Indus Delta water crisis is everyone’s problem, says Dawn I Need for professional management in real-estate, reports Dawn
In Brief
POLITICS
On Pakistan’s democracy index ranking: “The truth is, there’s no hiding from the destructive effects of authoritarianism,” says an opinion in Dawn
On 3 March, in an opinion in Dawn titled “Exit democracy,” Huma Yusuf discussed Pakistan’s downward slide in ranking in the “Democracy index” published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). In the report, Pakistan has been classified as an “authoritarian regime.” The author mentioned how according to the EIU, 39.2 per cent of the world’s entire population resides in authoritarian countries. The author questioned the democracy standards in Europe given the rise of the extreme right leaning political figures and parties. As per EIU, Pakistan’s slide in the democracy index is due to increase in “wealth inequality,” dearth in “new political narratives” and lack of solutions to solve issues like “inflation, migration and joblessness.” The author also brought to attention the impact of authoritarian regimes on society. The author pointed out how the affluent classes are moving to other foreign countries while the poor remain at the mercy of the human traffickers in search for a better life abroad. The author also highlighted a surge in terrible crimes in society such as the bullying of minorities and them being falsely blamed for blasphemous activities, people indulging in gambling and offering their wives to resolve debts, miners being killed in terrorist attacks etc. (Huma Yusuf, “Exit democracy,” Dawn, 3 March 2025)
ECONOMY
Need for professional management in real-estate, reports Dawn
On 3 March, an article in Dawn discussed the policy gap existing in the real estate sector. In the context of Pakistan, real estate activities make up to 5.8 per cent of the GDP as business tycoons, middle-class professionals, and others have deposited their funds in the sector. While these are official statistics, the absence of data pertaining to informal activities remains a matter of concern. However, the extent of it can be garnered by studying the real estate amnesties introduced by various governments to legalize wealth deposited in sector. The article cited how in 2021, more than 2,100 projects came under the scheme while in 2018, 14.6 per cent of all assets were under real estate. Hence, the dominance of informality in the market is quite large. However, matters in the formal sector also aren’t well as developers often overpromise, delay projects and deliver subpar projects. In such a context, the customer has no platform to address their grievances except approach lower courts which usually takes years of resolution. Many choose the latter path as it has now become a standard practice. The issue lies in the absence of professional property management and institutional financing. It has created a vacuum consisting of “build-and-forget model” where developers are rarely held accountable and there is lesser incentive for property maintenance post-completion. Hence, there is a need for a formal authority to oversee these activities despite being a well sought-after investment avenue as the tenants and small businesses bear the brunt of repairs and upgrades. Interestingly, this has led to the rise of co-working spaces. In the absence of bank financing, each co-working space has had to figure a different approach for its funding. Consequently, it has led to the rise of property management services and has now become a business in itself. Such services turn dead commercial spaces into co-working spaces, giving the clientele access to professional management expertise. Furthermore, it creates a greater opportunity to bring real estate operations into the formal sector via market incentives instead of stringent regulatory measures. This may provide a potential path of advancement for the country’s real estate sector. Now, it is up to the policymakers to adapt to this environment and come up with solutions that encourage professional property management and form institutions that provide fiscal support. (Mutaher Khan & Saad Riaz, “The quiet shift in commercial real estate,” Dawn, 3 March 2025)
On aid to developing countries:
“While the USAID closure has come as a jolt, it might offer an opportunity to the developing world to take responsibility,” argues an editorial in Dawn
On 3 March, an editorial titled “Aid dependency” in Dawn discussed the Trump administration’s dismantling of its humanitarian arm, the US Agency for International Development (USAID). This makes it imperative for developing countries to come up with a contingency plan, including Pakistan. The aid agency had helped fund key sectors in developing states to fulfill basic necessities like savinglives, promoting education, and preventing diseases. It has also employed several people associated with the agency around the world. In such a situation, two arguments arise. The first one is the Western states’ obligation to support humanitarian issues, especially in regions that have been “bombed and invaded.” The US may have “spent billions on destroying states like Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, but now feels the need to tighten its purse strings where the reconstruction of these countries is concerned,” the editorial remarked. On the other hand, this gives developing states the opportunity to overcome their ‘dependency syndrome,’especially for a country like Pakistan which has an “addiction to foreign aid.” The step forward is to invest in areas that have been affected by the USAID “shake-up” or else civil society groups ought to work to secure funding from other sources to ensure the steady flow of money to existing programmes. (“Aid dependency,” Dawn, 3 March 2025)
SECURITY
Protests erupt in Parachinar over scarcity in food supplies and power outage during Ramzan
On 2 March, people living in Parachinar protested against the roads being blocked and the shortage of necessary food supplies during the holy month of Ramzan. The demonstrators also voiced their concerns regarding the electricity outage and demanded that the concerned authorities put an end to the closure of roads, and ensure that there is no shortage of food supplies. Elders of the regions like Malik Zartaj Hussain and Musarrat Bangash stated that the dire situation has forced people to come out on the streets. As per the elders, shortage of food, medicine and other necessary items has compelled the people to “break their fast” with just water. Elders compared their situation with India where PM Modi’s government gives rebate on “food items” during the month of Ramzan. (“Kurram residents protest road closure, power cuts in Ramzan,” The News International, 3 March 2025)
ENVIRONMENT
Indus Delta water crisis is everyone’s problem, says Dawn
On 3 March, a report in Dawn highlighted the degradation of the Indus Delta caused by seawater intrusion. A study carried out by the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources illustrated how 2.2 million acres of land have become unproductive due to the intrusion of seawater. Furthermore, research from the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) has revealed that reduced flow of freshwater has led to a loss of more than 10,000 hectares of mangrove forests, which are an essential deterrent against seawaterintrusion. Initially, the Indus River enjoyed an abundant supply of fresh water flow during the colonial era as 150 million acre-feet (MAF) of fresh water was carried to the delta on an annual basis. However, the construction of dams and barrages has significantly impacted the downstream flow to the delta. Recent studies indicate that freshwater discharge is as low as 0.75 MAF. It is inadequate to overcome the seawater intrusion and sustain the delta’s ecology. Additionally, nearly 80 per cent of the ground water resources of the Indus Delta region consistof saline water exceeding the 500 mg/L of dissolved solids limit prescribed by the World Health Organization. The situation is further worsened by the increased water scarcity in the Sindh, especially the coastal zones, as new canals have been constructed to divert irrigation water to Punjab. Consequently, this reduces the downstream flow and turns the groundwater resources in Sindh unsuitable for consumption due to sea water intrusion. Satellite images have projected the flow of seawater in the districts, namely, Thatta, Badin, and Sujawal. Data gathered from the Sindh Agriculture Extension Department highlighted that 90 per cent of the coastal farms have either been abandoned or switched to low-yield or salt-tolerant alternatives due to the flow of saline water. Hence, local communities have become dependent on external water resources priced at exorbitant rates instead of local wells. Moreover, a report by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics from 2022 highlighted how more than 65 per cent of the waterborne diseases in the region are linked to the consumption of contaminated or saline water. What is more concerning is the spread of this water crisis to cities like Thatta, Hyderabad, and Karachi. All three remain severely dependent on these rivers despite an increasing demand. Hence, the degradation of the Indus Delta is not just an environmental issue but also one that can create water insecurity and displace millions. (Aneela Hameem Memon & Dr Abdul Ghani Soomro, “Agriculture: The slow death of the Indus Delta,” Dawn, 3 March 2025)
EXTERNAL
On US-Pakistan ties: “Pakistan does not figure in the Trump’s administration’s recast priorities,” says an opinion in Dawn
On 3 March, in an opinion in Dawn titled Challenge of a reset, Maleeha Lodhi discussed the strained relation between Pakistan and the United States. The author mentioned how the current federal government and the main opposition party has been attempting to get the attention of the new US administration towards its issues. The author highlighted how Pakistan has not featured in the priority list of the US after it withdrew troops from Afghanistan. In addition to that, Pakistan has attempted to build closer relations with its ally China which has resulted in the US further losing interest in Pakistan. The author points out how the previous US government under Joe Biden expressed “no interest” in engaging with the then federal government of Pakistan. The author further cited the evidence of US’s diminishing interest in Pakistan by pointing out that the then secretary state of US had not paid even a single visit to Pakistan. Further, the author discussed Pakistan-US relations during President Trump’s “first term” of presidency. Trump had alleged that Pakistan did not help the US in Afghanistan whole heartedly even when America had provided massive amounts of financial assistance. . The author also highlighted how Pakistan and US relationship has mainly flourished during the times when the latter needs the help of the former in the region. US’s engagement with Pakistan had thus surged when it wanted to stop the spread of communism during the cold war era. It had again required Pakistan’s assistance in its “war on terror” in Afghanistan. The author also pointed out how there have been some irritants in the bilateral ties even when America wanted to increase its engagement with Pakistan. One of the irritants was Pakistan’s quest to acquire nuclear weapons. More recently, the US is irked with Pakistan over the latter’s attempt to build relations with the Taliban government in Afghanistan. The author claimed that Pakistan still does not feature in the new US administration’s list of preferences. The author questioned whether it is correct for the Pakistani government to yearn to build closer ties with the US even when the latter is engaged in its own issues. In addition to that, Pakistan’s dwindling economy has further pushed the US away from it. (Maleeha Lodhi, “Challenge of a reset,” Dawn, 3 March 2025)
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The martyrdom of Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani is the beginning of a new dirty game in the region. More personalities will be targeted to push Pakistan towards civil war. To thwart this dirty game, scholars of all schools of thought will have to unite, otherwise everyone will be targeted in turn.
- Hamid Mir
Ban on Imran Khan's meetings. Bushra Bibi in solitary confinement in the worst provinces. The only goal is to break Imran Khan. We all have to raise our voice for Imran Khan's human rights. This brutality must end now. You have done a lot of injustice. Don't go so far that there is no room for return.
- Shahbaz Gill
No laxity will be tolerated regarding price control of sugar and other essential commodities during Ramadan.
PM Shehbaz Sharif
- PMLN Punjab
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"The absence of an economic vision linked to the people is a real gap in public discourse."
An opinion in Dawn, 'Both welfare and growth'
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