FOR a state to deprive residents of their homes without providing for alternative housing for them is a dereliction of duty. To do so during a pandemic when large numbers of people have lost their means of income is an act of extreme cruelty. A few weeks ago, the long-festering issue of encroachments on the Gujjar and Orangi nullahs in Karachi — that surfaces each time the city experiences heavy monsoon rains — once again exploded into the open. In March, Sindh government authorities began demolishing homes and commercial units located alongside the storm water drains in preparation for the coming monsoon. The residents here are of course from the lower-income strata, those whom the government finds it easiest to pummel into submission when it wants to make a show of ‘establishing the writ of the law’. That is an disingenuous take on the situation for it is the government itself that is guilty of violating the law in multiple ways while allowing these settlements to develop. Many residents have 99-year leases for their properties; they were also provided utility services in the years after they put down their roots here. Certainly the argument is valid that encroachments on storm water drains are a major reason for urban flooding. Equally compelling however, is the stance that the government whose various authorities issued the leases and NOCs for the residents to get gas and electricity connections, must provide alternative accommodation for them. The Sindh High Court has ordered a stay on the evictions until the Supreme Court hearing on the issue.
There is a dire shortage of affordable housing in the city for low-income residents, which is why encroachments come up, yet the government has paid no heed to this pressing issue. What is happening in another part of Karachi, the portion of Malir district where indigenous farming communities are being ruthlessly driven from their land to make way for Bahria Town’s ever-expanding housing project, is another aspect of the same story. Part of the land on which the project is coming up had been reserved for low-cost housing, but the land authority concerned instead handed it over to the for-profit developer. Last week, the locals put up fierce resistance when bulldozers, backed by police personnel, arrived to demolish their homes and clear the land. Several people were injured in the ensuing violence. Such evictions are bound to have serious long-term consequences on social cohesion and ethnic harmony.
Riyadh-Tehran thaw
SEVERAL official pronouncements over the last few days have confirmed that efforts are underway behind the scenes to mend the broken Saudi-Iranian relationship. On Monday, a spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry said that talks had indeed been held to improve relations between the cross-Gulf rivals. An official of the Saudi foreign ministry had a few days earlier also affirmed the fact that dialogue was under way. Meanwhile, the key indicator that ties were set to improve was a TV interview Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gave late last month, in which he said the kingdom sought to have a “good relationship” with the Islamic Republic, though Riyadh’s de facto ruler added that he was wary of Iran’s “negative behaviour”. This was seen as a distinct change in tone, as earlier the Saudi leadership had adopted a hawkish stand towards Tehran, pledging to take the battle to Iran.
While the signals are definitely positive, no one should expect an immediate transformation in the bilateral relationship from combativeness to exchanges of brotherly feelings. Officials of both foreign ministries have been cautious about the prospects, with the Iranian side saying “let us wait [and] see”, while the Saudis have observed that it would be “premature” to comment on specifics. Perhaps the change in tone, particularly in Riyadh, has been triggered by the change of guard in Washington. The Trump administration pursued an antagonistic policy towards Iran, pampering Israel and urging America’s Gulf allies to forge a united front against Tehran together with Tel Aviv. However, with the arrival of Team Biden, the language and emphasis — particularly where the Middle East is concerned — of the White House has changed. Perhaps those that matter in Riyadh have realised the mood in the US, and have decided that the best way to sort out issues in the region is for the countries of the Middle East to reach a modus vivendi themselves without depending on outside players. Apparently, the Saudi rapprochement with Qatar is part of the same strategic thinking.
Both the Saudis and the Iranians must realise that good relations between them are critical at this juncture not only for the bilateral relationship, but also for peace and stability of the wider region and within the Muslim world. For starters, they can help end the devastating war in Yemen, where both capitals support opposing sides. Moreover, at a time when Israel is once again mercilessly pounding the Palestinians, unity within the Muslim world is of the essence, to send a clear message that the slaughter of defenceless people will not be tolerated. There is a wide ideological and geopolitical divide between Riyadh and Tehran. But this does not mean both states have to live in a perpetual state of confrontation. Both must aim to respect each other’s sovereignty and work for de-escalating tensions across the Muslim world.
Wheat concerns
THE new official projections for provisional wheat output suggest that Punjab may harvest around 20.5m tonnes of wheat this year, well above the initial estimates of 19.6m tonnes and last year’s output of 19.4m tonnes. The improved wheat harvest is attributable mainly to an overall increase of 3.5pc in the area under cultivation because of enhancement in the minimum wheat support price by over 28pc to Rs1,800 per 40kg, as well as favourable weather conditions. The higher-than-expected Punjab harvest is likely to help the country achieve at least its second highest wheat output ever even if it doesn’t push it closer to the record high production of 26.7m tonnes five years ago. The better crop is indeed a good development for national food security objectives and is likely to cut the growing food import bill of the cash-strapped government. But it doesn’t mean that our wheat troubles will be over soon.
For starters, overall wheat production remains significantly lower than rising domestic consumption, which, according to some estimates, has exceeded 27.5m tonnes because of a high population growth rate. Hence, Pakistan is no more self-sufficient in wheat in spite of bringing maximum acres under the staple crop. Bringing more land under cultivation without raising productivity can help only so much. There is no easy fix for the nation’s food security issues. There never was. The long-term sustainable solution lies in investment in the agricultural infrastructure and development of new high-yield seed varieties, as well as adoption of modern farm practices and technologies to raise crop output. Simultaneously, the government needs to review the impact of its policies on the agriculture sector and reduce its excessive interventions in the market in the name of supporting farmers and urban consumers. Past experiences show that such interventions have only created distortions in the market instead of protecting the growers from manipulative investors or consumers from price inflation. It is going to be a tough decision for the government. But it has to be made sooner or later.
