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Congratulations to Bilawal
Heartiest congratulations to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on becoming the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Ultimately, at a young age of 33, he steps into the shoes of his illustrious maternal grandfather Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan.
I can imagine how proud Shared Bhutto would have been to see his grandson occupy a vitally important position of the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, had he been alive to see this momentous day. Needless to say, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto too would have been profoundly proud to see her son Bilawal rise to this coveted position at this young age.
My heartfelt congratulations also to former President of Pakistan, Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, proud father and mentor of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, on the attainment of a significant milestone by his son, in his budding political career. Pakistan is passing through a most critical phase in the realm of its foreign relations. Countries with which Its relations stand strained need to be renewed and strengthened. New relationships need to be built.
The challenges in the realm of Pakistan’s relations with the comity of world nations may be phenomenal, but with forbearance and judicious handling of affairs these challenges can be surmounted successfully. I wish Pakistan’s new Foreign Minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari the best in all his endeavours directed towards strengthening Pakistan’s relations with countries of the region in particular, and the world community in general. It goes without saying, this vital objective should be achieved without compromising the prestige and sovereignty of the country.
M FAZAL ELAHI
Islamabad
Targeted subsidies for poor
What a country like Pakistan, with limited fiscal space needs is targeted subsidies for the poor, the aged and most deprived sections of society, along with uniform tax collection from all sources of income above a certain threshold, instead of frequent subsidies for the elite. The State should focus on giving subsidies on basic food items, like wheat, ghee, sugar, pulses, milk and select vegetables consumed by the large majority of the poor, instead of giving subsidies and amnesty on import of luxury limousines, smuggled items etc. The irony is that in 1989 CDA allotted plots through balloting to general balloting in E12/4 but even after the lapse of over 33 years they still await possession.
Every government starting from Ayub Khan has given tax amnesty schemes and multiple allotment of prime real estate at subsidized rates to the paid elite and political cronies. Ayub Khan gave the first tax amnesty scheme in 1958, which resulted in 71,000 declarations, 266,183 tax payers, contributing a total of Rs1.12 Billion to the national exchequer, but Tax to GDP remained less than 10% in 1958-59. This has been followed by another amnesty in 1997, 2000, 2001, 2008-2012, 2013, 2016, 2018 etc. The PTI government has also given numerous amnesty schemes, each offered with the objective to increase Tax To GDP ratio, but all that was achieved was favouring the elite with no substantial increase in tax net.
Quaid warned us about the cancer of corruption which we inherited from years of rule under British Raj, which offered natives willing to betray their motherland, lands and titles. This abuse became so massive that when ZAB took over and wanted to restructure the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relocate it to Hotel Shahrazad, he was shocked that this had been allotted by a powerful bureaucrat to himself. ZAB cancelled numerous such allotments and this resulted in anger and resentment of the powerful nexus between the paid establishment and land mafia.
NIGHAT MALIK
Lahore
My way
or the highway
Pakistan, a nuclear power and a country of over 220 Million has been embroiled in a constitutional crisis, based on technicalities and egoistic whims of individuals ever since the vote of No-Confidence moved against the PTI led coalition government.
Sanity seems to be a casualty of men, who rightly or wrongly held constitutional positions or are holding such posts, because these are tenure posts. Individual ego seems to prevail over the collective national interest.
This country faces an acute economic crisis, because of years of mismanagement, poor governance and political engineering. This needless prolonging of political uncertainty is having an adverse impact on an already poor economy and because of such decisions, is nurturing, and sowing seeds of hatred and division, which will damage this country.
In the process Quaid’s motto of “Unity” between all citizens who have “Faith” in the constitution and “Discipline” enforced through laws and the constitution, to which all citizens must submit, is being ridiculed and mocked.
The letter and spirit of the constitution is being mocked. Unfortunately inflicting such damage is being portrayed as a political point scoring victory. Who gains if Pakistan and its citizens suffer needlessly because of the egoistic pursuits of a few, who, by their actions and attitude, are damaging Pakistan and ridiculing the spirit of the Constitution?
A political party which enjoys support of majority in Parliament forms a government and exercises all the powers given by the Constitution. The moment a political party loses support of majority, through political maneuvering or whatever, by the opposition, it stands removed from office.
It is the Constitution which allows a Vote of No Confidence to be moved against the ruling party which is presumed to enjoy majority support. There is no rocket science involved.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore