PERISCOPE ON PAKISTAN
No ‘feel good’ under Musharraf

With screeching U-turns on "strategic depth" and je-had, Pakistanis are experiencing a unique kind of culture shock. They are a nation at one level at war with themselves and at another they are invited, by grant of "Major Non-NATO Ally" status, to sit at the high table of realpolitics. It makes for depression and paranoia.

Criticising President Pervez Musharraf’s actions which have led to the nation’s depression, Nusrat Mirza in an article in AUSAF says: "Achieving US support is a mirage for Pakistan and Gen Musharraf can never succeed in getting it. His latest proposals on Kashmir have made the nation restless. Possibly he may be trying to sideline the issue of his uniform despite this his new formula is a historic blunder.

"On the eve of the visit of the US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca to Pakistan and India a news item was published that the USA has decided to provide an anti-missile (Patriot) weapon to India and both the countries will discuss ways to increase their cooperation in nuclear and strategic field. The other news regarding Pakistan was that US cooperation with this country will be related to terrorism only and Pakistan will be provided only those weapons which may help in controlling terrorism. India has already apposed any move to deliver F-16s to Pakistan.

"After anlaysing US-Pak and Indo-US relations the nation will definitely like to know why President Musharraf has been doing so much for, the USA? Why he is unable to realise that despite his total cooperation the USA is trying to ignore Pakistan and at the same time it is providing much more strength to India. In fact its relations with Pakistan are based on incidents and happenings while its relations with India are permanent and broad-based.

"Has Gen Musharraf ever thought that because of Pakistan’s cooperation with the USA, we have deviated from our basic ideology? It is because of the USA that today our Army is engaged in actions against our own people within the country. Whether Gen Musharraf and his coterie accept it or not the reality is that the military actions in Waziristan may be converted into a full-fledged war between the Army and the tribals. Why Gen Musharraf does not see that his nation has been passing into depression, and his policies are clashing with the thoughts of the Quaide Azam and the teachings of Allama Iqbal. His love for the USA has weakened Pakistan politically and ideologically, in fact Pakistan’s existence is in danger.

Sultan Ahmad, in an article in DAWN, observes: "If oil prices keep on rising, the US as well as the world economy would be seriously affected. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz says national unity is the key to economic progress. Is the government doing enough to promote and sustain national unity? Is what has been happening in Parliament a contribution to national unity and economic progress? The government has to do a lot of soul-searching and self-correction before it talks of national unity in credible tones.

"As world oil prices continue to soar, touching as much as $55.33 per barrel of US light crude, the conviction that the global economy would sustain a growth level of five per cent in 2004 has given way to vexatious uncertainties. The unflappable Alan Greenspan, chairman of the. US Federal reserve says the damage done to his country’s economy by current oil prices is not as bad as that caused by the oil shock of the 1970s. However, if oil prices keep on rising, the US as well as the world economy would be seriously affected.

"The uncertainties in the Pakistani economy are increasing. They spring not only from the higher price of oil and the merciful decision of the government so far not to increase POL prices at home, although that has wiped out the rich petroleum surcharge and lowered the government’s fiscal resources."

DAWN adds: "The government has budgeted for a trade deficit of $3 billion this year instead of $2 billion targeted last year in view of the higher oil price. But the new estimate is that the deficit may rise to $4 billion, maybe even $5 billion, if oil prices do not come down early enough.

"The trade deficit will rise also because of the import of a million tonnes of wheat and far more machmery than before. More industrial inputs like raw materials are also being imported. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz talks of importing another million tones of wheat if the shortage in the country so demands. Easy availability of consumer banking facilities is also causing an increase in the import of luxury goods particularly expensive cars.

The second negative trend is the steady but gradual rise in the exchange rate of the dollar against the rupee.

The dollar has become weaker abroad, particularly against the euro because of the adverse economic indicators in the USA but has been rising in Pakistan. If earlier it touched Rs 60 for a dollar in the open market by the weekend that had become the inter-bank rate. Apart from traders booking dollars for future import transactions, there demand for dollars by 1,00,000 Pakistanis going for umrah. The forecast’s that the dollar will rise to 62 by next year.

Ahmad Faruqui, in an article in DAILY TIMES, maintains: "Are things really that rosy (in Pakistan that per capita income at- 13.9 per cent and export at 17 per cent, foreign direct investment at almost a billion dollars, foreign exchange reserves at all time high of $12.5 billion, defence spending, coming dows as a per cent of the GDP and so Pakistan’s march towards becoming an economic tiger. Are things really that rosy? It is very difficult to say, unless a third party can be brought in to assess the veracity of the government’s figures especially regarding defence spending.

"In 2002, only 10 per cent of Pakistanis said they were satisfied with their lives as a whole the lowest percentage in a survey of 80 countries. Only one out of five said they were very happy. These are depressing results. (In fact) the generals have failed to improve Pakistan’s national well-being."— (ADNI)

Misuse of public money

By B.D. Sharma

To keep a check on the misuse of Government money, the State Government has imposed austerity measures thereby banning all the entertainments and other related expenditures, which are deemed to be wasteful in Governments departments.

This is a welcome decision, as it relates with the touch of every common man and conveys a candid message in the masses that the Government is well aware of the misuse of public money by way of unnecessary expenditures on avoidable counts. This cut also includes POL for vehicles, tea, coffee, cold drinks and other eatables in Government departments.

One of the glaring and visible violations of the above said Government instructions is hundred of Government vehicles can be seen standing and moving around the various educational institutions for ferrying the wards of Government officers/ministers and other VIPs. The same vehicles also drop the children of the VIPs/officers at their schools, colleges, and universities. The Government vehicles also drop and take back the family members of many officers, VIPs who are serving in the Government or private concerns. Even some Government vehicles are meant for the children specifically for their studies, tuitions etc.

It can well be imagined that millions of rupees are being wasted on the POL and maintenance of these Government vehicles. It is not the end, the drivers concerned who are engaged in this process also take full advantage of the situation and fill their log books and exaggerate the meter wishfully and earn handsomely by way of procuring unspecified POL for their vehicles.

Officers, VIPs are unable to control this situation because they are engaged in unlawful process. In that way both parties are satisfied and compromise with the situation and ultimately Government exchequer is looted. Common people can hardly measure the quantum of misuse of this money. But no one from the Government is ready to pay any heed to this fact. This is because, every one both an officer or VIP, all are indulging in this practice and same thing comes in the way "who will bell the cat".

Ministers, officers who were getting the unlimited fuel from the offices are facing a bit problem in view of this ban have now started a new tactics to ask the subordinate offices to arrange the POL from their head or from their own pockets. The subordinate officers are supposed to please their bosses to secure their positions. This has also been adding in the new heights of corruption in subordinate offices. Some VIPs have surrendered or grounded their vehicles and withdrawn vehicles from the subordinate offices to prove that they are properly adhering to the Government instructions.

So Mufti Government's this eye wash action is nothing but to befool the innocent people of the State and junior officials. Even senior bureaucrats/VIPs are submitting different claims of bills for which they are eligible and adjusting the wasteful expenditure at their wishes in that way.

For junior officials who are surviving on the salaries are even denied for their legitimate claims and their GP fund bills and other claims are pending in the treasuries and refused payments on various occasions with the plea that chest is empty.

Government employees are clamoring for merging of 50 percent DA in their basic salaries and release of 5 per cent DA which has become due from January, 2004 and July, 2004. No attention has been paid to this legitimate claim of these poor Government employees. Government time and again simply comes with the statement as usual paucity of funds.

Our dynamic finance minister's claim of zero deficit budgets has made an hidden expose of reality. It shows that he has made such claims only on papers and fact is far from the reality just to show the credibility of his Government.

Legislators are raising their voice for affecting the hike in their perks and CDFs that the Finance Minister has agreed in principle and likely to be given effect shortly. But it seems that he fears the great hue and cry from the employees' community for whom the Government has shown an indifferent and lukewarm attitude. The employees have already raised the flag high with the hartals and other methods to mount pressure on the Government in support of their legitimate demands.

It may also be mentioned here that the Government has constituted a number of House Committees every year to find the faults of various wrongs done in Government departments. The each Committee is headed by an MLA and it has combination of Members amongst the opposition and ruling party and given the great responsibility for studying the affairs of various sectors and submit their findings. But it has been seen that no member makes serious effort to go into the details and they just do the formality and mark their attendance and claim TA/DA and avail boarding lodging in Government guest houses. The said Committees also make unnecessary trips of various States and other places of the State without any positive results and burden the state exchequer heavily. Committees also pressurize the concerned departments to arrange their visits, boarding lodging in VIP guest houses, arrange banquets and gifts that too costs the exchequer heavily. Such acts encourage the erring officers who are otherwise indulging in unlawful activities and making the departments poorer. They happily act on the dictates of these Committee members to get the clean chits of their wrong dons.

Frequent visits of Ministers, bureaucrats to Jammu-Srinagar-Jammu-Delhi without any justified reasons and without the knowledge of Chief Secretary and Chief Minister are also a big factor of cause of concern. Only specific officers should attend the specific meetings as it involves crore of rupees on their air tickets and TA/DA.

Many Commissioners/Ministers move from one station to other without any valid reasons and just to see their families and relatives at the cost of Government money and such practice needs to be curbed and Government exchequer can be saved upto larger extent.

It has also been seen that when a Minister tours to some segment, a huge fleet of vehicle also move with him unnecessarily. Only specific officers required to accompany the VIP and a huge amount can be saved on account of POL. It has been seen that some ministers camp in their constituencies for weeks together and they daily call the officers at their residences and also ask them to accompany to various places which hampers the efficiency of these officers and common man suffers because of their absence from the headquarters.

The Ministers usually move to Jammu or Srinagar by air and their vehicles also move from one station to other and huge funds are also wasted on this process. In case they have to stay at one station, they can easily get the vehicles for small period from the State Motor Garage, Jammu/Srinagar and that wasteful expenditure can be saved. But nobody seems to be serious to think about it and system goes on like unnoticed, but it is always being noticed by the innocent public whose money is involved in this process.

Any officer/minister who tours out of station, should seek permission from the Chief Secretary/Chief Minister and their activities need to be monitored and progress of such tours reviewed affectively.

To curb this system of misusing of public money, the Government must formulate a clear-cut strategy and keep a check on the misuse of funds by taking stringent measures. Some high level team of honest/dedicated officers/VIPs should monitor this system and suggest measures to keep a permanent check on the wasteful expenditure so that the State could be saved from the regular loss on above said counts.

This misuse of only Government vehicles if stopped, millions of rupees can be saved and Government exchequer can be richer with huge funds. Any person(s) found violating the instructions should be suitably punished so that none might dare to repeat the same. Otherwise, such instructions are just eyewash and nothing else and making the clean image in public will remain as it is because "Ye Public Sab Jaanti Hai"