Gearing up for another electoral bout
Monday, June 28, 2010
After the assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari took over Pakistan People’s Party’s charge as Co-Chairman. Despite facing a lot of crises, he has been so far successful in leading the party. In 2008 he became president of Pakistan with an overwhelming majority in the presidential election held on September 2008. During elections there were not many objections. Today, however, according to him he is facing multiple threats from ‘non-democratic’ and hidden forces within and outside the establishment.
There is pressure on him to step down. This demand came up after the annulment of NRO by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Meanwhile MQM’s chief Altaf Hussain has also suggested that the president should be prepared for sacrifice. Many other politicians are also suggesting that he should step down as a moral obligation. Amidst this heated political debate, PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif clarified and said, “If any efforts or conspiracies will be hatched against the president, the democracy will suffer. I am a true supporter of democracy and will never abandon the elected government of Pakistan.” This has happened for the first time in the history of Pakistan that the opposition party has given support to the existing government and has played a positive role in saving the democratic system.
After facing serious threats, President Zardari has decided that he would not quit and surrender in front of the non-political forces and the so-called establishment. He has instead preferred to confront them by attending mass rallies and public functions because he believes that masses are the real power of democracy. Earlier he went to Sindh where he managed to garner a vote of confidence from the Provincial Assembly, which passed a resolution in his favour. PPP has been trying to pass such resolutions in all the remaining Provincial Assemblies.
Pakistan People Party (PPP) has also shown strong support to the President, which is visible by the number of rallies that are being organised across the country. Firstly, ‘Sindhi Cap and Ajrak’ day was celebrated across Sindh.
In his recent visit to Punjab, he has addressed the public meetings and gatherings in the same manner like the Shaheed Banazir Bhutto and Zuliffiqar Ali Bhutto and is trying to gather support for another electoral bout. Further he went to the people directly to understand their woes and problems. He met party activists who were the sufferers of political victimization during dictatorship. He inaugurated many projects including Chakwal dam, Energy Projects of Faisalabad Textile University. He even attended a get together of the party activists and office bearers.
When President Zardari came to Lahore for five days visit, neither Chief minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif nor Mian Nawaz Sharif were present to receive and welcome the President at the Lahore airport. Mian Shahbaz Sharif was in his visit to Turkey while Mian Nawaz Sharif was busy visiting China holding number of meetings with the Chinese official. The absence of the PML-N leaders during the visit of the President has indeed created some doubts about the rift being created between the two rival parties. This confrontation between the two parties is considered by some experts to be the last nail in the coffin. This political scuffle can bring some serious repercussions for the country.
PML-N just sent one of its ministers to welcome the president when he arrived in Lahore. Due to this latest development, heated debate and statements have been exchanged between PML-N and PPP’s provincial leadership. With the arrival of the President, political climate has turned out to be quite confusing. Both parties’ enthusiasts including central leadership were extremely busy to protect their leaders. In fact the Presidential protocol was not given to the elected President. Proper security was provided to the President and PPP also raised this issue.
Anyways Governor Punjab Salman Taseer, PPP’s provincial leadership and other Ministers received him zealously while a lot of flattery banners and hoardings were placed along the Mall road from the ‘jialas’ and office bearers of the PPP. The Mall looked just like a PPP’s boulevard.
During President’s visit to Lahore, he has assured that PPP will continue to respect the other state organs including Parliament, Judiciary, Executive and Army. While he heard the ‘jialas’ tribulations and acknowledged that problems of the activists have not been dealt properly, he promised to hold monthly ‘darbar’ in Lahore in which problems of the workers would be solved. He also me with the editors of the national newspaper and owners of the media group.
Lahore seemed just like the Federal Capital because Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, Cabinet Ministers including Baber Awan, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Rehman Malik, Fouzia Wahab (secretary information), Moulana Fazlur Rahman, Richard Holbrook (Representative for Af-Pak) along with different diplomats and many other central leaders of the PPP were together with the President at the Governor House. Army Chief was also present in Lahore while the city was clogged due to heavy VVIP’s movements. Honourable President also met with senior journalists, lawyers, newly elected Lahore Press Club’s office bearers and different trade unions.
On Sunday he visited different parts of the city and also met some parliamentarians including Samina Khalid Gurki, Mahreen Anwer Raja and Senator Latif Khan Khosa at their residencies but without protocol and minimal security.
President went to Badshahi Mosque to pay homage to Allama Iqbal’s mausoleum. PPP’s activists were campaigning around with a slogan, “Lahore’s original master has arrived to wipe out specific party’s ruling on it and now Punjab has become a PPP’s Qila.” While the PML-n demanded that President should quit at least party office and should become the symbol of the federation.
President’s Punjab visit has garnered him some positive results of consolidating the party across Punjab, which will be helping him during the upcoming local body elections. Most of his speeches were in Punjabi language. During this visit a major development occurred when Prime Minister and President launched membership drive and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari became a first member. It can be said that people’s party has been partially successful in recovering its lost image.
In the world, elected people run the government and states. This is a major tenet of democracy wherein the elected people are empowered. But unfortunately in Pakistan elected government does not accomplish its tenure because of lack of powers. Military establishment has all the real powers and no one can lead without their approval. This is a bitter fact of a democratic state.
Because of the strong military establishment and four coups in Pakistan, it had to suffer in the separation of East and West Pakistan. These coups have wasted forty years but have delivered nothing. Right now Pakistan has been facing a number of very serious crises including energy, water, food, sugar, oil and gas load shedding and many others but establishment wants to relieve President Zardari from his office. This so-called establishment has frequently floated the so-called “minus one formula” that damages the image of democracy.
This is the gravity of the situation and now this establishment should abstain from interrupting into the matter of the government. It is the right of the elected person to govern. This kind of petty attempts should be ended and establishment should give more time to the elected government.
The present government is also concerned that it will have to concentrate to deliver what has been addressed and promised by the elected authorities.
posted by Dilshad Rao @ 9:20 PM,
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Playgrounds disappearing
Lahore is the second largest city of the country. The city’s population has passed the eight million mark. This makes it the fifth largest city in South Asia and the 26th largest city in the world.
Not very long ago Lahore was home to many playgrounds. The commercialisation in recent years and apathy of authorities concerned has resulted in encroachments on many parks and playgrounds. Some are used for Sunday Bazaars while some have been turned into parking lots. Many playgrounds have been damaged due to holding of functions and marriage ceremonies there.
Pakistan lags behind other nations in most sports. Only cricket thrives and that too kids and youth play mostly on streets and city roads. Pakistan has produced a number of international cricket players who used to play in the different grounds of different towns and cities that are no longer there. Sunday Plus conducted a survey to analyse the situation.
Pakistan Cricket Board has huge budget but does not spend even a single penny on looking after the grounds the place where all the grooming of future cricketers is done. PCB wastes a lot of capital for hiring and obliging the non-professionals but maintaining grounds has never been its priority.
The historical Punjab University sports complex ground near civil secretariat is being used as parking lot. Millions of rupees spent there for making gymnasiums and cricket pavilion there now seem to have been done for a lost cause. International cricketers including senior players like Saadat Ali, Ashraf Ali, Ishfaque Ahmed, Shafeque Pappa and many others played and were groomed there.
Government Chistia High School’s ground was one of the best playing grounds but now it is full of garbage and debris. No game can be played there.
Once MAO College’s cricket ground located at Chouburji Park was considered Lahore’s mini cricket stadium where matches of repute used to be held. This playground was used for playing cricket by youngsters of Gulshan-e-Ravi, Nounarian, Rustam Park, Chouburji Park, Shaam Nagar, Sandha, Samanabad, Raaj Garh and Rewaz Gardens. But unfortunately right now there is no sports activity there. The cricket pitches have been damaged and has disappeared. The playground is being used for holding marriage functions. A boundary wall was built about five years ago to ensure that the ground may not be encroached upon.
This is the home ground of Wasim Akram, Abdul Razzaq, Imran Nazir, Attaur Rehman, Amir Nazir, Ali Zia, Amir Malik, Aleem Dar (recipient the award of the best empire for year 2009 by ICC) and many others sports personalities. The ground is being destroyed due to apathy of PCB and local government.
MPA hostel is going to be built at the Victoria ground that was once popular place for sports especially cricket. Punjab Assembly extension work is in progress. The two playgrounds near the old Assembly building have been encroached upon. Now the structure of multi-storey new Punjab Assembly building stands there. Both the grounds were popular among the youth of nearby areas. Cricket and football used to be played here.
The Waris Road ground in Mozang area is in deplorable condition. It is being used for holding marriage functions instead of sports activities. The historical ground of the Mochi Gate has been converted to parking area. The ground served as the only place for sports activities for the people of congested Walled city.
Gulberg area had several playgrounds in its residential blocks. Many grounds have disappeared and now in this area too children can be seen playing cricket on the roads. An IMAX theatre and shopping mall has been built on M.M Alam Road’s ‘doongi ground’ near St Mary’s Church.
Sunday Bazar is now regularly held at the Green Town ground. Township playground is being used as a dumping place for solid waste generated by the marble cutters operating in the nearby residential societies. Police Chowky ground in Dharampura and Gulshan-e-Ravi F-block’s children playground no more exist. Girls’ degree colleges have been built on these grounds.
Lahore Development Authority while allowing housing schemes does not stress on ensuring playgrounds in them. Playgrounds are never LDA’s priority. Most of the newly developed societies and housing schemes including Wapda Town, Tech Society, Kanal View, Green Acres Housing Society, Valencia homes, PCSIR, Eden societies, Punjab Housing Society and many others don’t have even a single playground where hockey, cricket or football could be played. All these housing societies just have little lawns and gardens.
Punjab Minister for Sports Dr Tanvirul Islam when asked to comment into the situation showed his resolve to change the situation positively even though there is no concrete plan in pipeline to do that.
“The encroachment of the city’s play grounds is a criminal act. Situation is deplorable. I have received directives from the Chief Minister to crush the encroachers’ forcefully and recover all these grounds from them. We are committed to rebuild all playgrounds as soon as possible.
“Now sports ministry will not allow new private schools, colleges and housing colonies that do not have proper playground. If anyone wants to set up a new school and housing society, he will have to show proper land for playground,” Dr Tanvir said.
“Punjab government is also striving to use the land of the Revenue department (that is called shamlat) for developing new playgrounds across the province. After indication of revenue department, Punjab government will begin making grounds where tournaments of all the games would be held in near future. These grounds will be full of sports facilities including gymnasiums. This project has been launched in 28 districts,” the minister said.
Sunday plus talked to a number of sports event organisers about the situation. “Disappearance of playgrounds is not good for the society. The nations that do not have playgrounds fail to produce good athletes. Sport is a must activity for everyone. The fight against nature brings a lot of tribulations. Government must look into this serious issue. All the playgrounds should be recovered from the encroachers,” Mian Fayyaz a sports journalist and cricket organiser was of the view.
“There is not a single playground in Wapda Town where youth could play cricket hockey and football. There used to be a playground, which they turned into a park. Part of the playground was used for making a mosque. Now there is no place where the children may play cricket or football,” a resident of Wapda Town Ali Naqvi said.
“MAO College’s cricket ground has produced so many test cricketers. Cricket, hockey and football district level tournaments. For the last 10 years this ground could not host even a single cricket match. It needs development and maintenance because of the apathy of city sports organisations and Pakistan Cricket Board. PCB should take initiative to bring this historical ground back to life,” President Faran Gymkhana Cricket Club Mian Aslam said.
LDA and PHA both must be taken on board. They have to work together for rehabilitation of the existing playgrounds. If they save the grounds the sports activities would see revival. At one time PHA’s Director General Rao Iftikhar planned to restore the Lahore’s playgrounds and parks. But the government immediately replaced him.
The government needs to announce clear policy about restoring sports activities. It is high time the rulers stop being indifferent to the problems of people.
Labels: Encroachments, Lahore, LDA, Open spaces, Playgrounds
posted by Dilshad Rao @ 9:04 PM,
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Are we heading for another brain drain?
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Health is one of the most important sectors but it has never been given the priority it deserved. Pakistan is facing an acute shortage of doctors compared to its population. The population of Punjab is large when compared to Sindh province but the number of doctors in Punjab is very limited. Out of 136,700 the number of dentists is 8302, 51934 lady doctors and 20557 specialist doctors. The total number of doctors in Punjab is 55448, in Sindh 56198, in NWFP 15260, in Balochistan 4090 while the number of doctors in AJK is 2478. There is great rush of doctors in the public sector hospitals where each doctor examines more than 100 patients daily while the international standard are 25. There is urgent need to open new medical colleges and also to cut down the expenses of medical education.
Government provides funds to ensure provision of free medicines to the patients but these too are at times are not enough. Government should not only enhance the health budget but also increase the salary packages of doctors and paramedical staff. The doctors and paramedics are not happy with the budget allocated by Punjab government for the health sector. Pakistan Medical Association, Punjab Specialists Doctors Association, Young Doctors Association, Paramedical Staff and other associations of doctors’ community are protesting against the budget for health sector.
Doctors’ community has many reservations about the Punjab government’s intentions to bring change in the health sector. Talking to Sunday Plus, the President Punjab Specialist Doctors Association, Dr. Tanvir Zubeiri said frustration among the young doctors was increasing as the government was doing nothing to address their issues. “Government spends millions of rupees for producing a batch of doctors but when time comes for serving the nation doctors start searching for greener pastures and go abroad to work in other countries,” Zubeiri explained.
“The salaries of doctors are low in Pakistan. They earn a lot more if they work abroad. Doctors’ priority is to leave the country after doing MBBS. Recently 1500 doctors left the country for Saudi Arabia. 4000 doctors are ready to leave for UK and USA.
“Provincial budget allocated for health sector is not sufficient to meet the requirements of the doctors’ community and public hospitals. The need of the hour is to establish more public sector hospitals because the population of Lahore has passed the 8 million mark. Public hospitals are few in number. Government should take to task the DHA and LDA’s managements for not constructing big hospitals in the housing societies. “As new hospitals were not established the burden remained on the existing hospitals. Health is not Khadam-e-Aala’s priority. He doesn’t want to get his medical treatment from Pakistani public hospitals. He goes abroad for routine check up.
“He should think about the doctors’ salary packages. If the government wants to stop the increase in flight of doctors abroad then it would have to ensure handsome salary packages for them in Pakistan,” Dr Zubairi was of the view.
PMA’s Lahore General Secretary Dr Tanvir Anwer said construction of new hospitals at district level has become necessary. “Instead of building new hospitals the government has increased the seats in the existing medical colleges. This is a blunder. Both doctors and public would have to suffer because existing colleges are already working to their full capacity.
“Every lecture theatre has more than 175 students, which is unfair. With the increase of 452 seats the lecture theatre would not be possible for the students.
“The government is striving for quantity rather than quality. Government should have established the medical college that would have been associated with Lahore’s General Hospital. The Pervez Elahi government had given approval of the project. The current government is ignoring it.
“The Punjab government is reluctant to give jobs to the doctors. More than 1400 jobs are available in medical colleges and hospitals but the government is not willing to fill the vacancies.
“Government never consults doctors on issues related to the health sector. It fails to understand that doctors are the major stake-holders in health sector. Chief Minister just focuses on suspending the doctors but doesn’t think about system that needs to be revamped. Chief Minister humiliates the doctors whose response is to leave the country and work abroad.
“The salary and pay scale of the doctors should be increased as federal government announced 50 percent rise in the salary. 50 percent adhoc relief should be implemented on the pay of HOs and PGRs. The recent increase in health budget would not bring good results. Most of the health budget would be spent on purchasing medicines and giving salaries to doctors and paramedical staff. General public would not be the beneficiary,” Dr Anwer said.
He was of the view that launching of the mobile ambulance hospitals would be the biggest blunder. “Public money would be wasted. Government should provide better facilitate at the Basic Health Units, Rural Health Centres and District Head Quarter Hospitals. These units do not have the same facilities as urban hospitals. Public hospitals have infrastructure but the government lacks the vision to run them. Mobile hospitals would be waste of money and energy. Government should spend the money wisely and stop the flight of doctors to the West by offering them attractive incentives.” Dr Anwer said.
General Secretary Young Doctors Association Punjab Dr Sulman Kazmi was of the view that the announced budget is never implemented. “A number of paramedical seats are vacant. The government is not taking initiative to fill them.
“Chief Minister just takes interest in conducting surprise visits at the hospital emergencies to check the facilities and to suspend the doctors. He should concentrate on providing maximum funds and construction of new medical units and wards in the existing hospitals. Government should not have increased the seats in medical colleges. They are already running over the capacity.
“More than 200 consultants from teaching side and 1200 PGRs (post-graduate residents) have left the country while more than 4000 are planning to leave. Nobody cares about this grave issue. The task force set up for health sector has failed to deliver. Mobile hospitals will fail to deliver. Millions would be wasted on the project that will not bring good results,” Kazmi said.
The doctors’ organisations have been staging protest demonstrations for some months to press the government to increase salary package for doctors and paramedics. The allocation in budget for health sector has disappointed them. “If the 50 per cent ad-hoc relief would not be implemented on the pay of HOs and PGRs then all associations of the doctors will start protest. We are planning a long-march to the Chief Minister’s residence.” Dr Kazmi maintained.
President PMA Punjab Dr Akhtar Rashid has also criticised the plan to increase in medical colleges. “The government should have started evening classes in the same colleges. Government has done nothing for welfare of doctors. If government continues to act like this it would become difficult to pursue the Millennium Development Goals – a road map that had to be followed till 2015.
“If the government continues to fail to provide maximum facilities to primary and secondary hospitals like DHQs (District Head Quarter Hospitals), the public would continue to suffer. Special pay and package should be increased to 100 percent for the doctors and paramedic staffs. The health budget should be enhanced by 400 percent,” Rashid demanded.
Chief Minister’s Task Force Chairman Dr Saeed Elahi when contacted said the Punjab province was providing better health services to the people than the other provinces. “Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has given top priority to the health sector, which earlier had meagre allocation of 0.7 percent of the GDP. He has raised the health budget up to Rs 27 billion, which had been targeted to be further raised up to 4 per cent of the GDP. The Punjab government has ensured the provision of free medicines in government teaching hospitals and DHQ hospitals of the province.
“Government is already giving best packages and stipends to the PGRs. The government has already announced to establish four medical colleges in Sialkot, Sahiwal. Gujranwala and Dera Ghazi Khan in two years time. Increasing the seats in the medical colleges is very good initiative because a number of our doctors are studying in China, Russia and Central Asian countries. We are also working to upgrade the district headquarter hospitals across the Punjab. Huge amount of money is being spent for the purpose,” Dr Elahi said.
He revealed that Punjab government will soon be launching 10 mega projects in health sector. Liver transplant facilities would soon be introduced in the province. The liver transplant centres would soon be functional in General Hospital Rawalpindi and Nishter Hospital Multan. Four hospitals each having 300 beds would be built in Bahawalpur, Multan, Rawalpindi and Dera Ghazi Khan.
“Beside these hospitals six modern mobile hospitals are also being launched. Punjab government is just providing them the doctors and paramedics staffs while they would be run by foreign experts,” Dr Elahi said.
The issues related to health sector are serious and need immediate attention of the government. The doctors should be taken into confidence over the plans to bring changes in the health sector.
Labels: Brain drain, Doctors, Health, MBBS
posted by Dilshad Rao @ 9:15 PM,
