Several South Asian public interest groups have demanded urgent action to eliminate Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), terming them a global menace adversely affecting environment and health, particularly that of women and children.
POPs are chemical substances that persist in environment, bio-accumulate through the food web, transport globally, and pose a risk of adversely affecting health and environment. This group of priority pollutants consists of
pesticides (such as DDT, Dieldrin and Aldrin), industrial chemicals (such as polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs) and unintentional by-products of industrial processes (such as dioxins and furans).
The demand was made at a skill sharing workshop on POPs, organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in collaboration with Toxics Link, an environment group based in India, in Islamabad on December 7, 2004.
Over 30 organizations, representing South Asian countries, initiated the global NGO-POPs Elimination Project in South Asia. The project is being implemented by the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN), a global network of public interest non-governmental organizations supporting a common POPs Elimination Platform, in association with UNIDO, UNEP and GEF. It is being simultaneously implemented in eight regions across the globe, including South Asia.
The workshop, inaugurated by Dr Saba Gul Khattak, executive director SDPI, was aimed at enhancing capacity of civil society organizations to deal with POPs-related issues and to play a constructive role in the implementation of the global treaty on POPs - the Stockholm Convention.
Dr Mahmood A. Khwaja, research fellow (environment) at SDPI and co-chair IPEP, South Asia, was the lead trainer and organizer of the workshop. Ravi Agarwal (Toxics Link, India), Qasim Shah (UNDP/SDPI) and Shafqat Muneer (Action Aid) were resource persons.
Case studies and presentations on country national implementation plan for POPs were made by representatives from India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
The case studies maintained that POPs are an issue for South Asia and beyond. The irreversible damage caused by POPs is not limited to one generation but transcends to generations as has been evidenced by the use of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, the health effects of which are still evident, they added.
The participants asserted that we must make serious efforts to eliminate POPs before it gets too late, and reiterated their strong commitment to take action, urging concerted action by all the stakeholders, including NGOs and the media.
There is a need for enhanced public awareness about POPs and increased civil society participation to ensure effective implementation of the provisions of the Stockholm Convention.
The participants urged NGOs to play an important role in raising awareness and promoting appropriate policies for the protection of health and environment from chemicals and wastes, especially in promoting elimination of POPs. The need to break away from the institutionalized thinking and look for more creative and sustainable measures to address the issue was underscored.
The participants also urged their respective governments to help resolve the issue and to improve public participation in the planning and implementation processes.
Asif Shujah Khan, director general Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, called for holding more awareness raising workshops on POPs, as they are still not a priority environmental issue in South Asia.
Strategic Interventions for the Development of Medium sized Cities
January 4, 2005
Professor Dr Bruno De Meulder, of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium, called for making local communities part of the planning and redesigning of cities.
“Planners and policymakers must include the voice of the local communities while planning or redesigning urban cities and their plans should have the capacity to absorb contradictory issues,” Dr Meulder, who also teaches urbanism at the Technical University, Eindhoven, Netherlands, told the participants of the seminar on Strategic interventions for the development of medium sized cities.
Dr Meulder, working on developing curricula for Pakistani academic institutions on urban design, is also working with Karachi’s city government to identify and formulate problems and suggest strategic interventions.
He presented the model of Essaouira, a Moroccan coastal town. Essaouira is an 18th century planned medium-sized city with a fairly compact structure. The problems of Essaouira are similar to the problems of Pakistani cities. Urban employment is limited. The current economic decline in Morocco has had severe repercussions, both on the quality of life and the built environment. Cultural heritage has suffered degradation. The continued expansion of the inlands is threatening fragile eco-system and in turn, the very survival of the city.
“These developments present several contentious issues. The geographical and ecological setting of the city generates severe development constraints and provokes outcry to limit the growth of the city. On the other hand, the general economic stagnation and population increase calls for increasing urban development, which can only jeopardize the ecosystem,” he said. “There is a need to create a link between common or everyday activities with the heritage areas.”
He said the villages near the urban areas should be planned without waiting for the developments to touch the countryside. “Nearby villages could be converted into satellite towns in order to contain urban areas.”
The Endangered Juvenile Justice System in Pakistan
January 31, 2005
Talking about the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) decision about juvenile justice system ordinance, Dr Faqir Hussain, secretary Pakistan Law & Justice Commission, said the protection and safeguards available to children stand abolished and they are exposed to rigors of criminal trial, with possible abuse by police and prison authorities. He was speaking at the seminar, The endangered juvenile justice system in Pakistan.
The seminar reviewed the LHC judgment of striking down the Juvenile Justice Ordinance 2000 on December 6, 2004 in a case of Farooq Ahmed versus Federation of Pakistan, and discussed the possible implications for the children facing court trials. During the seminar, representatives of the civil society organizations decided to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.
Dr Hussain, providing details of the judgment, said a full LHC bench struck down the ordinance, terming it “unconstitutional, unreasonable, defective in drafting and impracticable.” He said the court pointed out serious flaws in the ordinance, which, in the view of the court, had the potential to play havoc with criminal justice system. The full bench observed that the ordinance is inconsistent with, and violation of articles of the constitution, besides replete with many incompatibilities with other laws and some downright absurdities and obscurities which render it unfit and unsafe for retention in the criminal justice system.
The issue of definition of a child received the greatest attention of the court. The court was of the view that the given age is too high and unreasonable. The court frequently referred to the Indian Juvenile Justice Act 1986 where the age of child is given 16 and 18 years for boys and girls respectively. But the court was unaware that, according to the Indian Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children Act 2000), the age of a child is given 18 years. The bench also ignored that Pakistan is signatory of international Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). It is international obligation to use the international definition of child, that is, again 18 years.
Dr Hussain said it is difficult to agree to the court’s decision that the ordinance is so defective that it is beyond repair and has to be struck off. He pointed towards certain benign provisions – legal aid/assistance to a juvenile accused or victim, prohibition on publication of juvenile court’s proceedings in the media and functions of probation officers – of the ordinance. He said the court did not examine these and some other clauses of the ordinance. For him, the arguments in the judgment follow a consistent pattern of exposing the weaknesses and highlight the difficulties in implementing the ordinance. Opposite contention is neither raised nor pursued.
He also did not agree with the court statement that there was no special need for the promulgation of the ordinance, as adequate provisions existed in the law and the courts were mindful of their role and responsibility to protect and safeguard the interests of children. He termed it a too strong a statement.
“The judgment creates a somewhat embarrassing situation for the state. Having ratified the CRC, its provisions are binding on the state but now unenforceable by the court. The CRC is indeed a framework convention and requires incorporation of its principles into domestic legislation.”
He said the ordinance was the state’s compliance with international norms, as it sought to incorporate such norms/principles into the domestic law. The implementation of international convention is the responsibility of the state, performed through its organs, institutions and functionaries. Without the ordinance, he said the children are exposed to greater abuse and exploitation.
Local Government Amendments: A Policy U-turn
February 1, 2005
Senator Dr Safdar Abbasi, of the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians, promised to take up the issue of proposed amendments in the local government laws in the upper house at the seminar, Local government amendments: a policy U-turn.
The speakers unanimously rejected the proposed amendments announced by the government and termed them as “closed room policy decision”, which would only strengthen feudalism and bureaucracy, and weaken women politically. The speakers and the audience, comprising academicians, representatives of the civil society and councilors, maintained that the proposed amendments are contrary to the spirit of the devolution plan and a complete policy U-turn regarding government’s commitment to devolve power. Nobody from the National Reconstruction Bureau turned up at the seminar despite an invitation.
Dr Safdar Abbasi told the audience that under the Sixth Schedule, the local government ordinance could not be amended through the parliament unless the president gave consent to do so but this could be debated.
He pointed out various flaws in the local government system, introduced in 2001, saying the system is centralized and has not empowered people the way it should have. “There are serious flaws in the demarcation of powers of district and tehsil nazims and the clash between provincial and local governments is also evident over financial allocations and powers.” He proposed that the local government system should be party based.
Dr Farzana Bari, chairperson Women Study Centre in the Quaid-i-Azam University, argued strongly against the reduction in the seats of union councils from 21 to 13. Criticizing the process of proposing these amendments, she said, “It was very exclusive, non-transparent and non-participatory in which nobody was consulted and it was not even discussed in the parliament.”
Dr Bari said it would concentrate power, erode easy access to representatives, curtail the ability of the marginalized groups to contest elections, reduce women’s representation to a non-substantive number and would give way to possible elite capture even at the UC level. She said it would be a victory of the religious/conservative forces, which were never in favor of allowing women to represent people and be in the public domain.
“The number of seats and their percentage should not be reduced. There should be 33% reservation for women at the level of nazim seats, 33% representation of marginalized groups at all levels of local government structure, direct elections and TA/DA should be given to all councilors,” she demanded.
Sumaira Gul, president Women Councilor’s Network, Punjab, said the proposed amendments would adversely affect women, peasants and laborers. “Marginalized people (peasants, women and the poor) would suffer most when there would be a reduction in their representation.”
She said according to the proposed amendments, District Coordination Officer would not be responsible to the District Nazim, which means that bureaucracy would be strengthened rather than the elected representatives. A lot of time and resources have gone into acquainting people with this system and now changing it would only create confusion in people’s minds. “These amendments would only benefit the bureaucracy and the elite.”
Dr Saba Gul Khattak, executive director SDPI, who chaired the seminar, commented that debate on the local government amendments should be taken to the parliament.
Balochistan Crisis: War Over Resource Rights For Whom?
February 11, 2005
Treasury and opposition parliamentarians termed the Balochistan crisis as resistance and not a war by the people at the seminar, Balochistan crisis: war over resource rights for whom?
The seminar was told about the war like situation in the Sui area. The 70 per cent of the population of Sui Town migrated to safer places due to insecure human situation in the area.
Clashes broke out between the Bugti tribesmen and the paramilitary forces in the Dera Bugti area following the rape of a doctor in the premises of Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL). Eight people were killed in those clashes and the area remained tense.
Mazhar Laghari, a civil society activist working in Balochistan for the last five years, presented chronology of the rape incident and human rights and security perspective of the issue. He said 2,000 people were arrested by the law enforcement agencies as the area turned into a war zone. People migrated to adjacent safer places. He rejected the government claim about free of cost gas supply to Sui Town, saying the gas was disconnected when the trouble over the rape issue flared up. He said five civilians were killed in the so-called fighting against the Balochistan Liberation Army, adding that hundreds of houses adjacent to PPL gas field were demolished.
Senator Sanaullah Baloch, of the Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (PONM), presented the case of deprivation of the province. He said the basic problem of the Balochistan crisis is the long prevailing deprivation of the largest and resource rich province.
“Out of 12000 jobs, only 44 are given to local Balochs at Naval Base of Balochistan. The militant resistance is a reaction of long time economic and social exploitation by Islamabad. When there would be no genuine voice heard for such a long time, people would have no other option left than militant resistance.”
Rejecting the claim of the government and the general perception that the sardars are inimical to development, Senator Sanaullah said out of 28 Baloch sardars, 24 are with the government and enjoying privileges of being with the treasury benches.
Senator Rukhsana Zeberi, of the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians, said that deprivation of Balochistan province is much more than the rest of the provinces. “Provincial disharmony has increased at tremendous level in the last five years.”
From the treasury benches, Senator Mohim Khan Baloch, of the Balochistan National Party (Awami), also expressed concern over the presence of army troops in the Sui area.
Denying the claim that there is a military operation going on in Balochistan, he said the military operations have always destroyed and disturbed political and democratic process. “We would resist any sort of army operation and would leave the treasury benches,” he announced.
“It is the right of Balochs to utilize their own resources and protect themselves. Using force against them would worsen the situation further.”
He suggested complete provincial autonomy and urged the center to open its heart and go for true and strengthened federation.
National Environmental Policy
February 14, 2005
Experts, identifying lacunas in the draft National Environmental Policy (NEP), said the implementation responsibility is not properly delegated. They said due to close nexus of environment with development, involvement of other government departments and ministries is inevitable.
Asif Shujah Khan, director general Environment Protection Agency (EPA), Dr Murtaza Malik, from the Ministry of Environment, Dr Mahmood A Khwaja, from the SDPI, Gul Najam Jamy, from the IUCN, Iftikhar Malik, from LEAD, Pakistan, and Dr Bashir Ahmad, from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), NWFP, expressed their views at the panel discussion on National Environmental Policy.
The speakers said the process of consultation did not include the people who are victims of environmental degradation. The participants unanimously suggested that the coastal areas, especially Indus delta, must be incorporated in the NEP, and the draft NEP should be uploaded at the ministry’s official website for larger dissemination.
Asif Shujah Khan, who also facilitated the seminar, said apart from the government, it is the basic responsibility of the people to preserve environment. He said Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) have potential hazards for biodiversity, which need to be taken care of in the policy.
Dr Murtaza Malik explained about the draft policy. He said to improve the quality of life through conservation, protection and improvement of environment, effective cooperation among government agencies, civil society, private sector and other stakeholders is a basic policy vision.
Dr Mahmood A Khwaja said the document lacked a clear government commitment towards solving the environmental issues and providing adequate resources. He said the policy lacked a strong link with the National Conservation Strategy (NCS) and the National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP).
He recommended an institution of ombudsperson in the Ministry of Environment for population, gender, health, poverty, local government, trade and environment. He also stressed further consultation on the revised policy draft with stakeholders through roundtable meetings in the provincial capitals and a mid-term review of the policy in 2010.
Gul Najam Jamy said that in the absence of human and financial resources, proper implementation of the policy would have negative effect. He said everybody has a role to play for betterment of the environment, adding that the policy must reflect incentives in this regard.
Iftikhar Malik appreciated the government’s step to get feedback of the civil society organizations. He said the government should incorporate genuine and real feedback on policy.
Dr Bashir Ahmad said the policy lacks development of legal and policy framework for conservation of water and promotion of safe drinking water in Pakistan. He suggested that the draft NEP document should be translated into local languages, or at least in Urdu, for getting feedback from the public.
The discussion turned into a hot debate over the inclusion of clergy as an advocacy tool for raising environment awareness.
The participants suggested that the citizen’s committees at all levels should be formed for monitoring environment as well as projects running by various agencies. Legislative aspect should be strengthened and rules need to be updated realistically, they added.
A participant, Maryam Haq, from the WWF, said the draft policy lacks originality, adding it is only a reflection of Malawi National Environmental Policy. She regretted the practice of completely adopting foreign policies and models for local use.
Enhancing Secretarial Skills
Keeping in view the importance of capacity building of office professionals, SDPI conducted a three-day training workshop on Enhancing Secretarial Skills from January 4, 2005. Fourteen participants, including six females, representing civil society organizations, corporate sector and international organizations, attended the workshop. The participants, who successfully completed the workshop requirements, were awarded certificates.
The participants learnt essentials of an effective office system: how to segregate important tasks and prioritize them, how to write various types of letters/memos, how to organize meetings and handle interruptions. They enhanced their skills in record keeping, organizing meetings, key principles of internal and external communication, and MS Access, a computer package for advanced database.
Training Workshop on Health Economics
A three-day training workshop was conducted on Health Economics by the SDPI Center for Capacity Building (CCB) from January 25, 2005. The lead trainer was Dr Shafqat Shahzad, a research fellow at SDPI. The workshop was attended by a number of competent health and health care professionals, representing public health institutions, different government departments, social sector organizations dealing with health and economic programs and international development organizations.
The workshop aimed to quip non-economist health care professionals with economic tools for effective policy and decision-making in health and health care. Brig. (r) Mohammad Yasin, senior program coordinator, SDPI, awarded certificates to the participants on the successful completion of the workshop requirements. At the end of workshop the participants were able to recognize that the scarcity of health care resources necessitates making choices. They identified the ways in which health care is similar to, and different from other sectors of the economy. The participants strengthened their analytical skills and the ability to apply economic ideas to health care issues.
Training of Trainers
The Center for Capacity Building (CCB) conducted a three-day training workshop on Training of Trainers from February 8, 2005 at a local hotel in Islamabad. Thirteen training professionals, including five women, from various national and international organizations, representing public institutions, social sector organizations and corporate sector, attended the workshop. The training workshop enabled them to enhance their professional skills in the principles of adult learning, designing training courses, training strategies and techniques, presentation and communication skills, and evaluating learning skills
Enhancing Secretarial Skills
The workshop was again organized by the CCB because of the participants’ interest in the subject. The three-day training workshop on Enhancing Secretarial Skills started on February 22, 2005. Fifteen participants, including five females, representing civil society organizations, corporate sector and international organizations, attended the workshop.
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