Why YOU ARE KILLING KARACHI?

Karachi is a victim of poor planning and bad governance. Even though Karachi generates 70 percent of federal revenue, this city scarcely gets 10 percent of the federal resources. It is one of the biggest and most populated cities in the world. Its population is increasing day by day consequently giving rise to sociological problems. People are living miserable lives which need to be addressed. It should be a matter of our concern to find a solution for these problems. some of them are discussed below. Why YOU ARE KILLING KARACHI?

One of the major problems of Karachi is its transport system Buses are common means of transport in Karachi but they are not in optimum condition to meet the needs. Besides their bad condition, they are generally overloaded as well. Moreover, Karachi has traffic problems due to many reasons. Things like overloading vehicles, negligence of rules, rash driving, overtaking, are very common in Karachi. As a result, road accidents occur more often. Why YOU ARE KILLING KARACHI?

Street vendors are also creating problems causing road blockage. In Karachi Poor Construction plans are also causing traffic jams. Widening of roads, construction of underpasses, and flyovers are not met in time and are planned poorly causing people to suffer. Sadly, traffic rules are of the least importance for the people of Karachi. While driving there I felt as if I was in a jungle where everyone is free to move in the way they want. I even found an ambulance stuck in traffic because no one was willing to give way even to them. VIP culture is also one cause of traffic jams.

The education system of Karachi is poor and is lagging far behind. The children here lack access to good schools and universities. These limited education facilities are influencing their careers. There is a need for recreational institutions, parks, and playgrounds.

Karachi suffers from a complete breakdown in case of heavy rains. It is due to the poor design of drainage systems and roads. Karachi also has a poor underground sewer system and a lack of proper channels for flow management. Why YOU ARE KILLING KARACHI?

The baggers and their attitude are one of another problem in Karachi. They are worthless idlers who are robbing good-natural people. In public places, they are making fools of people and it is one very common practice. It is causing many serious problems which are prominent in some areas. Why YOU ARE KILLING KARACHI?

Similarly, the government has never emphasized population distribution. As a result, there is a prominent increase in slum areas. The development of these disordered houses has ruined the outlook of the city. Additionally, it is causing many other problems related to electricity, water, and pollution. Why YOU ARE KILLING KARACHI?

Pollution, inappropriate garbage and waste disposal systems, and poor urban planning have turned Karachi into the “world’s filthiest city”. Being not only the largest but also the biggest industrial city the air of Karachi is highly polluted with smoke from automobiles, rickshaws, cars, bikes, and other vehicles. Why YOU ARE KILLING KARACHI?

Additionally, smoke coming from the burning of fossil fuels from industrial areas and garbage is one major cause of pollution in Karachi. The authorities should be concerned about this problem and must try to strengthen the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) to overcome these issues. Public awareness campaigns should also be held by the government regarding pollution and its possible solutions. Why YOU ARE KILLING KARACHI?

Illegal settlements and land grabbing are also increasing in Karachi. It is one of the flourishing businesses because of the Mafias. This problem needs to be addressed because these land mafias have political support and thus continue to be a threat. The authorities concerned should try to eradicate such mafias out from the soil of the city of light.

It pains me to see the miserable situation of our largest city. This could be changed by joint efforts of the federal and provincial governments. Together, they can resolve issues regarding power shortages, unemployment and can make Karachi, a crime-free city where people can live with peace. Karachi desperately needs our attention and demands increased federal resources. Why YOU ARE KILLING KARACHI?

To sum it up, the situation of Karachi is getting worse day by day thus demands desperate measures by the government. The majority of Karachi are living hand to the mouth where they have nothing to spare, However, with proper determination and power, the PTI-led government can address these issues. We hope to see Karachi, the city of lights, become an international trade and finance center. Why YOU ARE KILLING KARACHI?

Minorities; A white stripe of the flag – now soiled?

The government of any state should not be in limbo when it comes to the constitutional, equitable, and natural rights of the minority in any state and no one can deracinate them out of jealousy, disparity, or superiority. The faces of the Hindu minority are withering day by day because they face problems like this in Pakistan spasmodically. It is not incorrect to say that the Hindus of Pakistan are primordial. Minorities

The quagmires of this type are going to hit the reputation of Pakistan across the world, as Pakistan is a signatory of different human rights pacts as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment and many others. Minorities

The issues of the minority are proselytizing, forced conversion, and infringement of their religious sentiments by doing illegal acts either impliedly or expressly. Thar Sindh has become the center of these issues for one year. Minorities

Let me shed some more light on the above-mentioned issues that are persisting yet. The prominent issues that have just taken place are very traumatic. Minorities

Firstly, an Engineer namely Abdul Salam Dawood an employee at the Thar coal power plant in Sindh grabbed the collar of a minor Hindu boy and forced him to use derogatory words against his religion. As a consequence, Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab demanded the arrest of the accused, and Arrest Abdul Salam Dawood became the top trend on Pakistani Twitter by netizens. Minorities

That shows extreme extremism in Pakistan, the accused was arrested within no time after the notice but he apologized and set free to move even after the commission of such heinous and detestation promoting act he was manacled in a very amicable way by police of the locality that hurting the feelings of Minority is nothing but mundane for them. Why are the rights and sentiments of the minority are considered low-cost? Minorities

Secondly, On August 4, a temple in Bhong Sharif  Rahimyar Khan was desecrated and vandalized by the mob for an unwarranted reason that was condemned by a minority throughout Pakistan but the notice and order of the Supreme Court of Pakistan assured the Hindus that the culprits will be brought to justice soon. A boy, Mubeen Baloch wrote on his Facebook account that, “This is just desecration of the temple, beheading is remaining”. Is this the freedom of speech and freedom to profess religion and to manage religious institutions elucidated in the constitution? Felonies like such must be eradicated without any laches which should be taken as a forthcoming precedent. Minorities

In all four provinces of our country, there are areas where this custom persists in its worst forms even today. The Supreme Court of Pakistan on 19 June 2014, in its landmark judgment on minority rights, ordered that “A National Council for minorities’ rights be constituted. The function of the said Council should inter alia be to monitor the practical realization of the rights and safeguards provided to the minorities under the Constitution and law. The Council should also be mandated to frame policy recommendations for safeguarding and protecting minorities’ rights by the Provincial and Federal Government”.

Despite this, If this will move on then definitely the Hindu fat cats of Sindh will be vigilant for the future of their descendants and that would be the reason they will shift their young offspring to peaceful countries like Canada, America, Britain, Qatar, and Australia to be their citizens and lead their lives there better then their ancestors. Now and then government of Pakistan must rivet to protect, cater and be practically perspective for the rights of the minority in the land of pure people. Minorities

Mere propitiating the minority is not sufficient.

Government should determine the type of action that can most effectively be initiated against it as forever is composed of now, on the contrary, the ensue of such unconstitutional, unlawful, and inhumane acts will be mercurial and condemnable. The rights of the minorities should be defended; their necessities should be seen as not being discriminated against. Minorities

They should not be expelled from any job opportunity, their safety should be the majority’s safety, and their pain should be the majority’s. Minorities are the way much important part of a state, in the terms of supporting public opinion and, revivals. Their neglect leads to unwanted revolts, dangers, and enmities also. Minorities

Pakistan’s creational foundation is that it gives freedom to every religion; its white-colored portion in the flag is the deep clear meaning of peace. Respect for one flag is the nation’s key to progress. Minorities

Let me rewrite here, article 18 of UDHR: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance”.

Article 6; Guilty of high treason?

Military invasions throughout history have been witnessed many times where an egocentric  Military Leader of adventurous nature took over a Country, State, or Empire. There always have been more bad impacts than advantages of the Military occupation, and it has always caused nations backwardness, bad governance system, bad economies, many Empires even couldn’t sustain Military Occupation and fell apart. Article 6

If any institution of a Country, State, or Empire comes out of its domain and tries to come into power, using power, over its people, the whole nation has to suffer the consequences. If we see through history we can keenly observe that not a single nation has ever prospered under Military occupation. A country that kept on going through military invasions will always be underdeveloped. Article 6

The truth is that a country under Military invasion is declared as under war, due to which interest of every foreign Ambassador, whether he’s a tourist, or an investor becomes zilch, and as a consequence, the country starts to become less important in eyes of the world and the end it gets abandoned. Article 6

In the current world, we can witness Countries that are developed, have not been under any Military Occupation since last five or six centuries, in addition, that they are constantly evolving their laws according to their connivance, that assures Rule of Law, Governance System, Judicial System, is working as it should be. Article 6

We cannot compare law-abiding citizens of developed countries with us, because their Laws and rules are easily adaptable by them, as those Laws and rules have gone through specific evolution according to their cultural, moral, and social norms, and even that took a longer period for these nations to make these laws and rules abide able. Article 6

In Pakistan, it’s been four times that the Military has taken over

Pakistan rose on the World Map as it gets separated from India getting independence from the British Raj. After getting independence, Pakistan became heir to Laws written by Britain to govern United India. These Laws had to be followed and adopted by the people of Pakistan because Pakistan didn’t have any laws or rules to be followed, in addition, that Pakistan didn’t even have its constitution at that time.   In Pakistan, it’s been four times that the Military has taken over. Article 6

If we sum up those tenures we conclude that the Military has ruled for over thirty years on one of the youngest countries of the World, during which the constitution has remained suspended. In addition to that, no Military leader has been punished till now, despite Article 6 being a due procedure to punish the individual, who abrogates the constitution.

Since the very beginning when Pakistan in its early years didn’t have its constitution, it was being occupied for no good reason, and the rest of the invasions are also identical, having the same course. In the United Kingdom, Armor Oliver’s body was dragged out of the grave and was hanged, for abrogating the Constitution of Britain. The purpose of which was to give a message, that whoever will abrogate the Constitution, shall not be spared even after his death. Article 6

There should be proper accountability under the due process of law, which is the need of the hour. Article 6 needs to be imposed on every individual who has abrogated or being a party to abrogate the Constitution. If accountability is held and every individual of the nation is obliged to the Constitution, then there is no reason that there would be no Rule of Law, a bad Governance system, or a bad Judicial System. 99.5% of Pakistanis don’t even know their constitutional rights. Article 6

“Not knowing the law is no excuse.”, this line puts a responsibility on the shoulder of every individual of the nation to become familiar with the Laws and rules and play their part in developing them. Amendments in the Laws and rules are key to adaptability, for being accepted by the citizens. Article 6

Unfortunately, the Lawmakers in Pakistan including the members of the legislature, and civil servants are not much familiar with the Law, its adaptability, its imposition, and the consequences of its imposition. Keeping their corruption aside they are keeping the nation in dark, almost 2 centuries old laws are being followed in Pakistan in the year 2021.

In conclusion, we can say that Article 6 should be implemented on whoever abrogates the Constitution or being a party to abrogate the Constitution, this will make obliged every individual of the Nation to be obliged by the Constitution, and that will make sure the Rule of Law, the Law and Order situation, Good Governance system, Good Judicial System, there is no reason that the Nation would still be the same underdeveloped nation, having bad Governance System, Bad Economy, Bad Healthcare System, Bad Law and Order Situation, Bad Judicial System. The whole Nation would be able to observe development in every sector in every aspect.

INSTITUTIONAL DECAY IN PAKISTAN AND NEED FOR REFORMS

Pakistan, a state where no one hears the plea of Rashida Bibi who visits nearby police station for registration of FIR against her rapists, a state where Noor Mukadam is being murdered and is unable to get justice, a state where a bribe is required to get even a legal work to be done, a state where brothers declare their siblings died on record and siblings live their lives miserably just asking for their share in the property, and a state where businessmen monopolize by gratifying institutions as being done with railway and excise department. INSTITUTIONAL DECAY

The Institutional Decay in Pakistan aforementioned is too short to explain the unseen ebbing of the institutions here in Pakistan. There are four chief reasons behind this continuous decay of the institutions in Pakistan. The first and most important reason for this decay is the politicization and militarization of the institutions. This virus has its roots in Z.A Bhutto’s era due to his nationalization policies but spread more rapidly in Zia’s era when he started making armed personnel the head of civil departments. Afterward, rapid shifts in political governments in the 1990s had weakened the institutions even more. INSTITUTIONAL DECAY

Gen. Musharraf tried to strengthen institutions but his maneuvers for getting political acceptance such as giving powers to local governments at the expense of powers of civil servants was also a setback for the institutional strength. The current decade is also witnessing the same decay. Secondly, the gap between salary and expenditure brings the government servants towards corruption – a menace for public institutions. This curse deepens with time due to the continuous downward movement of the state economy.

Thirdly, the institutions also suffered from the policies of political government seeking the personal interests of the politicians or the policies to serve businessmen in order to get benefits. Such as, ‘Mr. 10 percent had ensured the monopoly of Indus Motors in Pakistan and has stopped other companies to follow the pursuit and build their setup here in Pakistan just for their personal interests. INSTITUTIONAL DECAY

Lastly, the colonial setup has not been reformed much. Most of the civil and criminal laws are inherited from the British era and the civil institutions are still running under the same laws. Despite the fact that the world has moved on and has gone through the technological revolution our institutions still use old means and procedures for their general working. These reasons are actually the major termites making the institutions hollow inside.

Initially, there is a need for the de-politicization of the institutions. It can only be achieved by making the institutional hierarchy strong enough to stand and function independently. The government should award budgets to the departments rather than handing them over to the politicians. INSTITUTIONAL DECAY

Moreover, the planning and development commission should be strengthened to plan and suggest to the incumbent government about the necessity and feasibility of the project. And the budgets should be then awarded to the respective departments for those projects. In addition, the government although is economically not that much strong yet it should pay the employees a reasonable salary and other services through which their families can lead a happy and peaceful life. INSTITUTIONAL DECAY

Next, there is a need for bringing the technological revolution in government departments. The procedures involving the use of the technology will reduce the chances of corruption and will ensure transparency in the governmental procedures. The use of technology will also reduce procedural delays. Likewise, there is a need for accentuating the internal accountability mechanisms of the departments. INSTITUTIONAL DECAY

Furthermore, the government should hire technocrats such as Dr. Ishrat and should consult think tanks for making effective policies for strengthening and reforming institutions. The reforms cannot be brought rapidly, rather it is a gradual process in order to make that reforms being accepted by the institutions. INSTITUTIONAL DECAY

So, reforming institutions has become the need of the hour. Some institutional reforms are being suggested below. Firstly, law enforcement agencies can be reformed by the use of technology i.e. by introducing an online complaint mechanism. There is a need for introducing community policing in society in order to reduce the crimes and public wrongs, and enhancing the productivity of the police. INSTITUTIONAL DECAY

There is a need for the moral upbringing of the officers which can be ensured through training and by strengthening media. Secondly, there is a need for reforms in the judiciary. So as to speed up the delivery of justice there is a need for interchanging the whole system by the model court system and online portals. Alternative dispute resolution mechanisms can also enhance the productivity of the system and will add to the speedy disposal of the cases.

Thirdly, in energy and power departments, there is a need for giving the jobs to the engineers well learned and experienced in the fieldwork rather than those knowing only the bookish things – as productivity depends on the field knowledge.

Moreover, the development commission should remain in contact with these departments and the teams should regularly survey the development projects under construction for sake of the quality and stability analysis of the project. Fourthly, the Pakistan railway and PIA can become more efficient when the monopolies of other transport companies will be addressed.

The government can increase taxes on the private service providers while making Railway and PIA services cost-efficient. There is a need for reducing the subsidies provided to the business sector, as it costs the government its reduced taxes and decay of its institutions. INSTITUTIONAL DECAY

Fourthly, there is a need to shift the tax receiving process online. By this, the tax evacuations and the corruption of the revenue collection departments will be reduced and the process will become more transparent and legal. Lastly, there is a need to improve health and education services which can be improved by competing with the services provided by the private institutions. INSTITUTIONAL DECAY

In short, modern public service management should be introduced in the public service of Pakistan for the solution of  Institutional Decay in Pakistan. There is a need to treat the public as citizens and there is a need to own your state and its institutions. The call now is the call of the national cause, the call for loyalty with your state, and the call for the ownership and fidelity towards your people. We the citizens of Pakistan will together nestle these institutions through our devotion by transforming our culture.

There is just a need to listen to the whisper of time calling a wake-up call. Let’s move forward and make our nation great again, the stories of whose wealth had once spread restlessness among European conquerors. INSTITUTIONAL DECAY