Saturday, July 9, 2022
Women And Political Power In Pakistan – OpEd
By Saad Hafiz
Developing countries are increasingly recognising that including women as equal partners in political, economic, and public life is crucial to nation-building. Pakistan has a long way to go as women are under-represented in decision-making positions. Political power remains firmly the domain of men, except for a few elite women with dynastic political backgrounds.Low political representation, together with entrenched religious and cultural patriarchy and rampant sexism, is the primary cause of the dismal conditions for women in the country. The personal and political emancipation of women is not a national priority. And the uneven distribution of political power, heavily skewed towards men, limits women’s contribution to nation-building. It also leaves women alone to struggle for gender-sensitive legislation and fairer laws and practices. Yet Pakistan needs the active engagement of women as agents of change in politics and society. Women can help to improve abysmal human and economic development statistics. For example, women’s contribution in Pakistan is a mere 24% of GDP (mainly through unpaid household labour), well below competitors, leaving significant room for improvement. Ultimately, women must have input in the male-dominated political, economic, security, and social decisions that affect the country’s future. While it is hard to contemplate based on existing conditions, women must have actual political clout, leadership roles, and meaningful decision-making power. It is an enormous task because society does not bring women up to be leaders. Women are not prepared or conditioned to challenge a hierarchical system that promotes subservience to men. We know that the cultural norms that restrict the advancement of women in society in a male-dominated country are multi-faceted and difficult to overcome. But women can increase their political clout through the power of the vote in an electoral democracy like Pakistan. For instance, female voters can choose political parties that give more representation to women in politics. Their votes should go to political parties that field more female candidates, appoint more female ministers, support women candidates during elections, and expand their social base to fit in more women from rural and poorer backgrounds. But recent data on the participation of women in the democratic process in Pakistan is not encouraging. A frequent complaint is that women’s votes do not matter: a part of the systemic suppression of women’s political participation. Male family members also prevent a section of rural women from voting in elections. As a result, despite increasing voter turnouts, women are underrepresented in the halls of political power and have limited access to financial resources. According to IPU data, a global organization of international parliaments, Pakistan ranks 112th for its percentage of women in national parliaments. Political parties are reluctant to throw their weight behind female candidates who take on men in open seats as they expect them to lose. It is because women lack voter constituencies that take years to build. Hence, political parties mostly pick women indirectly on reserved seats through a gender quota in Parliament. It limits women legislators’ power and influence. Overall, Pakistan is a tough place for women. It is made worse due to state-led anti-feminism. Women face gender discrimination, endemic sexual violence, and harassment. Successive governments have not attempted to remove the structural disparities and inequalities that hinder gender empowerment. Male politicians often make ignorant and offensive statements about women legislators. Government leaders blame the victims for the violence perpetrated on women. Political parties pandering to the religious right find it easier to advocate the policing of women’s bodies, choices, and agency. There is no strategy or commitment to repeal the anti-women Hudood ordinances and anti-minority blasphemy laws. It is little wonder that Pakistan is ranked third to last on the 2020 Gender Development Index (GDI). And the 6th most dangerous place for women globally, according to a 2021 report by the Women, Peace and Security Index. Pakistan has been especially slow to include women in political decision-making. And women in leadership positions will remain a sensitive issue. But the country has made progress spurred by women’s growing presence in politics through reserved seats. In addition, the Election Commission of Pakistan has partnered with NGOs in rural areas to increase female voter registration. The next step is to move away from symbolic representation for women to have more female politicians in influential decision-making positions. Securing women’s political, economic, and social rights can go a long way in nation-building and shared prosperity. Nothing less will do. We know that the structures of repression that marginalize women will not disappear rapidly. Despite the challenges, women and girls must continue their fight against patriarchal forces. Women mostly have to drive the struggle for gender equality in political leadership. https://www.eurasiareview.com/08072022-women-and-political-power-in-pakistan-oped/
Why does Pakistan fear another COVID wave?
Health experts are warning of a new surge ahead of Eid al-Adha celebrations. They say the holiday could fuel a new coronavirus wave as cases in Pakistan are already on the rise.
Experts have warned that another surge in coronavirus cases in Pakistan could overburden the country's already fragile health care system. They expect the wave to be coincident with the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, which takes place this weekend.The country's National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), which aims to manage the virus, on Tuesday issued a new set of guidelines amid fears of a new rise in cases, requesting that people use face masks and practice social distancing.
Eid prayers will be organized in open spaces "under stringent COVID protocols," the NCOC said.
According to the data released by the National Institute of Health Islamabad (NIH), Pakistan on Monday recorded 675 new cases and a rate of positive cases from people tested of 4.61%, marking a substantial increase from the past months.
Just a month ago, the positive percentage of tests was just 0.54% with only 79 cases and no deaths.
According to official data, Pakistan has recorded over 1.5 million confirmed cases and more than 30,400 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
Officials call for holiday caution
According to the NIH, 85% of the eligible population have been fully vaccinated against the virus.Federal Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel, meanwhile, urged people to remain at home during the Eid holidays to curb the spread of the virus.
"The quick transmission is indicating that we have just entered into the sixth wave of this deadly virus," Dr. Qaiser Sajjad, secretary-general of the Pakistan Medical Association, told DW.
"The primary concern is that the asymptomatic people are the dangerous carriers and transmitters," he added.
However, the government believes that the "situation is under control and there is no need to enforce a lockdown in the country," Federal Health Minister Patel said.
Health experts say that there is a lack of awareness of the virus and that people are not taking the situation seriously as millions prepare to attend community prayers at mosques this weekend.
Disregard for precautionary measures
"There is huge mistrust between the government and public on the communication of messages and people not responding to authoritarian messages," Dr. Fareeha Irfan, a public health physician and expert in health policy and management, told DW."Masks were dropped as early as June and July 2020 in public offices. Meetings shown on TV without masks prompted people to ignore the precautions," Irfan added.
The rapid increase in cases in Karachi, the largest city, over the last weeks has also alarmed experts and spurred officials to rethink their lockdown strategy.
The positive test rate in Karachi is currently at 21%, with 456 new cases reported on Monday.
Pakistan's aviation regulatory authority recently made masks compulsory during domestic flights in the wake of the recent surge in Karachi.
"There is an urgent need to take precautionary measures and avoid gatherings on this Eid. The testing ratio is quite low, and I fear that the positive rate in Karachi is [actually] around 35%, which could throw the country into a new health crisis," warned Sajjad.
"In this new wave there is a trajectory towards a doubling of cases. It's a strong possibility that we will see an alarming situation and rise in cases if people do not stop being careless," said Irfan.
https://www.dw.com/en/why-does-pakistan-fear-another-covid-wave/a-62381465
Pakistan: Business experts warn of social unrest amid deepening economic crisis
Amid the deepening economic crisis in Pakistan, the business leaders of the country have warned that the country is heading toward social unrest and fear that it is becoming unsafe for foreign investment due to back-to-back government policies that seek to discourage investors.
“We don’t have continuity of economic policies. There have to be separate teams for economic matters and political issues so that policies remain intact; otherwise, it will keep affecting foreign and local investors,” said the former vice president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Saqib Fayaz Magoon, while reacting to the massive hike in the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) policy rate from 7.5 per cent in September 2021 to 15pc in less than 10 months, the Dawn reported.
He explained that industrialists and foreign investors always rely on interest rates and foreign exchange rates before investing.
“If it changes so abruptly and that too quite considerably, then foreign investors will start eluding Pakistan,” the Dawn quoted Magoon as saying.Secondly, he said, banks in Pakistan were reluctant (due to verbal instructions from the SBP) to make payments to businessmen who got supplies on collection base documents on short-term credit.“The banks were making payments on LC-based payments alone. Pakistan witnesses around USD 1 billion in payments under credit-based business due to the credibility of Pakistani businessmen and foreign suppliers,” he said.
According to the Dawn, Magoon while expressing concern over the increasing value of the Dollar said that Foreign investors are looking with worry at this depreciation in the Pakistani rupee because they invest in dollars and get a return in local currency, as the exchange rate is likely to appreciate even further after Eidul Azha, he said.
Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI) president Adeel Siddiqui reiterated Magoon’s statements while expressing concern over the falling crude oil prices and ghee. He was also worried about monetary policy, and poverty issues in the country.“Don’t you remember the government has announced it will provide relief from lower fuel prices in the international market even if it drops by one dollar? Have you seen this relief being passed on to consumers?” he questioned.On the contrary, he claimed that electricity and gas tariffs had been raised, in addition to a fuel price adjustment (FPA) of Rs 7.90 per unit, the Dawn reported.
Notably, Inflation in Pakistan increased to 21.32 per cent in the month of June, the highest in over 13 years, as per local media reports.
Pakistan’s Bureau of Statistics (PBS) stated that in May, the inflation rate as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 13.76 per cent.
The inflation increased by 6.34 per cent month-on-month (MoM) and reached 21.32 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in June, the Dawn newspaper reported.
A double-digit inflation rate was witnessed in many sectors. The transportation sector recorded the highest inflation of 62.17 per cent and perishable food items, prices also increases by 36.34 per cent, it added.Meanwhile, the education sector reported single-digit inflation of 9.46 per cent, and the communication sector reported inflation of 1.96 per cent, Dawn reported citing PBS.Motor fuel, liquefied hydrocarbons and electricity charges recorded a 95 per cent increase in year-on-year inflation, as per the data.The PBA had also expressed concern over the potential risks that might affect the growth aspects of the country even if they are expected to remain satisfactory.
It involves the trading partners of the country. In an attempt to counter inflation, the central banks of the country’s trading partners are increasing their interest rates which might cause the recession in these countries, the report said. (ANI)
https://theprint.in/world/pakistan-business-experts-warn-of-social-unrest-amid-deepening-economic-crisis/1032514/
IMF Intends To Ban Pakistan From Seeking More Chinese Loans: Report
Pakistan is obligated to pay more than PRs. 350 billion power dues to multiple Chinese IPPs operating in the country.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) intends to ban Pakistan from borrowing more from China, according to reports.
Islamabad's plan to seek PKR 7.9 billion from China for China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects is now likely to hinge upon the IMF recommendations.
Driving Pakistan's economy with the help of external doles is unsustainable and Pakistan desperately needs structural reforms. The IMF has raised objections to Pakistan's loans from China and arbitrarily high payments made to Chinese independent power producers (IPP), suggesting Islamabad renegotiate its energy agreements with Beijing, reported Financial Post.
Pakistan is obligated to pay more than PRs. 350 billion power dues to multiple Chinese IPPs operating in the country. IMF's demand follows Beijing's rejection of modifying the conditions of agreements for projects under the CPEC.
A major part of the budget expenditure PKR 3,950 billion (USD 19.5 billion) - more than 40 pc of the total federal budget expenditure (PKR 9,502 billion; USD 47 billion) is allocated for debt servicing which is 29.1 pc rise over the previous year.
Pakistan's economy is facing a challenging task as the budget for FY 2022-23 has failed to address the key structural issues which are proving as an obstacle to the revival of the country.
The country's economy is already marred with a huge deficit while inflation is getting out of control with an imminent threat of looming default. With the IMF deal hanging in balance, the authorities should have endeavored to take up bold structural reforms, but the budget disappointed, as per the media portal.
Pakistan Finance Minister Miftah Ismail's USD 47 billion federal budget for the ensuing fiscal year has done very little to address the fundamental problems Islamabad's economy faces.
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/imf-intends-to-ban-pakistan-from-seeking-more-chinese-loans-report-3132581
#Pakistan - Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto, LCCI for economic diplomacy
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40185173
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