BY F.S. MR Ishaq Dar's recent address to the National Assembly on the budget for 202: 24 reminded one of the story of a finance minister who had a nightmare that he was presenting hiscountry’s budget, and woke up to find that he was. Mr Dar can be forgiven for sleeping with his eyes open during his own speech. He tried hard to disguise his ennui, for he has juggled too many such budgets during his four temires as finance minister (1998- 1999; March 2008-May 2008; 2013-2017; and from September 2022 until now). Ifthe website of the Ministry of Finance is to be believed, Mr Dar “is known for his expertiae in macroeconomic issues, bal ance of payment crises, energy seenrity, bilateral and multilateral debts, food sec rity, diplomatic crises, parliamentary pol ties, and international dispute settlements for Pakistan.” Heady qualifications. Tt does not mention a superior one — his relationship as an inlaw to three- time prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif. Nor does it disclose that between 2000- 2002, Dar spent almost two years in cus- tody during which he disgorged (under duress, he insisted later) information that he had laundered $14.86 million on behalf of Nawaz Sharif. In June 2013, Mr Dar found himself catapulted again into the finance minister’s seat and given less than afortnight to bastea budget already dressed for the oven by his predecessor. Some journalists questioned whether Mr Dar could manage, to which prime mini ter Nawaz Sharif issaid to have retorted: “What else has he been doing for the past five years?” ‘This year’s budget for 2023-24 has been gestating for nine months, since September 2022 when the government took over our ailing econoray. That should have been long enough for anyone (how- ever uncertain their tenure) to present a budget thatrevealed some visible effort at planning and economic foresight. Instead, the 2023-24 budget bears out the observa~ tion of Walter Wriston (a former CEO of CitiGroup): “Every line in the govern- ment’s budget has its own constituency.” In Pakistan's budget, the constituencies could not be more clearly demarcated. Creditors form the largest bloc. Next year, Rs73 trillion isowed tothem for debtservic- ing and repayment. This monumental bur den may be reneactiared, but that would simply be postponing the inescapable. ‘Creditors? as Benjamin Franklin once observed, “have better memories than debt- ors! The second letge constituency (that car. ries an equelly big stick) is Defence Affairs & Sorvices. It extracts Rel.8er of flech from an already emaciated cashless cow. Those serving the government areacon- AIJAZUDDIN S= Juggling budgets stituency too close not 10 be appeased. The cost of running the government (Rs714bil- ion) and pensions (Rs761bn) are shewn separately in the budget whereas in fact they belong together. The first is the sum of obligations to current employees, while pensions which include those for retired defence personnel (Rs563bn) are the recurring reward for past service. The increase therefore of 35 per cont in salaries of covernment servants of arades 1.16 and 30pe for grades 17-22 are more than openhanded largesse by a nervous government anxious to buy their help in the next elections, This additional cost will add to the load of future pensions, to be borne by us, the next and subsequent gen- erations of Pakistanis, Pakistan Railways, once the iron horse of our transportation system, will receive a paltry Rs33bn, while the National Highway Authority (a haven for khaki and civil retirees) can expect almost five times as much— Rs157bn. The allocations for social sectors like pop- tilation control and management, health (Rs24bn) and education (Rs97bn) receive erudging incl sion in the govern- ment’s budget. Regardless of whether these are the responsibility of the federal or the provincial gov- emments, they are the real needs ofall Pakistanis, regardless of domicile and age (23m of whom are outofschool children) To the government, they clearly do not matter because the future is not a constituency. The government will argue that with this budget, it has tried to fill a half empty glass. Sceptics see only a glass whose half contents are draining dry. We are a nation that has enough foreign exchange to cover only one month of imports, yet we posture like Dickens's perpetually insolvent Mr Micawber, confident that ‘something will turn up’ to thwart the spectre of default. In the 1970s, Mr Ahmed Dawood (then one of Pakistan's richest industrialists) could be seen shopping with a cloth bag in Karachi’s Empress Market. That was his way of keeping his finger on prices and the pulse of the economy. Perhaps, ministers should learn from his example. They should do their own house- hold shopping and let their minimum-wage menials ron the country instead. The latter are more adept at balancing budgets than any government functionary. Sceptics see only a glass whose half contents are draining dr The water is an author zuddin.pkFurther delay? UR decision-makers are still undecided on whether the O time is ‘right’ for a general election. In a Tuesday forum organised by Pildat in Islamabad, the law minister, Azam Nazeer Tarar, found himself unable to commit to electionsin either October or November, expressing, instead, ‘hope’ that the country could go to polls soon. Separately, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, speaking to journalists in Lahore, kicked the ball over to the Election Commission, saying only it could give a date for elections once the government had completed its tenure in August. PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari had earlier declared that elections would be held whenever he decides they are to be held, while JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman had made the polls seem subject to the collective will of the ruling PDM coalition. In this confusion over who is actually calling the shots, whatever the Constitution says about the election timeline seems to be of little consequence to any of the parties involved. Another factor complicating matters is the untouchable power that has taken over the wheels of the political omnibus from the current dispensation. The citizenry has largely been silent spectators over the past year as the country has been steered further and further away from its constitutionally defined order. The provision for elections to dissolved assemblies in 90 days was subtly subverted without as much as a fine being imposed. Now, a workaround is being deliberated that may help avoid the promised elections in October. In this respect, the powers that be have been debating the imposition of what can only be described as a ‘planned’ emergency, till such time as the political environment becomes ‘viable’ for general elections again. The manner in which this subversion of the democratic process is being planned should cause alarm to anyone who has the country’s best interests at heart. Itis unfortunate that, despite the repeated and spectacular failures of past experiments in political engineering, not one of the institutions tasked with upholding the constitutional order has stood its ground and insisted on going by the book for once. Instead, the legislature is now hand in glove with forces ripping the law to shreds, the Supreme Court seems powerless and unable to assert its authority, and, taking advantage of this, the shadow state is doing whatever it pleases. How long must the people of this country be made to suffer in silence? How much more ink needs to be spilt before the powerful see reason and understand that the country cannot move forward till its people have the power to decide their fate themselves? The state must fulfil its obligation to hold free and fair elections on time. Refusal to do so only spells more disaster for the months and years ahead.Sovereign decisions RECENT meeting of the Public Accounts Committee, called to examine the affairs of the foreign ministry, ended up discussing national sovereignty, and the apparent interference of powerful foreign actors in Pakistan’s internal affairs. In particular, the need to complete the Iran- Pakistan gas pipeline was stressed. PAC chairman Noor Alam Khan observed that Pakistan was free to do business with Russia, China or any other state, while Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed criticised Western states for their “double standards” where Pakistan was concerned. The fact that Pakistan paid for its recent shipment of Russian crude in Chinese yuan was highlighted, while it was also mentioned that the US did not look favourably upon the multibillion-dollar CPEC scheme. Furthermore, the PAC members observed that Pakistan could face a hefty penalty should it fail to build the pipeline designed to import Iranian gas. Whether it is completing the Iran gas pipeline, or smoothly implementing CPEC projects, Pakistan must do what is inits best interest. And securing national interest lies in honouring commitments to foreign partners, and ensuring that these deals are transparent and politically and economically propitious. No sovereign state should accept foreign meddling in its internal affairs, and in its dealings with other states. However, sovereignty is severely compromised when our economy is gasping for air, and our high officials have to supplicate foreign capitals and multilateral lenders in order to avert financial collapse. Therefore, to resist external interference, the broken economy must be fixed, so that Pakistan can withstand pressure and take decisions purely in its national interest. Moreover, some lawmakers mentioned at the PAC meeting that the West was limiting Pakistan in its dealings, yet allowing India to buy oil and arms from a sanctioned Russia. This primarily reflects a failure of our foreign policy, which is again linked to our floundering economy. A financially stable Pakistan must have the diplomatic skills to tell our friends in the West and East that this country is free to trade and establish ties with whomsoever it wants. Though this is indeed a delicate balancing act, consummate diplomacy can ensure a truly independent and beneficial foreign policy. Moreover, instead of searching only for lucrative markets thousands of miles away — which is also important — more focus is needed on trading with neighbours such as Iran, India, Afghanistan and the Central Asian states.Crop burning VERY year, as the weather gets colder, parts of the EF country, particularly Lahore and its peripheries, are choked by a toxic pall of smog. While transport is arguably the biggest contributor to air pollution, agricultural practices, specifically the burning of crop residue, has a 20pc contribution to smoggy air. However, as a recently released UN study titled Sustainable Management of Crop Residues in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan: Chalienges and Solutions points out, if governments and farmers work together, more ecologically sustainable methods of using crop stubble can lead to less burning of residue, as well as economic benefits. The document also notes that along with contributing to air pollution, crop burning is also bad for the soil, as it depletes organic matter and nutrients. Presently in Pakistan, crop residue is used primarily in animal bedding, garden mulch, heating fuel etc. As the UN report observes, wheat and rice straw are not used as industrial raw materials in the country ona mass scale. The fact is that farmers see burning as the easiest and quickest way to clear their fields, and prepare them for sowing the next crop. However, as noted above, these methods are having a hazardous impact on the environment, and need to be rethought. According to the report, farmers need to be made to realise “the real economic and commercial value of the crop residue”. One major economic use can be gasification and biofuel production using crop waste as raw material. India is actively pursuing biomass gasification. If Pakistan were to adopt these technologies on a large scale, it could provide communities with relatively clean, domestically produced fuel, and help reduce the import bill. The state should take farmers on board to reduce crop burning, and use residue as an economic resource. Moreover, to have a visible impact on reducing air pollution, all the states of South Asia will have to work together to lower transboundary pollution.i SAILING the seas in fragile boats to carn a day's living is no easy task. A fish- worker, whether in Pakistan or across the Larder, is exposed ro great vulnerability and marginalisation, Fishworkers" ¢om- munities live in coastal areas where they are affected by the degradation of the eco- system. Their situation becomes worse when they find themselves arrested an ure ineurcerated in prisons acrosa the bs der for years on end. One storm over inv ile maritime borders is all it takes for a Person to be captured and thrown into Hien country. mated thar 654 Indian fis workers were incarcerated in Karacl ‘Mulir Jail; 651 arrested fishworkers lad already completed their sentences and nationality fud been verified. while, 83 Pakistani fishworkers are detained across the border in Indian jails: many of them have completed their ser tences, and their nationality, too, has been verified. This information is contained Joint Jeter released by the Nation: ishworkers Forum andthe Pakistan-India Peoples* Forum for Peace & Demoeracy. It is often said that hope dies last; one sannot lose hope, for if you lose hope, your lose everything, But Pakistani fishwork= ers Linguishing in jails across rhe border for a number of years, had lost all hope, Howover, wit jan Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardarl’s recent visit to Goa for the Shanghai Cooperation Orranisation thislost hope might be reignited. it prompted the release of sev- 1 fishworkers from Pakistan's Uoned, Pakistan released the First batel of 158 fishworkers on May 1, 2023. The second batch of 200 fishworkers was released on June 2, 2023. A third barch will be released next mont The Agroement on came into farce on May 2 ebjective of ensuri treatmen India and arrested, detained, or imprisoned inthe other coun try and for them Co have reciprocal consu- Jar facilities. Section 5 of the agreement \ds: “Both governments agrectorelease and repatrinte persons within one month of confirmation of their national status und completion of sentences.” Moreover, the Viena Contention on Consular Relations (ratified by Pakistan in 1969 and India in 1977) mandates via Article 36 that the country’s consular post must be informed if one of its citizens is detained, im custody, or arrested, “with- out delay"; and that the prisoner be informed of hisfher legal rights, BY RIDA TAH =——= Fisherfolk misery renttlon Burther, the UN Con against Torture (which India I ied bur Pakistan did In 2010) mandates that under Article 6 “any persan ec) in communicatin 1 the nearest apprapr san inte custody, it shall immediately states ... of the fact thal such custody and of the letar ify person stances which warrant ‘Moreover, the Body of Pri Protection of All ny Form il the Foreign Prisoners and Recommendatic for provide important principles nnd gulde- lines for the protection of persons under detention or imprisoned in a foreign country, ‘The natlonal framework regarding the regulation of the entry, movement and removal of foreigners in Pakistan is gov. ered by the Registration of Foreigners jie Treatment of Foreign Prisoners Act, 1939, the Foreigners | Act, Hope may 4G, andthe e bee: cenistrat have been Peteianer reignited 1366 ‘Across these for jai laws and rules, a for jailed foreigner isdefined fishworkers. ro ie We await a world where humanity, kind: ness and gooduess reign supreme. Wh lised communities son- their anguish can end with the simple decision of releasing them from captivity? Why hold someone a pris- oner, only because they sailed across the seastaearn thair livelihood ona tragic day? Pakistan's gesture of goodwill of releas 2 the Gshworkers isa step in the eight ion. A shimmering light has been lit for the fisherfolk community in both eaun- tries. India must reciprocate by releasing Pakistani. fishworkers languishing in Indian prisons. At the same time, it is important to highlight that it isnot enough to have one off occasions where fishworkers are released and sent home. Rather, the national and international legal frame- Work must work ina systematic and coor dinsted manner Lo ensure that nobody uishes in jails across the borders Uecanse they had inadvertently found themselves in the other's territory. The writer is @ banister af Lincon's Inn and an advocate of the high cours of PakistanBY ALI TAUQEER SHEIKH a % Barometer of change Climate change has not been given the attention it deserves in the ‘Economic Survey". THEFukistan Economic Survey is a flsgshie hestate af the econoany. The latest for 2023 was der Inet week by the Ministry ance. It provides Information formance of f ma the country's develop an tnaparuant qcaian, pare Hing from the development ph emerged as the f Tenge. It goes beyond Tuma services, spoarhended by the Rienagemen Authority, orparis It iene loner i tairiemen ‘of caah tat tho Bonar Income ged 10 earl aiul rolled ‘National Dissnter mmechianicms in pluee, Cle joWy takes colure stage wai ie eames to prose ‘Planii for eanlbonce developmen flimate-smant communities, infrastruc: ite, ceoaystems and ceonorny. This yene's Sureey kas 17 chamers, including neon climate change: Excepr forthe chapter ort SBnergy’, none af ie rom: hapters hae raising commodity prices and inflationary, ss while pushing people Lrelow th sreept for Chapter 10am 2 were hardly amy efforts to link otlwr meet ton srth the Sustainable Developmen Gaale The very fir chapter on "Growth and Investment! records climate change ne a “threat ire plata] economic presets bt les red for the national economy in thia or any Subsequent chapter. Climate change” indaed Poses several threts, bur it also olfers many Opportunities for growth and investments. The chapter has, however, not acknowledned how hasstunted economic growth er what oppertunt: st offersfar investment iftixecaumry decides to fallow lowcmiesions and resilient develop iment pathway: The chapter has not only set the Sirection for the Economic Surves, but Hae len Failed to captire the Heartbeat of the gbal development discourse and national vulnerable ceand investmcrt pelociles, Tite second chuipter an ‘Agriculture’also shies © teelimte nda tir, chupeer has wot referred to Ml. Nov kesaats Grtm Hae recet Mad Tosser hieve been drawn, fio recommendations made, no feture direction act aval no priority Breasotinvestmeat identified, nical, in ani lysing the eh Corporate, Se row, mobil Recess tlie nt ‘coat mit iti ive technologies: fcnergy transitions (Calteetively, they fal Patetstan Pakisan Investment Bons, the stapler on "Public Debt" did not provide any gukdance pan Ws ith green bends for sewsiewater ‘management or urban rejuvenar to ‘The chapters on social sectors, ‘Health & Nutrition” and “Popnitios Force and Emi chapter on "Transport a fillly, makes no references 10-1 Investmern in public or mass tran rw at curity but nt on few ta fore mtctainable future frou ir 1a eyes ible m better, fer, jeuscet The. crepter on that has specifically relerred to the comm mems made by Pakitan in is Nationally Determined Coneiburions (NDC). W claims 10 erate the environmental guidelines of emul iat have invested ‘Finally, the elspter on “Climate Change’ pre- sunts at long it of 20sphux initiatives, but’ only threo mentioning wetval allceations. All other projects, event ampor only ideas tate pleline. Instead af reporting progress on the National Clima we Policy ar NDC, both, approved by tie cali more iam seat hed of the captor lin listed fom Hist of planned ie emsnatingirom successful BF setting up the volumary carbon market, ing nct-zero goals, and the Living Indus char ‘The wnior is an expert on clmete change and dovelopmont.BY NOMAN AHMED > === Running Karachi’s affairs UNLESS there are last-minute hiccups, elec neta the pasitiens of Karachi mayer and dep: Wy mayor are likely to xe ahead ax planned today. Te toak several manthe eo complete the electoral process of the local governmem Sindh. If all goes well, Karaghi and othe rian for the city und spprowcle ena only aeceed if raged fromm aise cussing Karacht's problemate solutions, le mayor of Karachl ean initiate the prepara- on of urban management procedures for chy" variont rights Province. rs the content of newoliation expected between the Jamaat-LTsiami andthe PEP fertheciry leader shipalot. Despite the dat that many of the munick hhanee of urbam public spaces and. comman-use facilities. Footy ths streot and lane tights, open 3 front af markets an road front, bus pars ered playgrounds, heaven aod cilucal ional facilities prevent rundown pistons, seleinistra important 19 Hees idered nbs the custo ruglewal ane The residents of Karachi have been witness to the iy uotwithstarid meaicaiuerdivitieac, Reemnaie ed tussle between the provincial secerting ml statis of he rman government and local institutions for a very long time now. seirainistea cssiry, especially for those Wio.ars chosen to runtheciy’s irae. The Fesitenta of Karselisiiave Leen wh wets between the pre Any attempt at repairing, repainting oF upke has been sheddy ar bea. By involving muni ors, union committee chairs and area teard can le gene ted preriodicn the core inten ventions needed for neighlourlood reforms, While ihe pravineiat gevernment may be alced! for finaneial assisanee, tie municipal Ieadership ean reach au to the yer hele time atid effort theenvi- ronmental throuph the ‘Sin Protection Ageney, restul trative conn When t anal effort ia spent am i Hoon affere. Hut thls arr take awry from thie ietralian, Ifthe reets, a fol of time ¢ with Karach's Specific support when required, ls hoped ihe office of mayer will become an accessible platform far scoking solitions arid mseisanes boy oof the minnie selmi coming mayor, irrespee- all,undl will nat degenerate into of polit. tive of purty affiliation and objectives, makes an teal expediency we have seen alll tao often, effort to ‘establish a working rel New developments, infrastructure sehemos and between the pravince nnd the mt et mega projects must be In rating emity. Evorm F921 to 2007, Karachi benefited from various mt that effercd many west eahitions te eity prob- Jems. Amatiother contribution: appraise the situation of arb ts iy floated w request for 1 the ‘Greater Karaetil Plan 20477 i is hoped that ‘this much-needed Initiative will regulate the pro- tl address the challenges Hace, 's local pnlities hanscen wih of bicker and petty polttice It iz hoped that the new mayor will brenk svith ais utd Karacl ue rit ical aridhges, muy’ task horatively, rather than compe ‘The city's affairs are being influcnced by trade aiswetatlons atid stakcholicr Beiies Of ations scale at The Association of Rulldces and Dh . Karachi Chamber of dhustry, wholesalers, retailers, jeare provid .-market con ‘canperative ex coiaiit ute jraten: whose gerulan may become the municipal bodies? task to resolve. By way of approprinte consultations, a peopk fe priority hint can te formudited farreviving ly nuceala tf the ongoing bus Fpl tran: ets fl of ways, and with make hi e {rout by usinghisrepresenta Tivemusterecaelle kepreccsrnind aatoome of this high-cod spending for the axlvartags. of remote usevell te inter ety neighbourhoods ‘Tho wiriar is an academic and researcher based Jin Karac,