New initiative to ease Pindi’s funeral woes

To address Rawalpindi's pressing graveyard shortage issue, Pakistan Sweet Home has unveiled a new project to provide all necessary facilities for the preparation of graves, provision of shrouds, transfer of the deceased to the cemetery, and burial The “Safar-e-Akhrat” project aims to offer all the essential services free of charge. The backdrop of this project includes the Punjab government's establishment of a cemetery spanning 1000 kanals of land in Rakh Dhamyal. This move came as the space for new graves had become exhausted in the oldest 54 cemeteries across Rawalpindi city and cantonment areas. Specifically, 500 kanals of land have been allocated for Rawalpindi city, while 200 kanals have been designated for Rawalpindi and Chaklala Cantt, with another 100 kanals allocated for the Christian community. Additionally, 200 kanals of land within the cemetery have been set aside for funeral prayers, mortuary facilities, parking, and open spaces. However, efforts to make this cemetery fully operational akin to the model graveyard in Lahore faced challenges due to the Shehr-e-Khamoshan Authority's alleged negligence. This delay allowed the ‘gravedigger mafia’ to exploit the situation in old cemeteries by demolishing decayed graves at night and offering new graves at exorbitant prices, ranging from thirty to forty thousand rupees. In contrast, the Rawalpindi administration has established a fixed rate of five thousand rupees for grave preparation and the supply of necessary equipment at Rakh Dhamyal Cemetery. The Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation and the Cantonment Board each possess a single bus, highlighting the need for enhanced transportation infrastructure in the area. The Station Commander, Brigadier Ahmad Nawaz, directed the cantonment administration to establish a cemetery committee and manage gravediggers during his visit to the cemetery on November 28, 2023. Despite this, the execution of these instructions and the administrative takeover of 200 kanals of land for the cantonment remains pending after five months. In response to this situation, Zamurad Khan, head of Pakistan Sweet Home, has initiated the “Safr-e-Akhrat” project focusing on new graves at Rakh Dhamyal Cemetery. An administrative office for this project has been set up within the Municipal Corporation office. The project will soon commence, with Pakistan Sweet Home providing ambulances as part of the initiative. Under the “Safr-e-Akhrat” project, free shrouds, grave preparation, and burial facilities will be available for the poor and needy, aligning with the vision of providing essential services without cost barriers. It's worth noting that during his tenure as former chief minister of Punjab, Mian Shehbaz Sharif allocated Rs200 million for establishing a model cemetery on 1,000 kanals of land in Rakh Dhamyal in the budget of 2017/18. However, due to project delays, these allocated funds face potential lapsing. Published in The Express Tribune, May 15th, 2024.

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Waqas Akram formally nominated for PAC chief slot

The Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) officially put forth Sheikh Waqas Akram as its nominee for the chairmanship of the National Assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday. The announcement came as SIC Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza wrote a formal letter to the National Assembly Secretariat, confirming the party's endorsement of Akram for the position. "Shaikh Waqas Akram has been selected as the nominee for the chairmanship of the PAC," he stated while communicating with the NA Secretariat. The nomination put an end to a tug-of-war that had been brewing within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Initially, the party had put its weight behind Sher Afzal Marwat for the position. However, Marwat's vocal opposition to the party leadership escalated tensions. Following a vote by the PTI's political committee, Sheikh Waqas Akram emerged as the favoured candidate, securing nine out of 19 votes, with Marwat receiving seven. Aon Abbas abstained from voting, while former speaker Asad Qaiser and Marwat were absent during the proceedings. Read also: Waqas Akram in, Marwat out for PAC top slot The rift within the PTI ranks intensified when Marwat received a show-cause notice from the party on May 11, condemning his 'irresponsible' statements. PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan issued the notice, demanding Marwat to clarify his remarks within three days, which were deemed detrimental to the party's image. The notice underscored that such statements contravened the party's discipline and disregarded the explicit directives of its founding chairman, Imran Khan. Marwat was cautioned that failure to furnish a satisfactory explanation could result in further disciplinary measures, highlighting the party's resolve to uphold its principles amid internal dissent. The issuance of the show-cause notice came hot on the heels of Marwat's defiant statement that he would not let a handful of people call the shots within the party.

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Ministry seeks to ban single-use plastic

A campaign to rid the federal capital of single-use plastic waste is being planned by the authorities. Given the increasing trend in inter-city migration towards Islamabad, the city’s growing population has led to excessive production of waste. Non-biodegradable waste, and plastic waste in particular has become a hazard to the capital’s environment. Although, multiple governments have tried time and time again to address the plastic waste problem of Islamabad, the increase in commercial businesses alongside the growing populace, proves to be a recurring challenge. Environmental pollution also remains a persistent issue in the city given its popularity as a tourist destination. Especially, in the holiday seasons, when Islamabad teems with visitors from all over the country, tourist hotspots become littered with single-use plastic packaging waste. Juice boxes and wrappers line the sides of roads and mar its lush green vistas, with the Margallas and parks being most affected. The Margalla Hills, a designated national park and home to diverse wildlife, is of special concern as its ecosystem becomes endangered owing to waste pollution. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination has announced its plan to take concrete steps against plastic pollution. The Ministry’s Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) has re-launched a campaign to ban the one-time use of plastics. "The Ministry is spearheading the enforcement of Single-Use Plastics (Prohibition) Regulations, 2023 that bars manufacturing, importing, distribution, sale and use of single-use plastic items," remarked Pak-EPA, Director General, Farzana Altaf Shah. "This campaign is particularly focused on controlling plastic litter and promoting responsible consumer behaviour." The Coordinator to the PM on Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam recently met with the members of the Collect and Recycle Alliance (CoRe), where she discussed the need for proactive steps such as designing effective social media strategies for awareness and the establishing collection and recycling points. “The producers, importers, distributors, suppliers and beverage manufacturers actually have the most critical role in implementing awareness-raising measures outlined in Section 12 of the law," the PM's Coordinator had said. These measures include incentivising responsible consumer behaviour, promoting reusable alternatives, and educating consumers about the harmful impacts of plastic littering. Globally plastic production per year has exceeded a whooping magnitude of 459.75 million tons with a cumulative production of 9.5 billion tons in total by 2019. In Pakistan alone, 3.3 million tons of plastic waste is generated annually which is equivalent to the height of two K2 Mountains. Realising the urgency of action to curb plastic pollution, 175 nations forged synergies at the United Nations Environment Assembly in 2022 to develop an obligatory international agreement to end plastic pollution by 2024. "Pak-EPA has already tasked the schedule and enforcement teams for implementation of Single-Use Plastic (Prohibition) Regulations, 2023 with the collaboration and support of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration," informed Farzana Altaf Shah. The aim of Single-Use Plastics (Prohibition) Regulations 2023 is to fight littering and prevent carcinogenic and problematic plastic items from entering the market to reduce adverse impacts on human health and the environment. By adopting comprehensive measures to tackle plastic pollution, Pakistan has reaffirmed its dedication to safeguarding the health of its citizens and preserving its natural heritage for future generations. Recently, the Pak-EPA enforcement team confiscated over 0.27 tons of plastic bags and disposable cutlery from different markets, hotels, eateries, retailers and Margalla Hills National Park in the federal capital. "The government's revived campaign on the prohibition of plastics was appreciable, but it should have a three-tier approach of ACA (Awareness, Capacity, and Accountability)," opined the CEO of Resilient Future International, Aftab Alam Khan. "It is also important to build the capacity of stakeholders associated with the plastic industry. The government should ensure an enabling environment so the industry can produce cheap and good quality reusable products." The Single-Use Plastics (Prohibition) Regulations 2023 states that due to a lack of alternatives and the need for transition to a circular economy, single-use plastic beverage containers shall contain at least 50% recycled plastic from 1st July 2028. It further states that it should be based on the 'polluter pays principle' and that plastic waste may be collected by producers, importers, distributors, supplier, and beverage companies. Violation of these regulations may also lead to fines being imposed by the Pak-EPA. Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2024.

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Chinese envoy explores future of Pakistan-China strategic collaboration

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong elucidated on the concept of "new quality productive forces" and its implications for the transformative collaboration between China and Pakistan. According to Ambassador Zaidong, this concept, introduced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in September 2023, underscores the fusion of innovation, technology, and industry to drive sustainable development and prosperity. At its core, the vision recognises innovation as the catalyst for progress in the 21st century. President Xi Jinping's advocacy for integrating scientific and technological resources stresses leveraging advancements in these fields to enhance productivity and spur the emergence of new industries and economic sectors. Ambassador Zaidong stated, “New quality productive forces are characterised by innovation; the key lies in high quality, the essence is advanced productivity.” This approach aligns with China's pursuit of high-quality development, evident in its resilient economy, which surpassed 126 trillion yuan ($17.51 trillion) in GDP in 2023, with a growth rate of 5.2%, ranking among the world's major economies. Read also: Pakistan, China deepen cooperation on CPEC Phase-2 Looking forward to 2024, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Ambassador Zaidong outlined China's strategic focus. With a target GDP growth rate of around 5%, the emphasis remains on modernising the industrial sector and advancing new quality productive forces. China's role as a global economic powerhouse and agent of positive change is underscored by Ambassador Zaidong. The envisioned advancements not only bolster China's economy but also offer opportunities for international cooperation and mutual prosperity, with Pakistan recognised as "our iron-clad friend." For Pakistan, this partnership holds profound implications. Ambassador Jiang underscored the country's strategic importance, demographic dividend, and abundant natural resources, highlighting its potential for development. Aligning Pakistan's "5Es" framework with China's vision can unlock its full potential and chart a path toward self-reliance and sustainable growth. Read: Pakistan, China vow 'enhanced cooperation' on CPEC projects Central to China-Pakistan collaboration is the successful implementation of CPEC Phase One, yielding dividends in renewable energy, information technology, and biotechnology. As CPEC enters Phase Two, both nations are committed to elevating the corridor, leveraging Pakistan's advantages for self-reliance and sustainable growth. Ambassador Zaidong noted Pakistan's ongoing reforms and the orderly formation of a new government, signaling renewed focus on national development. China reaffirmed its unwavering support for Pakistan's reform agenda, pledging to implement key consensus reached by the leadership of both countries. In conclusion, Ambassador Zaidong expressed China's readiness to work with Pakistan to implement important consensus, promoting integration of CPEC's "Five Corridors" and Pakistan's "5Es" framework, fostering a closer China-Pakistan community and opening a future of peace, development, and win-win cooperation.

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Turning Islamabad’s trash into treasure

The unmanaged solid waste generation of the rapidly populated federal capital has sought the attention of the authorities concerned to turn the trash into treasure through scientific management systems and recycling endeavours. The capital inhabiting around 2.6 million people generates some 1,535 tonnes of solid waste per day whereas the civic agency is only able to manage 60-70% of it while leaving the rest to rot in open dumps, streets and empty places that is being burnt causing serious air pollution leading to smog and poor air quality in the scenic federal capital. A study titled “Open Waste Burning and Its Health Hazards” by Desk Review claimed that solid waste mismanagement allowing open trash burning was seriously detrimental to human health and the environment at large as collectively injurious pollutants spewed into the atmosphere cast multidimensional consequences mainly complex health impacts on humans and biodiversity. The open waste burning resulted in serious pulmonary complications and cardiovascular and carcinogenic ailments along with other chronic infections and allergies, putting children, the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals with prior conditions at risk. It was putting wildlife, ecology, biodiversity and ecosystems equally at risk by degrading the quality of the biome in its habitats. Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) Executive Director Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri said globally waste management is not an issue but rather an opportunity that has been availed in the form of waste-to-energy projects not only in the advanced states but in developing countries across by transforming solid waste as a resource at par with the developed world. “Pakistan is facing an energy crisis and it can venture into waste-to-energy opportunities to open another venue to ensure its energy security and resource management within one intervention,” he said. The situation in the peri-urban and town areas across the country is unmanageable in terms of solid waste management whereas a strong local government system is imperative to address the issue as the local body system bears the responsibility after the municipal authorities for ensuring waste management, he added. Dr Mansoor Ali from the Royal Academy of Engineering, UK said the peripheral waste burning in the federal capital and Rawalpindi’s vicinity is a very challenging issue. The question is not the competence but the affordability of the most modern technology, making waste to energy as a resource a daunting task for the federal capital to embrace innovative ideas. Dr Abida Shareef of FJWU leading an integrated solid waste management project has conducted a resourceful survey among 11,000 households through the door-to-door campaign in a rural area of Bhara Kahu in Islamabad. The survey revealed hilarious facts as 52% of the survey respondents believed that household waste is not hazardous. Similarly, 53% of the respondents opined that garbage cannot be segregated whereas it is possible by imparting training to females at home. It proved the little knowledge of the community on waste management that needed to be improved through awareness and education. She also noted that 58% of the respondents thought it was not illegal to burn waste, whereas 47% thought it was a smart way to burn and manage waste. The survey found that females burning waste at the household level were few whereas the major problem was at the communal level at open dumping sites where communities and waste management officials were involved in setting up trash at the fire. Interestingly, Aqsa Arshad, a Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) student runs an in-campus compost facility making eco-organic fertilizer from organic waste. She said that the University campus in the vicinity of Margalla Hills National Park, embraces a plethora of vegetation throughout the year, whereas the plants and leaves were cut and burnt at the site or dumped into the nearby streams causing serious pollution. Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) Director Dr Zaigham Abbass believed that waste management was a matter of serious concern but focused research on the ambient pollutants impacts on sanitary workers is highly needed to study the effects they get due to direct exposure to open waste burning. Another study on “Health-Driven Solutions: Transforming Waste to Protect Communities” by a Canadian think tank studied not only health impacts but also success stories of waste-to-resource initiatives providing a ray of hope for the countries facing crisis. It mentioned that Sweden is leading waste-to-energy projects, transforming health and environmental snags into business opportunities. Sweden is converting 52% of its waste into energy incineration and only 1% of it ends up in landfill sites. The Scandinavian nation’s recycling revolution has turned waste into a profitable business, generating $100 million annually by importing and repurposing waste from nations like the United Kingdom, Norway, Ireland, and Italy. In Singapore, the Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF) is becoming the largest energy recovery facility in the world and a flagship solution to specific problems caused by Singapore’s dense population. The IWMF has the potential to treat over 2.5 million tons of solid waste annually, contributing to Singapore’s Zero Waste goals, given the country’s ambition to reach a 70% recycling rate by 2030. Published in The Express Tribune, May 13th, 2024.

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Miftah confirms to form new political party

Former finance minister Miftah Ismail confirmed on Sunday to form a new political party. In an op-ed published in an English-language daily, he announced forming the new party, which has yet to be named. Speculations were doing the round that disgruntled PML-N leaders Miftah Ismael, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former PPP Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokar were forming a new political party. In his op-ed, Miftah said that the new party would be of “a different kind” and its leadership would comprise of “women and young people” and would also constitutionally mandate term limits for party leaders. He added that the party would avoid targeting one province or ethnic group and would not rely on the dynastic or family politics that dominated its contemporaries. Read more: Miftah dismisses reports of joining PPP Miftah wrote that the impetus for forming his new party was the need to “radically restructure our governance”. “We are fast reaching the point of no return — and it is imperative we take a hard look at our ineffective governance that has failed our people,” he mentioned. He deemed Pakistan’s current political leaders “out-of-touch and short-sighted” with regard to Pakistan’s future. “I am sorry to say they lack both the courage and the competence to change the course of this country,” Miftah said. The former finance minister stated that Pakistan needed to be run by individuals with a track record of integrity, competence and results, emphasising that younger people would make up the core of the party’s leadership and public appeal. “We want to present to our people a new vision of Pakistan, a nation focused on its people — especially the young,” he wrote.

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Pakistan delegation visit to Kandahar ‘cancelled’ by Taliban

Afghan Taliban officials claimed that a planned trip by a Pakistani military delegation to Kandahar on Sunday was cancelled in apparent protest over reported cross-border strikes by Pakistan targeting terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan. There was no word from the Pakistani side either on the reported airstrikes or the visit of its delegation to Kandahar. The foreign office had no knowledge of both developments, while the military's media wing didn't respond until the filing of this report. However, diplomatic sources said the Pakistani military delegation, comprising mid-level officials, was to travel to Kandahar on Sunday as part of efforts by both sides to resolve the issue of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Read more: TTP and Daesh equated as equal threats According to sources, the delegation was to meet Mullah Shirin Akhund, the Governor of Kandahar, and the deputy head of Afghanistan's intelligence agency. Shirin is also considered close to Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada. He was one of the key members of the Taliban team that helped broker talks between Pakistan and the TTP. Mullah Shirin is a key interlocutor of the Afghan Taliban trying to defuse tensions with Pakistan over the TTP. He travelled to Islamabad earlier this year to address Pakistan’s concerns. The planned trip was believed to be a follow-up to those efforts to find a solution to the TTP problem. The visit, however, was cancelled by the Afghan Taliban. There were reports, and some Afghan journalists claimed that Pakistan carried out fresh airstrikes in the Paktika province of Afghanistan on Friday, killing certain TTP terrorists. Pakistan never confirmed those attacks, although it publicly acknowledged carrying out several cross-border attacks on March 18. Also read: Probe points to ‘Afghan link’ in suicide attack on Chinese engineers An Afghan media outlet claimed it obtained information that the Taliban had cancelled a scheduled trip of a Pakistani army delegation to Kandahar in response to reported recent air and missile strikes by Pakistan in Paktika province. Originally, the delegation was to travel from Rawalpindi to Kandahar on Sunday, the Afghan International report said. The report quoted security sources from Pakistan, confirming to Afghanistan International, claiming that the cancellation by the Taliban was officially attributed to "weather conditions," although it is widely believed that the real reason was the airstrikes on Paktika that occurred on Thursday. The specifics of the attack and any casualties remain undisclosed. Previously, Afghanistan International had accessed a document indicating that Pakistan had detailed the aircraft, flight times, and arrival information to the Taliban's Ministry of Foreign Affairs through an official letter sent to Kabul. The cancelled meeting was supposed to involve "mid-level" military officials from Pakistan and Mohammad Ali Hanafi, also known as "Mullah Shirin Akhund," who is a close aide to Hibatullah Akhundzada. As of now, the Taliban has not issued an official statement regarding the Pakistani Air Force's attacks on Paktika or the reasons behind the cancellation of the Pakistani delegation's trip.

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