Firetraps
MOST of our cities are dotted with firetraps, while firefighting facilities are woefully inadequate to deal with hazards. This can certainly be said for Karachi, a city of millions where regulations are lax and fire hazards plentiful. The tragic fire on Thursday at an industrial unit in the port city is indicative of the problems that rescuers face. At least four firefighters lost their lives fighting the blaze, while several more people were injured, after the factory collapsed. Police say the unit in question did not have any fire exits and lacked fire-extinguishing equipment. Circumstantial evidence would suggest this is the case in most of Karachi’s industrial units. It is also true that the mushroom growth of high-rise buildings in the city poses fresh fire hazards, as it is difficult to imagine most builders adhering to fire and safety codes in construction.
Of course, there are regular reminders for those willing to take notice of the dangers fire hazards pose to human life and property. One of the biggest disasters in Pakistan’s history was the 2012 Baldia factory arson. Though the premises were set on fire deliberately, the tragedy was exacerbated as there were no fire exits, and the windows were reportedly barred. Another high-rise in Karachi had to be evacuated after a fire broke out because a superstore in the building had illegally hoarded cooking oil in its basement. Fire tragedies will continue to happen unless the city and provincial governments get serious about tackling violations of safety codes. Moreover, the ill-equipped fire department also needs to be overhauled. Firefighters say a city the size of Karachi needs hundreds of fire engines along with safety gear that can help them better perform their demanding jobs. Public safety and hazard reduction are quite clearly not on the list of priorities of our rulers. Unless this apathy gives way to concern for human lives and well-being, little will change.
Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2023
Whistleblower perils
IN a country where tax evasion is rife and increasing the tax-to-GDP ratio a perennial topic of discussion, one would imagine the FBR would be grateful to whistleblowers exposing dodgy accounting practices at corporate concerns. Quite the opposite seems to be the case. On Wednesday, President Arif Alvi castigated the FBR for revealing to a private company the identity of a whistleblowing employee who had reported the firm’s alleged financial irregularities. The complainant, an accountant at Northern Toolings, had told FBR that the company was involved in maintaining bank accounts in the names of its employees, concealing warehouses with undeclared stock, under-invoicing at import stage, etc, all of which resulted in massive losses to the national exchequer. This was an act of courage, undertaken at considerable personal risk. But, instead of protecting the whistleblower’s identity and taking thorough action on his complaint, FBR rendered him more vulnerable. Reportedly, after his name was leaked, the individual began receiving threats from the company. The entire episode reflects very poorly on the FBR, and is indicative of a systemic malaise. In fact, even the Federal Excise Act 2005, one of the laws under which it functions, recognises the importance of whistleblowers and makes provision for the FBR to reward them. In its press releases, the FBR itself has encouraged people to come forward and expose tax evasion, while pledging to keep their identity confidential.
Corruption becomes endemic in a society when regulatory and investigative institutions fail to perform their duties. Corporate entities use ‘creative’ accounting methods to help hide their tax liabilities, and powerful individuals amass ill-gotten gains without any questions being asked. In such an environment, whistleblowers act at their peril. Recent instances have seen authorities, including at the highest levels of government, ordering punitive action against those who have revealed information suggesting extremely questionable acquisition of assets by influential individuals and ‘politically exposed persons’. This is not to advocate for exposés of confidential information of private individuals, especially by officials handling protected data, or information that concerns national security. Public interest should be the touchstone to consider whether an act of whistleblowing is justified. Think Panama Papers. Meanwhile, we need more legislation to protect whistleblowers, and the laws that exist should be strengthened and implemented. Those who seek to expose wrongdoing for the right reasons should not have to suffer.
Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2023
A final push
Sit at a table and talk. Break bread together; break the ice. That’s all that the nation needs its key leaders to do. The steep slope that this country has been hurtling down leads only to disaster. Much damage has already been done; there may not be much time left before an all-out catastrophe becomes imminent.
Since all branches of the state are now involved in national politics and politicking, they must be reminded that all politics involves compromise. Inflexible egos have no place in a democratic political system.
In lieu of that, the government and military establishment need to realise that they have no viable path forward without the public’s buy-in and support for the wide-ranging reforms that Pakistan desperately needs for its economic survival. The judiciary needs to realise that its strength lies in the unity of the Supreme Court despite the diversity of opinions represented within it. The PTI needs to realise it cannot survive without building bridges with other stakeholders in the political system.
Individuals who are adamant about leading our institutions toward greater confrontation are doing a great disservice to the country. Those around them must reason with them politely but firmly impose upon them to take a more accommodating path.
Decision-making that affects the country’s future must be a more inclusive and participative process, not the sole prerogative of a handful of deeply flawed human beings as it has been turned into. The threats facing the country right now are far more serious than the financial and moral corruption our ‘leaders’ keep accusing each other of.
This is the time to, in the words of Thomas Paine, “Lead, follow, or get out of the way”. If the present crop of our leaders finds itself unworthy, it should let others find a way out. Only a sliver of the population is privileged enough to have a Plan B that involves fleeing abroad if the country implodes. The future of the majority cannot be left to their whims.
Asif Zardari has suggested that the civilian leadership has no qualms about holding elections but insists they be held on the same day. His party is also spearheading an initiative to bring the political parties together for a dialogue. If the rapprochement process can be sped up, perhaps the PTI can be convinced on elections to be held on the same day in exchange for a similar concession from the government. This may involve moving the date for general elections forward so that parties can secure a fresh mandate from the people before the summer is out.
The dark chapter of our history written over the past year should now be shut for good. The country’s leadership must give the people of Pakistan something to look forward to.
Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2023