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.
Jinnah as a role model
THE least that can be done by those at the helm of affairs of Pakistan, a country facing a financial crunch that threatens our state sovereignty and security, is to adopt the austerity which Quaid adopted during his brief tenure as GG Pakistan from 14 August 1947 to his death in 1948. Jinnah was a man of taste, yet when he became the head of state, the austerity adopted and strictly followed by him and his sister Fatima Jinnah needs to be followed. Nowhere in the developed world, with flourishing economies and FOREX reserves of hundreds of billions of dollars, is such an abuse visible.
Today several palatial houses, spread over acres, constructed mostly on farm land, which was and is an irregularity, later regularized, are declared as Camp Offices, and the national exchequer has to bear the cost of maintenance, security etc., although there exists state guest houses in the same city. The state is burdened without any justification. A former PM, chose to live in his personal house in Islamabad, and used a helicopter daily to go to PM office.
The paid elite continue to live in luxurious gated housing societies, which is a legacy of British Raj. No civil or uniformed servant of the State is provided such facilities by British Government in the UK. This abuse was confined strictly to the colonies, which used it to buy loyalties of natives. Even after over 7 decades this abuse not only continues, but has aggravated and the pomp and extravaganza become uglier.
Allotments of state land to the paid elite for performing services, is like the Maal-e Ghanimat concept, where Muslim troops were allowed to have a share of assets in a country which they defeated and occupied and not in their own country. The normal check-post at entry of Lahore GOR has been replaced with a gate, as large as that on Governor House. The paid elite leads a luxurious lifestyle at tax payer’s expense, with membership of golf courses, clubs etc., and are exempted from paying property tax, whilst eligible to get several subsidized plots allotted to them.
Such property tax exemptions should only be given to orphans and widows of Shaheed or those permanently handicapped because of injury whilst in service, or to widows and senior citizens, not getting pension from the state. Tax exemption to commercial cartels owned by powerful foundations of the paid elite, are not just discriminatory, but an outright abuse, which this country cannot afford. Unless and until austerity measures are adopted at the very top, and the paid or elected elite, strictly ensure that there are no conflicts of interest, Pakistan cannot come out of this economic quagmire, which is self created.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
LAHORE
BRICS
Despite seemingly fundamental differences between the members of BRICS, the group has been demonstrating sustainable economic interaction and development for almost two decades. Over the past few years, BRICS has positioned itself as a solid pillar of multipolar world power and an alternative to the western alliances with its own institutions and cooperation instruments. It is not surprising that many other nations are looking to join BRICS and become its full members.
The USA and Europe are trying to sow discord between members of the bloc, given the organization’s success and desire of other developed countries to be a part of BRICS. They also want to convince the international community that cooperation with the West might be much more profitable. However, nations that have not yet decided who to join should choose whether it’s more important for them to follow an agenda set by the West, always putting its own interests above all else or become a member of the growing alliance promoting independence, strengthening of economic cooperation and expansion of diplomatic influence.
BRICS is a developed and promising economic group, which doesn’t force its members to sacrifice their national interests to achieve common goals, unlike other similar alliances. Moreover, the organization tries to take into account cultural, ideological and territorial aspects of each country. BRICS never forbids its members to conduct an independent foreign policy and maintain relations with EU and the USA, but at the same time it continues to promote interests of the member countries, which are different from western ones, in the international arena. It makes BRICS especially attractive to nations that don’t want to be a part of western-centric system.
ENZO DE MORAIS
Brazil
National Minority Day
Every year on August 11 we celebrate National Minorities Day to honour the services and sacrifices rendered by our religious minorities for the country. Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was the first who recognized the rights of non-Muslims as equal to any other Muslim citizen in Pakistan.
On 11 August 1947 in his landmark speech, Quaid gave a vision for Pakistan. In his words: “You are free to go to your temples; you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this state of Pakistan”.
It tells us the real meaning of Pakistan but unfortunately now minority communities are not treated this way. It is state’s responsibility to provide and secure the fundamental rights to minority communities but our leader’s silence on early marriage, forced conversion and missing persons of minority communities hurts a lot.
We are thankful to ex-president Asif Ali Zardari who officially announced to celebrate minority day in 2009 and he has given many opportunities also but that basic thing which is required is safety and peaceful life.
There are many heroes from minority who has given their life in the line of nation and serving the nation in different departments and professions. Our last breath is dedicated to our beautiful Pakistan. We are Proud to be Pakistani. Pakistan Zindabad.
ANTHONY SAHOTRA
Larkana
Box letter
Child labour
Child labour is a rampant dilemma which is highly increasing in Pakistan by each passing day. Parents have to send their children to work outside due to poverty, lack of education, poor rule of law and absence of social welfare. Moreover, the child labourers are always abused, tortured and coerced. The recent Rizwan vs Mrs Judge case is a glaring example of violence. Though she has been arrested, too late, and that too after the story went viral on social media – thanks to social media. Otherwise, the perpetrator would have gone scot-free. All concerned stakeholders should come forward and play their due role for the protection of this vulnerable section of our society.
ASMA NASIR
Turbat
