Choti Machlian
Talwar se Pehle
Loss of 400 million dollars
Over $400 million in reimbursement claims by Pakistan under Coalition Support Fund (CSF) for 2008 have been rejected by the United States because of new guidelines requiring ‘enhanced oversight and accountability’.
Total claims for 2008 were $1.4 billion, but Pakistan got $997 million in reimbursement, whereas the remaining claims were disallowed on grounds of “inadequate substantiation, over-billing” and other objections, sources told Dawn.
About $548 million were initially paid and the rest was deferred. It took the Pentagon another 18 months to settle the deferred claims. While paying $349 million last week in settlement of all claims from 2008, US officials reportedly tendered a callous excuse for the long delay: accounting problems.
Claims worth over $2 billion under CSF for 2009 are still pending because of intense scrutiny of Pakistan’s claims. After the cuts in payments for 2008, there are renewed fears in Islamabad that demands for last year would meet a similar fate.
The claims pertained to expenditures incurred by Pakistan on food and clothing of troops; fuel; transportation; communication; medical charges; helicopter operations; destroyed paraphernalia; and repair and maintenance of equipment. Under a bilateral agreement between ministries of defence, US repays ‘legitimate expenditures’ incurred in support of its military operations.
United Status of Roohaniat
Saudi – India Relations
Saudi Arabia has been in the news lately and much of it for reasons that may unsettle some here. But a closer look at the goings-on and speculation suggests that the perceived ‘negative’ impact on Pakistan may be an exaggeration.
Yesterday, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh became the first Indian prime minister to visit Saudi Arabia in nearly three decades and his Saudi hosts clearly rolled out the red carpet for him and his entourage. But Pakistanis needn’t worry about losing out in a zero-sum game for Saudi Arabia’s attention. The Saudis were simply acknowledging an emerging reality: that India is establishing itself as a big regional power, and trade with it is becoming increasingly important for other countries.
Afghanistan featured only marginally in the talks — the two countries called for the preservation of Afghanistan’s ‘sovereignty and independence’ — though the Indians will almost certainly be hoping that Saudi Arabia will, when the time comes, try and placate Pakistan over India’s future role in Afghanistan. Even so, it seems quite far-fetched that Saudi Arabia will side with India and veto Pakistan on anything to do with Afghanistan. The Saudis know that a period of uncertainty lies ahead for many of the areas they have an interest in, from Iraq to Yemen and Afghanistan to Iran, and they will want to avoid introducing radical new elements in the most stable of their relationships, such as they have with Pakistan. It’s worth noting, though, that where Pakistan may be interested in Saudi help, India remains fiercely opposed to it: on Kashmir. Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor had to hastily clarify, in the face of criticism from the domestic opposition, that there was no possibility of Saudi ‘mediation’ on the Kashmir issue.
The other big speculation doing the rounds is that the Saudis have leaned on Pakistan in recent weeks to move against the Afghan Taliban leaders scattered across the country here. But this too seems unlikely. While there certainly appears to have been a ‘shift’ in Pakistan’s policy on the Afghan Taliban, two other elements have probably played a bigger role in making that shift possible: renewed American pressure on Pakistan, coinciding with the start of the ‘surge’ in southern Afghanistan, and the Pakistan Army’s internal perceptions of the threat that the Afghan Taliban pose to this country. Only time will tell if the shift in policy is permanent: the army may have decided that enhanced tactical cooperation at this time is merited even though its broader strategic calculations remain the same. Either way, Saudi intervention, if it has in fact occurred, is unlikely to have been decisive.
Pakistan eyes five billion dollars in foreign investment
Pakistan aims to attract foreign investment worth five billion dollars this year, but needs to tackle reform, maximise anaemic growth and stem rampant violence to clinch its ambitious target.
Last fiscal year, Pakistan recorded its worst economic growth in more than a decade, at two per cent, and attracted only 3.7 billion dollars in investment.
Yet Board of Investment chairman Saleem Mandviwalla is optimistic despite Pakistan’s immense challenges.
“Traditionally the investment pace that we had kept — which was an average of five billion dollars a year — I think we should be able to go back to it very soon depending on if the global situation improves,” he told AFP.
“Pakistan faces the global crisis which is going on, the financial crisis, the energy crisis and then on top of these we have the security situation,” Mandviwalla, who is also a state minister, conceded.
Security has plummeted in Pakistan over the last three years with militants on the rampage, killing more than 3,000 people in bomb attacks to avenge the government’s alliance with the United States in the war on Al-Qaeda.
Then there is the crippling energy crisis. Power cuts have become routine all year round, choking industry and causing misery for millions.
“With these conditions prevailing on us, which is terrorism and energy shortages, this stops us from really moving the investment the way it should come in,” Mandviwalla acknowledged.
While Pakistan languishes behind regional giants India and China, Mandviwalla takes comfort from the fact that his country, with its relatively advanced infrastructure, does better than other developing countries.
Close ally the United States has tripled non-military aid to Pakistan to 7.5 billion dollars over the next five years, spurring hopes that the cash can boost economic growth and improve security.
“We have to market Pakistan, we have to overcome the local issues,” Mandviwalla said, highlighting opportunities in energy generation, agriculture and infrastructure.
The top three countries providing foreign direct investment (FDI) so far this fiscal year are the United States, with 347.5 million dollars, Britain, 119 million dollars and the United Arab Emirates, 121.8 million dollars, according to the Board of Investment.
Chile – An Example
- Image via Wikipedia
LOCATED on the Pacific Rim ‘ring of fire’, the world’s most seismically active region, Chile suffered one of its worst earthquakes in the early hours of Saturday. Measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale, the tremor made some kind of geological history. According to one report the last earthquake of bigger magnitude recorded took place in May 1960 (in Chile) that claimed almost 2,000 lives. Saturday’s calamity also triggered a tsunami causing 53 countries to issue a warning to their coastal areas. Mercifully, the killer waves forecast did not materialise. Nevertheless, evacuation plans, such as those in Japan and Hawaii, led many to safer ground. As the intensity of the earthquake became clear, the world waited for spine-chilling accounts of death and devastation in Chile. Destruction there has been in abundance — some 500,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed — and more than 700 people have been killed. At least two million have been affected, necessitating the declaration of a “state of catastrophe” in the country. But in spite of its current crisis, Chile stands out as a shining example of how nations can indeed take precautions to avoid the worst fallout of unpredictable natural disasters.
Chile is an earthquake-prone country, and that knowledge and preparedness for such calamities are ingrained in the government’s economic planning and governance. The national emergency office, which is organised at the national, regional and local level, coordinates the services of fire-fighters, medical teams, civil defence, etc which means that an effective emergency response system is in place. Moreover, strictly enforced house-building codes have ensured that structures are quake-proof. The wealthiest Latin American nation that has just been invited to join the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Chile refused financial assistance from abroad, though rescue and relief workers were being allowed in. Third World countries still have a long way to go in learning lessons from Chile in disaster management. Haiti’s experience six weeks ago shows how countries with limited resources, inefficient and corrupt governments and lacking the spirit of self-reliance suffer more when natural disasters strike. Though its temblor was milder than Chile’s Haiti lost 200,000 people.
Work on Iran power project to begin soon
Tahir Basharat Cheema, the managing director of Pakistan Electric Power Company, has said that three power plants will be installed in the country to ensure smooth and cheap electricity.
He said that Pepco had held talks with the Iranian government for purchasing 1,000 MW of electricity and feasibility reports prepared by both countries had been submitted to the authorities concerned.
He said a 50MW coal power plant would soon be set up in Punjab. It will use coal from Balochistan. A similar plant with a capacity of 1,200MW would be set up in Sindh, he added.
Mr Cheema said that an agreement was signed last week under which Iran would supply 100MW to meet the power needs of Balochistan’s coastal region.
He said that a project to lay transmission lines between the two countries would be launched soon and the work would be completed in three to four years. With the completion of the project, he said, the power shortage in the country would be solved.
He said the Asian Development Bank would extend a loan of Rs9 billion to the Quetta Electric Supply Company in three instalments for improving power infrastructure and upgrading the supply system in Balochistan. He said the current power demand in the province was 1,150MW but the supply was only 750MW.
Media Target Killing
What a dramatic yet expected ending of NA-55 elections. It was amusing, it was entertaining and it was worth spending thousands minutes before hostile media channels. The days has passed, election results are clear and everyone is now analyzing the situation. Every literate, educate person trying to draw conclusions.
But i want to dram the attention on something that has effected the poll results. Irrespective to this fact about effect the media campaign which was pro-sheikh Rasheed and anti-sheikh Raseeh has startled the public, and researchers. Being a media student it is my responsibility to keep an eye on ongoing media productions. The election has raised much of speculations people from all walks of life have been reading, discussing and updating themselves. As per election commission’s laws one cannot campaign just a day before election. But the immaturity of media and unethical practice continued and we have witnessed anchors discussing NA-55 vociferously.
Among all the programs one program stood aside and the content which was broadcasted influenced the opinion of masses. Whether some one like it or not but the fact is people of that particular constituency were inflicted by media. It is impossible to justify yourself by saying this that “I was unveiling the true face of Sheikh Rasheed as it is my responsibility.” However, this face could have been revealed days before election why on the last day?
Why the media did not show the true faces of other candidates? Why Sheikh Rasheed was maligned? I am not in the favor of him but all i am concerned is that the media has exercised its power and we need to open our eyes because the confusion of media implication should be removed after that case study.
I would end myself saying this that if the program was so objective then I am sure People would have never raised their fingers on it. Obviously it was indigestible and it was subjective. Now i have exercised my freedom of expression in expressing my opinion and if any one of my reader will understand and feel the same way i do then that anchor person will have moral/legal obligation to accept it because this is the same thing he did to Shiekh.
Inspiring and Intriguing Debate
A very inspiring and intriguing debate but what happened after it? What happened when that lady stopped? Did some one do something about it? Did anyone of the elite do anything anything at all??????
