The Express Tribune Editorial 27 August 2019

‘UN-interested’ in responsibility

There are times when one wonders what the point of goodwill ambassadors really is. But then there are some who may ask the same about the United Nations given its ineffectiveness in resolving certain longstanding issues. Be they Kashmiris, Palestinians or Rohingyas, there is scant little the world body has done to deliver them from suffering. Not to mention countless other marginalised groups and communities whose plight is rather less fashionable a cause at the moment.

Take the recent controversy surrounding former Miss World and Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra and her callous response to a questioner who asked whether she, as a Unicef goodwill ambassador, should have come out in support of the Indian Army during recent tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad. “I am patriotic,” was the actress’s excuse as she shushed her questioner by saying, “Don’t embarrass yourself.”

More recently, the United Nations decided to throw its hat in the ring, as if it had nothing better to do. “We do expect them [goodwill ambassadors] to adhere to impartial positions when they speak on behalf of Unicef or any other organisation,” insisted the spokesperson for the UN chief. “[But] in their personal capacity they retain the right to speak about issues of interest or concern to them,” he said. Of course, the UN representative clarified that goodwill ambassadors’ personal views “do not reflect the views of the agency they are affiliated.”

It is at best naive on the world body’s part if it expects the public at large to buy this stance. Whether the UN — or any other organisation for that matter — likes it or not, any individual it selects to represent its image does so in both public and private capacities. Would the UN offer the same justification if one of its goodwill ambassadors was found to be a Nazi sympathiser or extremist affiliate in his or her free time? The world body also needs to introspect; if it cannot accept responsibility for the individuals that represent it then how it can expect to influence entire member states.

Rising TB cases

According to media reports, in Badin district of Sindh, every second person screened has tested positive for tuberculosis. This is a staggering rate. The incidence of TB in other parts of the province is no better either. Sindh health department officials say of the 120,000 patients, 60 were successfully treated. Around 48,000 patients had been missed as they were not notified in the health system. The rising incidence of the disease, though fully curable, raises disconcerting questions. Malnutrition, unhygienic environment both at home and outside, unhealthy habits, poverty and use of tobacco are the main causes of tuberculosis. Uncontrolled increase in population, based on the erroneous belief that large families are beneficial, lack of literacy and the resulting ignorance, are other important contributors to the rising incidence of the disease.

It is seen that people in Badin prefer to have many children. They marry off their girls and boys at an early age which leads to early pregnancies and births. There is poverty too, so is malnutrition. Many in the area use tobacco in various forms. Most common are smoking and chewing of gutka. The strategy to battle the scourge needs to be focused on all the above-mentioned factors. The people should be provided sufficient and nutritious food. The government should strive to provide additional nutrition. Inculcation of healthy habits and awareness of the importance of living in a healthy environment are of utmost importance. Preference for a large number of children without having the adequate means to support them is a significant factor that contributes to malnutrition, the basis cause of tuberculosis. The root causes of the spread of the disease are poverty and ignorance. The authorities should focus more on these two aspects if TB is to be eradicated. For the poor, TB is still a death warrant. Its treatment needs both expensive medicines and food.

Enhancing retirement age?

The federal and provincial governments in Pakistan are considering increasing the retirement age of their employees to avoid further accumulation in their liability of pensions and dues. This is contrary to the trend in other developing countries. We hear these countries considering reducing the retirement age of government employees to make room for the young unemployed. Lately, reports have been coming in of retiring employees’ pensions and dues being delayed due to shortage of funds. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provincial government has already announced increasing its employees’ retirement age from 60 to 63 years. There is also a proposal to increase the age limit to seek premature retirement from 45 to 55 years. The Punjab government says K-P has done so because of its smaller liabilities. At present, the Punjab government pays Rs345 billion annually to its retired employees and its salary bill is Rs515 billion. It is of the view that if the retirement age is increased by three years, it will further add to its burden of pensions and dues.

Apparently, the suggestion that increasing the retirement age will buy the government time for payment of retirement benefits of employees looks workable, but in practice it would not be that simple. It would further accumulate retirement benefits making it more difficult for the government to clear the dues and pensions. The federal government has set up a committee headed by the prime minister’s adviser on institutional reforms to examine the proposal for increasing the retirement age keeping in view its legal, financial, administrative and organisational aspects. The Punjab government has expressed apprehensions what would happen if the money thus saved was not invested properly. It is in favour of a uniform policy for the whole country to avoid confusion.

We are at a stage where those at the helm do not have much room left for manoeuvering. They have to choose between the unpalatable and the disastrous.