Letter To The Editor: Ambiguous future

Ambiguous future
Pakistan Observer
16-05-2013

After critically analyzing manifestos of different political parties, it can be generally perceived that whosoever comes into power after elections, will not be able to make Naya (New) Pakistan. All the parties contesting general elections, sing the songs of progress and prosperity without understanding and identifying the ground realities. Pakistan is endowed with a myriad of problems. It demands some stern measures for addressing the biggest menaces like corruption and energy crisis. Prior to completion of already vowed promises, one party has gone to such extent that it will launch bullet train within short possible time.

The thing worries me the most is that why do we not strengthen our basic foundation? Why our leaders always try to experiment new things after coming into power? Is it justified that there is no jobs, no meals and no shelter for poor but still our leaders spend a lot on such projects which do not make any sense of a new Pakistan? Building roads and launching bullet trains will never bring any change in our country.

It is the education, which is the first brick of a well-groomed society. Actually, education brings revolutionary and evolutionary changes in human nature. If one reflects what he reads, I bet he will be a perfect and complete human. But, the most unfortunate thing is that such kind of practice is hardly witnessed in our country. Hence, prior to bringing reforms in the country the ambitious political parties must bring reforms within their political structure and try to adopt western welfare oriented norms rather than adhering to same classical style of politics.

WAQAR ABRO
—Karachi

Letter To The Editor: Don’t steal words

Don’t steal words
Pakistan Observer
10-05-2013

This is reply to the letter published on 29th of April 2013 in this newspaper that the writer Faiza Azam plagiarized my content and sent it to the editor for publication with a new title. As everyone knows, editors do not have enough time to verify the content yet being an educated person it was sacred duty of Faiza Azam to avoid copying my word to word passages for the sake of publication. It goes without saying that the same content had been published with the title ‘Cast your vote campaign” dated 23rd of April in this newspaper.

I request to all educated people who used to plagiarize material from internet and from other sources that they should avoid themselves from such creepy and dishonest practices. Under the copy rights law plagiarizers can be held accountable but there is nothing good to drag someone to courts for her slight mistakes. It is therefore, the writer Faiza Azam is humbly requested to write a letter seeking open apology from the genuine author and from this prestigious newspaper editor for dodging them for nothing.

—Karachi
WAQAR ABRO

Letter To The Editor: Suggestions for Election Commission

Suggestions for Election Commission
The Frontier Post
02-05-2013

There is hue and cry through out the country that the upcoming general elections are supposed to be turning point of Pakistan history. It is truth that every Pakistani demands for change now. But, the change the educated society expects can really come if our people from far flung areas would not cast their vote due to some reasons? For voting awareness i lay down some constructive and achievable measures before Election commission for increasing voter ratio in the coming elections.
There should be election commission social media campaign for increasing the importance of a vote Election commission should direct care-taker government to regularly publish its advertisements in various newspapers.
All media men aiming to bring change in the country should be directed to play a role in their own capacity.
Artists and singers of various local languages can also spread the message of voting rights through their melodies at mass level.
There should be coordination between EC and Ngo's working on election awareness projects for increasing the voter ratio.
Voting know-how in rural areas is worst than No-Go areas. However Election commission should pay more attention to rural areas than urban areas.
Mullahs in their respective areas can also spread the importance of a vote through Friday Sermons.
There should also be a room for prisoners and disable people to cast their vote by using modern means of communication.
There are millions of people in Pakistan who do not live in their respective constituency. However, they should also be given a chance to vote for their registered voting constituency from any part of the country.
This country has given has us many things. However, we must individually play our role to augment the voter ratio in upcoming general elections. T.V Artists, sports men and women, writers, columnists, media men, bloggers, civil servants, men and women in uniform, and others should also play their role.

Waqar Abro

Letter To The Editor: Choosing changers or cheaters

Choosing changers or cheaters
The Frontier Post
15-04-2013

There is a notion in everyone's mind that what have been successes of democracy in the last five year. Though, there is a big list of failures yet positive aspects are always neglected. Democracy has brought revolutionary and evolutionary changes in Pakistan. Yes, it had brutally failed to adopt welfare-oriented democratic norms but it has still delivered. Mental poverty is worst then social and economic poverty.
The main reason that always prevented democracy to thrive was intellectual bankruptcy. Though democracy brings political independence yet it is meaningless without economic and intellectual independence. In the last five years, people have started learning political system and its functioning. Today, due to modern means of communication and free media, people are more aware of politics then before. They know very well that what is going on in the capital.
They in their street gossip do not only exchange their political opinions but also analyze different manifestos and past performances of various political parties. And, the main actor of this success is electronic and print media. Unavoidably, democracy is flourishing and people are keenly observing each and every thing. It seems as people are intellectually liberated. To further elaborate the successes and failures of democracy, the writer has enlisted the crux of the topic as follow;
Successes: Judicial populism, freedom of media, social media and its effects on society and institutions, intellectual, political and economic bankruptcies addressed, pluralism In politics (First time ,in the history 216 political parties will contest general elections), openness in system, accountability of army and wealth eaters, political Socialization, Women rights to some extent addressed and their status also
elevated (Fehmeeda Mirza, Shela Raza, Malala etc), legacy system nosedived, mature and harmonized political system (APC example), provincial autonomy, independent election commission, change in status quo mindset, constitutional amendments
Failures: bad governance, politicization of institutions, corruption, target killings, poverty, energy crisis, economic meltdown, unemployment, slaughter of merit, drone attacks, unfair distribution of resources, Balochistan issue, Tax evasion, institutional disharmony, sectarian violence
Though, there may be few more points to be added in the failure list yet successes of democracy should not be neglected. Someone has rightly said that democracy may be a terrible system but it is the best system that we know.
Now, the future of Pakistan is to be decided by the people in the upcoming general elections. Whom they want to bring to the parliament a cheater or a changer? To conclude, the best form of revolution is the positive and correct use of vote.
Waqar Abro
Karachi

Formation of new provinces in Pakistan

Formation of new provinces in Pakistan

By

Waqar Abro

Should new provinces in Pakistan be created or not and what formula should be applied for their creation?

Since creation of Pakistan we have always taken decisions before bringing consequences of our steps into account and later on regretted that this or that policy should not have been brought. Presently, Pakistan is not at the stage of any experiment. Before initiating any step pertaining to creation of new provinces ground realities should be given a focused view. They must be debated at all forums and a constructive outcome should be considered as final decision.

Reason of creation of new provinces should mainly be administrative in nature and political in practice.

Otherwise, all the tribal based communities will put forward their demands for separate provinces that would not be financially problematic for state but also create chaos across the country.

Hence, there should be a referendum in the Hazara and Siraki belt of the Punjab for separate provinces. Though without bringing amendment in the constitution (Article 239) separation of provinces is not possible yet role of all stake holders is also important in this regard.

All stake holders should be summoned in a meeting being called upon by Prime Minister and demand of separate provinces be accepted on the basis of ground realities which are economy and administration division.

Making provinces on lingual basis will create state of callousness and anarchy for the state however this factor should not be followed otherwise Brohi, jatoi,mahar,kakars and many other communities will ask for their separate provinces later on.

What should be nature of demand?

Demand for creation of new provinces should not be political in nature. For the sake of augmenting seats in Majis e shura provinces should not be created and good governance factor should be given paramount importance.

At the time of beginning, Nigeria had only 4 provinces and there had been tribal clashes and bad governance issues. Later on president of Nigeria brought reforms and made 7 new provinces just to harmonize administration. Today, it has more than 17 provinces and most of them were created just to make governance efficient and effective.

Same has been followed in Egypt and India.

Hence, before creating new provinces we must take a look on our neighbor and Muslim countries stance on this issue and if we find it quite effective then it should be implemented in Pakistan.

The following challenges will Pakistan face after creation of new provinces;

1.       Expenses of new administration

2.       Conflict on resource distribution

3.       Formation of new groups which will later on demand for their separate province on lingual basis

4.       There would also be administration personnel and Para military forces issue

5.       Political forces will also create problems for maintaining their hegemony over each other in newly made provinces.

6.       Development projects can also be affected to an extent.

7.       There can be emergence of turf war.

What is the role of Political Parties?

Political forces of Pakistan are not apparently serious with the new provinces issue. Each party wants to gain sympathy of the people just for its political interests. Same has been observed in MQM recent resolutions. Though MQM is largely considered as Provincial based political force yet it speaks of bringing reforms in KP where it does not have representation.  

                                “If FATA demands for new provinces, MQM will support it”      

                                                                (Altaf Hussain)

Presently role of PPPP and MQM on the demand of Siraki province is to break strength of PML N and PMLQ.  Although, there are many issues concerned to administration yet Siraki province issue has been completely politicized.

What is the role of media?

Media is taking this issue for the purpose of commercialization not for the betterment of governance in the country.

So far talk shows are observed as biased and immature. It can have played its better role by suggesting or pointing International norms to the government on new provinces issue but it has further politicized it.

Perception of individuals

Most of the Pakistanis consider this issue as politically motivated however they do not favor creation of new provinces. But there are also many other people who hold the view that if provinces are created for harmonizing administration of the country and execution of service at lower level then this issue should be resolved and new provinces should be created.

Conclusion

Hence, it can be concluded as Pakistan is economically fragile and politically weak.  If it is further experimented then situation in country can be worsen. Therefore, all stake holders should be summoned in a meeting being called upon by Prime Minister and creation of new provinces issue should be resolved on the view that they will be created solely for administrative purpose.

Negative role of media in world and in Pakistan

Negative role of media in world and in Pakistan

By

Waqar Abro 

Synopsis

1.     Is Role of media in Pakistan totally biased?

It is biased due to one sided approach and it focuses more on commercialization than on stabilization of the country.

2.     The importance of article 19 has been vehemently violated by the current media or not?

Article 19 speaks of freedom of speech but in the name freedom of speech country’s image at international level has been negatively portrayed by the so called fourth pillar of the state. It is not fourth pillar of the state that is considered in a number of western and eastern countries but rather it has become fifth column of the enemies.

3.     National interest of Pakistan and the concept of two nation theory have been literally distorted? Yes. Reasons are many; few among them are Indian dramas, Indian shows and Programs like voice of American aired, on the contrary the importance of our religion and state that bases on two nation theory are not aired to the larger extent. During the time of Indian attacks Kasab who was caught red handed, had been declared as Pakistani by so called Geo TV. While, hundreds of Americans, Raw agents, Mossad Agents are penetrating in Baluchistan and in Afghanistan their media never claimed their presence rather defended them to all possibilities.  This factor clearly implied to the world that Pakistan is the exporter of terrorism not of peace.

4.     Why media does all this shit?

Virtue is not sellable vice brings a lot of price that means the things that are comprised of goodness and of moral values do not bring money while the programs in which suicide bombers and evil things are shown that brings a lot of money. For instance, the theme of dramas which we used to watch on PTV are of good character and based on our traditional and cultural ethics but the dramas we see on rest of other Pakistani channels are apoles apart 

(showing Indian culture or copying it shamelessly).

5.      Comparison of Pakistani media with BBC, CNN and Fox?

Wherever in the world a mishap occurs it is presented as Muslims did this or responsible for it.  It is worthwhile to mention here, once there was a report on bbc of which headline was Muslim terrorist attacked on Nato.

Are we peace lovers or terrorist exporters? Certainly Muslims means followers of Islam which means peace then why are we maligned or labeled as terrorist? The same role intentionally or unintentionally has been vitally exercised by Pakistani media. All the day, news of havoc comprised on sensation is appearing on our TV screens while natural beauty and human and natural resource which exist in Pakistan are partially touched. What is the difference between west and east media then?

6.     Nature of news reporting?

50 years ago there was a provision in media ethics that dead bodies should not be printed in the newspapers. This provision is whether part of Pakistani media or not but all the day Pakistani media shows dead bodies of the people on the TV which has no doubt created the concept of volatility and insecurity. Psyche of the people has been plundered and they are left at the status of depression and callousness. According to State bank of Pakistan 64 percent foreign direct investment in the country has been nosedived, why investors are frightened of investing in our country? Its answer is crystal clear that at the international level we are regarded as unsafe and most dangerous nation which had also been stated by many investors, companies’ owners and politicians.

7.     Why media uses this tool as a source of income?

Basically, Human by nature becomes happy when someone is scandalized or maligned. For instance,Sui Sothern Gas Company has been providing a very remarkable and meritorious service since a long time  but  its role has never been appreciated on the other hand when news of gas shortage stared booming, Pakistani media presented SSGC AND SNGC as irresponsible and inefficient institution.

8.     Is this a type of war or has it been hijacked?

Geniuses of the world who believe more on facts and on ground realities are of the view that the current role of media in world in general and in Pakistan in particular is of psychological war of which conspiracy has been hatched by Jewish lobbies. To continue with the fact, media has been totally hijacked and dances over the tunes of the hijackers that are as mentioned above Jews. This has been confirmed by many theologians like zakir naik and great politicians like Mahatir mohammad.

9.     Has media been funded or used for vested interests?

Yes. It has been funded and used for personal vested interests. It was reported last year that 340$ million would be doled out to Pakistani media just for presenting America as a friend not foe, of which, outcome, came under the knowledge after the commencements of programs like voice of America in which culture of America that  has been nicely portrayed. On the other hand, programs like Big Boss and India award programs had also started appearing on our TV screens.

10.  Remedial measures?

1)     There should be code of conduct that must speak of cultural dignity, traditional values safety and neutrality.

2)    Rules and Regulations of Pemra should be upgraded and whosoever uses media as anti state element or media itself falling prey to ignorance of its duties, can be made accountable.

3)     There should be independent commission that on regular basis keeps its vigilant watch over the role of media and issuance of licenses should be followed on the recommendation of the independent commission that after thorough study of the nature of channel and its future plans in black and white will direct PEMRA to issue new licenses to new channels.

4)      Biasness and affiliation with any political party of anchors should be investigated before their inductions by Intelligence bureau.

5)    There should be formation of a wing in ministry of Information that should be tasked with the assessment of news and reports and whenever any misinterpreted or fake fable is published or aired ,concerned authority’s should be liable with heavy fine.

6)    There should be formation of institutes that train media persons at least annually. In training, they must be given a thorough understanding of national interest and policies of the state.

If the above suggested measures are initiated, the negative role of media can be improved to some extent.

Letter to Federal Secretary

                 Date: 10/10/11

To,    
The honourable Secretary (Ministry of overseas Pakistanis)
K B RIND

Subject: Submission of material regarding the welfare of overseas pakistanis

Respected Sir,
                        I being one of the interviewed candidates for the post of “Community Welfare Attaché” and a citizen would like to submit the material that has been prepared by me during the preparation of Interview for CWA.
Sir, my material has covered the following topics and issues that have been faced by our community settled in abroad:

·        Critical Assessment of Pakistan’s emigration policy and comparison with the policies of different countries.

·        Static’s report (post 9/11)

·        Role of various regional organizations for promotion of foreign employment and their brief policy

·        Remittance issue

·        Job settlement issues

·        Social issues

·        Legal issues

·        Discussing  briefly but pertinently role of International labor organization and International dialogue on migration

·        Pakistan’s steps  and measures 

·        Questions and answers

·        Steps taken by European Union for its community ,its labor policy and growth strategy

Rational behind submitting this stuff is to contribute my little research for those who would be inducted as community welfare attaché.

Respectfully speaking, I need not to gain your sympathy or any benefit in return. The main reason for submitting this letter along with my work (that is in rough form), could have been in fair, if, I had computer and printer facility here in Islamabad. Sir, most of the hard workers prepare drafts for their exams and interviews and whenever they meet with failure or falling prey to hopeless category they destroy their useful stuff from which benefit can be taken. Thus, before leaving back for Karachi, I beg to request you that must go through from the attached material at least once in free time. It is in the interest of the welfare of overseas pakistanis.

Sincerely Yours
        

Waqar Abro