Stray bullets
ONCE again, Karachi is mourning. A tale not unfamiliar, but heart-wrenching and unacceptable all the same. A young life, full of potential, cut tragically short. Mariam Saqib is but the latest victim of a menace that has haunted our society for far too long: stray bullets. A security guard, aiming to deter robbers, inadvertently sealed the fate of the seven-year-old girl. We have been there before, with the strikingly similar and equally tragic loss in 2018 of 10-year-old Amal Umer, and last year, of a nine-month-old girl whose mother was travelling with her by rickshaw. These harrowing tales build upon a series of incidents where lives are caught in the crossfire of misguided bullets, epitomizing a crisis that has systematically been overlooked.
The culture of firearm misuse is not confined to a section of society; it is a damning indictment of a failure that encompasses private security firms and even the police. We are forced to ask why no lessons have been learned despite the innocent blood staining our streets. How many more young lives must be snuffed out before we stand up as a society and demand change? It is incumbent upon us to advocate for rigorous training and regulation of all security personnel — an initiative that not only includes adept firearm handling but also instils a deep understanding of the sanctity of life. It is the moral duty of the state to ensure that every security guard and police officer is equipped not just with a weapon but also the wisdom to wield it responsibly. Let us not allow another life to be reduced to a mere statistic in this gruesome tale. It is high time we put an end to such needless deaths and nurtured a society where our children can step outside without fear, and where families are not torn apart by stray projectiles emanating from the guns of those entrusted with their protection.
Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2023
Cricket trouble
IN the big games, Pakistan fell short. Well short against India, by a whisker against Sri Lanka, and quite short of what was expected. As the world’s top-ranked ODI side, Pakistan entered the Asia Cup with high hopes. They were, at the very least, expected to reach the final of the tournament before next month’s World Cup in India. But the Super Four stage proved a hurdle too high. Thursday’s loss to Sri Lanka by the barest of margins in Colombo brought Pakistan’s campaign to a close. It was a nerve-wracking finish, but in all fairness, Sri Lanka held the upper hand for most part of the rain-curtailed game with Pakistan only getting close after a late flurry of wickets. It was a second successive loss for Babar Azam’s side after being thrashed by India in a match that spanned two days due to rain. India’s record 228-run victory over Pakistan had put the national team in a perilous position, setting up a virtual semi-final against Sri Lanka. The threat of rain persisted, Pakistan knowing they would be out of the final if the game was washed out. Injuries had seen Pakistan losing front-line pacers Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah but they had their chances in a match that was reduced to 42 overs per side. The biggest went a-begging when wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan floored a catch off Charith Asalanka, who hit the winning runs on the last delivery of Sri Lanka’s innings. But at least, unlike the preceding game against arch-rivals India, Pakistan showed some fight. Coach Grant Bradburn had termed that defeat a ‘wake-up call’ with Indian batters tearing into Pakistan’s much-vaunted bowling attack. An insipid batting performance, lacking any conviction, was to follow.
Pakistan’s only wins at the Asia Cup against Nepal and Bangladesh have put Babar’s captaincy into sharp focus. Pakistan have struggled in the middle overs while bowling and there have been questions over all-rounder Shadab Khan’s value. The spinner bled runs during the Asia Cup but Babar has persisted with him. Opener Fakhar Zaman seems out of touch and failed to provide stability at the top of the order. There have been bright spots, however, most notably Iftikhar Ahmed’s all-round contributions. A brutal assessment is required before the World Cup. Some tweaks could see the team return to its winning ways.
Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2023
Mayday
WHEN PIA cancelled several international and domestic flights recently, after grounding five of its Airbus A320 jets because it did not have $100m to ‘immediately pay’ its creditors, many wondered how long taxpayers would have to continue to bail out the debt-ridden airline.
A TV channel quoted a PIA director as warning that the national carrier’s operations could be suspended if emergency funds weren’t provided to pay arrears to creditors, aircraft lessors, fuel suppliers, insurers, domestic and international airport operators and the IATA.
With the company struggling to secure funds, its HR department chief thought it fit to declare during his testimony before a Senate panel that closure of operations and services would “happen only over our dead bodies”.
His emotional outburst shows the kind of opposition the new plan to privatise the bankrupt airline is likely to face from both its unionised staff and executives with a vested interest in retaining the company in the public sector in spite of its huge costs.
Meanwhile, the aviation ministry wants an immediate cash injection of Rs23bn, as well as the suspension of duties, taxes and service charges to domestic agencies to pull PIA out of its money troubles as Boeing and Airbus are on the verge of discontinuing the supply of spare parts.
The government has no choice but to accede to the demand in order to temporarily bail out the company. However, PIA’s problems aren’t going to end with this injection. Sooner or later, it will be in need of more cash.
A report in this paper has rightly compared PIA to state-owned power companies, pointing out that the airline serves less than 3pc of its citizens travelling by air but consumes significant public funds.
In contrast, the highly maligned power companies cater to nearly 80pc of the population. It does not justify the losses of the power companies or delays in their immediate disinvestment. Yet it does underline the reality that the government needs to put its money where its mouth is when it is hard up.
PIA’s debt and liabilities have soared to Rs743bn, which exceeds the value of its total assets by five times, according to the aviation ministry. Its liabilities are projected to spike to a whopping Rs1.97tr and its annual losses to Rs259bn by 2030.
There is no way the airline can be turned around. Too many unsuccessful attempts have been made in the past. The airline is long dead as a corporate entity and brand. Its expeditious privatisation is the only way to reduce the burden on taxpayers and the government budget.
Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar’s directions to the relevant authorities to fast-track PIA’s privatisation is an encouraging development.
However, it remains a rhetorical statement unless followed immediately by concrete actions.
Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2023