Alternative energy – “Power In A Drop Of Water”

By: Arshad H Abbasi

Harnessing hydel energy can be an effective way of reducing poverty. China and India have already done that successfully

It is not a fruitful idea to keep discussing as to how much the number of people living below the poverty line has come down during the last five years. Considering that even with the reduced percentage, those suffering from acute poverty are still too many to be left on their own, now is the time to move on and discuss what is the best strategy to reduce poverty and let the economic grow at the same time.

Pakistan oblivious to child rights

Dawn-30/11/2010

Twelve–year–old Tehmina and her elder sister left Rahimyar Khan to work as domestic workers in Islamabad. On July 30 this year when she asked for salary to celebrate Eid at home, her ‘educated’ employers instead beat up Tehmina and threw her over the terrace breaking her backbone. Tehmina will never walk again.

Tehmina’s sister, Samina, recounting the horrible incident, said, “I sat with my sister in the porch from about 10am to 2pm, when the employer’s sister came and took us to the hospital, but by then the harm had been done. Now my sister is bedridden, unable to move.” To save themselves from trial and punishment, the employers made an out of court settlement.

Sham democracy

Fakir S Ayazuddin

Politics in Pakistan has come to a grinding halt with the lukewarm statement emanating from Raiwind that the Lion does not wish to disturb the system, for fear of bringing down the existing setup. It is a setup which allows the PPP to continue its rampage across the country with the help of the corrupt officials it has appointed at every level. We, for our part, have been trapped by the politicians, and nothing short of a radical change can remove them now.

Guillotine and Governance

By Awaam

Does anyone remember a certain French Queen who famously said ‘well if they do not have bread to eat, why don’t they eat the cake?’. Anyone who knows this will also know what her fate was.  Marie Antoinette ended with her head on that famous French chopping block – guillotine. Neat, instant and bloody. Why am I reminded of this early in the morning?

What is Blasphemy?

By Awaam

Blasphemy, in its literal meanings, is defined as a behaviour or language expressing disrespect for God or for something sacred

The issue of blasphemy, highlighted again by the recent banning of certain websites in Pakistan, has caught the attention of everyone again, through debates on media. I also read and heard different versions of thought on the issues of blasphemy. While due to the rapid transmission of the message throughout the country, and due to pressure generated by the  perceived angry reaction( read road demonstrations resulting in injuries, burning , destruction and looting) of the people, authorities were keen to ban the sites within a few hours.

On the other side, it also gave birth to a serious question in my mind that ‘what the hell is blasphemy’ indeed?

Toxic toys on sale

By Faiza Ilyas
Monday, 01 Mar, 2010

KARACHI: Laboratory tests carried out on a number of imported toys randomly collected from city markets have shown that they contain high levels of toxic metals and chemicals.

Tests carried out have shown that various toys contain high levels of toxic metals and chemicals. – APP (File Photo)

While these toxic materials can cause a wide range of health disorders in case of human exposure, there exists no system in the city at any level to check contamination in toys, whether manufactured locally, imported or smuggled in. Also, there are no Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority guidelines specifically on toys to ensure children’s safety, an investigation carried out by Dawn has revealed.

The tests on toys were conducted at Karachi University’s centralised science laboratory. The toxic elements include lead, cadmium and various types of phthalates.

The 14 tested samples included eight soft toys and six hard ones. The toxic ingredients were found not only in the plastic material the toys were made from, but also in the thin coating of spray paint that is used to paint them. The prices of the imported toys ranged from Rs20 to Rs250.

According to the analysis, half of the hard toy samples contained between 10mg/kg and 20mg/kg of lead and 10mg/kg 30mg/kg cadmium in sprayed colours. All of the soft toys contained 4mg-7mg of cadmium per sample.

The tests also revealed the presence of very high levels of phthalates, far exceeding the EU limit of 0.1 per cent by mass of plasticised material. In most samples, traces of cheap and volatile phthalates were found. 

NA 55 Elections

By Awaam

There are a lot of things happening in Pakistan at the moment. However, every one’s attention seems to be directed towards the highly anticipated elections of NA 55. Today, on 24^th of February, 2010 people of Rawalpindi will finally cast their votes and decide not only the fate of the candidates but of themselves as well.

In the past few days Streets of Rawalpindi had been crammed by the fervor of the vigorous campaigning of some hopeful and many not-so-hopeful candidates representing several political parties. The 22 candidates belonging to PML, PTI, AML, JI, ANP etc and several independent candidates have tried their best to convince the people in these past few days. Now it is for people of Rawalpindi to decide who they want to chose as their next leader (for some time).

NA 55 is politically considered a crucial seat. There are 334,269 registered voters in NA-55, including 183,507 men and 150,762 women. 250 polling stations have been setup containing 597 polling booths. Therefore, we at V21 decided to conduct our own survey in order to get a picture of the entire situation. The survey was based on crude techniques for making general observations regarding electoral trends in NA 55. It included a sample of 25 (both male and female) and a self constructed questionnaire. We visited many areas covered under in NA 55 including Gawalmandi, Chota Bazaar Saddar, Chachhi Mohalla (residential area) and liaqat road.

The survey helped us get some valuable insights on the prevailing patterns of voting in the city.

Will people vote? The answer to this question is perhaps the most important. And so we asked.

Interestingly out of the few people (25) we asked, all except one told us, quite enthusiastically, that they were going to cast their votes. The reasons for doing it although were somewhat different for most of them. Yet this may still be a good sign considering the fact that voter turnout has always been a disappointment in Pakistan.

But why would they vote? The responses to this question were many and there were interesting differences among the male and female responses. Party affiliation continues to remain the leading deciding factor for most (40 percent of our sample with excessive majority of males). Female respondents were either reluctant to give their opinion or had simply not decided. It was a matter they had simply left for their husbands, brothers or fathers to worry about.  Not much has changed still. Or has it?

Interestingly, we think a little bit has. People of Rawalpindi city do realize that a lot of problems are symptoms of lack of governance. Hence, if they want to see change it needs to come through electing the right person. Hence, there were people (although only 32 percent of our sample) who had decided to cast votes based on issues they want to get resolved.

“Mehangai” dominates clearly among the major issues that people have. Shortage and high prices of electricity and gas was second on the list while many (mostly females) thought cleanliness of these areas was also crucial. Water is another problem that public needs the politicians to resolve. This includes shortage of water, bad quality of water and the high prices of water tanks and filters. People also want the government to reduce taxes. Other problems that were highlighted by the respondents included unemployment, lack of affordable medical facilities, affordable education, and security.

Hence, in light of above questions we asked people who they were going to vote. Majority of the respondents (56 percent) answered Shakeel Awaan. This however, was due to his affiliation with Muslim League Nawaz. Interestingly, most of the people admitted voting for him only because he was representing Nawaz Sharif. 40 percent of the respondents were with Sheikh Rasheed. On the contrary Sheikh Rasheed’s votes were mostly due to his popularity in the area.

From the general responses of public the competition is mainly between Shakeel Awaan and Sheikh Rasheed. However, since this was just a general survey with very small (unrepresentative) sample we cannot say anything with conviction.

And it is a close contest.

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NA-55 Elections: Results updates

According to the unofficial results from 250 polling stations of NA-55, Pakistan Muslim Leauge-N (PML-N) candidate Shakeel Awan is leading the race with 77309 votes. Awami Muslim League chairman Sheikh Rasheed is second in the race and he has secured 48222 votes. Dr Mohammad Kamal remained in the third place by securing 7,524 votes followed by PTI candidate Ejaz Khan Jazi, who could muster only 4,000 votes.

PAKISTAN BEWARE – India’s thirst is making us all wet

Published in NewScientist 03 October 2009

New Scientist discusses how Water is being sucked up in North India at astronomical rates. This is having considerable negative impact on the height of water tables in the area. Considering there exists a serious water dispute between Pakistan and India, and that how India has used its ‘water muscle’ in the past in an attempt to choke Pakistan, this reading is alarming for Pakistan.

ONE nation’s thirst for groundwater is having an impact on global sea levels. Satellite measurements show that northern India is sucking some 54 trillion litres of water out of the ground every year. This is threatening a major water crisis and adding to global sea level rise.

Kerry Luger Bill

Kerry Luger Bill has created a lot of furore in Pakistan. While government is portraying it as an achievement it has many detractors who say we are selling the nation…

At awaam we have decided that you can read the bill for yourself and decide…

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S.1707

Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009 (Considered and Passed by Senate)

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S 1707 CPS

111th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 1707

To authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2010 through 2014 to promote an enhanced strategic partnership with Pakistan and its people, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 24, 2009

Mr. KERRY (for himself and Mr. LUGAR ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed

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A BILL

To authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2010 through 2014 to promote an enhanced strategic partnership with Pakistan and its people, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the `Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009′.

(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. Definitions.

Sec. 3. Findings.

Sec. 4. Statement of principles.

TITLE I–DEMOCRATIC, ECONOMIC, AND DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FOR PAKISTAN

Sec. 101. Authorization of assistance.

Sec. 102. Authorization of appropriations.

Sec. 103. Auditing.

TITLE II–SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR PAKISTAN

Sec. 201. Purposes of assistance.

Sec. 202. Authorization of assistance.

Sec. 203. Limitations on certain assistance.

Sec. 204. Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund.

Sec. 205. Requirements for civilian control of certain assistance.

TITLE III–STRATEGY, ACCOUNTABILITY, MONITORING, AND OTHER PROVISIONS

Sec. 301. Strategy Reports.

Sec. 302. Monitoring Reports.

Threats to the State

By Farzana Bari

Published in The News

The multiple crises the state is faced with today bring home the stark realisation that the policies pursued by the state elite over the last 62 years for national security in Pakistan were incorrect and misplaced. The territory-centered state security paradigm has resulted in a lack of human security that is now posing the biggest internal threat to the country. Massive economic insecurity, illiteracy, rising unemployment, inflation, energy and water shortages, food insecurity, inaccessibility to social sector services, militancy, sectarianism and extremism, rampant kidnapping and killing for ransom and the complete breakdown of law and order are some of the real existential threats to the security of the state today.

The real issues in Pakistan

Dawn Editorial, 18 Sep, 2009

PEOPLE are dying queuing for grain in Pakistan. This is a country where food inflation is forcing parents to pull their children out of school – they can eat sparsely or be educated, not both. Lives are being lost to ailments that are easily curable. Street crime is rampant across a country where human life is worth less than a cellphone. Yet our political leaders appear oblivious to the misery that is everywhere. They seem to have no perspective, no grip on reality. Does a man who can’t feed his children really care whether or not Pervez Musharraf is tried for treason? Is a mother whose child has died of gastroenteritis likely to give much thought to America’s military presence in the region? Will a jobless person be impressed by the president’s much-touted ‘achievements’ during his first year in office? Our leaders have clearly lost sight of the core issues.

This is a country where religious minorities are targeted by Muslim mobs while the law-enforcers look on. Deadly attacks against Christians, in particular, are on the rise in Punjab. As is usually the case in such incidents, the violence has been triggered by unproven allegations of blasphemy. Robert Fanish Masih, who had been arrested last Saturday on blasphemy charges after Muslims went on the rampage in village Jaithikey near Sialkot, was found dead in his cell on Tuesday. The next day his family and community members, who had all been forced to flee Jaithikey, were prevented from burying him in their native village. And this heartless, inhumane act wasn’t the work of Muslim vigilantes alone. The local police also told the mourners to turn back, on the grounds that their presence could fan violence. In short the victims were punished, not the aggressors.

The Punjab government needs to take urgent steps to protect minorities in the province for the situation there is deteriorating. Its stance on minority rights will be gauged by its response. The centre, meanwhile, should start working towards the repeal of the blasphemy laws. For too long they have been used to settle personal scores, grab land – and to kill. These draconian laws must be struck off the books.

18 Pakistani women die in stampede for free flour

KARACHI, Pakistan — At least 18 women and girls died when a crowd waiting for handouts of flour swelled and panicked in an impoverished city in southern Pakistan, officials said.

The stampede in Karachi came during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, a traditional time for charitable acts including giving away food. At times, however, the giveaways have turned rowdy and dangerous.

Monday’s stampede occurred in a small building with narrow passages. As more women entered to get the flour, some panicked and guards used strong-arm tactics to clear the building, officials and witnesses said.

Karachi police chief Wasim Ahmad said at least 18 women and girls died in the ensuing rush. Mohammad Amin Khan of Karachi Civil Hospital said some of the women had suffocated and that there were at least 20 bodies.

“Hundreds of women were pushing to enter into the small hall, and guards started beating us to get the place cleared,” said 30-year-old Kulsoom, who gave only one name and ended up among the many wounded. “I fell down and was being crushed. My heart was missing beats, and I thought I was dying.”

Panicked relatives streamed into the hospital, while others brought limp bodies in the backs of trucks or in their arms. Some women wailed while laying on stretchers.

The flour giveaway was organized by a private donor who Ahmad said was detained for not giving police prior notice of the event.

“Poverty is on the rise, there is a desperation among people,” local government official Javed Hanif said. “Naturally, when people are frustrated, whenever they get such an opportunity, they try to grab the maximum.”