By: Asem Mustafa Awan
It is not national but an acclaimed international shame that makes world go laughing out loud at the system that exists in Pakistan the ‘land of the pure’ where the perpetrators are never punished.
The new Islamabad International Airport is one such example where the builders made millions but failed to cover their tracks. The world watched newly-designed ‘state-of-the-art construction masterpiece new Islamabad Airport’ in all awe and amazement but recent rains made it loud and clear that all that glitter is not gold.
Pakistan has been blessed by people and a system which gives many a chances to try and tested groups who are notorious for filling their coffers forgetting the fact the coffins will always be empty
Numerous videos are on social media which show either the staff that made the airport was incompetent or the ones that are running it are all ‘safarshis’ (blue-eyed). These unskilled individuals who are made to sit at the airport harass the public who happens to use the facility in ‘dire circumstances’ as airports in Pakistan is limited for select few. Videos are also there in which the passengers are getting a beating from these hoodlums and goons who are appointed by ‘safarish’.
The Gandhra Gallery at the Airport had its roof tiles falling down at the floor like they were never attached. Where did all the money go on the project that caters to international and domestic flights?
Fixing the responsibility is simple. A policy statement from the company that in case of man-made losses incurred due to incompetency and sub-standard contractual work will result in deduction from the wages of all those responsible from top to bottom besides penalties.
Managing Director to the porter all appointments are sadly never on merit, a dilemma the nation faced right after great Quaid closed his eyes and left for eternal adobe in 1948. Pakistan since its inception has had many aleaders but none could fill the void left by great Quaid and none could even match his dirt.
Mechanisms exist and are practiced world over and corporate sector in Pakistan and even small business enterprises fix responsibility and losses are recovered from those who are responsible.
The simple contractual agreement of acquiring a house has many sections which is signed and agreed upon by the tenant and the landlord. The loss of material during tenancy will be paid by the tenant and a security deposit is in place if it at all happens.
A ‘simple rule’ which is made in simple tenancy agreement should be in place in all the mega money minting projects for all those making it will pay from their pockets for the losses incurred during the repairs owing to corruption and mishandling of material.
Pakistan mega projects are operated on whims of incompetent officials and ministers who on sightseeing abroad, dream of changing the fortunes of the nation.
The nation fortunes go in nose dive with incompetency and unprofessional approach but the results in changing fortunes for those who share the dream for plundering the national exchequer.
A fact which speaks out loud in Pakistan which is labeled as the ‘graveyard of developmental projects’ carried under the United Nation overs the years. The nation as a whole ends up with short end of the stick. The tables are turned and nation along with its unfortunate masses pay the price and amass the debt.
People who fill their coffers for generations to come have added immunity with dual nationalities. The other countries who protect their life and liberty of their citizen standup for their people knowing very well about the criminal act but do nothing. These rogue elements after plundering the national wealth have a life of luxury abroad and act as a gentleman and bask under sun with surf and sand.
Millions who suffered due to their inept expertise pay the price with their lives and belongings due to displacements and lack of empathy from state side. All these mega project displaced many people and still there are people who are awaiting payments for their ancestral lands used for the service of the nation.
The National Accountability Bureau which faces full blast from corrupt and rogue elements who have stolen and sucked the life out of Pakistan and its population lacks the teeth and muscle to take the money back and itself as a whole office is a burden. How long it can be supported when it returns peanuts and pittance in return while offering a plea bargain at the same time.
The inauguration of the Shershah bridge by former president General Pervez Musharraf collapsed 20 days after its inauguration in 2007 resulting in death of six besides dozens getting trapped in the rubble.
These are to name a few instances which were trumpeted with great pomp and show. The commitment of the money minting builder mafia stops at nothing and take their payment in advance and in full with added delays deliberately to squeeze more from the national exchequer which in turns squeeze the life out of commoner.
The Saudi model with the crane crashing in Makkah resulted in cancellation of all building contracts and it included the extension of Harram in Makkah besides the connecting tunnels made to deal with the pilgrims rush.
The endless and countless corruption tales are there, a rain results in roads getting swept, landslides in hilly areas and timber mafia devouring forests in Pakistan are all but few examples. The edible items have a list, where stringing the necks of adulterators looks less cruel for the lives lost due to their insatiable greed. The drug adulteration is another crime which goes under the sun with no penalties.
It all happens in Pakistan and no responsibility and recovery is fixed. Millions of rupees from the national exchequer wasted years after years with no accountability.
Land of the pure has mechanism designed and devised in paper and the ‘power point presentations’ are very powerful but sadly these paper giants stay in paper only and nothing concrete happens.
Pakistan has been blessed by people and a system which gives many a chance to tried and tested groups who are notorious for filling their coffers forgetting the fact the coffins will always be empty.
China model has money for the bullet taken corrupt person’s family besides recovering the loss, the man is named and shamed openly and publically. China with this strict approach after getting liberated now leads the world and Pakistan sadly is now bracketed with African bloc and has exchange rate of Rupee lower than that of Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
The writer is special correspondent at The Dayspring