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.
Wheat crisis
After the 18 Amendment all four provinces get substantial revenues from a divisible pool and various taxes levied by respective provinces. The divisible pool is disbursed to federating units as per agreed formula. Major bulk of any province’s revenues is the tax collected from citizens residing within their jurisdiction. Provinces subsidize basic essential food items like wheat, sugar etc for distribution to their own residents. In accordance with this practice, the Punjab Government has subsidized wheat for sale within the province. Reports appearing in media suggest that the Punjab Cabinet has, under pressure from the Federal Govt, decided to offer the KP wheat subsidized by taxpayers of this province, which would have an impact of approximately Rs.9 billion on Punjab.
It is gross mismanagement by the federal government which has created a wheat and sugar crisis in Pakistan, further aggravated by smuggling to Afghanistan and hoarding and black-marketing. This points to flaws in governance and corruption within the administration coupled with either their complicity or incompetence.
Pakistan’s economy has always been agro-based, and the country has been self-sufficient in wheat and other agriculture produce. The Federal Government must address the basic problem for either decline in agriculture produce or those responsible for hoarding and black-marketing. Quaid on 11 August 1947 referred to this as “greater crime than the biggest and most grievous crimes, – because they undermine the entire system of control and regulation of food-stuff and essential commodities, and cause wholesale starvation and want and even death”. The government must act decisively and effectively to avoid wrath of angry starved masses. Merely importing wheat, after allowing its export is unacceptable and not the solution expected from an elected government.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
Govt employees protest
Currently, the clerks have been protesting against non-increase in salaries uniquely, sometimes, by burning tires on the roads, sometimes by blocking the roads, sometimes by putting bread around the necks, sometimes by beating the chests, sometimes by taking off the shirts, in the scorching heat. Due to financial crunch, our government has not increased the salaries of its employees in the annual budget-2020-21. On the other hand, opposition parties are also pressuring the government to increase the salaries of government employees.
Even in the provinces where there is no PTI government, the salaries of employees have been increased. APCA is an organized organization of clerks all over Pakistan. The workers of this organization are protesting all over the all provinces. If the reality is put to the test, then the government is on the right in its place because our economic condition is very bad.
On the other hand, poor employees are not wrong either. The storm of inflation is unbridled. Rising inflation has broken back of the poor man. Poor employees wait for the month of June all year round and wait impatiently for increase in salaries.
Public servants play a key role in the success or failure of any government. If the employees are satisfied, they do their job with dedication and if their rights are suppressed, they become disappointed and cannot perform well. Present government has set up a Pay and Pension Committee to recommend increase in government employees’ salaries, but no progress has been made due to which there is uneasiness among the employees. Unfortunately, there is a huge difference in the salaries of secretariat employees, judiciary, NAB, FIA, high court employees etc. This discrimination should be eliminated so that the feeling of deprivation in government employees can be eliminated. It is hoped that the PTI-led government will take tangible steps to increase salaries of government employees.
ZESHAN HAIDER
Sargodha
Godspeed Tiktok
We live in the world where we cannot dream to escape social media. It’s always around us like a shadow. Indeed, it has turned into an integral part of our daily life. It will be apt and pertinent to say “This is world of social media.” Here, every person is related with platforms of social media like FB, WhatsApp, Twitter and TikTok.
The recent ban on TikTok has dejected thousands of thousands of its users. It was not just a source of entertainment but some of the users earned money along with fame by using their talent. It has become craze of the people worldwide.
In fact, the great decision was taken for the nation to combat social evil. There is lot of hue and cry by its users to reopen it but government seems firm in its decision to keep it off. Here some people supported this move saying that it was against the spirit of Islam and norms, values and ethics of culture as young girls got involved in the wrong usage in the greed of name, fame and publicity. So the decision has pleased many even to some of its famous users. As a nation, we should welcome this decision.
DUR MUHAMMAD CHANDIO
Karachi
Shaheed-e-Millat
Emergence of Pakistan is due to untiring efforts of our leaders. They laid down their everything in the struggle, even lives. Liaquat Ali Khan is also one of them, who worked very hard, after emergence of Pakistan, to strengthen the newly independent country in its initial days. He bombastically served as first Prime Minister of newly-born country and on October 16, 1951, he was martyred in broad day light and cold blood.
It was Liaquat Ali Khan who, at his last breath, prayed ´Allah Pakistan ki Hifazat Farmaye‘. He is widely believed as an honest, sincere and loyal friend of our Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Thus all Pakistan should pay tribute to him on his 69th death anniversary at national level. He deserves such a huge respect.
IMTIAZ ESSA HALEPOTO
Jamshoro
