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Ambassador of Brazil to Pakistan
His Excellency,Mr. Alfredo Leoni
ExclusiveInterv
iew
SEPTEMBER 2013
Volume-II, Issue-VII
"Its impossible for the world to be oblivious to Brazil"7th largest consumer market
Brazil
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EDITOR
Deputy Editor
Yassir Rasheed
Maria Khalid
ADVISORY BOARD
Haroon Akhtar Khan
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Pervez Amir
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EDITORIAL From the Editors Desk
413
Currencies are devalued when countries have no way to correct the
economic mistakes done in past. The currency devaluation encour-
ages exports and discourages imports to some extent but that is for
a limited time. A government can be forced into devaluation by
an ominous trade deficit. Thailand, Mexico, the Czech Republic all devalued
strongly, willingly or unwillingly, after their trade deficits exceeded 8% of the
GDP.Pak rupee is under pressure against the US dollar. The rupee devaluation
would multiply the cost of business, affecting the productivity of economy and
competitiveness of exports, lowering the import-substitution process and hurt-
ing the trade and industrial activities in the country as import prices for machin-
ery and industrial raw material will be increased.
Depreciation of the rupee is intensifying the cost of doing business and
badly affecting the industrial and manufacturing sectors as Pakistan has to im-
port fertilizers, food items, oil, machinery and industrial raw material. Pakistan
has been expecting to contribute to its deficit by financing the Coalition Support
Fund, US aid, 3G auction and Etisalat payments but this wasnt materialized.
This exerted pressure on financial account and rupee started weakening against
US dollar. However, uninterrupted increase in remittances is helpful in solving
the problem of repayments easily and stabilizing the exchange rate.
Present pace of the rupee depreciation will push up the inflation to go fur-
ther high and a common man will hurt badly in these days of growing cost-push
inflation. The depreciation of Pak rupee will add in billions i n rupee term to the
volume of foreign debt of the country which now stands at US $65 billion.
Pakistani rupee is losing fast against regional currencies as it has remained
just half against the Indian rupee and the Bangladeshi taka also appears much
stronger than the Pakistani currency. Bangladesh achieved some good achieve-
ments in textile exports but it is not a large economy with good resources. India
showed strength in its economy during a year when the global economy was in
critical situation because of economic and financial crisis in the United States
and Europe which finally absorbed the entire world.
The new government is still unable to come up with a much needed long
term ambitious plan to put the economy on right track. This should provide a
model for exporting value added branded products, buttering the quality and
image of existing products, finding new export markets and better aggressive
marketing strategy. Furthermore, there is need to further cut the unnecessary
government expenditure, improvement in the delivery of service by the gov-
ernment agencies and measures to sustain the budget and trade deficits. For
economic stability, multiple and persistent exchange rates are always of great
assistance. Merely willful depreciation of currency is not the solution of current
economic crisis and should not be resorted to in near future.
CURRENCY DEVALUATION, ITS
IMPACT AND COURSE OF ACTION
SEP 2013
D I S C L A I M E R
Utmost care is taken to ensure that articles and other information published are up-to-date and accurate. Furthermore,responsibility for any losses, damages or distress resulting from adherence to any information made available through thecontents is not the responsibility of the magazine. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily
reect the views of the editor, publisher and the management. Comments and suggestions are welcome.
Pages 12-13
Page 18-19
Pages 20-21
Pages 34-35
Exclusive
5 SEP 2013
Brazil's Beautiful
Necklace
A Veiled Threat
Understanding
Pashtunwali
UAE & World
Expo 2020
Tammy Swofford
Afrah Jamal
Yasmeen Aftab Ali
Tausif Ur Rehman
Abundant Clean
Electricity...........................14-15
News in Brief......................16-17
Microsoft Bribe Probe Reaches
into Pakistan, Russia Deals......24
Snowden and US-Russian
Relations.................................25
The Battle for the Soul of
Egypt.................................26-27
Conflicts, Contradictions &
Confrontations..................28-29
Where is the Paisa.............30-31
What is Shadow Banking...32-33
KSE: Where Foreigners Call the
Shots.................................36-37
Pages 22-23
Post-flood Relief
Operation
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Brazilis the largest country in South America and the fifth largest in the world in terms ofterritorial area. With continental proportions, it extends over an area of 8,514,877 km.To the north the country is crossed by the equator, while to the south it is crossed by the Tropic of Capricorn.
It has a population of more than 190 million, most of whom live in urban areas according to the 2010
Census. The population was formed by a combination of European peoples, negros (Africans brought to the
country as slaves between 1530 and 1850) and native Indians. Later, after the liberation of slaves, the country
received several waves of immigration (Germans, Italians, Spaniards, Japanese and Syrian- Lebanese) who
created the ethnic background of the current population. Most Brazilians are negro (50.74%), with Caucasians
accounting for 47.73% of the population.
613 7 SEP 2013
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9 SEP 201313 8
INTERVIEW
Your Excellency, please give us yo ur view on the Pak-Brazilrelations with respect to todays socio-political environment?
Brazil maintains strong political ties with Pakistan that continue to grow stronger
with each passing year. In the past three to four years, we have made bilateral relations
with Pakistan much broader in terms of diplomatic and political relations. We have
to first promote more trade between the two, then cooperation in different fields may
ensue.
Ours is the first Latin American country which established its embassy in Karachi
in 1952. In all these years, Pakistan and Brazil have cultivated very friendly relations
and both countries are supporting each other on many international forums. The trust
level that exists amid these two countries is evident from the recently proclaimed visa
policy that offers five-years multiple entry visa facility to the businessmen.
Recently, Brazils nominee Mr. Roberto Azevdo won the elections for Director
General appointment at the World Trade Organization. It was a big boost to Brazil's
global clout and I am grateful to Pakistan for its support to Brazils candidate in the
WTO elections. Pakistan supported Brazil because Brazil is the voice of developing
countries and has set sights on addressing the concerns of developing countries in the
WTO.
What are the dimensions of B razils foreign policy?
Brazil is a 200 years old country which got independence in 1822.
Prior to that, it was a territorial extension of Portugal which was a
typical colony that didnt have its own rules of law. However,
after declaring independence, Brazil adopted an open dip-
lomatic policy that is friendly to all. Brazil does a lot for
cooperation in some major areas such as Latin America,
America and Africa which is the most important region
for us.
We do not believe in exclusive diplomacy,
rather we do inclusive diplomacy. We maintain
cordial relations with nearly all member
countries of the United Nations and
have embassies in 130 countries of
the world.
There are a few countries
in the world who enjoy friendly
relations with North Korea and
South Korea, where as Brazil
Ambassador of Brazil to Pakistan
His Excellency,Mr. Alfredo Leoni
"We do not believe inexclusive diplomacy,rather we do inclusivediplomacy. We maintaincordial relations withnearly all membercountries of the
United Nations andhave embassies in 130countries of the world."
Pakistan possesses a very significant geographic position with
very important neighbors, a considerable territory and a substantial
population, thus making it impossible for the other countries to be
oblivious to Pakistan, said Ambassador of Brazil to Pakistan, His
Excellency, Mr. Alfredo Leoni in an exclusive interview with Monthly
Economic Affairs. Brazil is very much certain about Pakistans bright
future and I believe that Pakistan will soon rise above the problems
like energy, slow growth and terrorism and development has to
come about, whether Pakistan wants it or not, in fact prosperity of
the entire region partially depends upon growth and development
of Pakistan thats why Brazil gives special importance to relations
with Pakistan and regards it as a vital power of the region.
Maria Khalid
"Its impossible for the world to be oblivious to Brazil"
7th largest consumer market
Brazil
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13 10
enjoys cordial relations with both of them. Correspondingly, Brazil is a
very close partner of Iran but at the same time we have good relations
with Israel as well and it is an evident supporter of Palestinian cause.
Brazil does not take sides but we support countries on the fundamentals
of right or wrong.
Which are the key areas where relations could beenhanced between the two countries?
Since I have been given assignment in Islamabad, I am making ef-
forts to broaden the scope of relati ons and also searching for new avenues
of cooperation. Brazil has many experiences that may help Pakistan and
the most interesting area is agriculture, especially the production of sugar-
cane. You may ask, why sugarcane, let me tell you, because sugarcane can
help Pakistan in meeting its energy requirements also. Pakistan just needs
to increase its sugarcane production and also the quality of sucrose in it.
Most Pakistanis may not know that Brazil is the eight largest pro-
ducer of motor cars and it has the biggest fleet of cars that run on 100 %
ethanol fuel that is produced by sugarcane. It could be a substitute of CNG
in Pakistan.
Ethanol fuel is a success story in Brazil, how wouldyou describe it?
Brazil's ethanol program started in 1975 when soaring oil prices had
put a chokehold on the economy. Sugar cane was an obvious candidate,
given Brazil's almost endless amount of arable land and favorable climate.
As of now, Brazil is the second largest producer of ethanol in the world
and the largest exporter of its fuel.
Most car makers in Brazil sell flexible-fuel cars, trucks, and mini-
vans that can use gasoline and ethanol blends ranging from pure gasoline
up to 100% ethanol (E100). In 2009, 90% of cars produced ran on sug-arcane ethanol. Over half of all cars in the country are of the flex-fuel
variety, meaning that they can run on 100 percent ethanol or an ethanol-
gasoline mixture. Ethanol accounts for more than 50 percent of current
light vehicle fuel demand, and the company expects this to increase to
over 80% by 2020.
This is an area in which we can collaborate and on behalf of
my government, I have conveyed to my counterparts here that
Brazil is open to share its indigenous technology to produce
ethanol fuel with Pakistan. It took Brazil 48 years to develop
the technology to run motor cars on 100 % ethanol fuel.
Ethanol is used for tractors, generators etc and we would
soon start using it for planes because its clean energy.
Moreover, like Pakistan, Brazil is an agriculture based economy
and it has developed its agriculture technology a lot and the experience
of Brazil may be handy for Pakistan, for example, to protect its grow-
ing crops from insects, the growers do not use pesticide, instead Brazil-
ian farmers use insecticides to protect their crops from insects. There
are such bees which consume plaque and they dont eat crop but the
germs. Brazilian agriculturalists have developed the friendly insecticides
and created a culture of germs. Brazil can assist Pakistan in creating the
germs culture and nourishing of friendly insecticides that suit the soil and
weather conditions of Pakistan.
Recently, a technical team of Pakistan Agriculture Research Coun-
cil (PARC) visited Brazil and witnessed the used of insecticides and pro-
duction of ethanol from sugarcane, its use in cars and generators and they
were keen to develop the technology in Pakistan. However, we are still
waiting for a ministerial level visit to Brazil from Pakistan so that both
countries could sign formal agreements for bilateral cooperation.
Earlier, I have made concrete efforts for the visit of ex-foreign min-
ister, Hina Rabbani Khar, to Brazil but it couldnt be materialized, though
it was scheduled thrice but every time it had to be cancelled at the eleventh
hour.
Now, there is more likelihood of a high level delegation visit to Bra-
zil at the earliest as the current Advisor to Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sartaj Aziz
is an aficionado of Brazil and has visited many times plus he is a devotee
of enhancement of Pak Brazil relations.
Do you see potential in bilateral trade?
Brazil is an emerging power, the sixth largest economy of the world
and is the seventh largest consumer market. Brazil is proud to be the fi rst
exporter of many commodities including ethanol fuel. Brazils i mports are
around 220bn dollar and exports are 230bn dollars.
As an ambassador of Brazil, my efforts are aimed at promoting Bra-
zil and to make it available here. There is no obstacle for trade with Brazil
and let me assure you that it is a profitable market.
Brazil has lots of stake in this region. It has a trade balance of $11
billion with India;its $1 billion with Bangladesh; $850 million with Sri
Lanka; and with China,being the largest trade partner of Brazil,we havea
trade bal- ance of 75 bil lion dollar per annum. Un-
fortu- nately, the bilateral trade volume of
Pakistan and Brazil is as low as
$300 million per annum. How-
ever, we are eyeing to enhance
the bilateral trade to at least one
billion dollars in next three years
and the potential is there.
The major Brazilian ex-ports to Pakistan include cot-
ton, fuel pumps, plastic, iron
and steel, tobacco and
pulp among others, while major Pakistani ex-
ports to Brazil include textile items, surgical
items, soccer ball and manicure instruments in-
cluding others. Pakistan produces best quality
footballs world over which is very popular in
Brazil being a soccer crazy nation. Especially,
in the area of Biotechnology (from agriculture
to pharmaceutical research), development of
vaccines and in telecommunication and com-
puter engineering, bio-energy, both countries
could explore further opportunities.
Brazil produced 86 % of its energythrough renewable resources.Have you offered assistance toPakistan for meeting its energyneeds?
Brazil faced the same energy crisis a few
years back and was triumphant in overcoming itby means of Hydropower projects.
Importantly, energy is also on top of the
list for Brazil. Hydropower is a $2.5 trillion in-
dustry in Brazil and I have been talking major
companies of this discipline into bringing their
representatives to Pakistan. Since its something
new for them, it is essential to put them in the
picture that how safe it is to come here. It is also
important for us to let people in Brazil know
how profitable the market over here is.
Pakistan is blessed with natural water re-
sources and the solution of power crisis lies in
hydroelectric projects by building small dams.
These small dams would not only increase
power generation but could help chucking flash
floods out.
Is the Brazil cost the highcost of doing business in Brazil being addressed?
Yes, cost of doing business is high in Bra-
zil but the profits are even higher. The cost of
living is also high because of high taxes thats
known as Brazil Cost but believe me it is avery profitable country that is why Pakistans
export to Brazil have doubled during last two
years.
Brazil is not a mystery. In order to suc-
ceed the investor has to invest in locality, you
can try to sidestep the local partner but you can-
not sidestep localization. You have to be really
focused in the country; you cannot believe that
you can succeed by controlling from Islamabad.
You have to control your investment from Bra-
zil itself as one has to provide competence and
growth together; not just through acquisitions
but through acquiring competences and you
have to be able to provide services that go along
with that.
Do you see any chances ofextending co-operation in thedefense sector and enhancementof defense relations between thetwo countries in near future?
The scope of defence related relations be-tween the two countries is quite vast and needs
to be extended. In last few years, there has been
a significant increase in the military relations.
Both sides have exchanged some high level vis-
its in this regard. Recently, the naval chief of
Pakistan visited Brazil. Pakistan bought some
small sized airplanes from Brazil in 2008 and
another deal for procurement of defense air-
crafts is being negotiated. The military aircrafts
manufactured by Brazil that are safe to fly are
available for Pakistan at competitive prices. A
Brazilin team also participated in naval exercise
held last year in Pakistan. Brazil has also sold
100 MAR-1 anti-radiation missiles to Pakistan
despite India's pressure.
What efforts has the embassy beendoing to build stronger people-to-people interaction between ourcountries?
Various cultural activities have been orga-
nized between the two countries for promotion
of each others culture through art exhibitions
and conducting musical programmes. We haveinvited Pakistani artists in the past to visit Brazil
and experience its diverse culture, Furthermore,
Brazil is also promoting Pakistans education
sector by offering undergraduate and graduate
scholarships in various disciplines to Pakistani
students.I believe that this country has huge po-
tential which needs to be explored.
The embassy has already announced
Portuguese language free of cost classes at the
embassy. Moreover, Brazil also offers post-
graduate level scholarships for Pakistani stu-
dents. Currently, there are about sixty Pakistani
students in Brazil for education on a full schol-
arship.
Pakistan imports from Brazil 2012
ProductsMillionUS $
Cotton 113
Machinery, boilers, etc 15
Plast ics & ar ti cl es thereof 12.7
Soya-bean oi l & its fractions 16
Iron and Steel 10
Paper & paperboard 8
Tobacco 5
Pepper 3.3
Rubber and articles thereof 2.2
Others 6.8
Total: 192
Pakistan's export to Brazil 2012
ProductsMillionUS $
Textile Made Ups (Apparels,
Home text, cotton Yarn)53.1
Soccer Balls 9.7
Medical and SurgicalInstruments
7
Mucilage & thickenersderived from locust beansor guar seeds
5
Articles or leather 4
Manicure and pedicurearticle and Scissors 4
Ball point pens, pencils andcrayons
2.5
Brazil is an emerging power, the sixthlargest economy of the world and is theseventh largest consumer market. Brazilis proud to be the rst exporter of manycommodities including ethanol fuel.Brazils imports are around 220bn dollarand exports are 230bn dollars.
INTERVIEW
11 SEP 2013
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mother of her necklace. This danger is firmly established
within the Tri-Border Area shared by Brazil, Argentina and
Paraguay. This danger will eventually engulf a greater num-
ber of the 200 indigenous groups who call Brazil home. This
peril has a name and presents as a 21st century reality.
Hybrid narco-terrorism organizations present the most
significant danger to the survival of the micro-societies
which are dependent on both their isolation and unspoiled
habitats to maintain their generations. This nexus of drug
cartel old-school evil and terror organization new-school
evil is a symbiotic relationship based on criminal financial
greed and the need to fund terror. According to the U.S.
Drug Enforcement Agency, nearly fifty percent of the des-
ignated foreign terror organizations have traceable links to
the global narcotics trade. These hybrid entities are depen-
dent on movement within the shadow lands of nations where
palsied law enforcement efforts are noted. Whether looking
at remote regions of Brazil, Pakistan or Mali, the ripple ef-
fects of narco-terrorism activities on indigenous cultures are
the same. Erosion and erasure of culture occur whenever a
protective cordon is lacking.Whether it is a connection between Lebanese terror
organizations and drug cartel financiers or any other hybrid
accommodation, the challenges remain the same. Brazil has
stewardship over a vibrant human puzzle. This stewardship
is not based on human initiative but on a unique interface
between geography with human biology. How can this great
nation maintain policy initiatives which function as two
hundred separate protectorates over rights of the indigenous
groups to maintain their lives in peace?
Brazils constitution gives the nod toward the tribal
diversity within her borders. The government acknowledges
the right of the indigenous tribes to benefit from their re-
sources, and maintain their generational traditions. Their
removal from the land is forbidden.
Narco-terrorism organizations do not abide by con-
stitutional restraint. They blaze their trails across forested
paths and leave behind the signs of psychological infesta-
tion. Narco-traffickers despise the human race of which we
are all a part. They embrace a dangerous hybrid organiza-
tional culture of their own. It is one of predatory exploita-
tion. A world with boundaries and no trespass zones does
not exist within these criminal accommodations.
Is annihilation of any tribe worth a shipment of co-
caine? Drug traffickers have long forgotten their own moth-
ers. They have even less regard for the vulnerable children
of Mother Brazil.
Government is tasked with the stewardship of national
resources. Today the stewardship of Brazil is noted when
considering that the nation sustains an enviable and robust
economic environment with the sixth strongest national
economy in the world.
Beyond the stewardship of national economy Brazil
remains uniquely different regarding her challenges as the
sentinel of her gene pool. The need to maintain protected
status for the 200 distinct and separate indigenous tribal cul-
tures is a guardianship challenge which requires wisdom. A
strong backbone is required to eradicate -in efficient man-
ner- the narco-terrorism routes which trouble the people. My
best wishes are extended. And may the beautiful necklace
of indigenous culture remain draped across the shoulders of
a nation.
The writer is a freelance journalist and author of the novel
Arsenal. She can be reached at [email protected]
13 SEP 201313 12
If a nation is likened unto a mother watching
over her children, then Brazil is the mother
who wears a beautiful necklace. This multi-
colored strand contains 200 beautiful gem-
stones. They are unique and distinct. Each
gem represents one of the many indigenous
tribes who call this nation their home.
Within this demographic are approximately 188
different languages and (an estimated) sixty-seven
uncontacted tribal groups that are blissfully unaware
of the world as it exists beyond the confines of their
habitat. Brazils indigenous population presents as an
ethnographers paradise. Culture and social mores,
natural habitat and survival skills, and sociolinguistics
and human behavior can be observed. But the research
laboratory is far removed from the sterile confines of
the halls of academia. The laboratory is located within
the basin of the Amazon River, nestled into the Guiana
Highlands, and within remote areas where explorers of
past eras have given of their blood and personal trea-
sure. To explore Brazil is akin to Helen Keller touch-ing the face of Anne Sullivan for the first time. De-
light and a sense of wonderment await the visitor.
The very presence of these remote, indigenous
groups function as a living testament. The romanti-
cized myth of lone survival makes for pleasant reading
and the script of an occasional film. But the manner in
which indigenous cultural moorings demonstrate the
survival of the human spirit is the ancient tale of man.
This survival and maintenance of micro-societies
which remain unchanged throughout their centuries of
existence must be secured. Brazils necklace is a beau-
tiful one. Policies which assure non-interference by
outside interests are the clasp on the necklace. It must
not be allowed to break.
In past decades, initiatives to diminish the ex-
trinsic impact of broader-based culture on indigenous
tribal cultures have been provisioned within the con-
stitution. Common streams of missionary endeavors
and outreaches seeking to extend humanitarian kind-
ness have been balanced through the restraint provided
by Brazils constitution. While social anthropologists
and ethnographers may rant a bit against missionary
proselytization and forward stationing into the tribal
regions, their own voices are hollow reeds of self-in-
crimination. Observation can change the behavior of
the one who is being observed. And cultural immer-
sion research which involves prolonged patterns of in-
dwelling between the researcher and his laboratory
can create subtle cultural changes. These changes may
adversely impact the survivability of Brazils micro-
societies.
One hard truth which can be difficult to digest is
that of generational continuity. Simply put, the surviv-
al of micro-societies is dependent on t he affirmation of
the indigenous culture by the children moving into an
age of procreative capability. If they are excessively
impacted by outside forces, if the allure of modernism
reaches their doorstep, the tribe can be one generation
away from biologic annihilation.
There are those who will continue to split hairs
regarding the interface of missionary zeal or secular
humanitarian efforts within the tribal belts of Brazil.
But a much greater danger is shaping up to rob the
BeautifulNecklaceBrazils
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FUELS
BRAZILSGROWTH
15 SEP 201313 14
In the late 1990s, Brazil endured a
rigorous blackout, which left almost
90 million people in the dark for
some hours. It was the first precur-
sor of the chink in Brazilian energy
systems armor, caused by a combi-
nation of drought, bad planning and
years of lack of serious investment in the en-
ergy structure of the country. With a series of
massive investments and a wide-spread public
awareness campaign, Brazil was able to over-
come those dark moments and now, a decade
later, enjoys a very comfortable energy situa-
tion. Pakistan could certainly take benefit from
some of the Brazilian examples to overcome its
energy crisis. Brazil has done it, Pakistan canalso do it.
Brazil, as Pakistan, has many different
kinds of water formations, which can easily be
transformed into an efficient source of energy.
The Brazilian energy matrix relies mainly on this
kind of energy, hydropower, which accounts for
almost 70% of the production of electric energy
in the country. In the beginning of 2013, the
installed capacity of electric power generation
in Brazil was of 121,000 MW, of which 84,000
MW came from hydropower plants. Overall,
almost 90% of the electric energy produced in
Brazil is renewable, against only 20% of the
worlds average. Hydropower in Brazil comes
not only from massive projects, like the Itaipu
dam (which produces more than 14.000 MW),
but also from very smalls hydropower plants,
which are able to produce the amount of needed
energy for small communities with a low social
and environmental impact.
For the generation of electric energy, Bra-
zil is also investing heavily in other renewable
sources, such as wind power. Although it still
does not count for much of the energy matrix,the numbers are quite impressive, as wind power
production grew 24.2% from 2010 to 2011. Bra-
zil hosts the ideal conditions for the production
of wind power and many new wind farms are
being built. Investment in this area is proving
to be extremely attractive, especially because
it also counts with the support from the Bank
of Brazil and the National Bank for Social and
Economic Development.
The support of the Federal Government
and the emphasis on large scale investments to
overcome the energy crisis played an essential
role in Brazil. It was only through public incen-
tives that the private sector and international
investors were able to see Brazil as a lucrative
alternative. Also, Brazil has established a re-
search and regulatory structure which enabled
the country to focus on specific policies. In this
sense, not only the general production of energy
increased in the last few years, but also the pro-
ductivity, meaning that energy production in
Brazil is becoming more efficient.
Brazil also has one of the worlds most
successful experiences in the field of biofuels.The country is the largest exporter of ethanol,
a biofuel produced indigenously since 1974
from sugarcane, in a sustainable and efficient
way. Due to some strict policies and to the agro-
ecological zoning determined by the Brazilian
government, sugarcane can only be produced
in specific regions, far from the Amazon, in
order not to invade any forest or reserved area.
The region of So Paulo and its surroundings is
where the majority of t he sugarcane plantations
are actually located, not occupying more than
1.4% of the countrys agricultural area. The en-
ergy and environmental balance of sugarcane
fuel makes it one of the worlds most efficient
and sustainable sources of energy.
The Brazilian production of ethanol to-
taled 27.6 billion liters in 2010 - an increase of
7% over the previous year. According to esti-
mates by the Ministry of Mines and Energy, it
could reach 64 billion liters in 2019. It is im-
portant to stress that the i ncrease on the amount
of ethanol produced was due much more to the
increase in productivity than to the expansion
of cultivated areas, which proves that it can be
sustainable.
Besides the export potential, there is great
demand for biofuels in the domestic market.
Brazil is a pioneer in the development of the flexfuel technology, which was launched in 2003
and allows cars to run on both gasoline and eth-
anol in any proportion. Currently, multinational
car assembly corporations produce nearly 100
different models of flex-fuel cars in Brazil, thus
ensuring the country the largest fleet of flex-fuel
cars in the world. Between 2003 and 2010, 12.5
million flex-fuel vehicles were sold, with an es-
timated participation of 39% in the total light
vehicle fleet.
Ethanol is a green-fuel from scratch, as
it generates 90% less emission of greenhouse
gases as compared to gasoline. With the devel-
opment of new technologies, ethanol from sug-
arcane is expected to record negative emissions.
The benefits start at the very root of the cycle:
ethanol from sugarcane generates approximate-
ly nine times more renewable energy than the
fossil energy used in its production, while etha-
nol produced from corn yields only 1.4 units of
renewable energy for every fossil energy unit
used in its production process.
Brazil is also the third largest consumer
of biodiesel in the world. The 2004 National
Program for Biodiesel Production and Usage(PNPB) mandates the gradual mixture of alter-
native fuel with diesel. A special program for
the sustainable production of palm oil was also
launched in May 2010. The palm oil program
includes an agro-ecological zoning initiative and
offers an interesting alternative for deforested
areas in the Amazon region. Additionally, this
initiative has a very important social aspect, as
the crops for the production of biodiesel can be
cultivated in small properties. Thus, the produc-
tion of this kind of fuel is not only environmen-
tally friendly, but also economically viable and
socially relevant. Through these governmental
programs, biodiesel production is actually being
used as a tool to foster social development.
Brazils success story may be a good ex-
ample for Pakistan, a country that, like many
others, struggles with energy problems that af-
fect peoples lives and the economy as a whole.
Following some of Brazils strategies like
focusing on a varied energy mix; investing in
hydropower; investing in new and sophisticated
technologies and fostering the use and develop-
ment of new energy sources, such as biofuels,
will be a good slant for Pakistan to begin unrav-eling its energy conundrum in order to start a
brighter period of its history.
Helena Lobato da Jornada is the Head of
the Commercial, Press and Energy Section in
the Embassy of Brazil, Islamabad
ELECTRICITY
Brazil is a pioneer in the development of the flex fueltechnology, which was launched in 2003 and allowscars to run on both gasoline and ethanol in any pro-
portion. Currently, multinational car assembly cor-porations produce nearly 100 different models offlex-fuel cars in Brazil, thus ensuring the country thelargest fleet of flex-fuel cars in the world.
ABUNDANTCLEAN
Helena Lobato da Jornada
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News in Brief Gas price hiked for captivepower plantsT
he government has increased gas price for captive power plants
by Rs85/mmbtu, however it has decided to maintain the price at
current level for domestic, commercial, industrial and Compressed
Natural Gas (CNG) consumers.
The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Petroleum Min-
ister Shahid Khaqqn Abbasi here in the premises of petroleum ministry on
Friday, sources said. Ogra has issued a notification to this effect.
Top officials of the ministry, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited
(SNGPL), Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL), Oil and Gas
Regulatory Authority (Ogra) attended this meeting.
The sources said the meeting approved the price hike for the cap-
tive power plants (CPPs), which are owned by the affluent millers and
industrialists of the country. With this approved Rs85/mmbtu increase the
price of gas for CPPs has surged to Rs573/mmbtu from its earlier price of
Rs488/mmbtu.
A source disclosed that a decision to maintain the gas price for rest
of the users was taken only because some six months ago the IslamabadHigh Court (IHC) had suspended the Gas Infrastructure Development
Cess (GIDC). Had the incumbent regime stick to its price rationalisation
plan, the gas price for all users would have witnessed a big surge as the
plan envisaged bringing it at par with the price of furnace oil/alternate
fuels.
However, the petroleum ministry last week challenged the suspen-
sion of GIDC by the IHC in the Supreme Court and the government is
most likely to increase the gas prices as soon as it gets a favourable deci-
sion.
PFF calls for reviewing Bhasha
Dam construction plan
Karachi
The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) has expressed concerns over
the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N)-led governments plans to
reinitiate controversial schemes such as the Diamer-Bhasha Dam,
a project that was previously shelved after widespread protests across
Sindh.
PFF Chairman Mohammad Ali Shah, on Friday, called for the gov-
ernment to not only reanalyse the ecological impacts of the dam, but also
its negative effects for communities inhabiting the area. He said that thegovernment, which is looking towards two of the worlds largest multi-
lateral lenders for the $12 billion Diamer Bhasha Dam project, is i nadver-
tently putting its main economic sources at risk.
At a time when reports of mass suicides by farmers, over being
deprived of their water share for cultivation, are circulating, politicians are
working to secure funds from world lenders, said Shah.
The consent of the communities settled in the area, for whom the
water is a basic source of livelihood, is essential, even for projects of such
magnitude. There is no justification for this project to be re-launched,
he stated.
Shah reiterated the PFFs dedication to honourably represent not
only the three million small-scale fish workers of the country, but also
farmers and herdsmen. These poor workers are the real victims of mega
water projects, which destroy fertile land, wetlands and forests, conse-
quently forcing mass migrations, he said.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, reportedly, recently told the media that
significant progress has been made in the bid to arrange funds for the
project. The PFF had launched a campaign against mega water projects,
entitled Keep Rivers Free Movement, in March 2010, which included
a 14-day Long March from Kharochan, in the Indus Delta, to Jamshoro,
located on the bank of the River Indus.
LCCI to hold moot on Halal food
export on Sept 9
Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) is organising a
conference on Halal Food Export on September 09, 2013 to dis-
cuss the potential of exports of Halal food products from Pakistan,
issues hampering its growth and devising a way forward to guide the local
industrialists in this regard.
This was stated by the LCCI Standing Committee on Halal Food
Naseeb Ahmad Saifi here on Friday.
He said that his company is sponsoring this conference to highlight
problems faced by the Halal meat and food industry and reaching to a
solution to these issues which can lift the present exports to US5-6 billiondollars.
He said that the government should make its economic officers more
active in missions abroad for ensuring access of Pakistani Halal meat and
other food products in the international market which could help increas-
ing the Halal exports of the country by three times.
He said Pakistani meat is liked world over due to its quality and
taste but government patronage is needed to enhance its exports.
Naseeb Ahmad Saifi said that increasing price of electricity and gas
had increased the input cost of the exporters manifold due to which they
are facing it difficult to compete with India and African countries in the
international market. He said that the government should take immediate
measures to stop smuggling of live animals to Iran and Afghanistan as it
is not only causing huge loss to the Halal meat industry but also to the
national exchequer.
Pakistan, Thailand vow to
double trade; enhance economic
partnership
P
akistan and Thailand Tuesday expressed the resolve to build a
strong economic partnership, double their trade figures to US two
billion dollars in next five years and eventually enter into a Free
Trade Agreement.Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Thai Prime Minister
Yingluck Shinawatra Pakistan addressing a joint press stake out after a
round of bilateral talks also expressed their commitment to collaborate in
the field of trade, culture, infrastructure development, science and tech-
nology, defence, education and tourism.
Prime Minister Sharif said the two sides held a "comprehensive dis-
cussion" on wide range of issues and noted the convergence of views on
important bilateral and international issues.
The two sides also discussed regional and international issues of
mutual interest.
Prime Minister Shinawatra extended her country's support to Pak-
istan in becoming a Full Dialogue Partner with the ASEAN, as Prime
Minister Sharif appreciated Thailand's "consistent support" for Pakistan's
enhanced partnership with the regional forum.
17 SEP 201313 16
Sindh govt performance
outshined
During the fiscal year 2012/13, the Sindh government performance
outshined all provinces. Sindh has presented a surplus budget of
Rs 41.42. The accumulated revenues of the Sindh government
were Rs 445.67 billion against the overall expenditures of Rs 404.25 bil-
lion.
According to the finalized figure for the fiscal year 2012/13 released
by the finance division, the province of Punjab has come up with a surplus
of Rs10 billion, Baluchistan with Rs 14 billion and the surplus of KPK
was only Rs 4 billion, whereas Sindh has presented the largest surplus of
Rs 41 billion.
The provinces share in federal revenues was Rs 320.73 billion
and the province generated Rs 68.14 billion from provincial taxes and Rs24.67 billion from the nontax revenues. The current expenditures of the
government were Rs 301.92 billlion whereas the Sindh government spent
Rs 102.32 billion of development work.
While talking to Economic Affairs, information minister for Sindh
Sharjeel Memon said I see a vital potential in the province for extending
the tax revenue but deteriorating law and order is the biggest challenge to
deal with.
World Bank ready to provide support
to Pakistan, says new VP
Philippe Le Hourou, new vice president of World Bank Groups
South Asia region, said the lending agency will provide policy and
performance-based support to Pakistan.
The World Bank Group stands ready to assist the government in
reform implementation through policy and performance-based support,
said Le Hourou. The complex challenges facing the country call for not
only implementation of multi-sectoral fundamental reforms and invest-
ments but also their careful sequencing, he added.
In the difficult current economic situation of the country, Le
Hourou agreed with the governments economic plan. He assured the
government of the World Banks support for stabilizing the macro econ-
omy, deepening the needed structural reforms and implementing needed
sectoral investments.
He also discussed the governments development priorities and t he
programming of $1.5 billion International Development Assistance (IDA)
support to Pakistan for the next 10 months, in the areas of policy reforms
and investments, particularly in energy, revenue mobilization, governance
and social sectors.
APTMA initiative to double
exports
All-Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) would launch a
new initiative from Jan 1, 2014 to improve the image of Pakistani
textiles around the world to double the industrys exports to $26
billion over the next three to four years in the wake of f ree market access
from the European Union.
The initiative Triple Bottom Line (TBL) is meant to make
and project the entire textile supply chain environment-friendly and so-
cially responsible industry towards the people. APTMA has already hired
a Dubai-based Pakistani businessman and lobbyist, Raza Jaffar, for imple-
menting the TBL (Planet, People and Profit) initiative and improving the
image of the industry.
It also plans to organise textile shows in the US and European coun-
tries to create contacts with major buyers in those markets.
APTMA chairman Ahsan Bashir said a comprehensive strategy was
being evolved to take full advantage of the free market access under the
EUs GSP+ system.
He said the new government had largely solved the energy problem
of the textile industry in Punjab, at least for the time being, which has
helped capacity utilization to 90pc.
Now growth in textile trade is our next target. We are aiming for
$30bn exports.
Bangladesh, which purchases cotton, yarn and fabric from Pakistan
and elsewhere for its industry, has increased its textile exports from $5bn
to almost $27bn in last eight years after obtaining free market access from
the EU and is aiming for $40bn in next few years.
APTMA leader Gohar Ejaz said the decrease in Chinas share in
the world textile trade to $270bn from $300bn in last one year and the
EUs GSP+ trade incentives for Pakistan had opened a big window of op-
portunity for Pakistan to not only push it s textile exports to the world but
also produce a trade surplus to help the government overcome its current
account woes in the next 3-4 years.
KESC accused of violating deals
As the management of the Karachi Electric Supply Company
(KESC), as well as its former and present buyers stayed away,
a Senate panel noted on Friday serious violations of different
agreements by the utilitys management and criticized government repre-
sentatives on its board of directors for staying silent.
The sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Water and
Power, led by Senator Shahi Syed, sought legal opinion of the law minis-
ter on a couple of key questions within a week so that the committee could
submit its final report to Senate for action before Sept 2.
The ministry of law was asked to explain from the legal standpoint
if the amended agreement signed with the KESC in 2009 to change the
original 2005 agreement was valid given the fact that the original buyer,Al-Jomahia Group, was defaulting on its contractual obligations and if the
government could have taken over the utility as provided in the original
sale agreement.
The law ministrys view was also sought on whether re-bidding was
not necessary for the KESC when a defaulting original buyer transferred
a company having government shares to another private entity and also to
explain if the water and power ministry was authorised to provide incen-
tive package to the new buyer Abraaj Capital, a private entity -- after the
original buyer failed to meet contractual obligations.
The law ministry was also asked to give its opinion if rules of busi-
ness 1973 allowed implementation of decisions of the ECC without prop-
er endorsement by the cabinet or the prime minister and if the ECC was
authorised legally to take such decisions to provide incentive package to
a privatised entity by bypassing the cabinet committee on privatisation or
Council of Common Interests.
And if the ECC decisions were not ratified by the federal cabinet
then what was the legal status of the agreements signed with the KESC
management.
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The Avenger phenomena hit
Pakistan sometime in late
July 2013. The choice of the
name had an instant effect -
loud cheers, inaudible gasps,
startled looks and a few boos
were reported, things were
said. A musician, composer and most recently
Campaign Ambassador for Save the Children's
Everyone Campaign, who reigned in the 1990s
as the front man for Awaz, and nowadays goesby the name of Aaron Haroon (redundancy
alert!) is responsible for these seismic changes
in the national topography.
Back then the band made history when
Janeman became the first Pakistani song to air
on MTV; now another precedent has been set
as Pakistans first animated, female super hero
takes the stage. It is different because the secret
identity goes undercover in a burka. It is contro-
versial for the same reason.
A school teacher by day, Jiya dons the in-
visibility cloak before setting out to conquer the
world. A burka has been used here as a symbol
of empowerment - more on that later. A Young
Jiya aka the Burka Avenger who happens to be
faster than a speeding Tez-gam, leaps over short
buildings or telephone poles, defies gravity and
could well be Pakistans newest ally on the
frontline of terror.
That she is a firm believer in the pen is
mightier than the sword adage gives her an ad-
vantage. Stationary makes for handy weapons
in B.A universe and her costume allows her to
wander the countryside undetected, like most
women in that region and maybe a few Most
Wanteds from across its borders. In reality,
this would not be functional as a uniform and
is likely to put an end to those flying squirrel
moves. Fantasy has rushed to the aid and an
invincibility clause has been quietly added to
the conservative mix. Regardless of the snazzy
makeover, using the b - word as a centerpiece
has drawn focus away from the shows noble
cause and bold agenda.
The 22 minute segment uses a slick mix of
humor, music and martial arts to sound the alarm
and alter perceptions. The upbeat tone is padded
by an endearing line up of characters including
heroic young uns and baddies with imaginative
names like Baba Bandook (a mean magician),
Vadero Pajero (a mean feudal). Haroon, alongwith other well known singers will make an ap-
pearance during the course of the show. As far
as super heroes go, this is pretty standard fare
but for the ladys choice of attire and real life
implications of her work.
There are plenty of monsters to choose
from and territory to reclaim and the storylines
are set against a somber backdrop. A few basic
strokes have been used to render the life of an
orphaned little girl raised by an adopted father
figure/ resident Obi One Kenobi who trains her
in the art of Takht Kabaddi, used to restore bal-
ance in a topsy-turvy world. Go Avenger. That
she reaches for the most logical item to conceal
her identity is understandable in many ways.
Where super heroes stand out in their mitts,
hoodies, capes and /or bunny/ bat/ cat ears, Jiya
can melt into the crowd, and would be impos-
sible to trace - a covert operators dream. Being
outsmarted by someone in medieval gear is an
added insult.
It enters a contentious zone when tools
of oppression are shown to be interchangeable
with power. Some might argue that fighting
extremism in the one thing used to subjugate
women would be considered poetic justice.Others would continue to glare at the offending
burka and be reminded of tales where women
1813 19 SEP 2013
PERSPECTIVE
Afrah Jamal
in parts of Pakistan have been enslaved by in-
vading bands of good/ bad/ evil Taliban running
amok.
Ordinarily, this would be a stroke of ge-
nius that helps its character maintain a low pro-
file but in a bid to steer away from one ste-
reotype the super hero in the ill-fitting body
armour the creators have inadvertently opted
for another - that of the invisible woman asso-
ciated with this part of the world. Interestingly
enough, there will be no burkas in Jiya - the
school marms closet. She is a free spirit with
moxie aplenty, not inclined to cover her head or
conform to that standard issue i mage on conser-
vative brochures which is a refreshing sight
in this era of creeping radicalization and holier-
than-thou mugs plastered across the media.
The super hero community typically does
not rummage through attics or go shopping for
that perfect off-the-rack number and while they
may trade looks for comfort, their iconic suitsstay in view through-out the journey. There is
Batman, in the reboot seen ordering those cus-
tomized Made in China masks that would not
survive a POW to the head; or the Man of
Steel known for re-using his baby blankie for
its invincibility but not his design sense. The
creative should have considered the fall-out
when rolling out the recycled collection.
Perhaps Jiya had a similar epiphany when
she was raking her brains for a suitable dress to
wear at the coming out party for her alter-ego
and saw a chance to remake the cumbersome
burka into a fetching guise. Her creators would
have been within their rights to let her put her
own spin on the name and saved themselves a
lot of grief and time spent in explanations. The
girl behind the mask, who casually bonks her
foes with books, uses pens to impale and cut
through the haze of mixed messages, propagan-
da and murky morality.
But Jiya, the courageous educator who
refuses to conform and holds on to her ideals
deserves to be lauded and is someone to look
up to. The lady in black as she has been re-
ferred to in the theme song is on a worthy mis-
sion. Instead of her formidable abilities, and an
unambiguous stance on crucial issues which is
more than most politicians can say, the spotlight
continues to remain on her fashion choices. In
hindsight it might have been wiser not making
the crusaders cape the lynchpin - a protagonist
forced to navigate a hostile terrain while trying
to talk her country-men down from the ledge,
makes for a far better headline.
The show offers fun-sized doses of kid
friendly entertainment wrapped in layers of
comedy topped with a public service message,
and will tackle other issues along the way. Tali-
ban are never named directly and are not the
only threat out there; a dangerous void that al-
lowed extremism to take root needs to be coun-
tered and thus far the media has been unable to
stir up support for an environmental cleanup.
When the burial of a martyred Ah-
medi soldier who receives full
military honor becomes news as
if his religious beliefs are in any
way relevant to his sacrifice, it is
time to rally around. But the call
to arms often gets lost in the din
and stories about the persecution
of Christians, the murder of lib-
eral crusaders, or ethnic cleansing
resurface with depressing regular-
ity.
Sending the invisible
woman behind enemy lines marks the begin-
ning of the resistance. Since she is an educa-
tionist, female literacy remains at the forefront.
The Burka Avenger was reportedly conceived
before Malala (Pakistans real life superhero)
became the spokeswoman for literacy and girls
rights and a universal symbol of resistance. Our
heroine is up against the same horrors with big-
otry at its peak and justice in short supply but
unlike real life, here she can get away unscathed
and live to fight another day.
The show is broadcast in Urdu, available
in English and there is a global audience breath-
lessly awaiting the Avengers debut. According
to one report, Haroon is in talks with European
broadcasters to have the series translated into 18
languages and broadcast in 60 countries. 13 ep-
isodes are set to air on Geo Tez every Sunday
though it is unclear if these airwaves can reach
remote regions that need it most. It may be time
to place an order for a stronger sounding board
to avoid setting off multi-cultural minefields in
the future.
The writer is a freelance journalist who blogs
at http://afrahjamal.blogspot.com. She can be reached
at [email protected] and on twitter @Afrahjh
That she is a firm believer in the pen ismightier than the sword adage gives
her an advantage. Stationary makes forhandy weapons in B.A universe and hercostume allows her to wander the coun-tryside undetected, like most women inthat region and maybe a few Most Want-
eds from across its borders
A Veiled Threat
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Dating back to the pre-
Islamic era, Pashtunwali
is the code of conduct
every proud pathan fol-
lows, may he live in Af-
ghanistan, Pakistan, or
as a refugee anywhere
in the world. The native Pashtun is fiercely
independent and loyal. In the backdrop of the
importance of FATA, owing to its geographical
location to Afghanistan, it is important to under-
stand the code of the pathans. Pashtuns believe
that their social code produces men who are
superior to those produced under the Western
model, and they have no desire to have a new
social system imposed on them by outsiders.
(Thomas H. Johnson and M. Chris Mason, No
Sign Until the Burst of Fire, 61.)
Melmastia (hospitality) is a key com-
ponent of Pashtunwali. Melma means a guest.
However, hospitality is not to be interpreted
in the manner a westerner would interpret it. It
means offering hospitality to a guest transcend-
ing race, religion and economic status. It also
means once under the roof of his host, the guestshould neither be harmed nor surrendered to an
enemy. This will be regardless of the relation-
ship between the guest and the host enjoyed
previously. In this regard Melmasthia takes
precedence over Badal (yet another principle
of Pashtunwali), so even the enemy who comes
seeking refuge must be granted it and defended
against his pursuers. Elphinstone in 1815 ob-
served: The most remarkable characteristic of
the Afghans is their hospitality. The practice of
this virtue is so much a point of national honor,
that their reproach to an inhospitable man is that
he has no Pushtunwali (Elphinston 1969: 226).
Simply put, Badal means to seek jus-
tice or take revenge against the wrongdoer.
There is no time limit to when the injustice
can be avenged. If Badal is not exercised, the
offended man or his family will be considered
stripped off honor. The exercise of this princi-
ple can lead to generations of bloodshed, feuds,
hundreds of lives lost for one insult. It requires
a violent reaction to the insult, death or injury
inflicted. A Badal usually ends with a Badal. An
action elicits or demands an equivalent response
and the cycle goes on. Khushal Khan Khattak,
the great Pashto poet, warrior and soldier was
not far off the mark when he said, Let the head
be gone, wealth be gone but the honor must notgo, because the whole dignity of a man is due to
this honor.
Nanawatai (sanctuary) is another pil-
lar of the Pashtunwali code. It allows a person
to seek refuge in the house of another, seeking
asylum against his enemies. The host Pashtun is
honor bound to offer that protection, may it be
at the cost of his own family or fortune. Tradi-
tionally, the protection is extended only till such
time as the refuge seeker is on the property of
the person whose refuge he seeks. The protec-
tion will be considered withdrawn once he is
off the hosts property. William Mastrosimone,
witnessing a team of mujahideen capturing and
executing a Soviet tank crew in 1986, wrote a
stage play Nanawatai, about a tank driver cap-
tured in the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and
his resulting plea for sanctuary from those who
2013 21 SEP 2013
Khushal Khan
Khattak, the
great Pashto
poet, warrior and
soldier was not
far off the mark
when he said,
Let the head
be gone, wealth
be gone but the
honor must notgo, because the
whole dignity of a
man is due to this
honor.
find him. The story was later adapted into the
1988 film The Beast of War.
A Pashtun at all times is expected to
defend his land, family, women and property
against invaders. Honor of his name must be
defended. Lives are laid down to defend the
honor associated. This is Tureh (bravery) that
is another component of the Pastunwali. Other
tenets include Sabat (loyalty); towards ones
friends and family and members of the tribe.
Imandari (righteousness); striving
for goodness both in word and in
deed. Respect towards all. Ghayrat
(courage/honor); at all times a Pa-
shtun must display courage. If hehas no ghairat or honor, he fails
to make the grade as a Pathan. Na-
mus (sexual honor of women);for a
man and his family, namus means
sexual integrity and chastity of
women in the family. The Pash-
tun must defend the namus of the
women of his household. This
extends to the namus of his external family as
well. Nang (Honour); a Pashtun must protect the
honor of those around him.
By no means is the list exhausted. How-
ever, it gives a good insight to the values that
govern the Proud Pathan. Pashtunwali is not a
legal code as we see. It is more a code of honor
by which a Pathan will live by- and die for!
The Jirga is obeyed without question by
the Pashtuns. A Jirga is an assembly of tribal
elders who take decisions on issues based on
consensus. Disputes between two or more
people are heard by this council of elders. In
tribal regions the Jirga is still used as a court
for criminal offences.The respect awarded to
tribal elders is phenomenal. When Mullah Nazir
Ahmed moved away from the loose construc-
tion of Taliban Movement in 2007, one reason
was because of the Uzbeks in the region. They
undermined the tradition of showing respect to
the tribal elder - an unforgivable sin to the Pa-
shtun. With the spread of Talibanization, layers
of authority were scraped off the Jirga in many
instances. In Khyber Agency example of Mufti
Shakir from Lashkar-e-Islam, setting up its own
sharia court to dispense vigilante justice being
one.
The Pashtuns have relied on a code as
old as time itself to conduct themselves as in-
dividuals and a society in their dealings. Even
stateless societies need certain laws to conduct
affairs of the state. To this date, Frontier Crimes
Regulation- a body of law based on six chap-
ters, sixty-four sections three schedules governs
FATA, a British-era colonial act that empow-
ers a political agent to take all actions on behalf
of the Pakistan government and decisions once
taken cannot be appealed against or questioned
under any law.
Pashtunwali has struggled and suc-
ceeded in establishing a uniform code of
conduct in a society where justice is not
easy and in reach of most people. Statelaws have minimal reach and the Frontier
Crimes Regulation is a unique set of laws
governing the rest of Pakistan. Conversely,
norms of honor may create situations where
eruption of conflicts may be more frequent.
It also makes outsiders completely at sea
when dealing with the Pashtun. Understand-
ing Pashtunwali does not offer the map to
control Pashtun tribes. It is no such magic po-
tion. It does however help to understand the Pa-
shtun culture. Once understood, the framework
can help in formulating a strategy for engaging
with the tribals.
The writer is a lawyer, academic and
political analyst. She has authored a book, A
Comparative Analysis of Media and Media
Laws in Pakistan.
Understanding
A Pashtun at all times is expected to
defend his land, family, women andproperty against invaders. Honor of his
name must be defended. Lives are laid
down to defend the honor associated.
This is Tureh (bravery) that is another
component of the Pastunwali.
OPINION
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23 SEP 2013
BUDGET 2013-14DISASTER
Saleema Bibi died at the age of just
29 when the roof of her house
in Talwandi village in northeast
Pakistans Sialkot district col-
lapsed under heavy monsoon
rains. Her husband and three chil-
dren were badly injured.
The roof of our house, where we all
were sitting on a cot-bed, caved in after failing
to withstand torrential rain that lasted for five
hours, sobbed Bibis husband, Muzzamil Raza,
describing the tragedy that hit his family on
Aug. 14.
As the monsoon brings seasonal down-
pours and floods across Pakistan, Sialkot - 192
km (122 miles) from Islamabad is the worst-
hit district in Punjab province, in terms of fatali-
ties and property damage.
An estimated 200 villages in Sialkot are
waist-deep in floodwater, which has damaged
homes and public infrastructure, as well as rice,
cotton and vegetable crops on thousands ofacres, according to local disaster officials.
Emerging from Himachal Pradesh state in
northern India, the Chenab River enters Paki-
stan after passing through Indian-administered
Kashmir. It flows through Punjab provinces
northeastern districts and joins the Indus River
in Multan district in southeast Punjab.
According to Asjad Imtiaz Ali, chair-
man of the Federal Flood Commis-
sion, Chenab has experi-
enced its first flood
in 30 years,
following
ex-
ceptional rains in its catchment area.
The river broke its banks at different
places as the water level rose, particularly after
India released (on Aug. 14) surplus floodwater
into the river in its territory, t o the sheer surprise
of the Pakistani authorities concerned and with-
out prior intimation as required under the Indus
Waters Treaty agreement, said Imtiaz Ali.
Pakistan has suffered economic damagesof more than $16 billion as a result of consecu-
tive monsoon floods each year since
2010. Some 4,000 people were
killed, thousands injured
and millions dis-
placed
from their homes, according to the Economic
Survey of Pakistan 2011-12.
This year, again, the swelling floods in the
Indus River and its tributaries in Pakistan the
Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej are
leaving behind a trail of devastation.
As of Aug. 21, 118 people had been killed,
812 injured and over 399,000 affected in differ-
ent parts of the country. An estimated 1,700
villages have been hit by flash floods, with
many of them vanishing completely, according
to the latest loss and damage report from the
National Disaster Management Authority
(NDMA).
Around 11,200 houses
have been damaged fully
or partially, and sum-
mer crops -
rice,
cotton,
sugarcane, maize,
peanut, millets, sun-
flower and vegetables on
over 325,000 acres of land have
been devastated by heavy rains and
flash floods.
Iftikhar Ahmed, chairman of the Pakistan
Agriculture Research Council, noted that prices
of vegetables used in daily cooking have jumped
300 percent, raising a serious threat of food in-
security if damaged road and rail networks arenot repaired urgently and financial support is
not provided for farmers to re-sow their crops.
All rivers, including the Indus, are now
flowing at full capacity, while t he countrys two
largest reservoirs, Mangla and Tarbela, in north-
ern Pakistan are close to their maximum volume
for the first time in many years.
People living near the reservoirs fear that
their homes will be washed away, as govern-
ment authorities have asked them to vacate the
areas, amid the latest forecast for another spell
of torrential rain during the last week of August
in southern Punjab, eastern Balochistan and
southern Sindh provinces.
The Punjab Disaster Management Au-
thority said Mangla Dam and Jehlum River
had already overflowed on Aug. 15, flooding at
least 500 houses in 12 residential areas of Kallar
Syedan, a town in Rawalpindi district, a few ki-
lometers east of Islamabad.
Nawaz Suleman, a resident of Dhoke
Mistrian, one of the flooded suburbs,
said the area looks like a collec-
tion of islands but local
officials have not re-
sponded to pleas
for families to
be relocated
to a
safer
place.
Flood
Commission
Chairman Imtiaz
Ali said the coming
bout of rainfall which is
due in the last week of Au-
gust and first week of September
is predicted to be most intense of the
ongoing monsoon so far. It is likely to be
catastrophic, as all the rivers are already in high
flood and the reservoirs are brimming.
Disaster management authorities have
to take all possible measures to relocate people
from vulnerable areas to safer locations and ar-
range for food items, medicines and water for
emergency needs to avoid further death tolls,
he told this scribe from Lahore, the capital city
of Punjab province.
The floodwaters are now rushing south-
wards into Sindh province.
Sharjeel Memon, a spokesperson for the
Sindh government, said that the provincial au-thorities have declared an emergency at three
main barrages - Guddu, Sukkur and Kotri
and have asked the Sindh Provincial Disaster
Management Authority (PDMA), the Sindh Ir-
rigation and Drainage Authority and the Sindh
Irrigation Department to remain on high alert
to cope with the emerging flood situation and
provide relief.
Patchy aid responses by the disaster man-
agement authorities have drawn criticism from
flood victims, humanitarian agencies and disas-
ter risk management experts alike.
NDMA officials say they have taken ade-
quate relief measures in flood-hit areas, but this
claim has been met with skepticism. The NDMA
said 60 relief camps have been set up, housing
2,800 people. It has distributed nearly 23,000
tents among flood-hit families and provided them
with
500
blankets.
But flood
relief expert Sattar Zangejo said
no substantial aid operations are being
undertaken by the PDMAs in Punjab, Sindh
and Balochistan, where he has been travellingto survey the situation for international humani-
tarian groups.
Zangejo worked with Oxfam and Plan
International on relief and rehabilitation opera-
tions during the last three monsoon floods.
In Punjab, more than 90 percent of people
have not received any assistance this time, and
have had to relocate independently, he said.
Despondency among the flood victims
fleeing affected areas in Punjab and Sindh prov-
inces was visible on their faces, he said. There
is a clear absence of arrangements by the PD-
MAs for food items, medicines, clean drinking
water and safe sanitation.
There may be a bureaucratic reason for
the delay in launching relief operations.
On Aug. 17, Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minis-
ter for Planning and Development and Deputy
Chairman of the Planning Commission of Paki-
stan, told media in Islamabad that Rs. 16 billion
(about $154.8 million) is urgently required by
the NDMA for emergency flood operations.
The federal finance ministry has been
requested to make the required funds available
and we hope it will release the funds soon toexpedite relief and rehabilitation operations in
flood-hit areas, Iqbal said.
Saleem Shaikh
Post-flood relief operationhits snags amid aid dearth
Trail of destruction escalates as deluge moves southward
Around 11,200 houses have
been damaged fully or partially,
and summer crops - rice, cotton,
sugarcane, maize, peanut, millets,
sunflower and vegetables on over
325,000 acres of land have been
devastated by heavy rains and
flash floods.13 22
Saleem Shaikh is climate change and
development journalist
-
8/14/2019 Monthly Economic Affairs September, 2013.pdf
13/21
Russia's granting of temporary asy-
lum to ex-NSA employee Edward
Snowden has held significant mean-
ing to US-Russian relations. How-
ever, the time that it had taken Rus-
sian President Vladimir Putin to do
so (with Snowden waiting in the transit zone of Mos-
cow airport for a whole 38 days for a response to his
request for asylum) raise considerable questions as to
where these US-Russian relations are headed.
The sudden chill in US-Russian relations may
hold obvious consequences for Snowden obtaining
permanent asylum in Russia. The reason for Putin's de-
lay in granting Snowden this temporary asylum at all
was, as he put it, to not offend the United States. How-
ever, there are evidences to the contrary. For instance,
last year, Russia banned adoptions of Russian children
by US families. This was a clear sign of how Putin pos-
sibly views the state of Russia's relationship with the
United States. This raises the question of whether there
were ever any intentions of having better relations with
Washington.
As a consequence, President Obama cancelled a
meeting with Putin before the G20 summit, the WhiteHouse stating that "there was not enough recent prog-
ress in our bilateral agenda." From the US perspective,
there may be several issues to consider in making such
a statement.
There is US frustration over Russia's reluctance
to confront Iran over its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
There is also Russian support of the al-Assad regime
and the consequent civil war in Syria, which has
evolved into a human rights catastrophe. The US ad-
ministration's impatience with the Russian standstill
on the reduction of nuclear weapons also adds to these
frustrations.
As it is can be seen clearly, the "bilateral agen-
da" referred to by the White House was quite heavy as
it was and with the addition of Russia's granting of a
temporary asylum to Snowden sends a very potent and
obvious diplomatic message to the United States and
has possibly escalated the tensions between the two
countries. The signal being sent to the United States is
that Russia has taken this opportunity to embarrass t he
United States and that possibly, there is nothing that the
US is willing to offer Russia which is considerably im-
portant enough to balance Snowden's asylum request.
The message was received by Washington loud
and clear. However, another very essential message
may have been ignored in the process: the very reasonswhy Edward Snowden is wanted as a criminal in the
United States. How much different is the United States
than Russia in the fact that it has been caught red-hand-
ed spying and collecting intelligence data on its own
citizens? Furthermore, to deem the one person who has
dared to divulge this information to the public, for the
good of the public, it seems to be a statement which
goes against the very core of what the United States
may consider itself to be so different from Russia; its
extremely high regard for free speech human rights.
Granted, Edward Snowden was a government
employee in secret service agencies bound by the rules
and regulations of conduct of such agencies. However,
he violated and exposed military secrets which jeop-
ardize the United States in any way. His actions were
based on informing the general public of illegal mea-
sures taken by their government, violating their privacy,
to keep intelligence tabs on them, that too knowing full
well the risks it entails wi th regards to his own life.
The tensions in US-Russian relations seen are
obviously based on vast differences in political ideolo-
gy in general. However, it would seem that the appear-
ance of Edward Snowden in the US-Russian diplomat-
ic scene has exposed a new twist in the situation. From
the perspective of the United States, how far can it goin preserving its position of viewing differences in its
bilateral agenda with Russia based on something which
it has firmly stood against Russia for and is doing itself;
standing against the principles of free speech?
Whatever the future holds, there may be one
very positive outcome on the horizon. There are many
voices claiming that Snowden can at least be credited
with forcing a debate and dialogue on what constitutes
legitimate boundaries of privacy and government sur-
veillance. The United States has been forced to take
stock of its diplomatic relations with Russia. This
may also be an opportune time for the US to reflect
on where its fool proof system of surveillance went
utterly wrong and what the parameters of privacy ac-
tually mean.The writer is an English and French professor
and columnist residing in the USA and France. She can
be reached at [email protected]
Here's my strategy on the Cold War: we win, they lose.
President Ronald Reagan
Snow
den
A Warm War?
Sabria Chowdhary Balland
andUS-R
ussianrelations
WORLD POLITICS
25 SEP 201313 24
A
U.S. investigation
into Microsoft Corp.'s
relationships with
business partners that
allegedly bribed for-
eign officials in return
for contracts includes
activity in Russia and Pakistan, a sign that
the probe is wider reaching than previouslyknown, according to people familiar with the
matter.
The Wall Street Journal reported this
year lawyers from the U.S. Justice Depart-
ment and the Securities and Exchange Com-
mission had been conducting a preliminary
investigation into kickback allegations made
by a former Microsoft representative in Chi-
na, as well as the company's relationships
with certain resellers and consultants in Ro-
mania and Italy.
In Russia, an anonymous tipster told
Microsoft that resellers of its software alleg-
edly funneled kickbacks to executives of a
state-owned company to win a deal, the peo-
ple familiar with the matter said. In Pakistan,
a tipster alleged that Microsoft authorized a
consulting firm to pay for a five-day trip to
Egypt for a government official and his wife
in order to win a tender, the people familiar
with the matter said. The two contacted Mi-
crosoft directly in the last eight months, the
people said.
The government hasn't accused Mi-
crosoft or any of its business associates ofwrongdoing. Such investigations can end
with no charges being filed.
The Justice Department and Securities
and Exchange Commission declined to com-
ment.
John Frank, Microsoft vice president
and deputy general counsel, said the com-
pany takes all allegations brought to its at-
tention seriously and cooperates fully in
any government inquiries. "We sometimes
receive allegations about potential miscon-
duct by employees or business partners and
we investigate them fully regardless of the
source," Mr. Frank said in a statement. "We
also invest heavily in proactive training,
monitoring and audits to ensure our business
operations around the world meet the highest
legal and ethical standards."
The probe is one of dozens being con-
ducted by U.S. officials under the Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act, a 1977 law that pro-
hibits U.S. traded companies from paying
bribes to foreign officials. The law also holds
companies liable for improper payments
made by others on their behalf.
Microsoft has opened an internal in-vestigation, according to people familiar with
the matter. Companies often spend millions
of dollars investigating themselves for po-
tential violations of the FCPA, then turn over
the results to the government in the hope of
getting lighter penalties or none at all.
One tipster emailed Microsoft in Janu-
ary alleging executives at Microsoft's Paki-
stan operations paid for a December 2009
trip for a Punjab Provincial government offi-
cial and his wife to wi n a three-year contract
to supply the government with its Microsoft
Office software, according to documents re-
viewed by The Wall Street Journal. The trip,
which was allegedly booked by a travel con-
sulting firm on behalf of Microsoft, included
business class airfare and a stay at a luxurious
hotel, the tipster alleged in the documents.
According to the tipster, Microsoft won the
partnership, worth roughly $9 million, three
months later. The Punjab Government didn't
respond to a request for comment.
Another tipster mailed allegations to
Microsoft concerning its Russian branch in
March, said a person familiar with the mat-ter. That tipster alleged that a Microsoft re-
seller paid kickbacks to executives at a state-
controlled telecommunications company for
a contract, according to documents reviewed
by the Journal.
Efforts to reach Russian officials were
unsuccessful.
A whistleblower program at the SEC,
established in the summer of 2010 with the
passage of Dodd-Frank, provides cash incen-
tives for employees to blow the whistle on
securities violations, including breaches of
the FCPA. If the SEC gets involved and finds
wrongdoing after a whistleblower complaint,
a tipster stands to gain as much as 30% of
any monetary sanction the agency recovers.
Courtesy: The Wall Street Journal
Justice Department
Reviewing Allegations
Involving Deals in Five
Countries
MicrosoftBribe
Probe
Reaches
into
Pakistan,
Russia
Deals
CHRISTOPHER M. MATTHEWS
and SHIRA OVIDE
-
8/14/2019 Monthly Economic Affairs September, 2013.pdf
14/21
27 SEP 2013
The Egyptian armys coup in
July to overthrow the coun-
trys first democratically
elected President, Muham-
mad Morsi, and the subse-
quent clashes in which hun-
dreds of his supporters have
been brutally killed by the Egyptian security
forces reflect the battle being fought for the soul
of Egypt. Arrayed on one side in this battle are
the forces defending the authoritarian rule of the
Egyptian army, which has already lasted more
than six decades, and its vested economic and
commercial interests. They are supported by
the westernized and the so-called liberal classes
of the Egyptian society who, while champion-
ing democracy and human rights, fail to see
anything wrong in the military coup against
a freely elected government and in the cold
blooded massacres of the Egyptian people com-
mitted by the Egyptian security forces.
The third layer of support for the mili-
tary coup lies in some of the regional countries,
whic