The Express Tribune Editorial 28 November 2019

In a crisis

Yes, we are in a crisis. Not threatening though, the crisis is serious – given its political, legal and strategic dimensions. The issue of an extension in the tenure of the army chief has landed in the Supreme Court in an unprecedented development. The top judge, heading a three-member bench, has questioned the government on the mode of re-appointment of the country’s top soldier for a period of three years. A serious issue was handled with criminal negligence and carelessness by the incumbent government – something that exposes its inability at handling official affairs, even those of serious nature, and speaks of its incompetence, immaturity and inexperience at the helm. To the CJP, the petition against the extension falls within the ambit of public interest litigation even though the petitioner wanted to back out. The hearing thus continues into the third day today – with all the likelihood that the apex court will settle the matter the same day while laying down principles in the context.

Well, the extension petition is not the only notable current affair involving the bigwigs. Much more is happening on the political chessboard. Prime Minister Imran Khan has come out in support of Pervez Musharraf – with success. The same Imran Khan who, as opposition leader, had been the bitterest critic of the former military dictator and who had been, until recently, calling for bringing him to book over treason charges. A petition filed by Imran Khan’s interior ministry has succeeded in getting an order from the Islamabad High Court that bars a special court from announcing its verdict in the long-drawn high treason case against Musharraf just at the eleventh hour. And then there is the nine-party opposition alliance lurking around in a bid to add to the pressure on a government that can clearly be seen making compromises, and that is struggling with issues ranging from the economy to governance and legislation.

The overall situation only adds to the political uncertainty that has been prevailing in the country for years and years and that has distracted the successive governments from focusing on issues of core concern for the country and the people, like the economy, international diplomacy and internal and external security.

Greenhouse gas levels

It is unfortunate that despite all the talk from countries large and small about committing to fight climate change, greenhouse gases in the atmosphere hit a new record in 2018. The World Meteorological Organisation said on Monday that the levels also exceeded the average yearly increase of the last decade and are reinforcing increasingly damaging weather patterns.

The WMO’s Greenhouse Gas Bulletin is among a series of studies to be published ahead of the United Nations climate change summit in Madrid next week. The study in question looked into the atmospheric concentration of gases responsible for global warming, rather than emissions, giving a better estimation of overall impact. The WMO secretary-general bluntly noted that despite all the commitments made under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, “There is no sign of a slowdown, let alone a decline, in greenhouse gases’ concentration in the atmosphere.” The impact of this will be continuing severe weather trends, rising sea levels, and ecosystem disruptions. Mother Earth is drowning, burning up, and freezing simultaneously, and it is not just climate change deniers and sceptics torturing her.

Much more unfortunate is the fact that countries such as Canada — whose leaders have openly accepted that climate change is a severe threat — continues to invest in fossil fuel production, backed by over a billion dollars in government subsidies and tax breaks. The provincial government of British Columbia alone gave US$625.5 million in subsidies for fossil fuels in the 2017-18 fiscal year, according to a report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development, released on Monday. Most of this money was for fossil fuel producers rather than consumers. Put simply, they are putting more money in the pockets of fossil fuel producers to encourage them to increase output. Those fuels are then exported abroad for final consumption, allowing Canada to blame others after flooding the global market with cheap fuels which make pricey green options less attractive.

Expensive flea market

People do profess to love desi things but the popular prejudice is in favour of things foreign. Here the flea market came as a blessed opportunity for those on a budget so that they can create a good impression in society. This is no longer the case. Warm winter clothing items and other goods have now gone beyond the reach of even those with small incomes and large families, due to the rising inflation and increasing dollar-rupee parity.

Reports from Lahore’s and Karachi’s Landa Bazaars say this winter, used warm clothes have become expensive. Prices are now 20-25 per cent higher than last year’s. Now a coat is available for at least Rs1,000. An identical situation exists all across the country. With the onset of winter when families started to visit Landa Bazaars in search of inexpensive clothes they were in for a shock. Besides the rising inflation, cheaper new warm clothes imported from China are also affecting the sale of second-hand clothes. However, people still prefer second-hand clothes imported from the West, mainly because of their “prestige value.”

Traders say the government has increased taxes on the import of used clothes, which has driven up prices. “For Rs100,000 worth of goods, now we have to pay as much as Rs36,000 in taxes.” Warm clothing items and blankets available at cheaper prices at flea markets greatly help people from the low-income groups to pass winter months in relative comfort and ease. Now even this cheap source of warm clothes and blankets is losing its attraction for the poor. Long winter nights are too cold to pass without warm blankets even in places like Karachi where generally the day temperature is moderate. This situation can be countered through charity. Gone are the days when Tariq Aziz would say when he had newly arrived in Lahore he bought a second-hand coat for a mere 20 rupees. This also helped him keep up appearances.