Beware, whom you are donating?

Beware, whom you are donating?

Holy festival of Eid ul Azha is around the corner, where Muslims offer sacrifice of animals to honor sunna of Hazrat Ibrahim A.S. According to unofficial data, approximately, 40 percent of house hold in Pakistan are likely to slaughter at least 1 animal on occasion of Eid ul Azha. In 2016, around 8 million animals worth Rs 300 billion were sacrificed, generating total revenue of approximately Rs 11 billion through hides. This amount usually helps the poor segment of society as the hides are generally donated to different charities, mosques, Madaris and orphanages.

Though the money is largely used for welfare of the poor, many terrorist and proscribed organizations also become active in this month to collect funds. Such groups have become expert in using religious days to collect funds on different pretext to subsequently sponsor their terrorist activities. The groups generally select mosques or religious congregations to collect funds taking advantage of people generosity and lack of suspicion. They also actively collect hides from the people on various legible pretext. While, the donors think that they are spending in a good cause, in reality they all are contributing to fund a terrorist organization.

The government has taken various steps to stop such chanda and charity collections. A fatwa has been issued through council of Islamic ideology terming such donations religiously inadmissible to discourage public from donating funds or hides to any such person or group.

The government has also passed various laws to criminalize chanda collection and equip Law enforcement agencies to ensure effective crackdown. Provincial Police has become more active in the past few years registering scores of cases against such individuals and groups significantly reducing their numbers.

Besides, the government is also pursuing an active media campaign, where various TV networks are currently running awareness campaign regarding terrorists funding system and how can general public save their charities from misuse.

Other than government, common masses must also be sensitive to such serious issues and must ensure that their charity is not used for aiding those, who are involved in murderous rampage in the country. Pakistan has successfully eradicated terrorism from major portion of the country and terrorist organization are struggling to survive. In such backdrop, any financial assistance can be a life line for them. Therefore, there is a need for collective and unified efforts to ensure that our donations are not used for murdering the innocent. Let’s pledge as a nation that we should investigate thoroughly before donating our funds or hides this Eid.

Peshawar – The City of Flowers

Peshawar is known as the city of flowers, as many villages adjacent to the city including Bazid Khel, Shahab Khel, Masho Khel and Soliman Khel are the major producers and suppliers of flowers. The farmers in these villages grow variety of flowers as per the local industry demand which are normally used for marriages and other events. Carnations, marigold, jasmines and red roses are few of the species which are widely grown in these villages.

The villages are located near tribal areas boundary, which in past have remained a hub of terrorism. However, production and trading of flowers did not stop in these areas even when terrorism was on peak. The farmers used to earn a reasonable money from flower industry to support their families.

However, currently the flower market is passing through a worst situation as the government has imposed lockdown which has considerably affected flowers industry. According to the local farmers, the war on terror had failed to affect the trade and production of flowers but the lockdown has badly affected demand of flowers in local and national market thereby hitting hard local farmers.

While talking to Voice of KP, a flower grower and businessman, Inam Khan said that all these villages were one of the biggest markets of flowers production in the country and have been playing its role in adding more beauty to the environment and social gatherings. The business also allowed farmers to earn comparatively more money due to higher demands and high prices. He further said that, March and April are peak season as large quantity of different varieties of flowers are produced in this period while people generally prefers to arrange gatherings or social events in this time period due to pleasant weather. However, imposition of ban on social gatherings and complete lockdown have affected the demand of flowers in local and national market. This in turn have badly affected the local flower growers of these villages, who have lost much needed revenue.

Another flower grower from Masho Khel village told us on phone that he liked to grow flowers instead of any other crop as they have been earning more in flower farming. He told us that flowers production cannot be stopped as flowers are in demand in all seasons and gatherings. However, currently the lockdown has badly affected flower demand as very less social gatherings are happening now a days.

Flower industry not only support local farmers but also contribute positively towards environment. The provincial government should pay attention to these neglected farmers and devise a proper strategy towards their protection and wellbeing. The government also needs to incentivize flower industry in order to encourage more production as it can become a major industry to earn a much-needed revenue through its exports to other countries.

Pink Bus Project failure and causes of the KP government

Pink bus project failed in KP due to lack of planning and political meddling

The Pink Bus service was started by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in Mardan and Abbotabad district in April 2019. It was touted as a game changer enabling women to travel independently within city acquitting them from the hassle of public transport. In male dominant society, where women are usually not allowed to go out of their homes independently due to various reasons including fear of harassment in local buses, Pink Bus Project emerge as a breath of the fresh air.

Pink Bus Project also known as Sakura Women Bus Service was started by The KP government and Mass Transit Department with an estimated cost of $1.79 million. The project was initiated with the financial assistance of Government of Japan and technical assistance of UNOPS and UN women. The move was greatly hailed by the local women and female students who regularly faces harassment during travelling. It was an important development and would have certainly contributed towards women freedom if planned properly. However, it is very sad to see that the initiative was short lived and has come to a halt due to various reasons.

Initially when Japan government donated these 14 buses back in May 2018, KP government decided to incorporate it in BRT Peshawar for women commuters. However, due to delay in BRT, KP government announced to launch these buses as an independent project in Mardan and Abbottabad. The project was officially launched by Mushtaq Ghani in April 2018 in both districts.

The Project was launched based on political consideration without any prior planning or long-term sustenance measures. Pink bus project neither had a proper route plan based on scientific data to facilitate maximum women commuters nor had requisite planning. Furthermore, the buses were parked in Peshawar for at least one year before the launching ceremony and according to the sources in the management, condition of the buses has deteriorated significantly due to non-maintenance. KP government spent millions to repair all 14 buses for the project.

The project was also marred by political meddling. While talking to us on phone, a senior official revealed that the PTI-led government and its MPAs were directly interfering in the matters of the management which was also one of the main reason for its failure.

The official claimed that a female MPA hailing from Mardan, a co-owner of private schools, had forced the pink bus management to permanently reserve four of the buses for her schools but the management had refused. However, a former provincial Minister forced the management to provide these buses as he had shares in those schools.

After some time, management realized that the project was going in loss due to poor route planning and less commuters. They asked the concerned officials to allow men commuters to travel in the buses truly putting a question mark on the status of the project. Women commuters traveling on pink buses dramatically reduced after permission was given to men commuters. This has practically put an end to the project transforming it into ordinary government owned buses with pink color without any facilitation for women.

Though the aim of this project was to ensure provision of safe, cheap, reliable, and harassment-free journey for women travelers, it miserably failed to deliver and has caused significant loss to government exchequer. All the buses are now parked and the KP government is paying no attention towards this project. It has put a huge question mark on KP government competence and capabilities. Reportedly, Japan government has also showed annoyance on the closure of the project badly affecting credibility of the KP government. KP government needs to realize that for a success of any project, long term planning alongwith sustenance is necessary to ensure its durability.

Why there is a need to invest more to ensure gender parity?

The entire world including Pakistan is fighting against Covid-19 since its outbreak in China and the frontline fighters in this battle around the globe are doctors, paramedical staff, and security forces. Their efforts are duly recognized and is constantly appreciated through various gestures in different countries. Pakistan honored their doctors and paramedical staff by raising white flags on their houses rooftops and presenting them a public guard of honor. Other than optics, this pandemic may or should also convince countries to invest more on health sector to tackle any such pandemic in future.
However, the more ignored fact among the recent chaos is the role of Pakistani women as a frontline warrior in different capacity against COVID 19. All frontline departments have a reasonable ratio of women however, health sector in Pakistan has relatively more representation which roughly ranges between 26 to 28%. KPK health department has 14,700 doctors and 6045 paramedics staff which do not include Lady health visitors. As per the national percentage, in KPK roughly 4100 lady doctors and a large strength of women paramedic staff is on front line against COVID 19. It is interesting to mention that in some KP hospitals such as Lady Ready Hospital (LRH), more than 1100 female nurses are serving the patients which overall constitute 70% of the total nursing staff.
Pakistan currently ranks 151 out of 153 countries on the global gender parity index which is a sad reflection of government ignorance and our societal attitude. KP fare worst on gender parity index alongwith Balochistan closely followed by other provinces. Woman are stigmatized and has to face numerous hurdles while following a professional career. KP police data shows an overall increase in the number of violence cases against women registered in 2019.
The role of woman in current fight against COVID19 has offered a firsthand insight to what developing countries like Pakistan are missing and why is it important to invest more to ensure equal opportunity for woman. When COVID 19 pandemic is over, this should encourage government to focus more on ensuring gender parity translating it to increase in funds, legislation and opportunities for woman. We as a society also need to evolve from patriarchal system to a more equal system which offers equal opportunities to women.
More broadly, we must build a system which support women’s enhanced role in each facet of life and utilize their full potential. This can only be ensured by equipping women with the requisite skills, training and equal opportunities. A nation can only rise to the top of a ladder if it utilize its full resources and potentials, the sooner we realize this the better it will be for us.