Bailing out PIA

During a briefing on PIA in a meeting in the Presidency that was jointly presided by the President and the Prime Minister and also attended by Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar, Federal Minister for Defence, Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Capt. Muhammad Ijaz Haroon, Managing Director PIA and officials of relevant ministries and PIA, President Asif Ali Zardari rightfully advised the government to consider making strategic investment in building fuel storage capacity and advance purchase of fuel oil to help bail out the PIA from its financial woes.

The President said that the government could consider hiring the services of consultants to suggest workable plans for strategic investment in the PIA through public-private partnership. He also advised the government to also consider developing the Roosevelt hotel property in New York owned by the PIA as a source of permanent income without actually selling the property and retaining PIA's ownership of it. The fund raising efforts for the PIA requires innovative and non-traditional solutions as the problem was too big for normal bureaucratic procedures and periodic dole outs. The government may revisit the earlier decision to place the Roosevelt hotel under the Privatization Commission so as to examine the possibility of developing the property for regular income. PIA could be salvaged throughout of box solution and advised the government to have separate smaller meetings of experts on evolving a workable business plan.

Giving briefing on the PIA the Managing Director of the Airline said that the PIA had 40 airplanes in its fleet operating for 23 domestic and 35 international destinations and employing over 17000 employees. The average age of an aircraft is 13 years but more than half of the PIA fleet is over 23 years old. The airline industry worldwide had suffered huge setbacks due to volatility in the fuel prices. The projected profit of 9.6 billion dollars of the industry in June 2007, turned into loss of over 6 billion dollars by June 2008.

Although fuel prices had come down, PIA still faced a difficult situation due to many other challenges. Poor governance in the past ignoring best industry practices, aging aircrafts, capacity glut, rupee depreciation and geopolitical situation were factors that posed challenges to the airline. The airline has focused to improve the equation between revenues and costs during 2009. Marketing has been geared to maximize revenues and thereby restore profitability. The overall seat factor is also planned to be higher this year than in 2008. The meeting was informed that a 14% increase in capacity is planned which would also improve the revenue growth considerably. About the improvement in services the MD PIA informed the meeting that the facility of online booking had now been extended to more destinations and the list would be expanded further. The reservation system has also been streamlined besides introducing courtesy and customer care training for the front line staff.

Rediff Pakistan | http://www.rediff.com.pk

Editorial:

Obama urges unity

Before a jubilant crowd of more than a million, Barack Hussein Obama claimed his place in history as America's first black president, summoning a dispirited nation to unite in hope against the 'gathering clouds and raging storms' of war and economic woe. On an extraordinary day in the life of America, people of all colors and ages waited for hours Tuesday in frigid temperatures to witness a young black man with a foreign-sounding name take command of a nation founded by slaveholders. It was a scene watched in fascination by many millions — perhaps billions — around the world. 'We gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord,' the nation's 44th president said. The presidency passed to Democrat Obama from Republican George W. Bush at the stroke of noon, marking one of democracy's greatest gifts: the peaceful transfer of power.

But a stark transfer all the same. In one of the new administration's first acts, Obama ordered federal agencies to halt all pending regulations until further review — this after Bush's final weeks raised heated debate over rushing new rules into effect on the way out the door. And even though new White House aides struggled to find offices and work intercoms, an overhauled Web site was running under Obama's banner within minutes of his swearing-in. 'Change has come to America. Obama plunges into his new job in earnest on Wednesday after capping inaugural festivities at a national prayer service in the morning, meeting with his economic team and Iraq advisers and welcoming a stream of public visitors into the White House while Congress gives his economic revival plan a going-over and takes up the nomination of Hillary Rodham Clinton to be secretary of state.

For all the new president's call to joint effort, it is political reality that it will largely be up to Obama himself to meet soaring expectations — both those he has created for himself and those others have placed on him unbidden.

In the Oval Office awaits the workaday, hard-nosed business of the daily governance of a nation of 304 million. And while Washington celebrated, events kept moving: Wall Street slid, news surfaced that U.S. carmaker Chrysler could be purchased in part by Italian auto giant Fiat, and prosecutors at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, sought to suspend all war-crimes trials pending Obama's guidance.

Congress already has given Obama $350 billion in new financial-industry bailout money and is fast-tracking a massive economic stimulus bill to be worth $825 billion or more. And Bush has ordered 30,000 more U.S. troops to go to Afghanistan this year, adding to 32,000 already there. But these moves are hardly the last word on the big issues of the day. And some of Obama's attention to even those things will undoubtedly be deferred to crises — a natural disaster, an overseas conflagration — that can pop onto the scene unexpectedly and consume enormous amounts of White House energy. His transition also produced some missteps that raised questions about whether Obama's highly disciplined, perfectionist organization that proved brilliant at winning an election will be equally brilliant at governing. Obama's team overlooked known problems in the backgrounds of two Cabinet nominees — Bill Richardson for Commerce and Timothy Geithner for Treasury. They also flubbed the introduction to Congress of Leon Panetta as CIA director. Obama also was tripped up by controversy surrounding the appointment of his successor in the Senate.

Rediff Pakistan | http://www.rediff.com.pk

Editorial

FG to write off overdraft of Balochistan

While addressing a press conference at the CM Secretariat Quetta Thursday, Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Aslam Khan Raisani said that the Federal Government has decided to waive off the Rs. 17.5 billion overdraft owed by Balochistan after freezing it for six months initially and added that as directed by President Asif Ali Zardari, the federal government would pay the amount of overdraft on behalf of the Balochistan government.

The President also promised to enhance the financial assistance of Balochistan for the coming fiscal year which would enable the provincial government to go forward with development projects in the province. With the waiver of the overdraft, the province would also get rid of Rs. 250 million paid every month as interest. The provincial government has conveyed its reservations over the agreements made with foreign firms regarding Gwadar Port, Sendak and Reko Dike projects. Raisani asserted that the representative of Balochistan would propose and stress consideration of backwardness and area in next meeting of the National Finance Commission (NFC).

Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Aslam Khan Raisani further said that his government would provide security to the investors especially hailing for other provinces but would not endorse the right of vote for them in the elections. When asked about law and order situation in the province, the CM said that he issued clear directives to the law enforcing agencies especially police to improve its performance and take stern action against the elements involved in target killing and sabotage activities. However there has been deep concern over growing law and order situation in the province, especially in Quetta city. Though it has been repeatedly claimed that the law enforcement agencies as well as the intelligence forces are directed to track down the culprits. Those found involved in acts of sabotage must not be given any concessions. 

The cabinet has also been working out recommendations on provincial autonomy which would be presented to the federal government and later passed by the provincial assembly in the form of a resolution. He appreciated the cooperation and performance of his cabinet and said that all the decisions were being taken collectively.

On the other hand, The Federal Government is taking gigantic measures to solve the problems of people in Balochistan on priority basis and has decided to continue with taking political and reconciliation path for the resolution of Balochistan crisis. In this regard, talks are underway with Political Leadership of Balochistan and the government is taking down to earth steps to recover the Missing Persons while Interior Ministry is playing a hectic role in this regard. Until and unless problems of Balochistan are solved, people would remain in chaos. The only solution to Balochistan problems is Provincial Autonomy therefore the present government wants Balochistan to be self-sufficient.

Rediff Pakistan | http://www.rediff.com.pk

Aid for poor ahead of food summit

Global food prices may have eased from their 2008 peaks but price volatility, together with the effects of the world financial crisis, has provided little respite for the poor, a senior World Bank official said on Sunday on the eve of a U.N. food meeting in Madrid. World Bank Managing Director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who is leading a delegation to the two-day meeting starting on Monday, said more resources and attention are needed to help the poor. Food prices are now volatile and that factor, combined with the impact of the financial crisis, only serves to heighten the challenges confronting the developing world. It has been expected high price volatility to continue and it will hit the poorest the most, as they spend half their income on food. More needs to be done as we must ensure those who are vulnerable get the assistance they need. While food prices have fallen they are still higher than just three years ago. And in some countries, prices have not fallen as sharply as in others. For example, in Kenya, maize prices went down by just 1 percent in the past quarter, while international prices for maize dropped by 32 percent.

The World Bank expects to double its funding to poor countries hit the hardest by the food crisis, with $700 million in the pipeline from an emergency food fund managed by the poverty-fighting institution.

So far, the Bank's Global Food Crisis Response Program has disbursed about $500 million since May, with about 60 percent of the funding for seeds and fertilizer, including 250,000 tons of fertilizer and 1,500 tons of seed for 2.4 million small farms in the Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Somalia, Niger, Ethiopia and Togo. Helping small-scale farmers boost production should be a key focus of international efforts, while additional resources, more effective and targeted spending and policies are also needed to boost agricultural sectors in the developing world.

The World Food Summit calls for an international alliance to accelerate action to reduce world hunger. It had also unanimously adopted a declaration calling on the international community to fulfill an earlier pledge to cut the number of hungry people to about 400 million by 2015. The Summit also offered a forum for all 'stakeholders' in the fight against hunger -- government officials; farming, forestry and fishing communities; NGOs; the young; and indigenous groups. More than a dozen side events provided opportunities for delegates to discuss topics ranging from the role of rural women in feeding the world to FAO's activities in emergency situations. In addition, a parliamentarians' meeting, a private sector forum, and a forum for non-governmental and civil society organizations took place in parallel to the official event. But so unfortunately, the largest-ever global gathering of leaders to address hunger and food security - and progress towards it remained disappointingly slow.

Source: Rediff Pakistan | http://www.rediff.com.pk

OFF THE RACK: Street performers

Lights! Camera! Action! Well, not quite! The studio lights may not be there; the camera is definitely missing but there is plenty of action, drama (read melodrama) and definitely plenty of emotions to wrench your heart. I have been living in Islamabad for the past two years and have come to the sad conclusion that this city is teeming with gifted people whose thespian talents have gone unrecognised for too long. They may not sport a moustache, they may lack the paunch and they may do without the famous gundasa, but their acting abilities easily surpass those of our best-paid Lollywood stars.

 

In case you misunderstood, I am not talking about our politicians here. Although they too manage to look sincere and aware of our pedestrian needs. Hence they fool us every time during the election season. But that is another story. I am talking about those con men and women whose acting skills are realistic enough to melt our hearts and win them Oscars. Let’s take a look at these amazing people who, without the aid of fancy directors, scriptwriters and cinematographers, put up a stellar performance every time.

First category: Junior artistes

Usually between seven to 12 years of age, they come to your house with eyes solemn and words well rehearsed. They’ll tell you that they need Rs200 to pay their school dues otherwise their name will get struck off from the school register. “Please Auntie, hum parhna chahta hai,” will be their winsome plea. Thinking that this is one way of earning sawab, you gladly hand over the money. It’s only much later that you find out, that like some expert bhatta collector, they go from house to house collecting money with the same spiel and your ego will suffer a big blow. You haven’t been a Good Samaritan — just a gullible fool.

Second category: Budding actors

They are usually teenage boys that you’ll encounter in upscale markets. They’ll beseech you to help them take care of a dying parent suffering from cancer, pay for their sisters’ dowry or provide a roof over a large orphaned family. Their demand usually ranges from Rs200 to a hefty Rs2,000 depending upon your car model and clothes. Flashing cheap wares which they are not inclined to sell, they won’t let your car budge till you deposit some money in their outstretched hands. It will be the grinning roadside vendor or the doorman of the shop you were about to enter who’ll inform you, “Begum Saab, yeh sub ko yeh hi kahani sonata hai. Aap ka paisa bekar gaya.”

Third category: Female artistes

The skills and techniques of the female mendicants have grown by leaps and bounds. Depending upon their looks, speech and age, they’ll move you to tears with harrowing stories of abusive husbands, hapless daughters, hunger, poverty and debt. Don’t be taken in by the performance of those women who seek entry into your home on the pretext of using the phone or toilet. It does not take more than a blink of an eye for these ladies to transform from tearful, helpless females to knife and gun wielding femme fatales with your fatality on the agenda if you do not surrender your gold and money pronto.

Fourth category: Senior artistes

These artists are a class unto themselves. Their glibness is especially nauseating because they implore in the name of religion. Calling you beti, they’ll declare they are not beggars but victims of adverse circumstances. They have a sick wife or daughter somewhere and no money for their hospitalisation, food and shelter. With tears streaming down their cheeks, they’ll beat their head and chest in anguish. You would really be forgiven for being fooled by their splendid acting. I caught one senior actor out because he came to my house twice with the same story. I was really shocked because I had given him quite a bit of money the first time. I guess that’s the reason he decided to bury his ‘dead’ wife twice within a space of two months.

Fifth category: Character actors

These men usually have con artist written all over them but it does not make them any less dangerous. Posing as salesmen of a multinational company, they’ll offer you rewards for scratching cards with promises of instant prizes. You just have to pay Rs500 first for the privilege of scratching the card. They promise that you will get the prize — usually nothing less than a microwave oven, refrigerator, plasma television or dinner set — from their van which is parked somewhere out of sight. Some sell memberships to lucrative housing schemes or exclusive clubs, so exclusive that they do not even exist on the face of this earth!

Some pose as members of some retired faujis welfare society, special children’s welfare society, women’s welfare society, Balochistan welfare society, earthquake survivors’ welfare society or any other society they can muster up. Carrying registers, badges, photographs and official looking letters, they ask you to sign your name in the register and donate a hefty amount for a worthy cause. Glib, sleek and dressed to the part, they can make you feel guilty for even considering saying no.

This article is not meant to make fun of the poor or the needy. The sad truth is that there is a lot of hunger, poverty and deprivation in Pakistan and many people are in genuine need of our help, compassion and money. But these swindlers shake our faith in humanity and we are at a loss as to who to believe. The line between begging and readiness to cause physical harm if demands are not met has blurred, putting susceptible housewives at grave risk. My advice: never let it be known that you are alone in the house. Never let small children answer doorbells. Always keep your wits about you while dealing with these villainous characters. Theatrical performances should be seen in theatres not at your doorstep.

Source: Rediff Pakistan | http://www.rediff.com.pk

Beautiful Islamabad’s ugly face

Source: Rediff Pakistan http://www.rediff.com.pk

YEARS of gross neglect and lack of maintenance have turned government servants’ quarters in various sectors of Islamabad into an eyesore of the federal capital on whose beautification the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is spending its billions. These residential areas have never presented such an untidy look as they do today, thanks to poor response of the civic body to the physical deterioration of the quarters despite allocations of millions of rupees under the head of maintenance account.Visitors to Islamabad can easily identify where the poor and the rich live in the federal capital. It gives a clear picture of the class-based divide of the city into rich and poor neighbourhoods. Overflowing gutters, littering, dark streets and shabby brick structures mark those sectors where majority of the poor live while green parks, glittering streets and elegant exteriors stand out in the posh areas. Those who make policies hail from the posh areas and want this condition to remain as it is. The baboos (clerks) have no voice and no say in the matter. Since they have no other shelter, they must accept their lot. Most of these quarters were built in the Sixties to accommodate the army of low-grade employees who had to shift to Islamabad from Karachi, the city Mohammad Ali Jinnah had chosen as Pakistan’s capital. The walls and rooftops of many residential quarters turn green in the rainy season with grass and small plants taking root in the cracks of the structure. As a result, the cracks keep widening every season unattended by the maintenance battalions of the CDA and PWD (Public Works Department). Seepage is a major problem in rainy season as water does not drain out from outlets blocked by overgrowth. Putting new cement roofs and renovation involving plastering of walls is the only solution but since all the money goes into maintaining the posh sectors, nothing is left for the residential quarters of the staff. Same is the case with doors and windows. There is no money to fix them. Residents paste layers of newspapers and plastic sheets on the broken doors and windows to save themselves from the cold wind. The quarters have not been whitewashed for more than a decade, which adds to the untidy look of the areas adding to the shabby look of a city that once prided itself as Islamabad the beautiful. Interestingly, the CDA inquiry offices that are supposed to attend to problems like these have become gossip centres where the staff daily gathers to discuss politics over tea. Complaints are recorded in a register, which is where the matter ends. You have to be well connected in CDA if your complaint is to be attended. There is no problem then whether of funds, materials or staff. It is no secret that dozens of applications of this nature were posted on the website of the inquiry office, which remain unattended despite repeated visits of complainants.CDA should carry out a survey of these quarters and attend to the deteriorating structures in the first instance. This action will not only reduce the financial cost of maintenance as it would be carried out at one time by giving contract to one party but it would also create a good image of the civic body among the residents of these quarters. Moreover, the government’s indecision in the matter of granting ownership rights to residents is also in the way of repair works as allottees live in the dream world of becoming millionaires overnight by building plazas on the prime land while CDA has its own plans once the slums disappear on their own through natural decay. The lifespan of these quarters has probably already expired and it is quite dangerous to be living there. The CDA should come up with a blue print to replace these quarters in phases with good-looking modern apartments suitable to the needs of a modern city.