DAWN Editorials - 23rd April 2025

[zarnishhayat]

Centre’s shadow

THE KP Assembly remains deeply divided over proposed contentious mining legislation. Even many of the ruling PTI legislators have opposed the draft bill approved by the provincial cabinet some weeks ago.

In Balochistan, a more controversial version of the law was passed by the province’s legislature during a brief Ramazan session. In spite of the initial political ‘consensus’, the new law is now being opposed by the parties which had previously lent their support to the provincial government for its smooth passage. At the heart of the opposition are several valid concerns regarding the potential political, social and environmental fallout of the legislation.


But the main worry centres on the concealed attempts to clip the province’s control of its mineral resources by giving an ‘advisory’ and ‘non-binding’ role to the centre, or through invoking ‘national interest’. The legislation carries the unmistakable imprint of the civil-military SIFC, which is actively marketing Pakistan’s mineral potential to foreign investors.

While those opposed to the bill in KP have successfully blocked its enactment, the opposition in Balochistan woke up too late to the fact that the bill they had helped pass, without properly reading it, would deprive the province of significant decision-making powers, transferring these to the centre. Little wonder that criticism of the efforts to curtail provincial autonomy has again been sparked; ironically, both the PML-N and PPP, which had jointly led the passage of the landmark 18th Amendment 15 years ago, seem to have forgotten their commitment to devolution in this case.

The push for the new provincial mining legislation comes from the conviction that the country’s hitherto unexplored mineral wealth, estimated by the government to be worth $6tr, could help fix the national economy, freeing it from its perpetual dependency on IMF bailouts. It is not unusual for our leadership to clutch at straws whenever they find themselves in a bind and unable to reform the failing economy.


Observers point out that with certain quarters virtually calling the shots in the economic sphere, since the formation of the SIFC, the shift in approach has become starker. Initially, the people were promised billions of dollars in investment from the Gulf countries. Later, the focus shifted to corporate farming as a panacea for our economic woes.

More recent is the talk of buried gold in our treasure island, which is being touted as a cure for the ailing economy. No doubt this hidden wealth will go a long way in bringing prosperity, but it will not be available to us for a long time.

With the federation already under strain thanks to controversial federal policies and projects, the centre should stop encroaching on provincial jurisdictions in its misplaced eagerness to control minerals.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2025


Seeker of peace

POPE Francis, who prayed for Palestine, died on Easter Monday. The first Argentine pontiff’s diverse and progressive vision, radical for some, shaped his 12-year papacy. While many saw his time in the Vatican as a divided church, for the ordinary he was a reformer who spoke for the poor and the marginalised, and strove for interfaith accord, humanity and compassion. Pope Francis said “reality is greater than ideas”, and pulled no punches in denouncing the rise of “resentful and aggressive nationalism”. Often a lonely moral voice at a time when the line between justice and evil has blurred, the late pope’s liberal stance on unity and equality irked the conservatives. But practising ethical clarity, he introduced diversity in the College of Cardinals with the appointment of new cardinals from all over the world, including Pakistan’s Joseph Coutts, and brought more women in senior Vatican positions than any of his predecessors.

In a xenophobic world, as the Muslims felt let down by their oil-rich brotherhood’s failure to unite against Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza, unequivocal condemnation and calls for ceasefire in the land of three Abrahamic faiths became central to every address by the Bishop of Rome. The first pope to wash the feet of Muslims on Holy Thursday, and to visit the Arab world for interfaith harmony and dialogue, he was set on inclusivity. An advocate for peace and humanitarian support for conflict-ridden Myanmar, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, Ukraine and Palestine, his last message on Palm Sunday was to “call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people”. But sadly, he overlooked the plight of the Uighur community. It is hoped that the papal successor will take inspiration from the message to care in a memorable image — the solitary prayer service in St Peter’s Square during the pandemic — and hold on to the values of solidarity and social justice.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2025


Himalayan crisis

THE Hindu Kush-Himalayan region, known as Asia’s water tower, is in trouble. The towering ranges have registered a 23-year low in snow persistence — the amount of time snow stays on the ground after it falls. This is particularly alarming because snow plays a vital role in maintaining river flows during dry periods. For Pakistan, which lies downstream of this vast frozen water source, the implications are especially dire, given that the country is already in a state of significant water stress. According to the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, snowmelt contributes nearly 25pc of the annual water flow to 12 major river basins. The Indus Basin, which Pakistan relies on most heavily, is particularly dependent on it. Pakistan draws over 60pc of its water needs from the Indus for irrigation, hydropower and daily use. The current 16pc decline in snow persistence in the Indus Basin means that early summer river flows could be drastically reduced, worsening water scarcity in a country already struggling with drought conditions and erratic rainfall. Just last month, the Pakistan Met Department issued a drought alert for Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab.

The reduction in snow cover, now recorded for a third consecutive year, is part of a broader climate trend affecting not just Pakistan but the entire region. Yet, for Pakistan, the stakes are existential. With agriculture forming the backbone of the economy, any disruption in water supply could lead to food insecurity, reduced hydropower output and increased dependence on rapidly depleting groundwater reserves. It is painfully clear that swift action is required on multiple fronts, and a paradigm shift is needed in how the country views water. First, Pakistan must treat water as a scarce resource and boost investment in adaptive water management strategies — including better storage, efficient irrigation systems for agriculture and contingency planning for droughts. Second, it must work with neighbouring countries within the HKH region to strengthen early warning systems and ensure data sharing on snow and water flows. And finally, a shift in policy is needed to align national water strategies with the realities of a changing climate. If current trends continue, the region — which numbers nearly 2bn people — may be faced with an irreversible water crisis. The snow may be vanishing, but the time for decisive action must not.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2025