4Pakistani.com |
- Jammu, Sialkot to emerge as major trade hubs
- Balochistan assembly unanimously reposes faith in Raisani
- Courting trouble
- Yogen-Fruz opens in Lahore: Frozen yogurt, ‘Indulge without a bulge’
- Young cheats: Almost 50% of tax dodgers below 35 years of age
- Demand: PML-N demands joint Upper House between G-B, AJK
- Karachi violence: MQM boycotts NA session
- CNG stations in Sindh to remain closed for 48 hours
- Beads and mirrors
- A national psyche of fear
| Jammu, Sialkot to emerge as major trade hubs Posted: 13 Nov 2012 12:55 PM PST
MIRPUR: With fresh initiatives of the Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and support from Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart for opening of Jammu-Sialkot route, these two big traditional trade centres on both sides of the working boundary, are likely to emerge as international business hubs while the move is sure to further improve the confidence building measures between the two sides, said a report on Monday. "This route, under the spirit of ongoing cross-LoC trade, was considered to be an important trade link between Punjab (Pakistan) and the neighbouring Indian-held state of Jammu and Kashmir before 1947," the report pointed out, recalling that the people residing in Kashmir used to go to Lahore and Amritsar via Sialkot. "Meanwhile, several bodies of traders and industrialists of Jammu have welcomed the statement of the IHK chief minister in which he remarked that he would recommend opening of Jammu-Sialkot road to the Indian government for travel and trade," according to the report. Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry President YV Sharma, while welcoming the statement of IHK chief minister, said that it was an old demand of traders and industrialists of Jammu. Sharma said this link had remained the traditional trade route prior to 1947 and opening of this trade link will give major boost to the economic activities on both sides. "Within few years, these destinations will emerge as international business hubs like Attari-Wagah border in Punjab,'' he said. Terming the move as part of confidence building measures between the two sides, Sharma said that it will go a long way in understanding political issues and making way for their resolution and healthy atmosphere. Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2012. |
| Balochistan assembly unanimously reposes faith in Raisani Posted: 13 Nov 2012 10:51 AM PST
QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly which met on Tuesday evening, reposed its faith in the chief ministership of Nawab Aslam Raisani. A resolution was introduced in the assembly which sought to repose confidence in the leadership of Raisani. The resolution was subsequently voted on by members of the house who unanimously approved the resolution. Speaking to the media afterwards, Raisani thanked all those who voted for him in the assembly and strongly condemned those who doubted a democratically elected assembly. He added that among those who voted for him included members of the Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim Leaque Quaid, Awami National Party, Baloch National Party, independents. Asked about a plan of action, he said that he would consult other members and party workers before announcing a decision. Raisani and his government have come under strict scrutiny recently at the Supreme Court which in overseeing a case on missing persons and state of security in the insurgency hit province had on October 12, declared that the provincial government had lost all authority. The beleaguered chief minister who was seeking a vote of no confidence was dealt a blow on Monday when the acting governor first recalled a notification for holding Tuesday's session before reverting the decision. Then on Tuesday afternoon, the Balochistan chapter of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) declared that in wake of the Supreme Court's order, the provincial government and the assembly were unconstitutional. |
| Posted: 13 Nov 2012 09:50 AM PST
The Supreme Court of Pakistan seems to be tying itself in knots. Some recent developments suggest that the learned judges' exuberance is creating legal, political and administrative complexities to which even their collective wisdom might not provide workable solutions. Ironically, these complexities have emerged from two subjects that have recently won the esteemed Court's praise, besides injecting much potency in its judicial conduct — one is Balochistan and the second is the judges' stern handling of Pakistan's powerful establishment comprising civil and military bureaucracy and intelligence agencies. Both matters are considered twin feathers in the cap of the Supreme Court but now appear to have raised fundamental questions about the implications of the judiciary's handling of sensitive challenges. The detailed judgment last month that practically declared the Nawab Aslam Raisani government constitutionally unviable, has unleashed a storm of problems. The federal government has completely ignored the Court's order to exercise "all constitutional options" (read: governor's rule) to fill the vacuum created by the Court's stunning verdict about the Raisani government. The president and the prime minister of Pakistan have both whole-heartedly endorsed an admittedly dysfunctional but politically alive and democratically mandated set-up in Balochistan. Premier Raja Pervaiz Ashraf's visit to Gwadar last week has sent the message out to the Court that the man is going to remain chief minister come what may. Mr Raisani himself has not done a bad job of seeking complete support from his provincial allies. Governor Zulfikar Magsi has also thrown his weight behind the beleaguered chief minister and refused to either impose emergency or pave the way for a new leader of the house. The civil administration has gotten back to its normal work. It is taking orders from the provincial cabinet and carrying out the directives of the chief minister in letter and in spirit. The Balochistan government is intact and working, whereas, according to the Court's order, it should have been long gone and a new arrangement should have come up by now. Would the Supreme Court now turn its judicial push into a shove and insist that its verdict about the fate of the Balochistan government be considered final? If they do that, then the same set of judges who have been hailed as saviours of Balochistan might be cast as its tormentors, defied and decried by blue-blooded Baloch politicians. But if they relent and find a middle path, serious concerns would be raised about the sagacity of their earlier verdict, opening them to the accusation of making this sensitive province a media plaything. Even if the Court holds firm and out-of-assembly opponents of the Raisani government start a street campaign in its favour, this will be a recipe for more turmoil in an already sad, divided and bloodied part of Pakistan. The other claim to fame of the Supreme Court — nailing down an almighty establishment — has also lately come under severe strain. It has landed the judges in a somewhat awkward situation where the usual political corners that used to support them on a myriad of concerns seem to be backing off. This became evident in the judiciary's critical spat with the generals. There is hardly any doubt that last week, there was a serious war of words between General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. Just as doubtless is the fact that the press release from the ISPR aimed part of its message about national interest being a reflection of multi-institutional consensus at the Court. The chief justice's response was swift. While his meeting with a group of senior civil servants was planned well in advance and took place earlier in the day, the released text of the meeting was suitably adjusted to take care of the message from the GHQ. What is doubtful is whether the chief justice came out as a sure-shot moral winner from this bout. Most political parties chose to use General Kayani's press statement as a timely reminder for course correction. Even the PML-N issued a measured response distancing itself from the Supreme Court's repeated claims that only the judges can be the final arbiter in all national matters. This is unusual in times where offering support to the judiciary on all causes as well as kicking the establishment in the face for the smallest of reasons has become routine. Perhaps, even most pro-Supreme Court interests in the system have started to realise that the Court's influence has become too massive which, if not hemmed in, could cause this carefully-mounted system of democracy to collapse before the coming elections. Correction: The article earlier incorrectly stated “Qadir Magsi” as the governor instead of “Zulfikar Magsi”. The error is regretted. Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2012. |
| Yogen-Fruz opens in Lahore: Frozen yogurt, ‘Indulge without a bulge’ Posted: 13 Nov 2012 08:48 AM PST
LAHORE: One, two, three, four… and now another one. About half a dozen frozen yogurt franchises have cropped up in every major city. After the influx of red velvet cakes and decorative cupcakes, frozen yogurt seems to be the new food trend that everyone can't wait to get their hands on. Not only are women tempted by the delicious fat-free treat, they are also attracted to the limitless flavours and colourful toppings — from berries and nuts to chocolate and syrups — that are now being offered. It's a tasty and a 'guilt-free' alternative to ice-cream. "Only recently has there been a surge for frozen yogurt," says Carlos Campos, the Vice President of the Yogen-Fruz franchise which recently opened shop in Lahore, adding that he is a strong advocate of the frozen yogurt trend that seems to be taking over our taste buds. According to Campos, fro-yo shops boomed in the United States during the late '70s and '80s, but in Pakistan, this funky cold ice-cream look-alike made its way when numerous international brands landed. "People care more about their bodies and are tired of fast-food," he says. "They want something that keeps them fresh and healthy." "It has become kind of a life-style," says Campos, explaining that people are concerned about healthy living. "Frozen yogurt joints are now considered hip places to go to," he adds, saying that the fad began in California with a burst of stores and expanded throughout the world. Without pointing fingers, Campos admits that many fro-yo manufacturers have less healthy ways to flavour their yogurt (like syrups and sugar-based alternatives). He believes that yogurt is supposed to be healthy, and should avoid artificial shortcuts. While some health studies doubt the nutrition value of frozen yogurt, Campos holds firm to his statement that Yozen-Fruz is healthy and that only some frozen yogurt shops use artificial powders to make their yogurt. "Not everyone uses pro-biotics or healthy ingredients, because that is costly," says Campos, who encourages people to be aware of what they are eating. "When it comes to formulae, we make sure that our base product remains," he says, boasting that his company is present in 45 countries across the world. "It's the best alternative to fast-food — a treat that could also be a meal replacement. There have been cases where people are using protein yogurt as a meal." The fro-yo madness in Pakistan has attracted mainly the elite who have the spending power to indulge in a cup for a few hundred rupees. The owner of the Yogen-Fruz's franchise in Lahore, Basir Syed, has been adamant that he will cater to local tastes without compromising on quality. "It's a lifestyle; pro-biotics is a lifestyle; no-fat or low-cal diet is a lifestyle," says Syed. "In Pakistan, we love to eat! That's where the whole concept for this place comes from: indulge without a bulge." Syed explains that his shop will have several alterations for the Pakistani market. Apart from the regular fro-yo treats, his shop will also offer meals such as crepes as well as healthy shakes, with quality being the key. Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2012. Like Life & Style on Facebook and follow at @ETLifeandStyle for the latest in fashion, gossip, entertainment |
| Young cheats: Almost 50% of tax dodgers below 35 years of age Posted: 13 Nov 2012 07:47 AM PST
ISLAMABAD: Nearly five out of every 10 identified tax dodgers are between 18 and 35 years of age, while one out of every 10 of the evaders is a woman, according to official statistics. Karachi hosts the maximum number of tax evaders, while traders make up the biggest group of those who earn millions, own multiple houses and expensive vehicles, maintain many accounts and spend significant time abroad while avoiding paying a rupee to the exchequer. The statistics also show that almost two-thirds of the identified people use advanced business models. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) have for the first time identified and grouped over 2.4 million tax dodgers, according to their age groups, sex, geographical background and professions. Almost 60% of the 2.4 million have a two-member family, while 317,429 have more than five-member families. According to census and data, wealthy people like to have small families. Also featuring in the list of evaders are 735,212 people who have remained taxpayers but have exited the system through corrupt FBR officials. However, this figure has not been used in working out the percentages in various categories of evaders. Salaried individuals and withholding agents have not been added to the list either. According to official figures, as many as 2.2 million or almost 90% of the 2.4 million men and 240,292 (10.2%) women willfully evade taxes. The government will provide the tax dodgers one last opportunity to avail the tax amnesty scheme before resorting to coercive measures. Age groups Ten percent or 242,640 indentified people are between 18 to 25 years of age; 465,549 or 20% are between 26 to 30 years of age and 393,850 people or 17% are between 31 and 35 years of age. This shows that 47% of the total evaders fall between the ages of 18 and 35, indicating the trend of transferring assets to offspring, a common practice among politicians and the industrialists in the country. As many as 897,242 individuals or 38% are between the age group of 36 and 50 years. Fifteen per cent or 355,744 people fall in the age group of 36 to 40, while 285,409 or 12% are of 41 to 45 years of age. Eleven percent or 256,089 individuals are aged between 46 and 50 years. In the elderly group of 51 to 60 years, as many as 360,546 people or 15% have been identified. Top 10 cities Karachi hosts 326,144 or 13.8% of the identified people followed by Lahore with 238,050 people (10%), Rawalpindi with 117,639 people (5%), Faisalabad with 101,422 people (4.3%) and Sialkot with 97,391 people or 4.2%. The rest are residents of Gujranwala, Gujrat, Multan, Peshawar and Islamabad. Top 10 professions The maximum numbers of evaders, 62,779, are traders by profession, followed by contractors (36,270), importers-exporters (17,853), general-store wholesalers (13,531), jewellers (10,728), small industry owners (10,105), construction industry owners (9,569), doctors (9,330), travel agents (5,426) and owners of filling stations (3,766.) Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2012. |
| Demand: PML-N demands joint Upper House between G-B, AJK Posted: 13 Nov 2012 06:47 AM PST
GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) should be made a provisional constitutional province of Pakistan, with a joint Upper House between Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the region. This demand was made by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday. "The arrangement will help curb the constitutional ambiguity and lend people greater access to power and financial resources," said Hafizur Rehman, the regional president of PML-N while addressing a press conference. He read out main points of the "white sheet" issued against the regional government of PPP, highlighting the failures of the government in sectors including power, education, law and order and taxation during its three years in power. He said that the Governance Order 2009, under which the status of the region was made equivalent to a province, was a presidential order that could be revoked anytime as it is not backed by a legal cover. Rehman said that G-B should be given share in NFC award and the Council of Common Interests, which will ensure much higher budget to the G-B government. Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2012. |
| Karachi violence: MQM boycotts NA session Posted: 13 Nov 2012 05:45 AM PST
ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) boycotted the National Assembly (NA) session on Tuesday to protest against the rising violence in Karachi, reported Express News. During the session, MQM MNA Abdul Qadir Khanzada raised a point of objection and said that Karachi's situation has been worsening day by day, but the law enforcement agencies were not doing anything about it. The government has also not taken any concrete steps to control it, he maintained. The party also threatened to boycott all NA sessions if the government does not come up with its security plan for Karachi by tomorrow. On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Rohail Asghar said that MQM is in the government and it should not boycott the session. If MQM is so concerned about the situation, then it should quit the government, he added. The past 10 days in Karachi have been the deadliest with around 80 people killed, according to police records. Rangers and police claim to have been carrying out operations in various areas and arresting several suspects. |
| CNG stations in Sindh to remain closed for 48 hours Posted: 13 Nov 2012 04:44 AM PST
KARACHI: Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), on Tuesday, announced that all compressed natural gas (CNG) stations in Sindh will remain closed for 48 hours from 9 am on November 13 (Tuesday) until 9 am on November 15 (Thursday), a SSGC press release said. According to Media Manager SSGC Inayatullah Ismail, the step has been taken by the gas utility company to improve the line pack position all over Sindh, which has been badly disturbed due to curtailed gas supply from different gas fields, causing deterioration of line pack position and resulting in low pressure in SSGC's system. The two-day CNG loadshedding remains in place, apart from this outage. On October 25, the apex court had declared the formula of linking compressed natural gas (CNG) price with oil prices as "illegal," and directed OGRA to announce revised prices minus surcharges and cess as an "Eid gift." The OGRA subsequently announced reduced prices for the fuel popular with small vehicle owners. However, CNG stations opposed the newly announced prices and started unilaterally shutting down their fuel pumps as a sign of protest. Reacting to this, the government announced it would fine and even seal stations who shut down their stations unilaterally. |
| Posted: 13 Nov 2012 03:43 AM PST
When one thinks of the consequences of the influx of Afghan refugees in the 80s after the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan, smuggling, weapons and drugs are the first things that come to mind. Even among the Pashtuns of what was then the North-West Frontier Province, the newcomers were looked at with disdain, and given the derogatory label of 'Gilam Jam', or carpet stealers. In later years, this term achieved notoriety as the label given to the murderous Uzbek militia of General Abdul Rashid Dostum, whose propensity for looting was such that many said that they took everything that wasn't nailed down, even the carpets. What many tend to overlook is the social and cultural contribution that the Afghan refugees made to Pakistan because, as they started pouring in, they brought with them their own customs, food and fashions, many of which have now taken root this side of the Durand line. While the majority of refugees were Pashtuns, a small number of Persian speaking Kabulites also migrated to Pakistan. Smart, stylish and fashion conscious, they were often referred to as poor Europeans, as they settled in cities like Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta. A handful also emigrated to the Gulf States and Western countries. Slowly and gradually, as the Afghan immigrants set up their own businesses in and around Peshawar, their foods and sense of fashion literally changed the flavour of the area. Nowadays Kabuli Pulao and Afghan boutiques are common among the Peshawarites and the rest of the country. Alongside the new business ventures, there were also those who simply transplanted the businesses which they had left behind in Afghanistan to their new abodes in Pakistan. Ahmed Wali is one such person. "My father once owned a big boutique in Shahray Nau, a posh market in the heart of Kabul," he says, "but after the Russian invasion our family shifted to Peshawar and set up shop in 1983." Ahmed now runs the popular Afghan boutique Sham-e-Uros in Peshawar, and according to him, business is booming. "The unique style of Afghan fashion attracts a lot of people, and now we have branches in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi," he says proudly. Wedding season provides a huge boost to all Afghan boutiques in Peshawar as prospective brides are drawn towards the traditional Afghan wedding dress, called the Gandey Afghani. The dress, also called Khate Zunzeyree (a dress in chains) in the local dialect, consists of three main layers, the qameez (outer portion), the shameez (middle portion) and the mameez (inner portion). The qameez which is the most decorated of the three layers is usually adorned with colourful beads and miniature mirrors. These detailed dresses require at least a month to complete; with as many as 20 to 25 artisans stitching and adorning the 6 to 15 metre cloth required for the complete outfit. Previously the dresses were exclusively stitched and designed by Afghan women but over time, young men were trained to stitch the fabric while the women focused solely on designing. But the sheer intricacy of the dresses, and the level of work that each dress requires also makes them too expensive for most buyers in these economically troubled times. But where there's a will, there's a way, and these determined businessmen and women have no shortage of will. "A bridal dress costs anywhere between sixty to seventy thousand rupees and most people cannot afford to buy it," Ahmed explains. "So we now offer these dresses for rent for 24-hours at rates ranging from six thousand to fifteen thousand rupees." Colours are a major feature of all Afghan outfits, with different colours and designs playing a vital role in the overall look of the completed outfit. The white Gandey Afghani is exclusively reserved for the wedding, while pink, purple, and red are worn at the Sherini Khuri (engagement) and blue and green are the preferred colours for the Nikah. Apart from wedding dresses, Afghan boutiques have also experienced a boost in popularity due to the recent trend of sending Afghan dresses as gifts to relatives and friends abroad. These outfits are sent to the Gulf States, Germany, USA and UK where Pashtuns are living in large numbers. These dresses, inexpensive copies of the more expensive and intricate designs, are made in the rural areas of Peshawar, Nowshera and Charsadda. Prepared on demand, they are stitched in two to three days collectively by women, small children and skilled men. While the women do the Muraduzi (inlaying of colourful small beads), teenage boys and girls stitch Sheeshaduzi (miniature mirrors) and the men perform Silmaduzi (tapestry) on the dress. "The rates vary from five thousand rupees to seven thousand rupees depending on individual taste. We have also seen an increase in demand from cities like Lahore and Multan. In Karachi, white Gandey Afghanis are in great demand around December as Christian women prefer to wear them on Christmas Eve," explains dress designer Noor Rahman. This influence on fashion in Peshawar is one of the more benign aspects of the war next door, a gentle reminder that it is not just guns and drugs that our neighbours bring when they cross the Durand line. Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, January 22nd, 2012. |
| Posted: 13 Nov 2012 02:41 AM PST
From the day that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was assassinated, I have felt the escalation of the mindset of hate. Our country has been hijacked — not politically but through the psychology of hate and fear. It is obvious that those who cannot win the argument about contrasting visions for Pakistan try to intimidate others with the gun. The most recent example of this phenomenon was the armed attack on progressive activists Marvi Sirmed and Sirmed Manzoor. It was not an attack to kill but an attack to silence them. I was born and raised in a country where it was rare to be asked your religion or about your religious practices. I attended a convent school where the nuns ensured that there was no way to tell whether a girl student was from a rich or poorer household. Our uniforms were strictly enforced and no jewellery or expensive shoes were allowed. Some scholars say that what started, very soon after the death of the Quaid-e-Azam, was the use of Islam as a political tool and was later militarised and mainstreamed by Dictator Ziaul Haq, which has now become the tyrannising force in all aspects of daily life in Pakistan. Today, regardless of whether one is Sunni, Shia, Ahmadi, Christian, Hindu or Parsi, he sends his children to school worried, every day. People are careful at workplaces about sharing their personal beliefs. Since 1989, 4,051 people have been killed in 2,800 incidents of sectarian terrorism up until October 2012, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal database. Most of those were targeted killings. The majority of Pakistanis may not subscribe to it but a national psyche of fear that has been mainstreamed into every aspect of our lives has become almost overwhelming. We are constantly fed conspiracy theories so that we fear foreign powers or the beliefs of others. It is as if our sect, our ethnic group, our nation or our religion is constantly under attack and we must fear and attack the 'other' before being attacked ourselves. The fight to regain control of our lives is on. Whether it is the establishment or the Sipah-e-Sahaba, the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, there is a constant source of violence in our midst. Our lives are no longer ours to live. The manifestations of the rising violence and the accompanying fear it generates are many: the rise in incidents of blasphemy cases; the violent and sometimes armed mobs that mysteriously appear outside a school in Lahore over a teacher's alleged blasphemy; the threats against young Rimsha Masih; the killing of Ahmadis with impunity all over Pakistan; the targeted killing of Shias from Karachi to Quetta to Parachinar and Dera Ismail Khan in what is becoming a virtual genocide. The attackers are almost never apprehended. Even if the state manages to arrest the perpetrators, they are out on bail before you know it and yet, those accused of blasphemy or murdered for simply being Shia receive no justice. As a child and later as a teenager, Sunni friends would occasionally attend majlises with us during Muharram. Today, when I go to an imambargah in Karachi, police trucks, metal detectors and youth guards serve as a reminder of the looming threats. The deafening silence of the political class over the killing of Salmaan Taseer should have been a wakeup call that mobilised the nation but where were the leaders? Chairman of the PPP, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, was the only politician who publicly condemned Governor Taseer's murder and in the case of Malala Yousufzai, again it was only Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and MQM leader Altaf Hussain and his party that spoke out strongly. What is the answer then? Do we continue to be killed or intimidated into silence? No. It is time to hold our leadership accountable. As every Pakistani knows, the civilian government is easy to blame. But, until the military and intelligence services round up, disarm and put away the terrorists and the courts comply and refuse them bail, things will not change. Published in The Express Tribune, November 13th, 2012. |
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