Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space. They are published in good faith with a view to enlightening all the stakeholders. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.
Fate of Pakistan Steel
It is conflict of interest of politicians and powerful bureaucracy and wrong choice of individuals placed at helm of SOE and non-merit surplus recruitments by successive civil and uniformed regimes that have driven them to bankruptcy. Despite potential for commercial viability, and no dearth of qualified talent, it is lack of political will, integrity etc responsible for losses by PSM and other SOE.
Conflicts of Interest of powerful stakeholders, within political and paid elite have prevailed over merit and commercial interests of SOEs, obliging cronies and retired or serving officers. The irony is that former Chairman PSM Moeen Aftab and ex-director Sameen and a contractor alleged for gross irregularities and surplus recruitment during 2008-2010 were acquitted because of lack of credible evidence by Sindh High Court on February 29, 2020 although investigations started in 2010 and NAB had filed 9 corruption references. Nawaz government, perhaps slave to their own conflicts of interest, made no effort to restore productivity, nor did Chairman Gen Javed at helm from 2012-2014 and neither did Gen Zaheer who took over in 2014 and holds that post till today.
State must enforce financial and administrative discipline within its ruling elite, ensuring that every individual on its payroll confines 24/7 to the job they have been paid to perform, and not indulge simultaneously in commercial vested interests, collectively or individually. Such plants require professionally qualified specialists for continuous technological upgradation, increased production etc instead of administrators.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
*****
The Pakistan Steel Mill was supposed to be sold to a Consortium on May 29, 2006 yet CJP Ifthikhar Chaudhry halted the process. Since then PSM has become a parasite. It has ruined its own resources. Over staffing, poor management and government’s negligence has made this huge ship sink quickly.
Unfortunately, almost all the large state-owned entities like Pakistan Railways & Pakistan International Airlines are good examples of poor management. Not to speak of the power sector that has heaped mountains of circular debts. As Steel Mill has become dysfunctional since 2017, the government has given Rs 87.611 billion as bail out packages in the last four years. This depicts the sorry figure of state of affairs of PSM.
One fails to understand when the mill is not working, what is the need of keeping such a large number of employees, especially officers who take hefty salaries, Now, it has been made public that another Rs.40 billions are required to pay the outstanding dues of employees. Those who have to make decisions must see what benefits the country and what not. Had the mill been sold in 2006, things might have been different today. This large white-elephant will still eat tons off sugarcane, but how long it will continue at the expense of taxpayers’ money. Nobody knows.
IFTIKHAR MIRZA
Islamabad
Banks and COVID-19
In this pandemic environment when all departments are taking precautionary measures, bankers are also showing their concerns about pandemic but steps they have taken are ridiculous. Banks have closed half of their branches due to which number of customers has increased in opened branches. They allow only limited customers inside at a time forcing customers to a long arduous wait outside.
So in this crowd, chances of infections multiply many times because physical distance is totally ignored. I request SBP and all banks to immediately open all branches to avoid overcrowding to prevent Corona infection.
FARI AHMED
Havelian, KP
People need tax relief
As the budget 2020-2021 approaches, one anticipates as to what the second annual budget of PTI Government would entail. Would it be the likes of much slandered ‘’anti-people federal budget’’ of 2019-2020? Or would it bring some streaks of light to the miseries of common man amidst current COVID-19 pandemic?
The salaried class is unfortunately the worst affected due to COVID-19 implications on businesses, with employee lay-offs and salary cuts all around. The salaried class plays an extensive role through its consumption power and human capital accumulation. Therefore, while the government is intervening to ease the suffering of the most vulnerable and the business community, the salaried class should not be forgotten.
A simple measure of slashing income tax rates can go a long way in keeping the wheels of the economy running and providing relief to the inflation that is still over 8%. This is a golden opportunity for the PTI government to redeem itself and restore slabs applicable for the tax year 2019. The middle class is lifeline of Pakistan’s economy and deserves to be treated with greater empathy in these dire times.
FARAZ SHAFQAT USMANI
Karachi
Racism in America
Black people have long been bearing the brunt of racism in the West. Most literate, advanced and the richest state America is currently facing volatile times ranging from Corona virus to racism. Thousands of people have rushed on roads to raise voice against the brutal killing of George Floyd. The last words “I cannot breathe” melted the hearts of the globe, which gathered world sympathy for discrimination against the black people. Previous slogan “White lives matter” is likely to change into “I cannot breathe”.
For years now, the fatal incident has recalled the history of black people being ignored and treated harshly by white supremacy. The recent killing of Floyd is not only one man killing but the entire African-American killing which intensifies hate, anger and frustration between black and white. Under a steel heel of a police boot, how tearfully Floyd was asking for help to protect him! It is undoubtedly a mission towards anti-blackness that is the reason how calmly and normally the white police man forced all his power to his knee on Floyd neck which left him dead inhumanly.
Amid the global pandemic of covid-19, the US is failed to maintain social distancing as thousands of people, in almost all American states, are gathered in the protest. Along with the world devouring disease, America is plagued by a severe economic downturn, high unemployment and the most erupting protests around the continent. Washington never expected such dramatic and very challenging episodes with multiple quagmires in the American history.
WAJAHAT ABRO
Shikarpur, Sindh
