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.
Foreign funding case
An explosive story featured in the Financial Times revealed how the PTI accrued funds through cricket matches organised under Wootton Cricket Ltd, a company owned by Abraaj Group founder, Arif Naqvi. As per the report, Mr Naqvi transferred three instalments directly to the PTI in 2013, adding up to a total of $2.12 million. Apparently, Mr Naqvi organised a charity fundraiser in the UK during the summer, the ultimate benefactor of which was the PTI.
The report claims that fees were paid to Wootton Cricket Ltd, which, despite the name, was in fact a Cayman Islands-incorporated company owned by Naqvi and the money was being used to bankroll the PTI. The emails and internal documents which the Financial Times had access to reveal that both companies and foreign nationals, as well as citizens of Pakistan, sent millions of dollars.
The ECP’s investigation into the PTI’s funding sources was triggered back in 2014 when Akbar S Babar, who helped establish the PTI, filed a complaint.
The ECP has been investigating this for the past eight years and earlier this year in January, the ECP’s Scrutiny Committee issued a damning report in which it said the PTI received funding from foreign nationals and companies and accused it of under-reporting funds and concealing dozens of bank accounts. It is interesting to note that while Wootton Cricket was named in the report, Mr Naqvi was not identified as its owner.
The Prime Minister and opposition alliance however is urging the ECP to release its verdict in the foreign funding case against the PTI at the earliest arguing that it is the electoral watchdog’s constitutional responsibility.
The PTI’s argument that the foreign funding cases of all the political parties in the country should be addressed at the same time holds no weight. The political party which claims a higher moral ground under its sogan “Saaf Challi, Shaffaf Challi ‘’ must answer solely for itself and must not look for ways to escape accountability. Now EC is requested that the case should be resolved so that this chapter can be closed once and for all.
JAMSHED ALAM SIDDIQUI
Lahore
Pakistan’s family system
Generally, it is critiqued that the West has failed in its family system because of individual’s independence after eighteen years. Additionally, it is boasted that Pakistan’s society has secured its family system because it does not allow such independence; however, in the context of economy, the western social system has produced numerous entrepreneurs in the century of innovation. Elon Musk and Bill Gates are conspicuous. The built culture of entrepreneurship in the West has a trickle down influence. The system is now producing under eighteen entrepreneurs. Braigo and Snikers are most prominent. Such teenagers are actually the “mustakbil of the west”. The West’s booming entrepreneurship is based on the culture of independence. The student has to earn to pay for his university.
So, the maxim, Necessity is the Mother of Invention, plays its role towards innovation. They develop innovative solutions to earn money. This bottom up approach which every youngster has to experience leads to the economic strength of the western system. In contrast, Pakistan has a subsidy based family system. The guardians continue affording the university dues of children. Resultantly, the student becomes sluggish because he only pings his parents and shamelessly asks for money. The West necessitates the student to innovate things to afford himself; contrarily, Pakistan has a subsidy culture, under the title of CARE that weakens the capacity of students to innovate.
The irony continues when such subsidy minds urge the parents to sell land for foreign education because of not getting a job. In the era of innovation, such practice is the chief weakness in Pakistan’s economy. The comparison of the two systems shows flaws in Pakistan’s family system. This is the high time to change the course of our actions; otherwise, the future of our generations will be in doldrums.
ABDUL WAHAB
Islamabad
Major issues of Balochistan
Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan in terms of land. Despite being naturally rich, Balochistan has many major issues to be solved yet such as unemployment, lack of proper education, and healthcare centres.
Unemployment rate in Balochistan is 4pc. However, the main reason for it is lack of awareness, poverty and poor education system. Annually nearly 25,000 students graduate from universities. Unfortunately, only 2,000 of them can get a job. Though there are some industries, people are called from other provinces for jobs. The federal government has failed to boost Balochistan as a business hub for local citizens despite introducing so many projects.
What’s next, the education system is thoroughly dilapidated. Around 80.50pc of school buildings are not poorly structured. According to UNICEF, 60 to 70pc children are out of school in Balochistan. The main reason is that schools are far away from their homes. There is a primary school after every 30 kilometres, a middle school after 260 kilometres and a high school after 360 kilometres. Girls’ education is another major problem in the province.
Lastly, there are no good healthcare centres either. Government hospitals are dysfunctional; have no proper treatment facilities, well qualified doctors, medicine etc. What’s more, these issues force the people to head towards major cities across the country such as Karachi. The federal government needs to ensure that not everyone is able to travel to major cities for treatment. They – federal and provincial governments – should make some productive plans so as to facilitate Balochistan on the pattern of other provinces.
MUHAMMAD ASHRAF
Turbat Balochistan
Increase in power rates and tariff
Despite various taxes, the government is frequently increasing Petroleum prices and also charging higher electricity rates and tariffs. Last month, along with the increased electricity rates, Rs.7.90 were charged per unit for the Fuel Price Adjustment of May 2022 in the electricity bill of July and now in Augusts’ electricity bill, Rs.9.89 per unit would be charged for June 2022 by SEPCO.
Authorities are requested to please find another way of balancing the country’s economy, other than forcing the underprivileged middle class and lower-middle-class communities to pay huge amounts of bills
SIKANDER LARKANA
Larkana
