Articles of the year 2015
Published on February 07th 2015
The behaviour of our Prime Minister has been remarkable, having spent RS 294 million on foreign trips in 15 months ( the details of the last four trips) have not yet been received from our embassies. One is assured that the PM has not wasted his time, and made good use of his stay in the various stops to promote business for the country.
What is worrying is the prioritisation of his time. After the bombing in Shikarpur, with the toll at 70 plus deaths it was shocking that the PM could not find the time to visit Shikarpur to condole with the bereaved. Shikarpur was one of oldest cities of Pakistan, steeped in history, with a huge Hindu expatriate population that migrated in 1947, but still remembers their roots in Sindh. Shikarpur was on the main caravan route from Russia into India. It’s Hindu population has settled in Hong Kong, Singapore, far away Gibraltar the West Indies and many other cities where they have prospered. Shikarpur had deteriorated over the years from neglect. The local families are the Soomros, and by proximity the Bhuttos, and the Khuros. With such a prominent political background, it is surprising that the Prime Minister chose to skip the city during his dash to Sindh. Ignoring the biggest terrorist attack in rural Sindh, without even a cursory condolence visit to the bereaved families. Even the visit to Karachi, drew a telling aside that the food was below par. Knowing his penchant for fine dining, it was not surprising, but somehow inappropriate.
The PM came to Karachi for less than 24 hours. Even though the death toll has been 10 per day for the last 5 years. Karachi is being ignored, and the death statistics are only used as a threat perception to further defame and deprive Karachi of industry, and new business. The movement of the businessmen to Lahore does not necessarily mean Lahore is safer than Karachi, as the crime figures show the reverse is true, with crime in Lahore much higher.
In the twenty months of his Prime Minstership, Nawaz Sharif has been to Sindh precisely three times, not staying for more than 24 hours on each trip. Non-Punjabis are convinced that the Prime Minister is the leader of Punjab alone. His trips to the other areas of Non-Punjab, include only Murree (?).
It appears that cities like Karachi have been surrendered to the MQM, and the other parts of Sindh to Zardari. The Prime Minister does not realize that.
The PMs surrendering Karachi is ominous, for Karachi provided 73 % of the revenues generated. This was when the big multinational corporations were based in Karachi, and the head offices of all the banks were in Karachi- except of course the Bank of Punjab.
The Sharif Brothers have decided to concentrate their assets between Punjab and London, all tax paid no doubt. The UK government is very strict on collecting taxes, and our own Finance Minister Ishaq Dar being a UK qualified Chartered Accountant knows well the penalties for sloppy book keeping, and late payment of taxes. His primary clients- the Sharif family probably have the cleanest set of books imaginable. It is a pity their Pakistani books probably do not have the same minute care for veracity, and may not bear close scrutiny.
The Sharif family is doing well, but it seems that Sindh, and especially Karachi have been cast off. This is extremely sad because it deprives Pakistan from a very strong multiethnic gathering place. The mix of Pathan, Punjabi, Urdu, and Sindhi workers, creates a highly competitive cohesive work force, living together of necessity, and thriving. Karachi is emerging as a showpiece, to be used as a standard for the rest of Pakistan. Unfortunately, without the Federal overseers, the City will wither by neglect. The other parts, Punjab in the main, will gobble up the development funds, starving Karachi. However Karachi has achieved critical mass and can continue without the centre, and will succeed without Islamabad, and in spite of Islamabad. Karachi has emerged as a beacon attracting persons from all over Pakistan to better their lives. This is something no chauvinist Punjabi PM can change, as indeed Dubai is the magnet for all jobseekers from Asia, so it is with Karachi. In fact Dubai was modelled on Karachi, and like Karachi went from fishing village to a thriving port city and then commercial hub. The sad part is the starving of Karachi by the excessive control by Islamabad, worse by a myopic PM, who cannot see beyond his native Punjab. Karachi will have to ensure its survival and its progress without the Federal support. It will drive Karachi to become the leader by example without Islamabad.
The Prime Minister must be reminded that he was elected by the people of Pakistan to be the Prime Minister of the whole of Pakistan and not just the Punjab- attractive as it may seem. The province of Sindh, and particularly the city of Karachi deserve much more than a passing glimpse. The potential of Karachi is wasting away, with criminals rising to the top. As one story-teller pointed out, in a fictional country, the takeover by its criminals was so complete, that when a job was applied for, the aspirant applied to the local criminal, who processed the application at a price no doubt. The situation in Sindh has reached that point. With contractors are being asked for and receiving 40% of the contract by the criminal Mafia before the contract had been signed! One can only guess at the disastrous effect on the outcome of the project. And at the effect on Pakistan overall. Sadly we have arrived at the stage where a convicted felon was voted in as President of Pakistan unanimously. This does sum up the real crisis facing the country- moral degradation. Where the ultimate prize goes to the crooked.