Express Tribune Editorials 14th March 2025
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2025 3:26 am
CEC's appointment
The ruling coalition sits in violation of constitutional spirit, and there are no two opinions about it. The delay in the appointment of new Chief Election Commissioner and two members of the Election Commission, even after the expiry of a controversial lease of life inserted through the impugned 26th amendment, simply testifies defiance at work. The beleaguered dispensation, already under slur for gaining power on the premise of open-ended irregularities in the 2024 elections, is torpedoing the mosaic of constitutionalism. Though it could be part of its exigency politics, it does not bode well for rule of law and future of democracy in the country.
Pakistan is already in the grip of acute political instability, and non-functioning of constitutional organs that vet the electoral process makes it more worrisome. What is desired is an independent and non-partisan electoral watchdog, with the incumbents rising above petty interests in discharging their mandate. So is the case in all functional democracies, and that comes to the aid of civil society and supremacy of merit. It's high time the sitting CEC, Sikandar Sultan Raja, himself called it a day. He is broadly criticised for his failure to hold general elections in time; denying PTI its poll symbol of 'cricket bat'; and playing a key role in manipulation of election results. The non-implementation of the July 12, 2024 verdict of the Supreme Court is another stigma on his career.
With the legislative-extended deadline of appointments becoming history, it is mandatory for the parliament to erect an autonomous Election Commission. The opposition PTI too cannot escape its responsibility as its performance has not been up to the mark. The failure to set up parliamentary committees, and lack of consensus between the leaders of the house and the opposition are at the vanguard of delaying tactics. Moreover, the government should desist from re-appointing the outgoing CEC, as reported in a section of the press, as it would be ultra vires and come to radicalise an already polarised society.
Gender pay gap
The gender pay gap in Pakistan remains a pressing issue, reflecting deep-rooted inequalities that hinder the nation's progress. According to a recent ILO report, the pay gap in Pakistan is about 25% when measured by hourly wages and an even more significant 30% when calculated monthly.
This indicates that for every Rs1,000 earned by men, women doing the same job are making only Rs700 to Rs750. Such disparities highlight not just economic inequities, but also the pervasive nature of gender-based discrimination in the workplace.
While the report notes a gradual improvement in the margin — from 33% in 2018 to 25% today — this change is still insufficient, especially in a country that is already failing to attract a sufficient number of women into the workforce. Women's labour force participation is appallingly low at 15.5%, and convincing more women to work — and their relatives to let them — depends heavily on their ability to earn fair wages.
The pay gap varies drastically across different segments of the labour market, with the highest disparities evident in informal sectors, where the gap exceeds 40%. In contrast, the formal sector shows a much smaller gap, coming close to zero for government jobs, which clearly illustrates that labour protections such as gender-blind hiring and promotion policies can effectively reduce wage inequality. It is also worth noting that women working in informal sectors are not only underpaid but are also more susceptible to abuse and harassment by employers and coworkers alike.
Another unfortunate observation is that even in sectors where women are generally 'safe', such as agriculture — since women usually work on family-owned farms — rural women are also grossly underpaid compared to their male counterparts.
As Pakistan strives for economic growth and development, addressing the gender pay gap must be a priority. Empowering women through education and fair wages is not just a moral imperative but also a critical factor in fostering a robust and equitable economy.
Agriculture in crisis
Pakistan's agricultural sector is facing a crisis as progressive farmers raise alarms over declining crop yields. Climate change, outdated seed varieties, viral attacks, water shortages and ineffective pesticides have all contributed to falling productivity. However, the most troubling factor is the increasing disinterest on the part of the growers, driven by shrinking profit margins and unchecked market exploitation.
Despite the presence of approximately 680 pesticide companies in the country - half of which import massive quantities worth around $360 million annually - their products have failed to protect standing crops from pests and diseases. Farmers report that instead of safeguarding yields, the excessive use of substandard pesticides has aggravated the problem, raising questions about regulatory oversight. Given this situation, it is imperative to impose a ban on the registration of new pesticide companies until stringent quality control measures are enforced.
Additionally, an independent regulatory body must be tasked with monitoring the efficacy of pesticides available in the market, ensuring that only high-quality, tested products reach farmers. Without such oversight, pesticide companies will continue to exploit growers while failing to safeguard crops against insects, diseases and viruses. Pakistan's major crops — wheat, sugarcane, cotton and rice — as well as fruits and vegetables, require better protection through research and development of modern seed varieties.
The government must invest in scientific advancements to develop resilient, high-yield crops that can withstand environmental stressors. Without such interventions, reliance on outdated seed strains will continue to drag productivity down.
Additionally, action must be taken against the various mafias operating in local markets that exploit growers through fraudulent seed sales. Farmers must be provided access to genuine, high-quality agricultural inputs and financial support to offset losses. Unless authorities step in to regulate the agricultural supply chain and ensure better returns for growers, food security and will remain in jeopardy.
The ruling coalition sits in violation of constitutional spirit, and there are no two opinions about it. The delay in the appointment of new Chief Election Commissioner and two members of the Election Commission, even after the expiry of a controversial lease of life inserted through the impugned 26th amendment, simply testifies defiance at work. The beleaguered dispensation, already under slur for gaining power on the premise of open-ended irregularities in the 2024 elections, is torpedoing the mosaic of constitutionalism. Though it could be part of its exigency politics, it does not bode well for rule of law and future of democracy in the country.
Pakistan is already in the grip of acute political instability, and non-functioning of constitutional organs that vet the electoral process makes it more worrisome. What is desired is an independent and non-partisan electoral watchdog, with the incumbents rising above petty interests in discharging their mandate. So is the case in all functional democracies, and that comes to the aid of civil society and supremacy of merit. It's high time the sitting CEC, Sikandar Sultan Raja, himself called it a day. He is broadly criticised for his failure to hold general elections in time; denying PTI its poll symbol of 'cricket bat'; and playing a key role in manipulation of election results. The non-implementation of the July 12, 2024 verdict of the Supreme Court is another stigma on his career.
With the legislative-extended deadline of appointments becoming history, it is mandatory for the parliament to erect an autonomous Election Commission. The opposition PTI too cannot escape its responsibility as its performance has not been up to the mark. The failure to set up parliamentary committees, and lack of consensus between the leaders of the house and the opposition are at the vanguard of delaying tactics. Moreover, the government should desist from re-appointing the outgoing CEC, as reported in a section of the press, as it would be ultra vires and come to radicalise an already polarised society.
Gender pay gap
The gender pay gap in Pakistan remains a pressing issue, reflecting deep-rooted inequalities that hinder the nation's progress. According to a recent ILO report, the pay gap in Pakistan is about 25% when measured by hourly wages and an even more significant 30% when calculated monthly.
This indicates that for every Rs1,000 earned by men, women doing the same job are making only Rs700 to Rs750. Such disparities highlight not just economic inequities, but also the pervasive nature of gender-based discrimination in the workplace.
While the report notes a gradual improvement in the margin — from 33% in 2018 to 25% today — this change is still insufficient, especially in a country that is already failing to attract a sufficient number of women into the workforce. Women's labour force participation is appallingly low at 15.5%, and convincing more women to work — and their relatives to let them — depends heavily on their ability to earn fair wages.
The pay gap varies drastically across different segments of the labour market, with the highest disparities evident in informal sectors, where the gap exceeds 40%. In contrast, the formal sector shows a much smaller gap, coming close to zero for government jobs, which clearly illustrates that labour protections such as gender-blind hiring and promotion policies can effectively reduce wage inequality. It is also worth noting that women working in informal sectors are not only underpaid but are also more susceptible to abuse and harassment by employers and coworkers alike.
Another unfortunate observation is that even in sectors where women are generally 'safe', such as agriculture — since women usually work on family-owned farms — rural women are also grossly underpaid compared to their male counterparts.
As Pakistan strives for economic growth and development, addressing the gender pay gap must be a priority. Empowering women through education and fair wages is not just a moral imperative but also a critical factor in fostering a robust and equitable economy.
Agriculture in crisis
Pakistan's agricultural sector is facing a crisis as progressive farmers raise alarms over declining crop yields. Climate change, outdated seed varieties, viral attacks, water shortages and ineffective pesticides have all contributed to falling productivity. However, the most troubling factor is the increasing disinterest on the part of the growers, driven by shrinking profit margins and unchecked market exploitation.
Despite the presence of approximately 680 pesticide companies in the country - half of which import massive quantities worth around $360 million annually - their products have failed to protect standing crops from pests and diseases. Farmers report that instead of safeguarding yields, the excessive use of substandard pesticides has aggravated the problem, raising questions about regulatory oversight. Given this situation, it is imperative to impose a ban on the registration of new pesticide companies until stringent quality control measures are enforced.
Additionally, an independent regulatory body must be tasked with monitoring the efficacy of pesticides available in the market, ensuring that only high-quality, tested products reach farmers. Without such oversight, pesticide companies will continue to exploit growers while failing to safeguard crops against insects, diseases and viruses. Pakistan's major crops — wheat, sugarcane, cotton and rice — as well as fruits and vegetables, require better protection through research and development of modern seed varieties.
The government must invest in scientific advancements to develop resilient, high-yield crops that can withstand environmental stressors. Without such interventions, reliance on outdated seed strains will continue to drag productivity down.
Additionally, action must be taken against the various mafias operating in local markets that exploit growers through fraudulent seed sales. Farmers must be provided access to genuine, high-quality agricultural inputs and financial support to offset losses. Unless authorities step in to regulate the agricultural supply chain and ensure better returns for growers, food security and will remain in jeopardy.