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A comprehensive constitutional package has been prepared and we are told to believe that all problems of the country would be solved through this constitutional package. In a country where agreement could not be reached on a single point of restoration of judges, I wonder if any agreement could be reached on the ever expending constitutional draft package.

Asif Zardari does not want the judges to be restored. This is a fact. The entire leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party shamefully changed its stance soon after formation of the government. The signed an agreement with the Pakistan Muslim League in Murree and later reneged on it saying that it was not practical.

It is being said in the press and electronic media that the fate of Asif Zardari is tied to the National Reconciliation Ordinance commonly called NRO. Zardari emerged as a clean man taking full advantage of this black law. All the corruption and murder cases against him were withdrawn one after another in less than one month. If the judges are restored, particularly the chief justice, the NRO might be struck down. Justice Choudhry had given a stay order on NRO.

Besides restoration of judges there are other pressing issues facing the common people of the country which cannot be solved through mere constitutional amendments alone. The power to appoint Chief Election Commissioner, the Services Chief, the Chief Justices of the High Courts and Supreme Court has nothing to do with the problems of the people. What is required is a political will to solve these problems. Unfortunately we do not see it.

 

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Karachi is the industrial hub of the country. Power is the most important factor for industrial development. The Karachi Electric Supply Corporation which is responsible for providing electric power to the city has failed miserably and this mega city of the country has to go without electricity for more than 8 hours each day. This failure of electricity or load shedding as it is commonly called has badly affected the industrial activity in the city.

The cost of doing business has increased because of the rise in the cost of electric power. The situation is compounded by prolonged absence of power due to which industrialists have to rely on generators which further increases the cost.

The performance of Karachi Electric Supply Corporation has never been good, but the efficiency of this utility has sharply decreased after it was privatized a few years ago. The company who had bough the KESC has not fulfilled a single promise which it made at the time of privatization. It has invested a single rupee in increasing the generation capacity and maintenance of the system.

If only KESC could control its line losses a lot of problem would have been solved. According the KESC’s own estimates more than 35 per cent of the electricity is consumed in line losses. KESC should also take steps to check theft of electricity which continues unabated with the aid of the KESC staff itself.

I think that the government should warn KESC to improve its performance and invest money in generation and system maintenance as promised by it at the time of privatization or else the privatization of KESC should be canceled. A commercially important city such as Karachi cannot be left to a company alone. The best thing would be to cancel the privatization and hand it over to the City District Government.

 

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Muhammad Asif, fast bowler of the Pakistani cricket team was detained at the Dubai airport. He was carrying something which the airport authorities described as contraband item. The player has been detained at the airport for more than a week now.

Pakistan Cricket Board had dispatched its official to Dubai to secure the release of its player which has not been helpful. Such incidents smear the name of the country in foreign countries. This is the second time that Muhammad Asif has brought "laurels" for the country. He was tested positive for using prohibited items sometimes back but was shown leniency.

I think that the Cricket Board must take strong action against him even if he is released by the Dubai Authorities. No leniency should be shown to the people who bring the name of the country into disrepute.

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The telecom sector has been a major source of revenue generation for the government of Pakistan. According to news reports the telecom sector has generated Rs 100.5 billion in the form of taxes, duties and regulatory charges during the previous fiscal year.

The Telecom sector has been growing rapidly in the country. The mobile phone subscribers has increased manifold during the past few years. Even though it generated revenue for the government in the form of taxes and duties yet the mobile phone companies take their profit out of the country in the form of dollars.

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The piolotless plains of the United States are coming to Pakistani territory as often as they like. The government has not been able to protest against this violation of airspace and sovereignty of the country with the US government.

These drones not only fly over the Pakistani territory but also fire missiles on suspected targets in which innocent people have lost their lives. Such attacks go against the objectives of the war on terror. It creates hatred in the minds of the people their anger results in more violence.

I think that the government of Pakistan must lodge serious protest with the US government against such unauthorized flights in its airspace. Interestingly the political parties had been very critical of President Pervez Musharraf for giving in to the demands of the US government, but now that the affairs of the country are in their own hands, the previous policies continue without any change.

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