Senate calls for making Pakistan a welfare state

The upper house of parliament on Thursday called for taking concrete measures for making Pakistan a welfare state, as it has been turned into a security driven state where violation of human rights, corruption and lawlessness has become a routine matter. They lawmakers were speaking on annual report on 'observance and implementation of principles of policy in relation to affairs of federation for 2011-12,' which was laid in the house - first ever discussion on such kind of reports in history of Senate.
Taking part in the discussion, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) stressed to implement polices which can help in promoting the education and economic interests of the country. Referring to Pakistan-China Economic Corridor, he said it could be a game changer for Pakistan, as the world's second biggest economy has come forward with such a huge investment when no one was looking at Pakistan due to worsening law and order situation.
Another thing which Mushahid declared the civil-military relations should be maintained at all costs as this will help to steer the country out of the prevailing crisis. He said that both civil and military leadership have come closer especially the fight against terrorism in wake of Peshawar school massacre and the Yemen crisis - a good move which needs to be maintained for a better and prosperous Pakistan.
Senator Farhatullah Babar said the principles contained in the Constitution that served as the compass of our national life envisaged Pakistan to be welfare driven state but over the past six decades they had fast drifted towards a security driven state. In the deliberately crafted narrative woven around national security, he added, the state is guided only by considerations of security rather than welfare of the people. He said whether it is the decision about allocation of national resources, the missing persons, reforms in FATA or the debate that functioning of the security agencies should be rooted in legislation instead of executive order the guiding compass is whether it enhanced a peculiar concept of security rather than whether it promoted human rights and public well being.
"Even in matters of economic activities involving construction and transportation the field in tilted towards security institutions instead of the private sector that should be the engine of growth," he added. Babar said that when a political government attempted to restructure issues around national security these efforts were thwarted, adding for instance in 1999 Nawaz Sharif's far reaching regional peace initiative by inviting Prime Minister Vajpayee was subverted through Kargil misadventure.
"The nation was still reeling from its consequences as it transformed the Kashmir issue from that of self determination to cross border terrorism. I will not talk about the PPP initiatives and what happened to them," he added. He said the scheduled cabinet meeting sometime back during the present government in which trade with India was to be formally given go ahead was mysteriously cancelled at the last minute, adding subsequently the Punjab chief minister in an interview with a foreign newspaper only said that the security establishments of the two countries were not enthusiastic about trade.
"We need to revisit the theories of national security along with all stake holders and make a realistic assessment of the threat perception," he added. Clarity of threat perception after due discussion and debate among all stakeholders, he added, is necessary to correct our bearings and march towards the cherished goal of a welfare driven sate rather that security driven one.
NEW GOVERNOR PUNJAB The lawmakers across the isle also congratulated Senator Rafique Rajwana for his appointment as governor Punjab - the third sitting senator who was handpicked for the coveted slot as earlier Kamal Azfar and Commander Khalil remained governors of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, respectively.
The treasury as well as opposition senators were all praise for the prime minister and said the appointment of Punjab governor was the right decision ever taken by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. They also paid tribute to Rafique Rajwana, who comes from South Punjab, for his services as parliamentarian, lawyer and a political worker. Aitzaz Ahsan of PPP appreciated his appointment as governor, saying his party had differences with PML-N on a number of issue but they endorse this decision.
Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq remarked: "This is a great moment for all of us as the whole members irrespective of their political affiliations congratulated Rajwana on his appointment, which is a good omen for teething democracy."
Responding to a call attention notice of Ilyas Bilour regarding disparity in rates of electricity being charges of PESCO and IESCO, State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali said that said that uniform tariff was being charges from the consumers and there was no disparity. "Nepra determines the cost of electricity supply and tariff both after public hearing," he said adding that the government bore the price difference in the form the subsidy. The house was adjourned to meet again on Friday at 10am.