DAWN Editorials - 26th March 2025
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2025 2:40 pm
Kabul visit
CONSIDERING the generally poor state of Pak-Afghan relations, the recently concluded three-day visit of Pakistan’s special representative on Afghanistan to Kabul, and the subsequent comments made in this regard by the foreign minister, offer a chance for both states to work on improving ties.
While commenting on Muhammad Sadiq’s visit, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar was quoted by the Foreign Office as saying that sustained dialogue with Afghanistan was essential.
The biggest obstacle standing in the way of better relations is the fact that Afghanistan has failed to act against anti-Pakistan terrorists based on its soil, including the banned TTP and Baloch separatists. Moreover, border disputes have severely strained relations, with the Torkham crossing closed for nearly a month. It has reopened temporarily until April 15.
During his Kabul trip, Mr Sadiq met with the Afghan Taliban’s foreign and trade ministers, which indicates that the Afghan side may be serious about mending ties. It is a fact that transit and trade are of great importance for landlocked Afghanistan, and prolonged border closures and disputes have a debilitating effect on that country’s economy. Therefore, talks need to continue in order to address all irritants affecting relations.
For the Pakistani side, security is paramount, while for the Afghans, trade is crucial. Therefore, Islamabad should continue to emphasise that the presence of anti-Pakistan militants on Afghan soil stands in the way of normal commercial ties. The Afghan Taliban need to take action against these forces, or ensure that they are not in a position to harm Pakistan. The Taliban insist there is no militancy problem at their end, but facts suggest otherwise.
It is hoped that these parleys continue and both sides, particularly Kabul, commit to peace and amity. A nation cannot alter its geography, which is why Pakistan must maintain good relations with Afghanistan. In the recent past, ties have been marked by much bitterness, and both sides have exchanged fire at the border.
The fact is that Pakistan cannot afford a hostile regime in Afghanistan, as this has severe internal security implications for this country. For their part, the Taliban know that frosty ties with Pakistan will affect their commercial and trade interests, as well as their efforts to gain greater international recognition. Though it may sound transactional, Pakistan can indicate that unrestrained trade ties are contingent upon Kabul’s efforts to ensure no malign actors are able to target Pakistan from Afghan soil.
A lasting agreement is also required to help resolve border disputes, as closures take a heavy humanitarian toll, and affect local businesses on both sides. Better bilateral ties are possible if both sides sustain dialogue, and if there is recognition of each other’s key demands, particularly Pakistan’s concerns about cross-border terrorism.
Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2025
Drought warning
DRIVEN by rising temperatures linked to climate change, increasing drought events across Pakistan have affected tens of millions of people and devastated agriculture in recent years, forcing many rural communities to migrate. Over time, drought conditions have worsened, becoming warmer and drier, and are affecting much larger areas, especially in Balochistan and Sindh. The Met Office has again issued a drought alert for different parts of Sindh, southern Balochistan and lower eastern Punjab due to scanty rainfall — 40pc below normal since September. Even though the recent rain spells have brought some relief in parts of the country, several southern regions in Sindh and Balochistan have experienced more than 200 consecutive dry days. The below-normal rain means that the country experienced an increase of 2°C to 3°C in its normal mean temperatures, which has intensified drought conditions in the affected areas. The Tarbela and Mangla dams have already hit dead level, while water flowing in various rivers is at an extremely low level. With the immediate water availability outlook in the country looking bleaker at the moment, the rise in temperatures is likely to increase water demand for the new Kharif season.
The growing water stress linked to climate change is also posing a major threat to Pakistan’s food security, particularly in areas that already suffer from high levels of poverty and hunger. The situation calls for structural reforms in the water sector if Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wants to help the farm sector achieve food self-sufficiency and enhance agricultural exports. Without making the water sector the centre of its agriculture and food security policies, the country cannot hope to become food sufficient, let alone increase its farm exports. Though successive governments have talked about measures to boost Pakistan’s water security, none has ever taken concrete policy measures to translate this rhetoric into action. There is a reason for the lack of action on water sector reforms; our policymakers often equate water security with the construction of mega dams and canals. The era of building dams is already over. The world is now using technology to reduce water usage for irrigation and exploring cost-effective localised solutions such as harvesting rainwater to help communities meet their needs in times of drought. The increasing frequency of extreme weather events caused by climate change calls for ‘thinking local, small and smart’.
Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2025
Deadly roads
DESPITE daytime restrictions on heavy vehicles, Karachi continues to witness one horrific traffic accident after another. On Monday, a young couple — a 25-year-old man and his 19-year-old pregnant wife — were crushed to death when a speeding water tanker crashed into them on Sharea Faisal. The would-be parents were killed on the spot, with their then-delivered baby also not surviving. An investigation by the Karachi Road Accident Analysis Team revealed that the fully-loaded, high-speeding tanker mounted the central footpath and broke through onto the opposite lane where the couple were on their way for a check-up. Mechanical inspection contradicted the driver’s initial claim of brake failure; instead, fatigue and reckless driving were cited as probable causes. The driver had reportedly been working a gruelling 24-hour shift. In just 83 days this year, heavy vehicles have claimed 68 lives in Karachi — 24 from trailers, 17 from dumpers, and 14 from water tankers. Overall, 216 people have perished on our roads.
The government’s recent curbs, limiting heavy vehicle movement to nighttime hours and mandating fitness certificates have proven inadequate. The basic issue remains lax enforcement coupled with a profit-driven transport system that values delivery speed over human life. Preventing further accidents means urgent reform. The government must create an independent transportation safety authority with prosecution powers and protection from political interference. Electronic monitoring systems should be implemented for all commercial vehicles to track speed, location and driver hours. Strict mandatory rest periods between shifts, with criminal penalties for companies that impose dangerous schedules, are essential. Safety equipment must be upgraded, including under-run protection, enhanced braking systems and driver assistance technology. The city needs dedicated heavy transport corridors physically separated from other traffic, along with regular roadside inspection points with authority to immediately impound unsafe vehicles. Until we prioritise human lives over commercial convenience, Karachi’s roads will continue to be killing fields.
Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2025
CONSIDERING the generally poor state of Pak-Afghan relations, the recently concluded three-day visit of Pakistan’s special representative on Afghanistan to Kabul, and the subsequent comments made in this regard by the foreign minister, offer a chance for both states to work on improving ties.
While commenting on Muhammad Sadiq’s visit, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar was quoted by the Foreign Office as saying that sustained dialogue with Afghanistan was essential.
The biggest obstacle standing in the way of better relations is the fact that Afghanistan has failed to act against anti-Pakistan terrorists based on its soil, including the banned TTP and Baloch separatists. Moreover, border disputes have severely strained relations, with the Torkham crossing closed for nearly a month. It has reopened temporarily until April 15.
During his Kabul trip, Mr Sadiq met with the Afghan Taliban’s foreign and trade ministers, which indicates that the Afghan side may be serious about mending ties. It is a fact that transit and trade are of great importance for landlocked Afghanistan, and prolonged border closures and disputes have a debilitating effect on that country’s economy. Therefore, talks need to continue in order to address all irritants affecting relations.
For the Pakistani side, security is paramount, while for the Afghans, trade is crucial. Therefore, Islamabad should continue to emphasise that the presence of anti-Pakistan militants on Afghan soil stands in the way of normal commercial ties. The Afghan Taliban need to take action against these forces, or ensure that they are not in a position to harm Pakistan. The Taliban insist there is no militancy problem at their end, but facts suggest otherwise.
It is hoped that these parleys continue and both sides, particularly Kabul, commit to peace and amity. A nation cannot alter its geography, which is why Pakistan must maintain good relations with Afghanistan. In the recent past, ties have been marked by much bitterness, and both sides have exchanged fire at the border.
The fact is that Pakistan cannot afford a hostile regime in Afghanistan, as this has severe internal security implications for this country. For their part, the Taliban know that frosty ties with Pakistan will affect their commercial and trade interests, as well as their efforts to gain greater international recognition. Though it may sound transactional, Pakistan can indicate that unrestrained trade ties are contingent upon Kabul’s efforts to ensure no malign actors are able to target Pakistan from Afghan soil.
A lasting agreement is also required to help resolve border disputes, as closures take a heavy humanitarian toll, and affect local businesses on both sides. Better bilateral ties are possible if both sides sustain dialogue, and if there is recognition of each other’s key demands, particularly Pakistan’s concerns about cross-border terrorism.
Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2025
Drought warning
DRIVEN by rising temperatures linked to climate change, increasing drought events across Pakistan have affected tens of millions of people and devastated agriculture in recent years, forcing many rural communities to migrate. Over time, drought conditions have worsened, becoming warmer and drier, and are affecting much larger areas, especially in Balochistan and Sindh. The Met Office has again issued a drought alert for different parts of Sindh, southern Balochistan and lower eastern Punjab due to scanty rainfall — 40pc below normal since September. Even though the recent rain spells have brought some relief in parts of the country, several southern regions in Sindh and Balochistan have experienced more than 200 consecutive dry days. The below-normal rain means that the country experienced an increase of 2°C to 3°C in its normal mean temperatures, which has intensified drought conditions in the affected areas. The Tarbela and Mangla dams have already hit dead level, while water flowing in various rivers is at an extremely low level. With the immediate water availability outlook in the country looking bleaker at the moment, the rise in temperatures is likely to increase water demand for the new Kharif season.
The growing water stress linked to climate change is also posing a major threat to Pakistan’s food security, particularly in areas that already suffer from high levels of poverty and hunger. The situation calls for structural reforms in the water sector if Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wants to help the farm sector achieve food self-sufficiency and enhance agricultural exports. Without making the water sector the centre of its agriculture and food security policies, the country cannot hope to become food sufficient, let alone increase its farm exports. Though successive governments have talked about measures to boost Pakistan’s water security, none has ever taken concrete policy measures to translate this rhetoric into action. There is a reason for the lack of action on water sector reforms; our policymakers often equate water security with the construction of mega dams and canals. The era of building dams is already over. The world is now using technology to reduce water usage for irrigation and exploring cost-effective localised solutions such as harvesting rainwater to help communities meet their needs in times of drought. The increasing frequency of extreme weather events caused by climate change calls for ‘thinking local, small and smart’.
Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2025
Deadly roads
DESPITE daytime restrictions on heavy vehicles, Karachi continues to witness one horrific traffic accident after another. On Monday, a young couple — a 25-year-old man and his 19-year-old pregnant wife — were crushed to death when a speeding water tanker crashed into them on Sharea Faisal. The would-be parents were killed on the spot, with their then-delivered baby also not surviving. An investigation by the Karachi Road Accident Analysis Team revealed that the fully-loaded, high-speeding tanker mounted the central footpath and broke through onto the opposite lane where the couple were on their way for a check-up. Mechanical inspection contradicted the driver’s initial claim of brake failure; instead, fatigue and reckless driving were cited as probable causes. The driver had reportedly been working a gruelling 24-hour shift. In just 83 days this year, heavy vehicles have claimed 68 lives in Karachi — 24 from trailers, 17 from dumpers, and 14 from water tankers. Overall, 216 people have perished on our roads.
The government’s recent curbs, limiting heavy vehicle movement to nighttime hours and mandating fitness certificates have proven inadequate. The basic issue remains lax enforcement coupled with a profit-driven transport system that values delivery speed over human life. Preventing further accidents means urgent reform. The government must create an independent transportation safety authority with prosecution powers and protection from political interference. Electronic monitoring systems should be implemented for all commercial vehicles to track speed, location and driver hours. Strict mandatory rest periods between shifts, with criminal penalties for companies that impose dangerous schedules, are essential. Safety equipment must be upgraded, including under-run protection, enhanced braking systems and driver assistance technology. The city needs dedicated heavy transport corridors physically separated from other traffic, along with regular roadside inspection points with authority to immediately impound unsafe vehicles. Until we prioritise human lives over commercial convenience, Karachi’s roads will continue to be killing fields.
Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2025