IN a step that will go far in sending a message of reassurance to female students and academic staff in universities, the KP ombudsperson for protection against the harassment of women recommended the removal of a senior professor at Islamia College University in Peshawar for inappropriate behaviour towards a women student. The student had approached the ombudsperson last November with a complaint against the chairman of the political science department. After an inquiry conducted into the matter, the ombudsperson’s office recommended that the professor be removed from his post under Section 4(II)(c) of Protection Against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2010. The order also recommended additional penalties under Section 10-2(h) to be decided on by the relevant authority. Considering how pervasive harassment is on campuses and how university authorities tend to ignore or dismiss such allegations — as was seen in this case initially — the decision comes as a breath of fresh air. Indeed, Islamia College University was the scene of protests last year in a demonstration that saw female students from other institutions in Peshawar participate as well. The students were protesting against harassment by male students and academic staff members.
One hopes that this decision will serve as an example for other provinces, where harassment in campuses is just as rampant in both public and private universities. A most egregious case of harassment and blackmail of women students was the one in the University of Balochistan. The students’ trauma came to light a couple of years ago. Despite the fact that the case rattled the provincial and federal administration and the Balochistan High Court took suo motu notice of the matter, no legal action appears to have been taken against the alleged perpetrators who included university officials. Similarly, several cases have been reported from Karachi University but the university management has been reluctant to pursue them. Unfortunately, when the highest in the land promote the strange logic that harassment is a consequence of ‘obscenity’, lesser mortals will feel that they have a free hand.
Pak-India mediation
QUESTIONS had been swirling about what and who has prompted the latest detente between Pakistan and India. Now, it appears that these queries have been answered to some extent,
with the UAE’s ambassador to Washington saying that his country was mediating between the rival South Asian states. Yousef Al Otaiba, while participating in a virtual discussion confirmed that the UAE is helping bring Pakistan and India together. While he didn’t expect Islamabad and New Delhi to “become best friends”, Mr Otaiba did want to see the relationship as “healthy and functional”. The ambassador’s comments coincide with reports that Pakistani and Indian intelligence officials met in Dubai, amongst other locations, which has apparently played a role in restoring calm along the Line of Control.
While India has always been averse to third parties getting involved in mediation, perhaps the latest round of bilateral contacts have been accepted by New Delhi as there have been backchannel negotiations, occurring away from the public view. Moreover, the UAE appears to be an interlocutor that is acceptable to both parties, as opposed to the US or other Western states playing the role of peacemaker. Regardless of who is pushing the peace process forward, the fact that Pakistan and India are talking after a very long period of vitriolic exchanges must be appreciated. While this country has kept the door for dialogue open, the sentiment has not always been reciprocated by the other side. However, attitudes in India may be changing, and even a ‘functional’ relationship is better than a constant state of confrontation.
Yet despite the positive vibes, people in both countries — especially the respective media outlets — must not hope for an immediate solution. This bilateral relationship is one of the most difficult in the world. The states have fought a number of wars and a high level of mistrust exists between the establishments of the two sides. So while hope does spring eternal, ground realities must not be forgotten. In the present circumstances, the best way forward is to quietly continue backchannel talks, away from angry, noisy lobbies that are unwilling to accept a peaceful subcontinent. Once there is progress, a blueprint for more formal talks can be laid out. The fact is that when it comes to Pakistan-India relations even preliminary negotiations and CBMs on ‘soft’ issues are an achievement. This is the first step in a long journey of normalisation, and it should be remembered that several such steps have been taken in the past, only for the process to fizzle out amongst noise and confusion. The other alternative — of conflict — prophesied by some, including the US, is quite unsavoury and the leaderships of both countries owe it to their people to give their all to the peace process, and put decades of wars, hatred and confrontation behind them.
Energy exploration
SOME exploration and production companies want the government to prioritise offshore exploration — a high-risk business owing to the low probability of discovery and formidable costs — in the next bidding round to be convened towards the end of the year. The last offshore drilling attempt at Kekra-1, well off the Karachi coast, had cost the four joint venture partners, including the state-owned OGDC, a whopping $125m. That the E&P players are willing to delve into this area despite the fact that offshore drilling in Pakistan has never yielded a commercial discovery underlines their confidence in the potential of such ventures. A successful offshore gamble could produce much better results than an onshore venture and help local companies rope in foreign investors as their JV partners even if the prospects of discovery are as low as 8pc as in the case of the Kekra well. Besides, the data gathered so far shows better offshore exploration prospects than onshore ventures.
Pakistan’s reliance on imported energy is increasing with the passage of time. Currently, the country meets more than 70pc of its energy requirements through imports, which form almost a quarter of the total import bill and obstructs economic growth. Although gas has been the most crucial domestic energy source, no major discovery has been made for the past decade or more with domestic production declining to 3.6bcfd. Likewise, oil production has plummeted to 75,000bpd from a peak of 95,000bpd in 2015. Recent discoveries were small. There is no chance of reversing the declining trend in the short term since there is no major project in the pipeline which could contribute to local gas production. In the last 15 years, there has been only one major gas discovery bigger than 1TCF and only two oil discoveries greater than 50mmbbl. Most foreign companies have left Pakistan, and new exploration is on the decline because of poor prospects of big discoveries, security issues in Balochistan, delays in decision-making and frequent changes in commitments to E&P companies. Pakistan has a vast, challenging sedimentary area yet to be explored. The E&P companies need to be encouraged by ensuring a helpful business environment and security, as well as through tax, price and policy incentives for enabling them to undertake high-risk onshore and offshore exploration activities and to exploit unconventional hydrocarbon resources. An increase in E&P activity will reduce our dependence on imported fuels and expand downstream economic activity besides creating jobs.
