DAWN Editorials - 26th february2025

[faheemustad]

Deadly roads

DRIVING in Karachi can be hazardous, with chaos on the roads, and very little by way of following rules and regulations. Over the past few weeks, there have been several deadly accidents, mostly involving heavy vehicles, with the latest accident occurring on Tuesday, when an individual in Malir was hit by a public bus. A day earlier, an industrialist and his son died after their vehicle was knocked off the ICI bridge by a fast-moving trailer, even though the movement of heavy vehicles during daylight hours is prohibited. Figures quoted in the media say there have been over 130 fatalities caused by traffic accidents in Karachi so far this year, with more than 1,800 people injured. Last year, around 500 people were killed. The frequency of fatal accidents has led to law and order situations, with protesters often torching errant vehicles. The Sindh government has formed a committee to oversee road safety, but the performance of such committees in other areas of public importance does not inspire confidence.

When it comes to dangerous roads, society as a whole is guilty of contributing to hazardous conditions. The state is, of course, mostly to blame, having failed to enforce the traffic rules, with deadly results. Most often, traffic policemen are busy shaking down motorcyclists or drivers of smaller vehicles, while ignoring those in fancier cars. Moreover, drivers can get away with traffic infractions by stuffing a few notes into the officer’s pocket. Therefore, it is essential that a professional and honest traffic police force be deployed to check violators. In this regard, the Motorway Police has a comparatively better record, and this model can be emulated. There should also be strict vigilance of heavy vehicles moving in the city during prohibited hours. Meanwhile, a careless public is routinely seen breaking the law on the roads. Unless drivers display civic sense, our roads cannot be made safer.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2025


Controlling crypto

THOUGH Pakistan’s official position on cryptocurrencies has evolved considerably over the years, there still seems to be more talk than action on embracing digital assets. On Monday, while speaking at the Pakistan Banking Summit 2025, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb urged the authorities to approach modern technologies with ‘an open mind’, pointing out that, “The reality is that crypto is already in vogue here in the informal market and the numbers are what they are, even if they are one-fourth of what the numbers are being moved around.” He also seemed regretful that Pakistan had not made a move yet, musing that, “We need to think through and be ahead of the cycle in terms of the regulatory regime and think on how to move forward with AI and digital assets”. While it is difficult to see how Pakistan can move ‘ahead of the cycle’ given that its efforts to regulate crypto have so far not gone anywhere, it may not be too late for it to catch up with the rest of the world.

The Virtual Assets Bill, 2025, which landed in the Senate last month, envisions “a legal and regulatory framework for the issuance, use, trading, and management of virtual assets within Pakistan, ensuring that such assets are backed by the Pakistani rupee”, according to news reports. It proposes the establishment of ‘Virtual Asset Zones’ for the trading and management of cryptocurrencies, which would maintain strict compliance with AML/CFT regulations, operate transparently and be open to regular audits. It also proposes the creation of a regulatory commission to oversee these ‘zones’ and related service providers’ compliance-related issues, as well as the issuance and maintenance of rupee-based virtual assets. All in all, it is a fairly comprehensive bill. However, the bigger challenge may be Pakistan’s poor image vis-à-vis digital rights and regulations. Early cryptocurrencies evolved as an expression of individual freedoms, especially with respect to personal wealth, and in rejection of the various controls exercised by the global financial system. The authorities should admit and embrace this fact. They should aim for a regulatory framework that encourages innovation and protects personal freedoms while exercising oversight. Care must also be taken that pushing cryptocurrencies does not exacerbate the problems unique to Pakistan, such as foreign exchange instability, inflation and capital flight.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2025


Forgotten inmates

PAKISTAN’S jails are an embarrassment to any notion of justice and rehabilitation.

A report prepared by the National Commission for Human Rights, National Academy for Prisons Administration, and Justice Project Pakistan describes the appalling conditions prisoners have to endure: there are more than 102,000 of them crammed into spaces built for fewer than 66,000. In Punjab, prisons are at a staggering 173.6pc of their capacity, while Karachi Central Jail operates at an overwhelming 355pc overcapacity. Three-quarters of inmates remain under trial, caught in an endless legal limbo.

Despite some attempts at reform, Pakistan’s prison system has seen little meaningful change. Punjab has led infrastructural expansions, constructing 13 new jails since 2010, yet the province still houses 61,813 prisoners in facilities meant for 37,217. Meanwhile, Sindh, KP, and Balochistan lag behind, relying on outdated facilities and policies that fail to ease congestion.


The 2022 amendment to the Control of Narcotic Substances Act has exacerbated overcrowding by eliminating parole and probation options for drug offenders. Nearly 30pc of Punjab’s prisoners consists of individuals convicted of drug-related crimes, many serving disproportionately long sentences. Shockingly, while conviction rates for narcotics cases plummeted to just 2pc in Punjab in 2023, incarceration rates soared.

It is a broken system: poor sanitation, malnutrition, and a lack of healthcare create inhumane conditions, with prisoners often forced to sleep in shifts due to overcrowding. And it breeds a mental health crisis where individuals with psychosocial disabilities are detained indefinitely, subjected to abuse and medical neglect. The tragic case of Khizar Hayat, a mentally ill prisoner who died chained to a hospital bed, is just one among many.

Solutions are not unknown. Sindh and KP have updated their legal frameworks for prisons. However, Punjab and Balochistan have stalled on key reforms, with Punjab yet to implement its Draft Prison Rules, 2022, which could improve prisoner welfare significantly. Most prisoners do not need to be behind bars; community service and alternative sentencing must be introduced as viable options.

Moreover, the undertrial prisoner population can be thinned out with bail reforms and expedited court proceedings. An important element to consider is independent oversight. The NCHR should be empowered to conduct surprise inspections and establish an independent prisoner complaint mechanism. Vocational training and education must be integrated into prison management to provide meaningful rehabilitation. Diversion programmes are needed for minor offences and people with psychosocial disabilities should receive treatment rather than be jailed.

A civilised society does not lock people away and forget them. Our prison crisis demands more than committees and reports. The need of the hour is political will and implementation of the proposals that have accumulated over decades.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2025