Ansar Bhatti

ISLAMABAD: The caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti is likely to step down from his post in coming days. Sources close to this development say Bugti wants to contest the election.

It is however not clear whether he wishes to contest for the provincial or national assembly seat. Sources say he may opt for the provincial assembly seat and may vie for the slot of the chief minister of Baluchistan. Sarfraz Bugti enjoy support of the Establishment as well therefore it will not be a difficult call for him to become the next Baluchistan chief minister.

Sources say JUI and PML N may also be in the run for this covet slot.

Sources also confided that a leading businessman from Lahore has been tipped as the new Interior Minister. The said businessman is already in Islamabad and being interviewed by the powers-that-be.

PPP scored zero in 17 indicators, PTI in 13 and PML-N in 12

Mahnoor Ansar

Islamabad, NOV 6 /DNA/ – In the wake of upcoming general elections, the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) has drawn a comparison of manifestos amongst three mainstream political parties – Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tekreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) – that have been front-runners in formulating governments during the last three tenures. The aim was to evaluate if the manifestoes have any substance and concrete plan or are these just comprise hollow promises and sweeping statements, without any homework for the future.

In this regard, PIDE has been proposing reforms in various dimensions for quite a long time. These targeted reform proposals are based on years of research and evidence and are in line with the global best practices. So, PIDE has picked 18 key issues/sectors that it thinks are fundamental. These include: local government, parliament, elections, cabinet, police, bureaucracy, budget making, debt management, PSDP, real estate, agriculture, energy, taxation, tariff, trade, state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and internet. Each indicator has a maximum of 100 score.

·        PPP scored zero in 17 indicators, PTI in 13 and PML-N in 12.

·        Overall, the three major political parties scored less than 20%, which means that they talk about or have some solid ideas about only 20% of the key economic and policy issues of Pakistan.

·        Further dissecting the figure 20% tells us out of the country’s key issues, only 12% of these find space in the PML-N manifesto, 7% in the PPP manifesto and 1.5% in PTI.

·        This demonstrates that manifestoes don’t have any substance at large on key issues of the nation.

·        This means that political parties don’t have any concrete blueprint to work on if they come into power.

·        The lack of substance in manifestoes leads to a myopic approach to governance, ad-hocism and serving vested interests only, without any regard for doing something for the long-term development of the country.

·        For instance, strengthening local government is merely a promise and scored as zero. In contrast, allowing the property tax regime to serve as the primary revenue generator for local government is a concrete point. Thus, this point had been given a 25 score.

How did PIDE arrive at such a score? PIDE summarized its proposals in four points for each theme, having equal weightage for each point i.e. 25%, making it 100% for all four points. It then compared it with what each political party proposes against the same theme. If the manifestoes propose one of the points that PIDE proposes then the score will be 25/100 and if their proposals include all that PIDE proposes, then that manifesto will get full marks i.e. 100/100. It is pertinent to note that, manifestoes are being evaluated on actual reform intervention, not mere promises, slogans and sweeping statements.

Besides, the Institute, in another research product, has also compared if there is any convergence between what is mentioned in manifestoes and the digital narratives by the party leaders. The stark disparity between pre-election promises and the reality of online discourse in the post-election landscape, as unveiled by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), reveals a critical disconnect. PIDE’s analysis reveals a concerning neglect of fundamental issues like economic disparities, infrastructure, unemployment, education, healthcare, governance, corruption, security, environment, and human rights on digital narratives by party leaders, which are pivotal for the country’s progress.

Twitter, identified as a significant influencer in shaping political conversations, remains largely underutilized in addressing Pakistan’s socio-economic challenges. Leveraging Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) to analyze afore mentioned party leaders’ tweets from 2018-2022, PIDE found no convergence between the vision chalked out in manifestoes and the propagation or discourse on Twitter.

The comprehensive analysis shed light on a worrying trend in the online discourse of opposition leaders:

·        PPP and PML-N leadership focused mostly on family legacies and political conflicts

·        PTI’s leader’s discussions primarily revolved around Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir overshadowing other essential national concerns

·        This underlines the lack of focus as well as commitment from the country’s top political leadership.

PIDE’s call for realigning political discourse with manifesto commitments echoes the urgency for leaders to prioritize substantive policy matters for Pakistan’s development and prosperity. Manifestoes shouldn’t remain as mere paper promises; they should guide the nation’s trajectory, providing a clear roadmap for governing parties and feasible policy alternatives for the opposition.

The institute stresses the need to shift conversations from personal grievances, familial legacies and political mudslinging to tangible policy matters, urging leaders to re-center discussions and leverage social media tools like Twitter for more focused, relevant, and policy-based communication, to address the perpetual challenges faced by Pakistan.

Chakwal, NOV 6 /DNA/ – A resident of Chakwal namely Hamid Iqbal who was impersonating as NAB officer was arrested by local police.

Hamid Iqbal was found to be impersonating as NAB officer and was trying to influence WAPDA office Chakwal for undue favours. Upon suspicion, WAPDA authorities informed NAB and it was found that Hamid Iqbal was not an employee of NAB and was impersonating.

NAB lodged a formal complaint with local police and as a result impersonator Hamid Iqbal was arrested.

NAB advises the general public to report suspicious persons acting as impersonators to law enforcing authorities or to the NAB directly.

Islamabad, NOV 6 /DNA/ – Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) leading a delegation met with Ahmed Jawad A.A. Rabaei during a visit to Palestine Embassy and showed solidarity with the Palestinian people. Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari presented a cheque of Rs.2.0 million on behalf of ICCI as a token of support for the people of Gaza who have been destroyed by the Israeli bombardment.

Speaking on the occasion, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that the business community and the Pakistani nation is very concerned over the cruelties being committed by the Israeli forces against the innocent Palestinian. He said the whole Muslim Ummah is standing along with the people of Palestine and urged that the Muslim rulers and the international community should make collective efforts to protect the Palestinians from the brutalities of Israel. 

He said that the genocide of the innocent Palestinians is not acceptable at all and stressed that the world powers should come forward to stop Israel from such brutalities. He said that Pakistan supports the right of self-determination and establishment of a secure & sovereign Palestinian state to end this conflict. He assured that the business community of Pakistan is always ready to extend all possible support to the Palestinian brothers and sisters to mitigate their sufferings.

H.E. Ahmed Jawad A.A. Rabaei briefed the ICCI delegation about the details of casualties and destruction committed by Israel against the Palestinians. He said that about 10,000 Palestinians have been martyred so far by the Israeli forces in Gaza and other places out of which 80 percent are children and women. He said that out of a total 35 hospitals, 11 hospitals have been destroyed and Israeli forces are threatening Palestinians to evacuate the rest of the hospitals otherwise, they would also be killed. He termed it a brutal genocide of innocent Palestinians, which needs to be stopped by the world powers. He thanked the ICCI delegation for showing solidarity with the Palestinians in this difficult time.

Faad Waheed, Senior Vice President ICCI said that Israel’s actions violate international humanitarian & human rights law and constitute war crimes as well as crimes against humanity. He stressed that the world community should play a role to stop Israel from these war crimes.

Engr. Azhar ul Islam Zafar, Vice President ICCI called for an immediate ceasefire; an end to the siege of Gaza; and the facilitation of humanitarian corridors for unrestricted relief supplies to the affected Palestinians.

Zafar Bakhtawari, former President ICCI and Secretary General UBG said that the core issue behind the current war is the failure to implement the two-state solution. He stressed that the UN and other stakeholders should ensure an independent and sovereign state of Palestine to end this conflict once for all. 

ICCI Executive Members including Maqsood Tabish, Hamayun Kabir, Aamir Hussain, Muhammad Rizwan Chheena, Sheikh Muhammad Ejaz, Malik Jalil Ahmed Awan, Dr. Muhammad Usman, Khalid Mehmood and others were in the ICCI delegation.  

Three-Day Islamabad Literature Festival Concludes with an Aplomb

A Memorable Closing to the Literary Festival-ILF 2023

DNA

Islamabad, NOV 5: The Islamabad Literature Festival (ILF), a celebration of literature and the arts, came to a close, marking the end of a successful and inspirational event. The festival, which began on November 3, 2023, brought together authors, readers, and literary enthusiasts for a memorable event of academic exploration and discussion.

It provided enriching experiences, engaging conversations, and deep appreciation for the impact of literature on society, and covered book launches, author signings, film screenings, panel discussions, and art exhibitions; ILF 2023 has served as a platform for celebrating the world of literature in all its forms.

The closing ceremony comprised keynote speeches by Senator Sherry Rehman and Anwar Masood. Senator Rehman expressed her appreciation for the revival of the Gandhara Citizens Club and was impressed by the theme because it is crucial to the times, we live in. Reiterating the importance of a sustainable planet she shared: “The planet is under stress, and we need to look at possibilities. We are not responsible for the melting glaciers, heatwaves, or monsoons but this does not translate to a total abjection of responsibility at our homes. No army of consultants will be able to formulate policies or develop projects for us and governments alone can also not do this. Climate successes are collaborations, and we all need to play our part in doing so.”

Poet and critic, Anwar Masood expressed gratitude to the organizers and highlighted the importance of in literature for a civilized society and a brighter future. He praised poets like Iqbal and said, “In times of unpredictability, poetry has long been a source of solace for individuals. With arts and literature, we can discover a glimmer of hope and unearth significance in the ordinary moments of everyday life.”

In his vote of thanks, Arshad Saeed Hussain, Managing Director, Oxford University Press (OUP) Pakistan was grateful for the phenomenal response, “Immersed in the compelling narratives and profound discussions of this literary festival, we’ve unravelled the deep ties binding humanity, the planet, and the realms of potential. In these trying times let us offer hope, fostering a united awareness for a world that thrives on sustainability and empathy.”

Muhammad Mikal Soomro, Manager Corporate Communications, Getz Pharma, Pvt. Ltd., lauded the efforts for putting together such an impeccable literary event.

The Interim Minister of Information, Murtaza Solangi also attended all three days of the event.

ILF 2023 has highlighted the importance of literature as a means of artistic expression and societal connection. The first half of the day featured comprised various discussions like Curriculum, Textbook, High Stakes Assessments- A Way Forward, and Hamari Mitti hui Zabanain. A presentation on Aag ka Darya was followed by a dialogue alongside more panel discussions; Resilient Pakistan- The Sociocultural Impact and Harmony Across Borders, Capital Talk: In conversation with Hamid Mir and Quest for Peace and Security Among Neighbours.

Various informative conversations like Securing Pakistan’s Interest: Navigating Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, The Idle Stance of the Tipple Pigeon, Duktar-e-Rumi, Siyaah Heeray, 1980 ki Dehai Ka Ashob and Rawal Raj also captivated the audience.

Moderated by Raheela Baqai, the session on Haya Fatima Sehgal’s book, Resilient Pakistan- The Sociocultural Impact, touched upon various inspirational aspects from the life of Jinnah and Fatima Jinnah. Mushahid Hussain Syed appreciated Haya’s work that it addressed the status quo and focused on the possibilities and resilience of the nation. Raheela commented that the book proves to be a light at the end of the tunnel.

The crowd was in awe of Swaang Theatre Group, which presented a play, Aao Drama Karain, by Saadat Hasan Manto while Aisha Sarwari. Moneeza Hashmi took a trip down memory lane in the session, Conversations with my Father: Forty Years on- a Daughter Responds, which was moderated by Aisah Sarwari.

Hamid Mir in conversation with Tauseeq Haider spoke about the current political scenario by referring to numerous writers who have fictionalised their accounts to reach a wider audience at the cost of compromising the integrity of the state. He hoped that future generations will instead, do our country the justice it deserves.

Victoria Schofield in her discussion Harmony across Borders: The Quest for Peace and Security among Neighbours spoke about the geopolitical importance of Pakistan and pointed out that to achieve peace in the region countries would need to change perspectives on the definition of the ‘enemy’. Zahid Hussain also said that given this region has 1/3 of the world’s population and is home to three nuclear powers, expecting volatility and conflict should not be unusual in the region.

The session Curriculum, Textbook, High Stakes Assessments- A Way Forward moderated by Faisal Bari led to an insightful discussion on different aspects that impact the education sector of Pakistan and touched upon the merits and demerits of Single National Curriculum. Arshad Saeed Hussain spoke about the various issues within the realm of curriculum and textbooks, especially how textbooks are not allowed in schools just because the government authorities may not agree with the content, “Instead of removing a chapter or a part, entire text is not permitted to be the part of the syllabus.” Saeed stressed that the boards ensure that the textbooks taught do not have any degree of institutional contempt, and there should be a dialogue between all stakeholders. Mian Imran Masood stated that there is an urgent need to depoliticise education if the country wishes to achieve true progress.

The latter half of the day saw an impressive line-up of specially designed panel discussions; Pakistan’s Foreign Policy and Economic Challenges, Ishq Nama Shah Hussain, A Columnist’s Voice: A Conversation about a Life Lived with Passion, Human Rights: Is There a meaning left?, Tarjuma Nigari ki Ahmiyat, Music in COVID Times: Album Launch, Aye Aasman Neechay Utar, Voices from the Foothills; Pakistani English Verse; Business and Economy, Shaping the Way Forward;  and Film: The Power of Storytelling.

A full-packed auditorium which hosted the dialogue between Maleeha Lodhi and Aizaz Ahad Chaudhry Pakistan’s Foreign Policy and Economic Challenges delved into the history of Pakistan’s relationship with its neighbours in the context of economics especially the decision to halt trade with India.

In the session titled, Business and Economy, Shaping the Way Forward, Muhammad Azfar Ahsan, Founder & CEO, Nutshell Group elaborated on the evolving economic landscape in Pakistan: “If we wish to improve the investment climate of the country, we need to have a long-term plan that is sustainable for at least 20 to 30 years, without any compromise, and with guarantee of continuation of policies. Azfar added that there should be a focus on facilitating existing investors so that we are able to attract FDI. We will need competent teams at the forefront and strong collaboration between government, private and public sectors, and the military establishment.

The grand finale of ILF 2023 was a memorable ghazal night by Ustad Hamid Ali Khan, where he rendered classical pieces by renowned poets of Pakistan.

Throughout the 3-day festival, attendees had the opportunity to meet and interact with prolific authors, discover new voices in the literary world, and engage in thought-provoking discussions on a wide range of topics. The festival’s diverse planning ensured that there was something for everyone.