Living history
WONDROUS Mohenjodaro is alive and well as an enigma. Last week, almost a century since the first collection of coins was unearthed in 1922-31, experts excavated a pot of copper coins from the Divinity street on the western side of the Mohenjodaro stupa. These revelations, a first in over nine decades, date back to the Kushan period and the credit belongs to personnel from Archaeology Mohenjodaro who described the antiquated pennies as “thickly rusted and stuck together”. Earlier, as explorers unearthed souvenirs of old life — clay and metal seals, coins, toys, gold and bronze ornaments, weighing stones and more, that indicated flourishing trade — they also declared that the 5000-year-old city was the largest and most advanced settlement of the Indus Valley Civilisation. Moreover, its intricate sewerage and drainage system is ahead of our present conditions.
Ever since the World Heritage Site’s discovery, extensive excavation of only a small area has been achieved and much to global amazement, a sprawling public bath, not a fort or a place of worship, is its most significant structure. Therefore, if a fraction can convert the historic expanse into a marvel of infrastructure, erudition and refinement, the wealth of antiquities it continues to hold is beyond collective imagination. But Pakistan’s controversial image, tainted with militancy, insecurity, economic frailty and corruption, has rendered it unthinkable for international historians, archaeologists, students and tourists to savour this heritage and find answers for the sudden extinction of a thriving, cutting-edge society. For Mohenjodaro to survive a few more centuries, there should be preserved, studied and documented history that future generations can turn to as opposed to decay. Many lessons too are buried in the vastness of a multicultural past, such as the knowledge that these people lived well because of an egalitarian, imaginative, peaceful and secular way of life. The hour has come to respect an extraordinary inheritance and keep ancient traces within our reach.
Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2023
Toxic cough syrups
PAKISTAN’S struggling health sector is back in the spotlight, once more for unfortunate reasons. Five cough syrups have been banned by the Punjab government following a WHO alert. These syrups were found to contain dangerously high alcohol levels and potentially toxic substances. This alarming discovery, sparked by complaints from the Maldives, underscores a shameful international dimension to the scandal: these dangerous products were not only sold locally but also exported, risking lives beyond our borders. It marks the second drug-related scandal to have come to light in Punjab in recent weeks, after patients lost their vision following the off-label use of a cancer drug to treat diabetes-related eye conditions. The international manufacturer released a statement saying that the drug is “not approved for any use in the eye”. Misuse of other drugs, such as one globally recognised to treat migraines but marketed in Pakistan as an ‘appetite stimulant’, is dangerously commonplace. These episodes are not isolated events but symptoms of a systemic failure in Pakistan’s drug regulatory framework. They highlight significant flaws in oversight, from manufacturing to distribution, and expose the informal, often unsafe, transportation methods employed within the industry. Ongoing medical malpractice, such as the 2021 debacle in which expired stents were used on cardiac patients in Lahore, further illustrate the appalling state of our healthcare system.
These continuing healthcare failures underscore a dire need for comprehensive reform in drug regulation. The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan must enforce stricter controls and ensure transparency and accountability in the drug manufacturing and distribution process. This includes establishing a reliable and authoritative national formulary to guide medical practitioners and patients, thereby preventing the misuse of medication. The absence of an official drug guide is a glaring gap that needs immediate attention. The government must recognise that there is an urgent need to overhaul the regulatory mechanisms governing the pharma industry. This should include not only rigorous checks on manufacturing standards but also a comprehensive review of how drugs are marketed, prescribed, and distributed. The public’s health and safety must be the foremost priority; any negligence or malpractice in this regard should entail strict legal consequences. Only through decisive action and systemic reforms can we prevent such incidents from recurring and safeguard the health of our citizens.
Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2023
Familiar message
NLY the state has a monopoly on the use of force, while armed action by non-state actors is out of the question. Moreover, intolerant behaviour against minorities and other disadvantaged groups cannot be countenanced, while religious, sectarian and linguistic differences need to be overcome. This was the gist of the message the army chief gave to an assemblage of divines who had gathered at GHQ on Friday.
The COAS also reiterated the salient features of the 2018 Paigham-i-Pakistan fatwa that over 1,800 clerics belonging to all confessional backgrounds had endorsed to shun militancy and extremism.
It is assumed the conclave was arranged in the context of the rising terrorist violence across Pakistan, in which large numbers of security personnel, as well as civilians, have been martyred. It is hard to disagree with the message of this meeting, and it needs to be amplified further.
However, it appears that the army chief was preaching to the converted. Pro-state ulema are not the problem; extremist preachers who wish to dismantle the state and replace it with their own polity are the main hurdles to peace.
Along with kinetic operations, it is the facilitators of militancy in Pakistan who must be confronted. For example, amongst the sectarian groups and hard-right outfits in the country, many are sympathetic to the aims of terrorist groups like the TTP and IS-K.
Yet these outfits remain active, free to organise and operate. While sectarian death squads that were very active up till a decade ago may have been neutralised by the state, their political and ideological supporters remain free to preach their toxic views.
Hence the establishment’s wish to deradicalise the nation will remain unfulfilled as long as these elements are operating at will. Secondly, a catharsis is needed within the establishment. For decades, the state encouraged jihadi actors, firstly in Afghanistan and then held Kashmir.
Changed geopolitical realities, and the fact that many of these groups went rogue and brought their battle to Pakistan, forced a U-turn, first during the Musharraf era, and then again after the APS Peshawar atrocity. Therefore, the establishment needs to acknowledge that mistakes were made when it supported jihadi actors, and learn from its errors.
Yet beyond the kinetic, legal and administrative actions against extremism, the underlying factors that fuel militancy must also be examined. While there have been numerous cases of ‘educated’ militants, it is mostly the dispossessed and the disadvantaged that become cannon fodder for terrorist groups.
When an uncaring, distant state does nothing for their welfare, many feel that religious militancy is the only solution. Therefore, were the state to ensure rights, education, jobs and above all respect to deprived segments, it could go a long way in quelling militancy.
Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2023