DAWN Editorials - 19th March 2025
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2025 12:54 pm
Genocide resumes
TWO months after a ceasefire temporarily suspended their slaughter, the people of Gaza once again confronted genocidal Israeli violence early on Tuesday. Over 400 Palestinians have been killed in the latest Israeli atrocities, many of them women and children, and chances of the truce’s survival are very slim.
Tel Aviv’s troops may reportedly return to the devastated Strip, and though Hamas and other armed Palestinian factions have not yet retaliated, if Israel continues its butchery, any chances of a renewed ceasefire will vaporise. After all, the Israeli prime minister has indicated that the latest phase of violence may be open-ended, and with the US administration firmly backing the slaughter, a return to relative calm seems impossible.
There were always doubts about Israel’s sincerity towards long-term peace with the Palestinians in general, and Gaza in particular. While the ceasefire held for two months, in the last few weeks Israel had stopped all aid from entering the Strip. Hamas wanted discussions about a long-term truce and a full Israeli withdrawal, but Tel Aviv insisted all the remaining hostages be released first.
It is safe to say that these were ruses, and Israel was waiting for an excuse to restart the massacre. If it had been serious about the welfare of its hostages, the Israeli government would have taken many earlier chances to stop fighting and bring back its people alive. But the extermination of the Palestinian people seemed to be Tel Aviv’s primary objective, one that it has again begun to pursue with vigour as the violence unleashed on Tuesday shows.
Looking ahead, it appears that the Palestinian people will again be left defenceless in the face of merciless brutality. Moreover, the US has begun threatening Palestinian allies, indicating that the conflict may once again spread to the far corners of the Middle East. Over the past few days, Washington had bombed Yemen ostensibly to target the pro-Iran Houthi movement, which had enforced a blockade in the Red Sea before the Gaza ceasefire in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Over 50 people died in the Yemen attacks, including civilians. American President Donald Trump has also threatened to hold Iran responsible for “every shot fired by the Houthis”.
It seems that the isolationist MAGA wing has been drowned out by the warmongering neocon and Zionist factions of Mr Trump’s support base, and he may be preparing to take his nation into a fresh Middle East conflagration, all in the defence of Israel. While efforts should be made to restore the Gaza ceasefire and calm regional tensions, it appears that Tel Aviv and Washington are not in the mood for peace. Before the ceasefire, a greater Middle East conflict was narrowly averted; this time we may not be so lucky.
Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2025
Strength in unity
WILL it count as an opportunity lost? Given the sharp escalation in militant violence in recent weeks, some had hoped that Tuesday’s high-level huddle on national security would be followed by a message of hope and unity for those suffering and a resolve to meet the menace of terrorism as one nation. Perhaps one should have foreseen the bitter dynamics of Pakistan’s ongoing political crisis precluding this possibility. Major opposition parties eventually decided to skip the meeting, dimming the prospect of the political leadership presenting a unified front on this occasion. The committee’s post-meeting statement, too, revealed that matters had not moved beyond the “need for a national consensus to repel terrorism, [and] emphasising strategic and unified political commitment to confront this menace with the full might of the state”. To its credit, the committee chose to leave the door open, noting in its statement that “the committee members […] regretted the lack of participation by some opposition members and reiterated that the consultation process in this regard would continue”. It is hoped that the next attempt to get the civilian leadership on the same page will be more successful.
Meanwhile, both the government and opposition deserve censure. First, the Tehreek Tahaffuz-i-Ayeen-i-Pakistan coalition was wrong to make one person the central issue at a time when the spectre of militancy looms over almost half the country. The points raised by the leaders of the PTI and TTAP might have merited discussion, but they did not justify boycotting this important meeting. Lawmakers represent not just their political party, but also the people of the constituency from where they are elected. That is why, in matters of national import, political allegiances should be left at parliament’s door. That said, the government also deserves criticism for not showing more flexibility. The PTI skipped the meeting because it said it was not allowed to consult its founder before the session — a stance its jailed leader reportedly endorsed. While the matter was not about political negotiations, and the PTI could have easily opted to attend a meeting on national security, the government should have made a strong attempt to persuade the disgruntled opposition to participate, instead of criticising it for non-cooperation. After all, it is the government’s duty to reach out to even its rivals in the interest of national unity.
Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2025
NFC weightage
THE NFC Award has long been in need of an overhaul. The government’s proposal to bring down the weightage of population in the distribution mechanism is a welcome one. For too long, the disproportionate emphasis on population size — an overwhelming 82pc of the formula — has incentivised unchecked population growth while no meaningful improvement is witnessed in public welfare, particularly health and education. A more balanced approach, which considers factors such as poverty, revenue generation and regional backwardness, is essential for equitable and sustainable development. Pakistan has one of the world’s highest population growth rates at 2.8pc and cannot afford a distribution system that encourages further expansion at the expense of progress. Our dilapidated health infrastructure highlights the failure of our approach. Instead of reinforcing an outdated model, a revised NFC formula must ensure that resources are allocated where they can yield the greatest impact.
While the need to disincentivise rapid population growth is undeniable, merely adjusting the NFC formula will not curb birth rates. Social determinants such as poverty, illiteracy and inadequate healthcare will need policy interventions. That said, reducing population weightage can impose fiscal discipline on provinces and compel them to expand their revenue base rather than solely relying on federal handouts. Critics may argue that changing the formula represents an attempt by the centre to claw back resources from provinces. However, one must also consider that a recalibrated NFC Award would reduce the financial burden on the centre to play a more effective role in national health and population policy. Moreover, as these pages have previously noted, provinces themselves would be willing to renegotiate provincial-sharing criteria. The desire for adjustment is not the issue. It is the government’s reluctance to convene comprehensive NFC talks since 2015. It is time for the centre and provinces to engage in meaningful dialogue to craft a fairer, more efficient resource distribution framework.
Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2025
TWO months after a ceasefire temporarily suspended their slaughter, the people of Gaza once again confronted genocidal Israeli violence early on Tuesday. Over 400 Palestinians have been killed in the latest Israeli atrocities, many of them women and children, and chances of the truce’s survival are very slim.
Tel Aviv’s troops may reportedly return to the devastated Strip, and though Hamas and other armed Palestinian factions have not yet retaliated, if Israel continues its butchery, any chances of a renewed ceasefire will vaporise. After all, the Israeli prime minister has indicated that the latest phase of violence may be open-ended, and with the US administration firmly backing the slaughter, a return to relative calm seems impossible.
There were always doubts about Israel’s sincerity towards long-term peace with the Palestinians in general, and Gaza in particular. While the ceasefire held for two months, in the last few weeks Israel had stopped all aid from entering the Strip. Hamas wanted discussions about a long-term truce and a full Israeli withdrawal, but Tel Aviv insisted all the remaining hostages be released first.
It is safe to say that these were ruses, and Israel was waiting for an excuse to restart the massacre. If it had been serious about the welfare of its hostages, the Israeli government would have taken many earlier chances to stop fighting and bring back its people alive. But the extermination of the Palestinian people seemed to be Tel Aviv’s primary objective, one that it has again begun to pursue with vigour as the violence unleashed on Tuesday shows.
Looking ahead, it appears that the Palestinian people will again be left defenceless in the face of merciless brutality. Moreover, the US has begun threatening Palestinian allies, indicating that the conflict may once again spread to the far corners of the Middle East. Over the past few days, Washington had bombed Yemen ostensibly to target the pro-Iran Houthi movement, which had enforced a blockade in the Red Sea before the Gaza ceasefire in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Over 50 people died in the Yemen attacks, including civilians. American President Donald Trump has also threatened to hold Iran responsible for “every shot fired by the Houthis”.
It seems that the isolationist MAGA wing has been drowned out by the warmongering neocon and Zionist factions of Mr Trump’s support base, and he may be preparing to take his nation into a fresh Middle East conflagration, all in the defence of Israel. While efforts should be made to restore the Gaza ceasefire and calm regional tensions, it appears that Tel Aviv and Washington are not in the mood for peace. Before the ceasefire, a greater Middle East conflict was narrowly averted; this time we may not be so lucky.
Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2025
Strength in unity
WILL it count as an opportunity lost? Given the sharp escalation in militant violence in recent weeks, some had hoped that Tuesday’s high-level huddle on national security would be followed by a message of hope and unity for those suffering and a resolve to meet the menace of terrorism as one nation. Perhaps one should have foreseen the bitter dynamics of Pakistan’s ongoing political crisis precluding this possibility. Major opposition parties eventually decided to skip the meeting, dimming the prospect of the political leadership presenting a unified front on this occasion. The committee’s post-meeting statement, too, revealed that matters had not moved beyond the “need for a national consensus to repel terrorism, [and] emphasising strategic and unified political commitment to confront this menace with the full might of the state”. To its credit, the committee chose to leave the door open, noting in its statement that “the committee members […] regretted the lack of participation by some opposition members and reiterated that the consultation process in this regard would continue”. It is hoped that the next attempt to get the civilian leadership on the same page will be more successful.
Meanwhile, both the government and opposition deserve censure. First, the Tehreek Tahaffuz-i-Ayeen-i-Pakistan coalition was wrong to make one person the central issue at a time when the spectre of militancy looms over almost half the country. The points raised by the leaders of the PTI and TTAP might have merited discussion, but they did not justify boycotting this important meeting. Lawmakers represent not just their political party, but also the people of the constituency from where they are elected. That is why, in matters of national import, political allegiances should be left at parliament’s door. That said, the government also deserves criticism for not showing more flexibility. The PTI skipped the meeting because it said it was not allowed to consult its founder before the session — a stance its jailed leader reportedly endorsed. While the matter was not about political negotiations, and the PTI could have easily opted to attend a meeting on national security, the government should have made a strong attempt to persuade the disgruntled opposition to participate, instead of criticising it for non-cooperation. After all, it is the government’s duty to reach out to even its rivals in the interest of national unity.
Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2025
NFC weightage
THE NFC Award has long been in need of an overhaul. The government’s proposal to bring down the weightage of population in the distribution mechanism is a welcome one. For too long, the disproportionate emphasis on population size — an overwhelming 82pc of the formula — has incentivised unchecked population growth while no meaningful improvement is witnessed in public welfare, particularly health and education. A more balanced approach, which considers factors such as poverty, revenue generation and regional backwardness, is essential for equitable and sustainable development. Pakistan has one of the world’s highest population growth rates at 2.8pc and cannot afford a distribution system that encourages further expansion at the expense of progress. Our dilapidated health infrastructure highlights the failure of our approach. Instead of reinforcing an outdated model, a revised NFC formula must ensure that resources are allocated where they can yield the greatest impact.
While the need to disincentivise rapid population growth is undeniable, merely adjusting the NFC formula will not curb birth rates. Social determinants such as poverty, illiteracy and inadequate healthcare will need policy interventions. That said, reducing population weightage can impose fiscal discipline on provinces and compel them to expand their revenue base rather than solely relying on federal handouts. Critics may argue that changing the formula represents an attempt by the centre to claw back resources from provinces. However, one must also consider that a recalibrated NFC Award would reduce the financial burden on the centre to play a more effective role in national health and population policy. Moreover, as these pages have previously noted, provinces themselves would be willing to renegotiate provincial-sharing criteria. The desire for adjustment is not the issue. It is the government’s reluctance to convene comprehensive NFC talks since 2015. It is time for the centre and provinces to engage in meaningful dialogue to craft a fairer, more efficient resource distribution framework.
Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2025