Price of politics
THE big parties are not at all shy about the high price they have set on political ambition. According to a recent report in these pages, the PML-N and PTI have both set Rs200,000 as the ‘fee’ anyone hoping for a National Assembly ticket must deposit before they are even considered as a candidate. It seems like a rather steep ask for something that does not even guarantee one’s name on the ballot; yet, looking at past trends, it is unlikely to deter many hopefuls from making a bid anyway. While the parties argue that this ‘barrier to entry’ helps weed out ‘non-serious candidates’, the question does arise as to why a politician’s ‘seriousness’ about wanting to represent their constituency is to be measured against their capacity to risk forfeiting a not insubstantial amount of money. Surely there are better, more qualitative means to gauge the suitability of each candidate’s ability to be a strong representative and responsible leader?
Perhaps it is unrealistic to think so. Money, after all, is what makes the world go round, and there is no reason for democracy to be exempt from that rule. To succeed in politics, all parties will need to sink considerable sums into the election economy, and they need a source of funding to be able to do so. Ticket fees are a major source of revenue, especially in a political culture where individual donations are not as common. All the ECP must do to ensure that money doesn’t exert an oversized influence on elections is ensure that campaign finance rules are strictly followed. Spending limits were recently enhanced by the outgoing PDM government to Rs10m for National Assembly and Rs4m for provincial seats. However, many believe they will still not be adhered to. It is up to the ECP to ensure that its political finance wing is sufficiently equipped to enforce the rules impartially and equitably for all contestants.
Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2023
Condemned to die
ANOTHER day in Kohistan, another jirga-mandated murder of a girl. Her ‘crime’: dancing with boys in a video that went viral on social media. The harrowing incident bears a stark resemblance to the 2011 Kohistan case where five women were filmed clapping as a man danced. They were all reportedly murdered with a jirga’s approval. For such grisly crimes to continue more than a decade later raises alarming questions about parallel justice systems and the precarious state of women’s rights in Pakistan. The jirga, an assembly rooted in tribal traditions, operates outside the legal set-up, at times sanctioning murder. The state’s response often fails to make a lasting impact. The filing of an FIR in the recent case is a necessary step, yet is it sufficient to deter future killings? After all, the culprits of the 2011 crimes remain unpunished, while the man who brought the matter to light was gunned down, despite stating that his life was in danger. The plight of women in such scenarios is particularly distressing. Dubbed as ‘honour’ killings, these acts are, in fact, barbaric crimes that rob women of their dignity, agency, and ultimately, their lives. Women — in general, but particularly in these instances — are not seen as individuals with rights and freedoms but as mere bearers of communal honour, vulnerable to the most extreme forms of punishment for perceived transgressions.
The role of social media in exacerbating these situations cannot be overlooked. In an age where content can be rapidly disseminated and manipulated, the need for digital literacy and ethical standards in content sharing is more acute than ever. However, the solution does not lie in restricting digital freedoms but in educating and empowering communities to use these tools responsibly. Most importantly, there is a need for comprehensive reforms to ensure that jirgas, which have been upheld as illegal by the apex court, are replaced by state-sanctioned legal fora that uphold the principles of justice, human rights, and gender equality as enshrined in the Constitution. The state must assert its role in protecting its citizens, especially the most vulnerable, from parallel systems that perpetrate injustice and inequality. Our resolve must be to fight for a society where no individual lives in the shadow of an unjust verdict, and where the dignity and rights of every woman are upheld.
Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2023
Climate resilience
THE IMF’s advice to Pakistan to use its resources more effectively and efficiently to build a climate-resilient infrastructure and strengthen its ability to attract climate finance is timely. Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to the impact of climate change and the authorities are looking for international support to meet their climate finance targets.
Formulating sound public investment policies and aligning them with national climate adaptation and mitigation goals would be a step in the right direction. The Fund wants the next budget to be a “turning point” for planning mechanisms and investment portfolios based on climate adaptation. At the moment, Pakistan’s capital stock and efficiency of public investment are low.
The IMF has underscored the need for improving transparency on climate-related actions in the budget documents by providing information on key aspects of the public investment programme.
It wants the Planning Commission, together with the finance ministry, to come up with a proposal that, after approval, can be included in the next budget, and is encouraging the government to publish its climate-related spending for the ongoing fiscal year.
Pakistan has experienced several climate disasters caused by global warming. The World Bank’s Country Climate and Development Report has estimated that 6.5-9pc of GDP will likely be lost by 2050 to climate change, unless the challenge to lessen the impact of increased floods and heatwaves, which are reducing farm yields, destroying infrastructure and lowering labour productivity, is addressed.
Last year’s devastating floods, which displaced millions of people in the country and wiped out crops and infrastructure worth over $30bn, sharply demonstrate the need for greater investments in climate-resilient infrastructure.
With temperatures rising and unpredictable rainfall patterns increasing the risk of floods, cyclones, droughts and heatwaves, it is imperative our policymakers formulate sound development policies to mitigate the risk.
Transparent investments based on demonstrable needs in climate-resilient infrastructure are crucial to alleviating the impact of climate change and the increasing natural disasters the country is witnessing.
Unfortunately, in spite of significant understanding among policymakers about the threats presented by rapid global warming to economic and financial stability, it is disappointing to find that the country is least prepared to deal with the fallout of climate change.
Pakistan’s people and its economy have suffered massively due to bureaucratic inertia, policy ad-hocism, and a reactionary response to climate disasters. Notwithstanding the official claims, no concerted effort has thus far been made to plan and align public investments with national climate mitigation and adaptation goals.
With Pakistan just one more natural disaster away from yet another human and economic catastrophe, it is critical to ensure climate resilience of the economy through sound climate-related public investment management.
Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2023