Political Diary 1

 

Karachi. Political Diary

 Mubasher Mir

 The Caretaker Chief Minister of Sindh has so far taken briefings on all the departments, and held several review meetings, one thing is coming out that there is no such thing as good governance in every department of Sindh, there is a lot of irregularities and corruption. Several orders of inquiry have also been issued.

 

Recently, the Caretaker Chief Minister of Sindh took a briefing on the Finance Department and specially reviewed the use of funds. This is a task that the previous government did not pay attention to, the PPP government played a key role in getting the 18th amendment passed by amending the constitution in 2010, other parties especially Muslim League (N) and MQ M was openly supportive, the committee headed by Mian Raza Rabbani prepared the draft and it was passed in the parliament without any debate, later more amendments were brought to correct its mistakes, to implement this amendment. A commission was also constituted.

 

Mian Raza Rabbani was also awarded the highest civil award for this feat, today we can see the fruits of the 18th amendment. The federal government is weak and the provinces have come down to do their own thing. Many problems have arisen with this amendment, as if the vision of the leadership was limited, the provinces were strengthened and the federal government was practically weakened. With this amendment, the Provincial Finance Commission was to be established so that the revenue and income of the province would be good and good in the districts. should be better distributed. But as we saw in other provinces, Sindh province did not give importance to the Provincial Finance Commission which resulted in further increase in poverty in small and backward districts. The local government system has not been made functional, now many districts of the province have reached the lowest level of poverty. The Caretaker Chief Minister of Sindh should have set a guideline for the bureaucracy that if there is a meeting of the Provincial Finance Commission, what is his guideline for formulating recommendations. Obviously, now the bureaucracy says everything is good, but it does not look good. It will also make recommendations keeping in mind its own will and convenience and will also give arguments in favor of it.

 

Awami National Party Sindh organized a cultural program on the occasion of International Day of Pakhtun Culture, Emil Wali Khan was the chief guest. He said that the harassment of Pakhtuns in the name of Afghan refugees should be stopped in the city of Karachi, the majority of Pakhtuns are settled in Karachi. Afghan refugees are living under the UN Charter. Important people of Pakistan are taking benefits from all over the world in the name of Afghan refugees.

Caretaker Federal Information Minister visited Karachi, Murtaza Solangi also answered questions in Karachi Press Club, in which in response to a question about Mian Nawaz Sharif, he said that he did not break the jail. At that time, he went with the permission of the court and the permission of the government. But it is also known to everyone that he did not go for an indefinite period and in case of non-return within the specified period, the guarantor, Shahbaz Sharif was and is responsible. But it didn't actually happen. Nawaz Sharif went in 2019.

 

Khawaja Asif has said in one of his TV shows that Nawaz Sharif was sent out of the country by the establishment. But the caretaker information minister's speech appears to be in support of Mian Nawaz Sharif. The Caretaker Information Minister also met the Editors Council, during which he also answered the questions. He said that the editor's department is important in newspapers, but not in other media. It is true that the news quality of newspapers is still better because of the editor. Chances of error are minimized. But if we examine the policy of the government, newspapers are getting very little recognition. Many journalists are now unemployed.

 

Recently a media group limited its office from Karachi and laid off all the employees. The media and advertising policy of the federal government has caused a lot of damage to this industry. Government agencies have become weak in marketing due to advertising policy. In this regard, the caretaker government should also see how the possibilities of improvement can be created in the newspaper and advertising industry.

 

Due to the current advertising policy of the federal government, the marketing of many institutions has weakened and they are running at a loss. PIA, Pakistan Railways, Steel Mills are prominent among the loss-making institutions. Such government institutions incur losses of billions of rupees annually and are now considered a burden on the country's economy. The Caretaker Federal Finance Minister has also talked about the privatization of these institutions while the IMF is also demanding the same from us.

 

Federal government should assign at least 25% shares to the employees of the institution to be privatized. And in the board of directors, at least two directors should be included from the employees' side, thus the protection of the employees' rights will be ensured and it will also be easier to privatize the institution.

 

Most of the employees are recruited by the political parties so that they can strengthen their union and according to them, the same union officials who win the union elections also strengthen the same party in the general elections. Professionalism is thus lost and businesses suffer due to political support and opposition. Now their only solution is privatization which has become inevitable.

 

May it be the increase in electricity rates or petrol prices, but MQM and People's Party are not even calling for any protest or rally in Karachi or Sindh. Provincial Ministers of the People's Party, since the completion of the term of the government, are less visible in the events for fear of possible raids. The news of raids by FIA and NAB in the houses of various people has scared them. Any government officials who are reported to be unable to leave the country are also missing from the scene. The leadership of Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi is active in this regard.

People's Party had made a long march against inflation during the Tehreek-e-Insaf government, but now their silence continues. Even on Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's birthday, no big event was held. Former President Asif Ali Zardari has also limited the series of meetings. In view of this situation, it does not seem possible for the election campaign to be more rapid and dynamic. MQM has inaugurated its election office and is trying to rouse its workers, it is to be seen whether they can regain the confidence of the people of Karachi city or not.