Provision of basic facilities (18082008)

Sindh Minister for Local Government has said that Rs.450 million have been approved for provision of sewerage facility to Shams Pir, Baba, Bhit and Salehabad islands in Keamari Town which shows the present democratic government's commitment to the masses. While the comments made by the minister regarding the commitment of the present government may be correct, it must be remembered that these projects were in all probability approved by the previous government set-up and the credit is being claimed by the present government as their big achievement.
Notwithstanding, the ministerial bickering for the credit, we need to reflect on the sad state of affairs in places like Islands in Keamari town, which houses the biggest port in the country and is the hub of 90% of the trade and commerce of Pakistan with the outside world. This is not a remote area we are talking about, located in the inhospitable northern region bordering Afghanistan but right here at the edge of Karachi, in fact this is the oldest part of Karachi and yet this part of the city has been deprived of most basic of facilities, needed by any human habitation, of water and sanitation for over sixty years. Rather than claiming credit for this, the government should be apologising to the residents for being so late in doing its duty.
Therein, lies the fundamental problem or one might even say the problem of fundamentalism! When the people are denied basic facilities and they have no stake in the system then all the success they see around them only causes alienation and hostility; it becomes a syndrome of us versus them, leading to social problems which manifest themselves in the problems of militancy and extremism.
This is what we have seen in underdeveloped areas of FATA, the people of Pakistan living in these areas were abandoned by their government for most of its existence, used when needed as fodder for their war machines, foreign aid for these wars was gobbled up by the Pakistani Establishment to strengthen itself, this has led to the situation we are faced with today.
Rather than claiming accolades for achievements which is mere performance of duties and extremely delayed delivery of basic necessities of life to the people, the politicians need to understand the problems being faced by the people due to monopolisation of resources by some institutions or vested interests in the country.
Once the government starts paying attention to the problems of the people, starting with the people who are on the far fringes of the system, e.g., people in FATA, Balochistan and similar areas and starts spending money to address these problems, the process of change for better will start. It may take more than a few years but the process needs to start and be visible. Only then can we hope for sustainable peace in the country.