Population management described as need of hour

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

Senator Nisar Memon, a former federal minister, has emphatically stressed to tackle the issue of population management, describing it as need of the hour. 

“Pakistan had entered decade of 2020 with a population of 207 million putting a huge demand on already scarce resources. While the new regime was struggling to find its feet on the ground, the pandemic of COVID-19 arrived and caused death, disaster and economic hardships,” he observed in an interview with PNFS on the occasion of World Population Day on July 11. 

“The governance came to be tested and challenged, particularly in the weak public health system which had received scant attention in all these years. The country faced a double jeopardy of huge population and lockdown impact on economy and citizens leading to increased corruption, street crime and vulnerability to hitherto controlled terrorism,” he added. 

“Population planning was introduced in the 1960s as a government policy with international help but fell in with change of government and rise of conservatives. Since then neither serious attention to planning nor governance of population have been given with its consequences on citizens’ fundamental rights,” he regretted. 

“We have no option but to join the ranks of other Muslim countries like Bangladesh to control the population for progress and development. The continued status quo following the old beaten path of lack of population control has driven us to reliance on international support with aid and loan. Time has come to stand up as a sovereign nation mobilizing internal resources of human power and build on its own natural wealth by human resource development and allocation of budgets to education, skill building and social services,” Senator Nisar Memon emphasized. 

“COVID-19 has given us the opportunity to catch up with other nations by building a knowledge-based society enhancing existing telecommunication and information technology infrastructure to leapfrog in science, research, technology and education,” he pointed out. 

“It is time to remind ourselves of the Malthusian Theory of Population which states that population grows exponentially, thus outgrowing a society’s resources which grow arithmetically. This is an appropriate theory for preventive and positive checks on population,” he suggested.

Nisar Memon reflects on sustainable development

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

“It’s time to reflect once again as to where we stand in the comity of nations and where we are going. A debater can argue on both sides of the stage, a demagogue can harangue endlessly without substance, but the thinking people reflect in the context of security and sovereignty of the country,” Senator Nisar Memon, a former federal minister, remarked during an interview with PNFS.

“Let’s look at our status from just one international prism of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were adopted in 2015 by all member states of the United Nations following the earlier Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). We have to find out where we have not been able to do well,” he opined.

“The Sustainable Development Report (SDR) 2020 places Pakistan at 134th position (out of 166) in the SDG Index with score of 56.2 against a regional average score of 67.2 and top most score of 84.7 of Sweden. The report was launched at a webinar last week by its authors with the United Nations Secretary-General’s special adviser Prof Jeffrey Sach, and professionals from the world over in attendance,” Senator Nisar Memon pointed out. 

“The 17 SDGs, also known as Global Goals, cover a broad range of subjects ranging from poverty to economy, health to education, water to energy, climate actions to protecting planet, innovation and infrastructure, peace and justice to partnership for the future. The member countries were closely involved in developing goals and sub-goals thus were committed to pursue them,” he added. 

“The highest priority of every government must remain the suppression of the pandemic. There can be no economic recovery while the pandemic is raging,” he narrated the first of the six key findings of the SDR 2020.

“The report indicates that COVID-19 impacts are amplified for the most vulnerable groups. We in Pakistan have witnessed how it has impacted vulnerable people with resultant sufferings,” he regretted. 

The former federal minister revealed that the Korean Crisis Management Committee on COVID-19 was headed by their Prime Minister to achieve the remarkable results putting Korea at 20th position. 

“They had effective awareness with transparent communication of the programs developed with participation of concerned people with trust which helped implement actions. In addition, vigorous testing was their hallmark in the success,” he shared. 

“The lead countries recognized the strong nexus between health and security. The far sighted leadership continued to recalibrate policies and programs of crisis and not justifying as to who was right or wrong. The research community was effectively involved in crisis avoidance for future,” he noted. 

“The report confirms that the countries which had responded to SDGs since 2015 also responded more effectively so far to the Covid-19. SDGs are all about governance, development and improving the living standards of the world. Yet, even after 4 days of launch of SDR2020 we did not see any report, news, or views in our media. Will one who is leading tell citizens: Where do we stand on catching up on SDGs?” he questioned.

Meeting challenges of leaving a legacy

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

“Pakistan is no exception where the government leadership is out to justify their policies, programmes and personal conduct, while the opposition engages in pointing out the weaknesses and flawed policies of those in power. The phenomenon is the same in all continents but with varying degrees and in different forms. COVID-19 is telling it all in different ways.”

This was remarked by Senator Nisar Memon, a former federal minister for Information and Broadcasting, during an interview with PNFS.

“The citizens, who send legislators to manage country by electing them, are not to be found at the core of war of words. The sitting government desires to retain all the power of decision making while the opposition continues eyeing them to replace them to gain the same power. Other than that, most of the leadership hardly has any motivation to leave behind the legacy that lives on. Therefore the elements for legacy to live on are missing,” he opined.

“Legacy is what lives on. Some examples of outstanding achievements that live on are like the creation of countries such as Pakistan, feat of art like Picasso, architecture like Pyramids, cities like Moen Jo Daro, security wall like Great Wall of China, scientific discoveries such as Newton’s law of gravity, and the great Islamic civilization. They remind us of grandeur and scientific development and natural disasters which buried them to be excavated later,” he explained.

“Behind each of these achievements was the leadership, which by sheer dint of their characters achieved them. Leadership with strong moral character, knowledge, power over people by force or strength of honesty, sincerity, genuinely humble, truthful, open and transparent personal life, ability to command respect and trust for people to obey, good heart with no ego and arrogance. Humility is visible in walk and the talk of the leadership,” Senator Nisar Memon reckoned.

“The leader must be consistent in his life. Just see the life of our beloved Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah who was an embodiment of strength of character with patience and perseverance in his cause to achieve a nation for Muslims after a political struggle of about half a century. Nelson Mandela is unparalleled not only in his perseverance by living in small prison room in Robin Island for quarter century and after release did not talk of revenge but built a nation of oppressed and oppressors free from apartheid,” he recalled.

“History tells us that when the leadership gets the divine guidance with the Holy Quran, a complete code of living and ethics, like that of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), it brings the civilization that lives on eternally. People, particularly the Muslim leadership, should be very careful in taking the name of such a leader and not only know what he said and where he said but be able to practice before qualifying to give sermons on Islam and Islamic teaching. The Turkish and Iranian Presidents are good contemporary examples of the Muslim world to follow,” he pointed out.

“A lesson for any leadership wishing to succeed is to possess a character with no contradictions, conduct of practicing truth which is visible and does not need to be justified, earn admiration of citizens and not of hypocrites, be grateful to Almighty for the chance He gave to serve and not to those who used their power and money to put one in position of responsibility, select a team and support them to swim together, promote ideas, build positively on ones merit of character and not on weaknesses of others,” the former federal minister added.

“How can the legacy of Pakistan leadership live on? Even if getting to power some principles are compromised, but once in power focus on delivering was what promised to electorate. Espouse sovereignty principles by self-reliance rather than foreign aid and loans, remember nothing is free and has to be returned by the coming generation,” he cautioned.

“In the country, strengthen state institutions and not the party or leadership personality. The country needs genuine democracy and dialogue and no monologue. Media freedom is a must in democratic dispensation therefore decontrol it and let it give space to all. Hounding opponents with state institutions has never helped. The way forward is to have private think tanks researching on sovereignty subjects to guide and unite nation for its security,” he advised.

Pakistan caught between fast spread of COVID-19 and incoherent lockdown

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

“COVID-19 has infected about nine million worldwide, with nearly half a million fatalities. Beijing has reported fresh outbreak and their leadership putting wartime measures to contain the spread by enforcing strict lockdown and testing. Europe is opening up after huge loss of life and prolonged lockdown.” 

This was observed by Senator Nisar Memon, a former federal minister, during an interview with PNFS on June 20. 

“Pakistan has moved to 14th position in worldometers with over 171,000 infections and more than 3,300 deaths. The government has put up alarms heralding the significant spread in coming weeks and Islamabad, the capital, is caught choosing between virus deaths versus poverty,” he pointed out. 

“People all over the world are awaiting the results of 135 vaccines which are believed to be in the process development to fight against the coronavirus but the citizens of Pakistan are caught between the fast spread of pandemic and incoherent lockdown within the country,” he regretted.

“It’s being hoped and prayed by the people of Pakistan that the leadership moves away from old political path of vengeance against the political adversaries, foreign begging bowls for oxygen to ailing economy, unrelenting discrimination against women, and undermining the parliament. The list is long with its long shadows on our future,” Senator Nisar Memon reckoned. 

“Whoever is perpetuating this is unacceptable and all those who are party to this are condemnable in the harshest of words. No justification stands to reason,” he asserted. 

Incoherent policy for handling pandemic, insufficient public health, education and services; foreign dependence for national budget, continued corruption and inefficiencies, according to him, were the major current national issues needed to be addressed. 

“The other week’s visit of Prime Minister to Sindh without showing necessary sympathy to kith and kin of medical and paramedics who succumbed to virus during supreme service; apathy to Karachi PIA crash and non-interaction with provincial Chief Executive has not helped create congenial environment to govern this sovereign nation,” he noted. 

“Nature has given us innumerable gifts. In last 70 years some good men and women have strengthened many institutions, we have youthful population, a strategic geopolitical advantage, strong standing army to defend frontiers and strategic weapons. Let’s build on it and not negate them,” Senator Nisar Memon reminded. 

“The past governments gave this country the mobile telecommunication and internet network which helped citizens to connect in lockdown isolation. We should now move to next stage where Information Technology infrastructure connects all the people and systems within the federation for needed services and economic development,” he suggested. 

The former federal minister emphasized that the institutions must strengthen themselves to fight disasters like COVID-19, locust swarms, food security, upcoming dengue spread, and any possible adventure on our frontiers and on line of control. 

“This can be achieved by protecting the Constitution without opening the settled issues. Power can be retained by good governance and conflict management, and not by conflict creation and crisis development,” he remarked. 

“Judiciary, parliament, media, and civil services must do self-accountability, like the armed forces. If current laws are inadequate they should request parliament for new laws to make them strong to defend Pakistan. We have various TV channels: news, entertainment, religion, sport but none for parliament,” he highlighted. “

One of the reasons why China is able to effectively address issues faced by its citizens is because their President has the grassroots political experience before presiding over the destiny of 1.4 billion,” the former federal minister opined, adding that the people of Pakistan could only pray and appeal to those in power and urge all institutions to protect themselves to save the federation and its constitution.

Budget, COVID-19 provide yet another chance to wake up: Senator Nisar Memon

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

“Acute political confrontation of the decade, non-adherence to constitutional procedures, governance issues, absence of consensus on a national economic plan, mistrust in leadership, dependence on foreign financial and management support marred the 2020-2021 budget, like last budget, but to cap it all came COVID-19.”

This was observed by Senator Nisar Memon, a former federal minister, when approached by PNFS for his thoughts about the budget. 

“The GDP growth target for FY21 is set at +2.1% as against 0.4% negative growth in FY20 while fiscal deficit target has been set at PKR 3,195 billion or 7.0% of GDP and inflation target has been set at 6.5%. The total outlay of budget 2020-21 is PKR 7,294.9 billion, this size is 11% lower than the size of budget estimates 2019-20,” he pointed out. 

“The government has not imposed any new taxes in the budget but has budgeted increase in FBR revenues. The FBR tax target has been set PKR 4,963 billion (+27%, 10.9% of the GDP) whereas actual collection for FY20 stood at PKR 3,908 billion, down by 30% from FY20 budgeted amount of PKR 5,555 billion, while current expenditure is budgeted at PKR 6,345 billion,” he added. 

“Whatever the numbers committed, the expectation of common man for control of inflation, working class for jobs, small businesses for enabling environment, agriculture sector for all out support in the face of devastation caused by swarms of locust and rains, the innovative ways of relief in the face of dwindling revenues, accommodating the reasonable requirements of trade and industry, and above all equitable and just support to all areas of federation are the key questions stakeholders have from the Q-Block of the capital,” Senator Nisar Memon stated.

“The Ashrafia, newly added lexicon for intelligentsia and privileged ruling minority, advocates that there was hardly any room for the finance team to maneuver. However, many term it IMF budget, government setting highly ambitious FBR targets for the upcoming year thus not ruling out mini-budget in the later part of the year,” he reckoned.

“The electronic, print and social media has been commenting on the subject more than the assemblies and will be doing so in the coming days. The real challenge for government will be to mitigate the unprecedented hardship of all segments of society, particularly of the large majority with feeble voice for economic survival. The leadership is on the dock with no escape but to turn around this difficult situation,” the former federal minister explained. 

“But the huge challenge the nation, the government, intelligentsia, economists, security specialists, and researchers face is how they achieve national economic consensus for an economic plan for the ongoing decade. We have human power, the youth, educated women, natural resources, successful experiences, some failed practices, reliable neighbour China, brothers in faith like Iran and Afghanistan, renewed relationship of trust with super power USA, and a history of strong institutions,” he said. 

“This existentialist challenge can be achieved by genuine, honest, transparent, courageous leadership controlling the ego, lust for power, inflexible mindsets, unbridled corruptions, incompetence and state institutions pulling the country in different directions,” he continued. 

“Surely, we can overcome these in the larger interest of our poverty stricken people living below the acceptable human levels long deprived of constitutional fundamental rights. Let the leadership carve out its position in history amongst the ones who rebooted systems by paradigm shift to secure future of its people and saved the people with just one thought - service to people in whose name they govern,” Senator Nisar Memon suggested. 

"If all hopes in leadership are dashed, the citizens may stop tolerating the intolerable and rise, triggered by events like that of Burhan Wani in Kashmir, George Floyd in Minneapolis, Arab spring in Middle East, and mishandling of judiciary in last decade in Pakistan. The budget and COVID-19 has provided the nation with yet another chance to wake up in the interest of sovereignty of the country,” he concluded.

Innovate for a Sustainable Ocean: World Oceans Day 2020 being celebrated amid COVID-19 pandemic

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

“COVID-19 suffocates the world and takes away our near and dear ones from us irrespective of color, caste, creed and color of the skin. There are seven oceans providing oxygen we breathe therefore they are called ‘the lungs of our planet’. The surface of the earth is approximately 29.1% land and 70.9% water, which is divided into large bodies termed ocean.”

This was stated by Senator Nisar Memon, a former federal minister, in his message on the occasion of the World Oceans Day 2020 to be celebrated on June 8. 

“The World Oceans Day reminds us of the major role ocean plays in our everyday life. It is also a day to celebrate the beauty, the wealth and the promise of the ocean and towards this the theme this year is: Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean. It is a way to celebrate our world’s shared ocean and our personal connection to the sea, and ways people can help protect it,” he observed.

“Every year under the auspices of United Nations, awareness is raised by sharing the actions and programs planned to ‘save life below water’ (Sustainable Development Goal-SDG 14), the nature’s wealth and economic opportunities for travel, food, pearls, sports etc but also help preserve ‘life on land’ (SDG 15),” the former federal minister pointed out. 

Senator Nisar Memon reminded that Pakistan has a comprehensive Vision 2025 developed in 2014 which for oceans includes institutional development, human resource development, capacity building, facilities acquisitions for research for monitoring sea level variations along Pakistan Coast and assessment of natural hazards due to climate change. 

“Our challenge is to continue implementing vision and plans for the good of the country which has only one ocean ‘Arabian sea’ with 1,046 km coastline from Thatta and Karachi in Sindh to Gwadar and Jiwani in Balochistan,” he added.

“This can be done by the government, educationists, scientists, civil society, museums, sports, tourism, and all other institutions and citizens related to oceans. Our key institutions for oceans need strengthening and they include Institute of Marine Science, Karachi University for Education, National Institute of Oceanography for research, and Pakistan Marine Academy for security,” he shared. 

Senator Nisar Memon recalled that an Australian scholar had suggested that the term ‘Indian Ocean’was inappropriate, having argued that this ocean expanse is a ‘string of closely related regional systems stretching from East Asia around the continent and across the Indian Ocean to East Africa to which a new generic name, such as the Asian Sea might well be given.

“Yet another eminent scholar in his book ‘The Indian Ocean’ suggests replacing the ‘Indian Ocean’ with ‘the Afrasian Seas’ to avoid assuming Indian centrality as implied in the Indian Ocean term, or Arab dominance as in the Arabian Sea. Instead, he suggested naming it ‘the Afrasians’ which is all inclusive, taking in not only the Asian shores but also the often ignored area of East African coast,” he narrated.

“The Indian Ocean or Arabian Sea therefore need to be renamed to represent the reality of its geographic position which stretches from China, Australia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, India, Pakistan, Iran, Oman, and many other countries and islands as it goes to Africa,” the former federal minister suggested. 

“This year's theme is especially relevant in the lead-up to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development which will run from 2021 to 2030. The decade will strengthen international cooperation to develop the scientific research and innovative technologies that can connect ocean science with the needs of society,” he opined.

“But above all, we need to allocate sufficient funds in our upcoming government budget for preserving Indus Delta, sustainable offshore oil exploration and fishing industry development; besides individuals and institutional commitment of ‘My Ocean Pledge’ to help save Afrasian Ocean,” he concluded.

World Environment Day 2020 assumes greater significance amid COVID-19

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

“COVID-19 has brought all possible challenges to humans but the single most is the threat to life with hundreds of thousands already succumbed to this epidemic and yet it is not under human control. The lockdown has however resulted in lower pollution and reduced climate change adverse impact.” 

This was stated by Senator Nisar Memon, a former federal minister, in his message on the occasion of the World Environment Day 2020 falling on June 5. 

“The ‘Environment Day’ has been celebrated all over the world on June 5 in an effort to create awareness and ensure actions are in place for the protection of the environment. It had started way back in 1972 by the United Nations,” he recalled. 

“Each year there is a theme based on challenges we face. This year 2020 theme for the day is ‘Time for Nature’. It is most appropriate since there is a great challenge to biodiversity,” he reckoned. “It is time to mold our lives closer to nature by protecting, preserving and promoting healthy living. This can be achieved by focus on providing the essential infrastructure that supports life on Earth and human development,” the Senator thought. 

“In Pakistan, over 60% of population lives in rural areas which are ignored for all these years. The essential infrastructure for education, health and social delivery must assume priority in upcoming budget and all policies must be endorsed by people’s representatives in the assemblies and senate,” he advised. 

“For improving biodiversity and environment, we must reduce pollution and implement water and environment policies developed in the last 20 years by various governments, free mountains from human interventions, let rivers flow without creating obstacles in the river path, refrain from discharging chemicals in river and sea without first treating them of toxicity, reduce use of fertilizer by growing organic food, grow and not cut trees, provide alternate fuel to rural areas, use natural solar and wind power, protect marine life and coastal areas rich in fish for sustainability of life,” the former federal minister explained. 

“We, as country, are committed to implementing 17 U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and many of them relate to environment but specifically SDG 13 relates to climate actions, SDG 14 about life below water, SDG 15 life on land and SDG 9 for innovation and infrastructure,” he reminded. 

“The Articles 31 and 32 of our Constitution protect right to life as a fundamental right. It encompasses, the protection and preservation of environment, ecological balance free from pollution of air and water and sanitation. The Supreme Court in one of its judgements has held that the right to clean environment is a fundamental right of all citizens of Pakistan covered by the “right to life” and the “right to dignity” under Article 9 and 14 of the Constitution,” Senator Nisar Memon pointed out. 

“But above all, the Quran guides us in Surah 31 all about the environment created for the benefit of mankind and commands us not to be wasteful or extravagant, not to disrupt the balance that exists in nature and not to change the creation of God. Water is a huge life-providing theme in the Quran. It enlightens us about how He creates life through water then sustains it by streams, the rains, rivers and oceans that are homes for so many creatures. We should also be guided by Surah 2:60: Eat and drink from the provision of Allah, and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption,” he added. 

“Let today be the day of true commitment to protect environment for the sake of our future generation and also follow the Constitution and the Quran,” he concluded.

Ramazan, Eid with a difference

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

“This Ramazan, majority of Muslims around the world while observing Rozas (fasting) offered Taraweeh (late night prayers) quietly in their homes, except a few, who defied government instructions and advices of religious leaders and prayed in mosques. It was against the common sense behavior of protecting themselves, their families and other citizens from the risk of deadly COVID-19,” Senator Nisar Memon, a former federal minister, observed in his latest newspaper article.

“Such a response evokes no surprise because we have neither provided basic education nor proper religious education to our compatriots. Else they would have shielded themselves from pandemic despite Islamabad’s confusing and conflicting response and lack of uniform support to provinces on this pandemic,” he felt. 

“In the spirit of Ramazan the leadership of Ummah, apart from the Fund they committed, did not announce any policy to make us proud Ummatis. The Muslim leadership did not demonstrate their numerical strength but instead succumbed to the worldly gains and protected their own power rather than their people and other Ummatis without realizing that these worldly gains are too meager compared to the wrath of Allah on the Judgement Day and possible denunciation by citizens when they rise,” the former federal minister opined. 

“But what is puzzling is their inability to prepare a Universal Plan for future to fight hunger and disease (now COVID-19 too) which has struck people of Sahara’s in Africa, mountains of Himalayas and plains in Asia. True to their teachings, the Ummatis did not wait for leadership and have massively contributed Zakat and Khairat amongst Ummatis to fulfill their religious obligations as well as national responsibility,” he remarked. 

“It was the month when the Muslims rededicated themselves to their Creator and sought guidance provided in Quran. It was a rebooting to be able to meet the challenges that lie ahead including the pandemic and in doing so serve fellow citizens and earn His favour for coming days and ultimately for the eternal life,” the Senator added.

“Allah says in the Quran, in Surah Al-Baqarah (2-183): ‘O you who believe, Siyam (fasting) is prescribed on you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you may become self-restrained.’ The importance of Siyam in Ramadan is clearly expressed in several sayings of the Prophet (SAW). All Muslims, particularly the leadership, need to do soul searching on their conduct during the month of Ramazan and seek pardon,” he wrote. 

“Eid at the end of holy month of Ramazan is expression of gratitude to the Creator that it gave us the chance to practice His teachings and a festive occasion amongst friends and family. Festivity of Eid this year is somber affair due to sufferings of millions and departure of thousands from this world due to pandemic,” he concluded.

Nisar Memon desires government support for restaurants

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Desiring governmental support for the small restaurants all over the country, Senator Nisar Memon has urged the authorities to be compassionate with this particular sector, so badly hit by the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“The Punjab government has reportedly allowed opening of the restaurants. Notwithstanding its impact on current COVID-19 spread, the small restaurant owners are suffering two-folds. Firstly with the loss of revenue and secondly they are enduring the burden of paying their staff for all these three months,” the former Federal Minister highlighted in his statement issued on May 29. 

“In view of this, it is just and prudent to allow opening of restaurants with some SOPs particularly in small towns like Gharo on N5 in Thatta and all the way up to Kashmore. The Sindh government will earn the goodwill of its people suffering from this comparative disadvantage,” he advised. 

“Civil services, including the police, should mitigate and not enhance the sufferings due to current economic situation. Let the elected representatives stand up and give their views to the Sindh government which has done a good job despite man-made difficulties coupled with natural calamity since the beginning of this year. This is also time for federal government to help the way they helped daily wages workers,” Senator Nisar Memon concluded.

International Day for Biological Diversity: our solutions are in nature

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

“Never before since the adoption of this day in year 2000 by United Nations it was more relevant than today, since the day falls amidst the deadly disaster of COVID-19 has brought to human being to make us realize the focus on bio-diversity.”

This was stated by Senator Nisar Memon, a former federal minister, in his message on the International Day for Biological Diversity being observed on May 22. 

“The theme for 2020 ‘Our solutions are in nature’ is very appropriate given the fact that we are battling pandemic. It says it all. If we had recognized the importance of biological diversity, we would perhaps have avoided the loss of thousands of lives and jamming of global order,” he recognized. 

“It is hoped post pandemic, we shall emerge victorious by going closer to nature, adopt our lives in line with natural processes and coexist with other living beings. After all, the planet belongs to all and we must co-habit giving back the space of others we have occupied,” the former federal minister for Information & Broadcasting thought. 

“We have lost a lot and must reflect how we will repair, reorient and reconstruct our lives to build a future of life in harmony with nature. As the ecosystem affects our health, water, food and life we must rethink how we shall live in harmony with nature. The United Nations estimate that around 25% of all animals and plants species are threatened with extinction globally. Therefore, we must create awareness and build momentum to protect life in this planet,” he asserted. 

“The countries observe a week identifying various segments for the needed action but we in Pakistan are preoccupied in day to day issues without realizing our indifference will cost us lives and quality of life in future. The governments in centre and provinces could have launched e-visits to zoos, parks, forests, aquariums, museums and libraries to bring citizens specially youth closer to nature, animals, plants, ecosystems which are pieces of the biodiversity jigsaw. With that we would have united the people and also taken them away from the sufferings of pandemic apart from most needed disengagement from current low-level politics,” he pointed out. 

“If leadership in Islamabad had realized that all efforts on bio-diversity would mean healthy living conditions, richer varieties of food, clean drinking water for our people and way to achieve seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) they would have been seen busy highlighting it. They should know SDG-2 is Zero Hunger, SDG-3 Good Health and Well-being, SDG-10 Reducing Inequalities, and SDG-12 Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG-13 Climate Actions, SDG-14 Life below Water, and SDG-15 Life on Land,” he added. 

“All knowledge-based societies have programmes. Can our leadership stand up and tell the nation where they stand on this count of governance?” he questioned.

Nisar Memon urges going back to basics

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

“When a person, nation or humanity is beset with problem; the commonly tried and tested approach is to go to the root cause of the problem to understand, analyze and find solution to fix it. This is what is done in knowledge based organized societies with strong but firm, selfless but truthful, visionary but practical leadership,” Senator Nisar Memon, a former federal minister, remarked in his latest newspaper article.

“We have all witnessed the handling of coronavirus (COVID-19) by Islamabad leadership. The pandemic in Pakistan is rooted through the import of it by our own nationals coming from USA and Iran initially. If Islamabad had analyzed it in time, we would have saved many a lives lost already and saved thousands from its painful contact and millions from the short term and long term mental agony, physical inconvenience and economic hardship,” he opined. 

“The capability and capacity in Islamabad for cool rational thinking without bias is now an open secret. It has been recorded by media, including all pervasive social media, that the leadership viewed COVID-19only with one lens and that of politics,” he added. 

“The rest followed and explains the lack of Islamabad cooperation with provinces sans Punjab province which appears to have direct rule of Islamabad, not through the Governor Rule as provided in Article 232/234 of the constitution of Pakistan but by informal arrangement. The results are very visible,” the former Minister pointed out.

“A closer look at our history indicates, if we had paid attention to identifying the root cause of issues as they came along we would not have questions like: why our public health and education not responsive to need of the hour, why our economy is based on alms, why our governance is weak, why despite strong bureaucracy we are unable to provide services to common man from Karakoram to Keti Bander, why we have conflicts between institutions and subsequent interference, why we have indigenously developed strategic weapons but yet for research on water, food and energy we are dependent on outside the country, why we hire consultants for even telling us what our vision should be, why we are producing leaders which sooner or later we renounce and show them the door. The list of why, why goes on,” he continued. 

“This is because: our value system has and is eroding; our education system is not based on science and technology; institutions have and are decaying; our parliament is not what was envisaged; we have laws but enforcement is nonexistent, compromised or selective; our judiciary is unable to provide speedy justice to common man; perpetually there is a ruling class and a ruled one; our society has visible conflict of interest at the highest offices and people violating constitution are not taken to task,” Senator Nisar Memon explained. 

“We all know, the value system starts from home and built up by schooling therefore the fundamental right to education must be enforced and the education system aligned with our value systems and science to meet the needs of the time. We need well placed government priorities replacing old colonial systems. The political reforms should begin with political parties followed by electoral reforms to get high quality competent representative elected to assemblies,” he suggested.

Time to learn lessons from history

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

“Today the whole world is talking about various aspects of a common enemy COVID-19. Whatever the reasons, rationale or conspiracy theories on the subject, which are in abundance, the fact remains that we are obsessed by this monster.” 

This was observed by Senator Nisar Memon, a former federal minister, in his latest newspaper article.

“The fear is monumental because there is no medicine and vaccine but the positive aspect is availability of preventive shield which is simply to stay out of its possible contact by taking suggested precautions and isolation to insulate its entry into human body. So simple but yet not practiced, causing unprecedented halt!” he opined. 

“It is ironic, that while internationally everyone accepts it is a common war but yet the countries, states and cities are battling each other. China and USA, the two major economic powers though bruised by pandemic, do not see eye to eye on its origin. New York Governor has taken a course independent of Washington to fight pandemic,” he wondered. 

“The citizens in many countries are either defying government instructions like in most of our cities or are in streets protesting against continued lockdown like in Berlin. The scientists of different countries are researching in different directions and world bodies offering differing programmes,” the former federal minister added. 

“In this backdrop, let’s see how we are faring. Pakistan federal government with its civil and military administration in Islamabad is on one page, if voices of some cabinet members were to be ignored. Parliament is still under lockdown but the parliamentarians are contesting each other vehemently in media. Judiciary has scores of questions from executive to allow it to be counted on same page. Unfortunately, a divisive debate rages whether to save lives from COVID-19 or from hunger,” Senator Nisar Memon commented. 

“The federal and provincial governments, including the ruling party’s own governments in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, can be seen by all whether they are on one page or not. The business, trade and industry despite financial pressures have shown remarkable resilience to be on one page with provincial governments. Finally, the Ulemas came in to defy the government perceived to be weak is not a silver lining but ‘call to attention’ notice,” he remarked. 

“The intensity of COVID-19 sooner or later will recede but the world would have lost opportunity to be on one page in preparing itself for a peaceful and just world order with respect to Mother Earth and its children, the humans. In post-Coronavirus, people expect a new world order which is different from the one that emerged after World War I and II. The economic powers must concede their domineering role and neocolonialism; while developing economies must move away from aid, loan and support and ‘break the begging bowl’ if they wish to be sovereign,” he reckoned. 

“But if the world emerges out of COVID-19 without learning the lessons of history, a disaster of unimaginable magnitude compared to pandemic may emerge and therefore all efforts must be made to avoid it. Let the world reboot and move on to live with new economies with different means of production, trade, communication; and new human relationship with dependable health and education systems. Pakistan should shun deceit and petty politics and truly bring all on one page,” he urged.

Nisar Memon highlights Shanghai, SCO

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

“It is understandable to keep social distances amongst the people to fight COVID-19 but not amongst the countries vowed to cooperate against terrorism, separatism and extremism, the three evil forces. These are the objectives pursued by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) or Shanghai Pact; a Eurasian intergovernmental organization for political, economic, and security cooperation.”

This was observed by Senator Nisar Memon, a former federal minister, in his latest newspaper article. 

‘The SCO was founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001 by six countries. Shanghai symbolizes the political power with its history dating back to 1291, an economic showcase with gross domestic product in 2019 amounted to approximately 3.82 trillion Yuan (about US$ 541billion), is China’s biggest and richest city, and a naval base and shipbuilding industry where Pakistan’s F-22P Frigate was built Shanghai is the city which rivals New York or Paris in terms of modernity and boasts a blended culture of the East and the West and has come to be known as Oriental Paris,” he wrote. 

“The SCO countries like other countries of the world are confronted with terrorism of tiny virus COVID-19 since the dawn of this decade. Each of the eight SCO member country; the People’s Republic of China, The Republic of India, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan; has suffered pandemic in varying degree,” the former federal minister observed. 

“The People’s Republic of China successfully came out of it and is on its feet reaching out to all continents to help victims of COVID-19. In February 2020, the SCO rightly issued a statement supporting China’s efforts against the novel coronavirus outbreak,” he complimented. 

“There must be some inherent immunity and strengths in our people. Besides this pandemic, the region awaits peace and progress for its 3.2 billion inhabitants compared to the rest of the world population of 4.6 billion,” he added.

“Pakistan experienced, within SCO, terrorism of worst kind with terrorist attacks on headquarters of its Navy, Air Force, and Army headquarters; on its cities killing civilians; but the worst was brutal attack on its innocent children in a Peshawar Public School. With political and security determination and coordinated actions, Pakistan has controlled terrorism but not completely as yet,” Senator Nisar Memon noted.

“Pakistan has overpowered extremism like one witnessed when the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad were paralyzed by brute force at Faizabad, and Lal Masjid was turned into fortress with heavily armed extremists to fight the state. The need for institutional support from the SCO countries will bring fruits envisaged by pioneers of the alliance,” he opined.

Nisar Memon praises Chinese leadership

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Senator Nisar Memon has praised the Chinese leadership, headed by President Xi Jinping, for having controlled the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic with precision. 

“COVID-19 had first surfaced, reported and now controlled in China. How did they do it? Their leadership, hats off to President Xi Jinping who led from the front and his entire team in centre, provinces and municipalities who implemented effective unambiguous lockdown with reliable data using information technology and artificial intelligence to save further lives by testing, isolation, isolation and isolation,” the former federal minister wrote in his latest newspaper article. 

“In the fight they provided to doctors, paramedics and supporting staff the personal protective equipments. These frontline medical soldiers in turn went scientifically against the virus to save citizen lives. Bravo!” he complimented.

“The ancient civilization of our region is stuck by a pandemic which has taken the whole world by surprise. Isn’t this the time to bury the hatchet, unite to fight current common enemy and lay a solid basis for future relations? The answer can only be in affirmative,” he reckoned. 

“Unfortunately, our neighbour Iran could not implement social distances due to ziarat (pilgrimage) and COVID-19 found fertile ground to spread. India announced severe and tough lockdown and saved their people. Sri Lanka undertook early hygiene and preventive measures and kept the Island nation safe. Bangladesh took stringent measures to save lives. Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan too fought well to save lives,” Senator Nisar Memon noted. 

“Pakistan had no option but to take actions to contain spread of pandemic. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries with population of about 1.8 billion had confirmed COVID-19 cases of above 20,000 and over 600 deaths, as of last week. At the same time; USA and Europe with population of about 1.1 billion had confirmed Covid19 cases of above 1.6 million and over 120,000 deaths. SAARC affliction was proportionally lower than USA and Europe,” he stated. 

“The scientists and social researchers have yet to come up with a plausible answer as to why such a huge difference. The reasons like temperature, social distances, and effective lockdown do not hold true. The rural horizontal spread, food we eat, and pollution with unclean environment may have developed immunity within our body. But nothing definitive is said yet,” the former federal minister commented.