government on charges of corruption, nepotism and
poor security, ended their tenures with corruption, nepotism and
lawlessness achieving higher levels, a fact confirmed by
Transparency International and our place on failed States index
list.
The present governments choice of talent to run Steel Mills, PIA,
Port Qasim, TCP etc would give you an insight of the objectives for
their appointment.
In some ways the credentials of those given assignments in Steel
Mills, National Bank, Interior Ministry would shame Hamesh Khan,
because he ended up being almost caught, which debars him from the
category of street smart intellects. Pakistan suffers today because
of the feats of these street smart crooks, who have minted
trillions, while the nation is on the brink of default, its economy
in ruins, law and order bleak and extremism on the rise. The biggest
threat to Pakistan, its national security and development is the
cancer of corruption and our tolerance for it.—UK
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investigative report
M Mohammad
Hopefully the momentous verdict of SCP of 31-7-09 on ‘emergency and
other judicial issues’ would help government and parliamentarians to
respect supremacy of constitution, rule of law make national
decisions putting behind self or party interests. They would not,
especially ruling party, legislate such actions which inadvertently
destroy economy, allows loot, plunder of nation, its vital assets
are sold once again for kickbacks stashed in foreign banks.
However, it would be most pertinent to mention here an investigative
report on horrible mess created in Pakistan Steel Mills,
PIA,IPPS,Port Qasim, commodity trading, mega projects and business
should not be lost in the daze of SCP judgment. —Sargodha
|
|
|
|
|
|
Baloch alienation
Abdul Sattar Baloch
Undoubtedly, what is happening in Balochistan now is the result of
60 years of neglect at the policy level. The deep sense of
frustration and deprivation that is found among the Baloch did not
happen overnight and has taken a long time to form. Whenever the
people of the province have asked for their legitimate rights they
have been suppressed under the barrel of a gun. They have been
portrayed as insurgents, rebels and what not — simply because they
demand their rights.
Even a demand as simple as including the Brahvi language in the CSS
curriculum was turned down — though it would have cost the
government nothing. The result was that it only heightened the
alienation already existing among the people of the province, from
Quetta to Wadh and Noshki to Bolan. And take the case of Sui gas,
which is available in even Murree or close to it, but people who
live a few kilometres from where the gas is extracted have to depend
on wood for cooking and heating.
What would happen if such injustices were done to any other province
of Pakistan? The fact of the matter is that the violence in
Balochistan is purely indigenous — and perhaps outsiders may be
exploiting it but it is borne out of the sense of alienation and
deprivation found among most Baloch. Policymakers in Islamabad will
be only fooling themselves if they think that gaining the support of
the sardars, nawabs and political leaders will be enough to resolve
the issue. The matter is no longer in the hands of these people
because most middle-class Baloch consider them (the sardars and
nawabs) equally responsible for the crisis.—Quetta
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
©
Pakistan Observer 1998-2009,
All rights reserved |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
HURMAT
GROUP
Zahid Malik
President & Editor-in-Chief
|
Editor Foreign Affairs:
|
Abdul Sattar |
|
Editor: |
Faisal Zahid Malik
Phone: 021-2211777, 2631102 |
|
Executive Editor: |
Gauhar Zahid Malik
Phone: 051-2852028 |
|
GM Marketing: |
Ferozuddin Khan
Phone: 0300 918 5669
Email: mktg@pakobserver.net |
Ali Akbar House G-8 Markaz,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Phone: +92 (051) 2853818, 2852027-8,
Fax: +92 (051) 2262258
Email:
observer@pakobserver.net
|
|
Karachi |
Lahore |
Peshawar |
FAISAL ZAHID MALIK
Editor
Phone: 021-2211777, 2631102
Fax: 021-2626902
Email:
obskhi@pakobserver.net
|
KHALID BUTT
Resident Editor
Phone: 042-7593341, 7566702
Fax: 042-6300043
Email:
obslhr@pakobserver.net |
TARIQ SAEED
Resident Editor
Phone: 091-2592766
Fax: 2591705
Mobile: 0321-9001476
Email:tariqobserve@brain.net.pk |
|
Quetta |
Muzaffarabad |
Online Edition |
GHULAM TAHIR
Resident Editor
Phone:081-2829238-40
Fax: 081-2829072
Mobile: 0333-7944760 |
HAMEED SHAHEEN
Resident Editor
Mobile: 0332-5313879
Email:
abdulhameedshaheen@yahoo.com
|
For any query, complaint or
suggestion regarding website
please feel free to email at:
webmaster@pakobserver.net |
|
|
|
