Sindhi Press Digest
January 30, 2007
No spending on uplift
By Sohail Sangi
A glance at newspaper headlines indicates that Sindh is in the grip of an endless wave of tribal clashes, karo-kari killings and other social evils.The dispute over the sale of two islands to a foreign firm, the Kalabagh dam and the utilisation of the ADP were other major stories to have been covered by the Sindhi press last week.According to Daily Kawish, different departments of the Sindh government have – six months into the financial year -- utilised a mere 36 per cent of the Rs 32 billion earmarked in the annual development programme. The newspaper bemoaned the non-utilisation even of the measly amount set aside for development.The Kawish said government officials were more interested in releasing funds for non-developmental expenses rather than those meant for the betterment of the people. In a comment on the law and order situation in the province, Daily Ibrat wrote: “Where is the peaceful Sindh of which rulers are making such tall claims?” It says the rulers are making a laughing stock of themselves by expressing satisfaction over law and order.“Sindh suffered from lawlessness yesterday and it continues to suffer today. The province is watching bloodletting in the name of tribal feuds, honour killing and other heinous crimes.”Daily Tameer criticised the government’s recent decision to reduce the job quota for rural areas. It warned that the decision would aggravate poverty in the rural areas.The paper cited the example of Badin, Thatta and Thar, where poverty had crossed the 60-per cent mark. The quota reduction would rob this poor region, and others like it, of the few job opportunities they had. The Tameer suggested that if quota revision were unavoidable, it should be made on `poverty basis’.The Kawish and Ibrat, in opinion pieces on a meeting of the inter-provincial coordination committee (IPCC), opposed making Kalabagh dam a part of the national agenda.The Kawish said the sitting was a replay of earlier meetings – Sindh and the NWFP opposing Kalabagh dam and Punjab showing indifference to their reservations.The Ibrat said the centre and Punjab’s attitude betrayed an insensitivity to the smaller provinces’ views.The daily Tameer criticised the Sindh chief minister over remarks against former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. The daily noted Dr that Arbab Rahim had unnecessarily angered sympathisers of the PPP and the people of Sindh. The newspaper said political differences notwithstanding, bad language should not be used against rivals.