Textiles from Swat valley: A strategy to make ROZ’s work

The idea of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZ's) was proposed by Mr. Obama in March 2009 to provide duty-free access for Pakistani textiles and apparel produced in certain remote areas bordering Afghanistan. At that time Pakistan's textile industry strongly opposed this idea because of the security situation and also because major export products were not included. No work has been done on ROZ's so far but now with the success of army operation in Swat, there is a good chance to bring about employment opportunities to the poor people who are most affected by terrorism.

Here is how it can be done:

Textile is a labor intensive business and by setting up small scale stitching units in Swat will help employ the poorest of the people especially the women. Yet another way to make this work is linking these stitching units with local schools where vocational training is provided to the children. In this way, the stitching units will be ensured a trained labor force. Also, by providing one time meals at schools, the female workforce will have an additional incentive to send their children to school.

Role of USAID:

USAID can play a very important role of facilitator, implementer and monitor in setting of ROZ's in Pakistan. As a facilitator, it can encourage joint ventures between US textile importers and Pakistani's textile manufacturers. As an implementer, USAID can offer ready-made projects to the joint venture companies. Also, by ensuring a registered workforce will speed up setting up of ROZ's. As a monitor, USAID can monitor and verify exports from ROZ's and also ensure that ROZ's are working according to the laws of International Labor Organization (ILO).

Marketing strategy:

Swat valley is now world famous as it was here that the march of Taliban was halted. Now a brand can be developed by the name "Textiles from Swat valley" and a marketing campaign can be devised for consumers who will buy these products knowing that their money will go to the people who are directly affected by terrorism.

This strategy can very well enhance ties between America and Pakistan and if successful, it can also be replicated in Afghanistan.

Human rights abuses in Swat: is it a balanced view?

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called for an independent investigation on reports of extra-judicial killings by Pakistan army. HRCP Chairperson Asma Jehangir said that the commission had documented accounts of mass graves found in the Swat valley and reports of suspected Taliban militants being thrown out of helicopters and of relatives of suspected terrorists being dragged in public. The army spokesperson, Major General Athar Abbas, on the other hand, has said that his outfit is ready for a full-scale investigation in the presence of independent journalists who would be provided full security.

Now the question which burns in my mind is whether HRCP is really taking a balanced view here? In order to analyze HRCP's stance we should consider that the army operation was called an overwhelming majority of Pakistanis who were disgusted with Taliban's utter disregard to the value of human life and were fed up a series of suicide attacks on civilians. We should also consider numerous Taliban propaganda videos showing army personnel literally being slaughtered using blunt knives.

From my point of view, it does seem that the army had been carrying that grudge for a long time and went in all guns blazing when they got the opportunity. Now I ask myself, was the army wrong in doing whatever it did?

I know that whatever happened in Swat is against basic human rights but is the other option of trying Taliban under a civilian court is even remotely feasible? They will simply be out on bail for lack of evidence and go back to their militant ways.

We should also consider the past beatings, public floggings, beheadings and other numerous other human rights violations committed by the Taliban. Did HRCP consider its duty done just by condemning those heinous crimes against humanity?

Lastly, the role of HRCP acting only as a ‘watchdog' in situations like these also comes to my mind. Is it their only duty to stand on the line and cry foul in such a deep rooted insurgency situation?

I hope if I have made the readers catch my drift as I certainly don't have any answers to these tangled questions. I would request readers to give their comments on this issue.

Pakistan: “Schools out” for legislators

ISLAMABAD, Aug 5: The federal cabinet decided on Wednesday to do away with the condition of bachelor’s degree for candidates for the Senate and the national and provincial assemblies, in line with the Supreme Court judgment of April 21 last year. Briefing reporters after a cabinet meeting, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said Pakistan was the only country to have such a condition in a democratic dispensation. (Dawn news)

Now why do legislators need education in Pakistan, as it is certainly an exercise of futility for them and when this exercise spans atleast 14 years, it would certainly seems like a life imprisonment for them. Why would they need education when they can surely confirm parliament seats for their next generations by having this law done away? Do they need to be taught manners which education teaches us? They certainly don’t need it. Why would they need education when their entire world revolves around their huge mansion, their shiny SUV’s and their endless police escorts? Why would their children need education when they are surely to follow in their fathers’ footsteps? What good does education brings when they only have to nod at their party bosses? What good would it do to a legislator by reading this article? We ordinary Pakistanis need ask this first from ourselves and then from our esteemed legislators.

What a great rationale has been given by our Information Minister that as the whole world doesn’t have that condition, therefore Pakistan should follow suit. Do I need to remind the honorable minister that our literacy rate is one of the poorest in the world and by throwing away this a law he is spelling doom for our country? Would he even care about that?

If the same rationale is followed then why do we need education afterall? Why do we need to throw away 20 odd years of life after this exercise in futility? If I can become a legislator without having one why can’t I become a doctor or a lawyer without it?

Maybe we need more of such legislators who first hailed the enforcement of Sharia in Swat and within one week turned around and applauded the army operation. Maybe we need more of same kind who termed killing and burial of women in Balochistan as their ‘custom’. Maybe it would do good for all of us if we just let Taliban blowup all the schools allover Pakistan?

Maybe I should immediately take my child off his school and enlist him in a political party as he certainly don’t need the bloody education and I certainly don’t have the spare money to go through his laborious exercise in futility which in the end would do him no good.

Help the people of Swat

The silent majority who called for decisive action against the Taliban now must realize that they now have the responsibility to help all those who fled the fighting and are now living in desperate conditions in different refugee camps.

By helping generously through cash and kind we must show our solidarity to our brothers and sisters from Swat , Dir and Buner. We should not let these people think that all their sacrifice has gone in vain.

As in the past, the governments support to these deportees will either come very late or may not come at all, therefore, the civil society and the NGO’s must do all they can from their own initiative.

Also, the civil pressure on authorities should be continued till Pakistan Army finishes what it has set out to do. We must show our support to our army for taking on these savages.