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The Dawn News of 27-Jun-24

Editorial
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Positive feelers
HOPES were not very high that relations between Pakistan and India would improve greatly
under Modi 3.0, and up till now there is little to suggest that Narendra Modi’s third
stint(tenure,‫ )ﻣﺪت'ﻣﻼزﻣﺖ‬in power would change the bilateral equation(mutual
relationship,‫ )دوﻃﺮﻓﮧ'ﺗﻌﻠﻖ‬positively.

Pakistan was not invited to the Indian prime minister’s oath-taking earlier this month, whereas
other regional(local,‫ )ﻋﻼﻗﺎﺋﯽ‬leaders attended. Moreover, there was a
lukewarm(indifferent,‫ )ﺳﺮد'ﻣﮩﺮی‬exchange of X posts between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and
Mr Modi to mark(celebrate,‫ )ﻣﻨﺎﻧﺎ‬the latter’s election victory, and while replying to Nawaz Sharif’s
congratulatory(expressing praise,‫ )ﻣﺒﺎرﮐﺒﺎد‬tweet, the Indian leader highlighted the need for
‘security’.

Yet the Pakistani administration has lately sent out positive public feelers(sent out
(inquiries),‫)ﺗﺤﻘﯿﻘﺎت‬, perhaps(maybe,‫ )ﺷﺎﯾﺪ‬to gauge(measure,‫ )ﭘﯿﻤﺎﺋﺶ‬the mood in New Delhi.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who also oversees(supervises,‫ )ﻧﮕﺮاﻧﯽ'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬the foreign affairs
portfolio(range of duties,‫)ﮐﺎروﺑﺎری'ﺳﺮﮔﺮﻣﯿﺎں‬, while speaking at(addressing,‫ )ﺧﻄﺎب'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬an event on
Tuesday, called for “good-neighbourly relations” with India, at the same time
emphasising(stressing,‫ )زور'دﯾﻨﺎ‬a “just and peaceful solution” to the Kashmir dispute. Mr Dar
added that it is time for “sober reflection” on the status of bilateral ties(connections,‫)راﺑﻄﮯ‬.

Considering Mr Dar’s position on the totem(symbol,‫ )ﻋﻼﻣﺖ‬pole, the public

outreach(connection,‫ )راﺑﻄﮧ‬to India appears to be a serious attempt to mend(repair,‫)درﺳﺖ'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬
ties. From here, the onus(burden,‫ )ﺑﻮﺟﮫ‬is on India to reciprocate(return,‫)ﺑﺪﻟﮯ'ﻣﯿﮟ‬. One small but
crucial step towards normalisation(stabilization,‫ )ﻣﻌﻤﻮل‬can be the restoration of full
diplomatic(foreign policy,‫ )ﺳﻔﺎرﺗﯽ‬ties. Both capitals have been without the other state’s high
commissioner for nearly five years, after ties were downgraded(reduced,‫ )ﮐﻢ'ﮐﯿﺎ‬in 2019 in the
aftermath(consequences,‫ )ﻧﺘﺎﺋﺞ‬of India’s scrapping(abolishing,‫ )ﺧﺎﺗﻤﮧ‬of Article 370 of its
constitution.

Moreover, the stalled(delayed,‫ )ﺗﺎﺧﯿﺮ‬dialogue process should be restarted, both at the official
level and via(through,‫ )ﮐﮯ'ذرﯾﻌﮯ‬the backchannel(informal communication,‫)ﻏﯿﺮ'رﺳﻤﯽ'راﺑﻄﮧ‬. The
Indian establishment can pretend that Pakistan no longer matters in its foreign policy
calculus(calculation,‫)ﺣﺴﺎب‬, but the truth is that a peaceful region will bring economic and other
dividends(returns,‫ )ﻣﻨﺎﻓﻊ‬for the entire subcontinent, including India.

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As and when this process of talking to each other commences(begins,‫)ﺷﺮوع'ﮨﻮﻧﺎ‬, Pakistan

should stick(adhere,‫ )ﭘﺎﺑﻨﺪ'رﮨﻨﺎ‬to its principled(ethical,‫ )اﺧﻼﻗﯽ‬stand on Kashmir, yet it should be
willing to discuss all other outstanding(excellent,‫ )ﺷﺎﻧﺪار‬issues. While it is expected that India
would keep repeating its mantra(repeatable phrase,‫ )ﻣﻨﺘﺮ‬on ‘terrorism’ and ‘security’, New Delhi’s
negotiators should adopt a less rigid(inflexible,‫ )ﺳﺨﺖ‬stance(position,‫ )ﻣﻮﻗﻒ‬if they are at all
serious about regional peace.

Either the status quo(status,‫ )ﺣﺎﻟﺖ‬can continue, and with it the mistrust(suspicion,‫ )ﺑﺪ'اﻋﺘﻤﺎدی‬and
toxicity(harmfulness,‫ )زﮨﺮﯾﻼ‬that have dominated bilateral relations for over seven decades, or
both sides can take bold steps for peace, and create a better future for the more than two billion
people of the subcontinent.

A basic framework(structure,‫ )ڈﮬﺎﻧﭽﮧ‬for peace exists from the Musharraf era; this can be dusted
up(revived,‫ )دوﺑﺎرہ'زﻧﺪہ'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬and updated if both sides are committed to leaving the past behind and
working for a better future. Much will depend on whether and how New Delhi reacts to Mr Dar’s
overture(proposal,‫)ﺗﺠﻮﯾﺰ‬.

Published in Dawn, June

Polio problem
SIX cases in six months. The tally(count,‫ )ﺷﻤﺎر‬for the entire last year equalled(matched,‫ )ﺑﺮاﺑﺮ‬in
half the time. Pakistan’s efforts towards eradicating(eliminating,‫)ﺧﺎﺗﻤﮧ‬, or even containing, the
polio virus seem to be failing. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met American
philanthropist(benevolent,‫ )ﻓﻼح'ﮐﺎر‬Bill Gates, whose foundation has long funded the country’s
campaign(promotion,‫ )ﻣﮩﻢ‬to combat polio, just a day before the sixth confirmed case of the year
was officially reported. It is unlikely(improbable,‫ )ﻏﯿﺮ'ﻣﻤﮑﻦ‬that their interaction would have been
an entirely pleasant(enjoyable,‫ )ﺧﻮﺷﮕﻮار‬one. Huge(large,‫ )ﺑﮍا‬sums of money have been
poured(invested,‫ )ﺳﺮﻣﺎﯾﮧ'ﮐﺎری‬into eradicating polio from the country by the Bill and
Melinda([Melinda Gates],‫ )ﻣﯿﻠﻨﺪا‬Gates Foundation, yet after a period where we seemed set to
achieve the ‘polio-free’ distinction(difference,‫)اﻣﺘﯿﺎز‬, the country now seems to have hit reverse
gear. The donors will not be happy. It seems worthwhile(valuable,‫ )ﻗﯿﻤﺘﯽ‬to mention here that
Pakistan is ‘half’ of the world’s polio problem: it is the only country, apart from war-ravaged(war-
torn,‫ )ﺟﻨﮓ'ﺳﮯ'ﺗﺒﺎہ‬Afghanistan, where the wild poliovirus continues to circulate. It is well known
what the cause behind Pakistan’s persistent(continuous,‫ )ﻣﺴﻠﺴﻞ‬failure to eradicate the disease
is, yet the government and the authorities remain unable to ensure compliance(adherence,‫)ﭘﺎﺑﻨﺪی‬
from vaccine-rejecting segments(parts,‫ )ﺣﺼﮯ‬of the population.

Somewhere, somehow(in some way,‫)ﮐﺴﯽ'ﻃﺮح‬, the authorities will have to put their foot
down(take a stand,‫)ﻣﻮﻗﻒ'اﺧﺘﯿﺎر'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬. It is unacceptable(intolerable,‫ )ﻧﺎﻗﺎﺑﻞ'ﻗﺒﻮل‬that the number of
children being disabled by an entirely preventable(avoidable,‫ )ﻗﺎﺑﻞ'روک‬disease continues to rise
while the government fails to rein in(control,‫ )ﮐﻨﭩﺮول'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬or penalise(punish,‫ )ﺳﺰا'دﯾﻨﺎ‬elements
spreading spurious(false,‫ )ﺟﮭﻮﭨﮯ‬rumours(gossip,‫ )اﻓﻮاﮨﯿﮟ‬and encouraging(promoting,‫)ﺣﻮﺻﻠﮧ'اﻓﺰاﺋﯽ‬
vaccine rejection. There is, of course, an ethical(moral,‫ )اﺧﻼﻗﯽ‬reason why no one should be
forced to take medication(drugs,‫)دواﺋﯿﺎں‬. At the same time, there are also good ethical reasons

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to start formally penalising anyone who refuses to either take the anti-polio vaccine or
administer it to their children, including officially sanctioning(authorizing,‫ )اﺟﺎزت'دﯾﻨﺎ‬their
movement, which would limit the possibility of the virus spreading in previously cleared places,
and placing social checks on them, so that others can be made aware of the risk the
unvaccinated pose to larger society. Secondly, the government must put an immediate end
to(stop immediately,‫ )ﻓﻮری'ﺧﺎﺗﻤﮧ‬the targeting of polio workers, who already risk much to do an
immense(vast,‫ )ﺑﮩﺖ'زﯾﺎدہ‬public service. No polio worker should have to worry about losing life or
limb(body part,‫ )ﻋﻀﻮ‬as they work to protect the children of this country. The government needs
to demonstrate much more resolve for eradicating polio than it has been lately. Time is of the
essence(nature,‫)ﻣﺎﮨﯿﺖ‬.

Battle against heat

DO the rulers have what it takes to protect citizens from sizzling(hot,‫ )ﮔﺮم‬temperatures?
Apathetic(indifferent,‫ )ﻻﭘﺮواہ‬and myopic(short-sighted,‫)ﮐﻢ'ﻧﻈﺮی‬, they have learnt nothing from
Karachi’s human toll in 2015, when brutal(savage,‫ )وﺣﺸﯿﺎﻧﮧ‬heatwaves claimed 1,200 lives and
40,000 people suffered heat strokes(attack,‫ )ﺣﻤﻠﮧ‬and heat stress. In the newest heat spell in the
city, 29 corpses(bodies,‫ )ﻻﺷﯿﮟ‬have been found over the past three days, triggering an inquiry to
determine the cause of death; 24-hour data at JPMC([Jinnah Postgraduate Medical
Centre],‫ )ﺟﻨﺎح'ﭘﻮﺳﭧ'ﮔﺮﯾﺠﻮﯾﭧ'ﻣﯿﮉﯾﮑﻞ'ﺳﯿﻨﭩﺮ‬shows 22 cases of heat stroke while the Indus Hospital
recorded eight. The health department has confirmed one heat-related casualty(injury,‫)زﺧﻤﯽ‬.
Edhi Foundation’s mortuary(morgue,‫ )ﻣﺮدہ'ﺧﺎﻧﮧ‬logged 427 bodies in four days and Faisal Edhi
says that “the majority are from poor areas where there is extended load-shedding”. In the
civilised world, these figures would sound the death knell(death signal,‫ )ﻣﻮت'ﮐﺎ'ﺳﮕﻨﻞ‬of a
government.

Lessons and actions are overdue(delayed,‫)ﺗﺎﺧﯿﺮ'ﺳﮯ‬. The government must hit the ground(start
immediately,‫ )ﻓﻮری'ﺷﺮوع'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬running with a nationwide strategy comprising enhancement of
facilities at hospitals, mobile health units(portable medical units,‫ )ﻣﻮﺑﺎﺋﻞ'ﺻﺤﺖ'ﮐﮯ'ﯾﻮﻧﭧ‬and cooling
stations in low-income localities and along congested routes. In addition, there has to be
continuous mapping(surveying,‫ )ﻧﻘﺸﮧ'ﺑﻨﺎﻧﺎ‬of hotspots(crisis areas,‫ )ﻣﺴﺎﺋﻞ'ﮐﮯ'ﻣﻘﺎﻣﺎت‬in urban and
rural parts so that rapid response(quick action,‫ )ﺗﯿﺰ'ردﻋﻤﻞ‬mechanisms can rescue people in time.
Moreover, vulnerable(susceptible,‫ )ﮐﻤﺰور‬residents should have first-aid services at their doorstep.
Heatwaves cannot be wished away(disregarded,‫)ﻧﻈﺮاﻧﺪاز'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬. In fact, they are set to worsen in
Pakistan and India. Hence, there is little choice but to curtail(reduce,‫ )ﮐﻢ'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬the
asphalt(pavement,‫ )ﭘﺨﺘﮧ'ﺳﮍک‬and increase tree cover by converting vast tracts into(areas,‫)ﻋﻼﻗﮯ‬
forests, alongside upgrading and expanding parks and water bodies. Experts
assert(declare,‫ )اﻇﮩﺎر'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬that foliage(leaves,‫ )ﭘﺘﮯ‬is the only way out of global warming — trees,
dubbed(nicknamed,‫ )ﻧﺎم'رﮐﮭﻨﺎ‬natural air-conditioners, reduce temperatures by at least 4°C,
provide shade, absorb carbon in the atmosphere, emit oxygen and normalise monsoon patterns.
Pakistan must transition(change,‫ )ﺗﺒﺪﯾﻠﯽ‬to renewable energy(sustainable power,‫)ﻗﺎﺑﻞ'ﺗﺠﺪﯾﺪ'ﺗﻮاﻧﺎﺋﯽ‬,
limit greenhouse gas fumes and develop a robust(strong,‫ )ﻣﻀﺒﻮط‬transport system to stem the
deluge(flood,‫ )ﺳﯿﻼب‬of vehicles. In a rapidly warming world, saving human lives cannot be
delayed.

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Opinion
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The despotic state
WHAT is a core(central,‫ )ﻣﺮﮐﺰی‬human value? It’s freedom, says Nobel laureate(award
winner,‫ )اﯾﻮارڈ'ﺣﺎﺻﻞ'ﮐﺮﻧﮯ'واﻻ‬Joseph Stiglitz, the economist who, in his book The Road to Freedom,
pleads(requests,‫ )اﻟﺘﻤﺎس‬for an economic and political system based on equity, justice and well-
being.

The concept of freedom articulated by US president Franklin Roosevelt revolved around four
pillars: 1) freedom of speech and expression; 2) freedom of belief or faith; 3) freedom from
want; and 4) freedom from fear. “A person facing extremes of want and fear is not free,” says
Stiglitz, echoing Oxford philosopher Isaiah Berlin, who said that “freedom for the wolves has
often meant death to the sheep”.

Economic and political freedoms have deep connections. Can a nation have one set of rights
without the other? Unfortunately, we in Pakistan have lost the core value of freedom. Extremes
of want and fear haunt(disturb,‫ )ﭘﺮﯾﺸﺎن'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬us daily.

The wolves (the elite corporate sector, real estate tycoons(magnates,‫)ﺳﺮﻣﺎﯾﮧ'دار‬,

feudal(aristocratic,‫ )ﺟﺎﮔﯿﺮداراﻧﮧ‬class) have gained ‘freedom’ at the expense of the sheep (workers,
the salaried class and the poverty-stricken masses). Financial debt(liability,‫ )ﻗﺮض‬traps(pitfalls,‫ﺟ‬
)‫ ﺎل‬and dependence on foreign loans have created an atmosphere of slavish(submissive,‫)ﻏﻼﻣﺎﻧﮧ‬
adherence(commitment,‫)ﭘﺎﺑﻨﺪی‬. The current environment is akin to a jungle in which only power
matters, determining ‘who gets what and who does what’. We have been reduced to a nation of
bootlickers(sycophants,‫)ﭼﺎﭘﻠﻮس‬.

“The death of human empathy(compassion,‫ )ﮨﻤﺪردی‬is one of the earliest and most telling signs
of a culture about to fall into barbarism(savagery,‫)ﺑﺮﺑﺮﯾﺖ‬,” said Hannah Arendt, the German-born
American historian, philosopher, political theorist and social critic(reviewer,‫)ﻧﺎﻗﺪ‬. The
dearth(scarcity,‫ )ﮐﻤﯽ‬of empathy is evident in our present ruling elite(select group,‫)اﺷﺮاﻓﯿﮧ‬.
Subservient(submissive,‫ )ﻣﺎﺗﺤﺖ‬to the forces of tyranny(cruelty,‫)ﻇﻠﻢ‬, we are treading the path to
serfdom(bondage,‫)ﻏﻼﻣﯽ‬. Will we ever get on the road to freedom that leads to the republican
values of equity, justice, rule of law, and collective(shared,‫ )اﺟﺘﻤﺎﻋﯽ‬well-being?

The elite’s hegemony(dominance,‫ )ﻏﻠﺒﮧ‬must be broken. For that, we must ask what kind of
economic, political and social system will contribute to the freedom of most citizens. As Cicero
said some 2,000 years ago, “We are slaves of the law so that we may be able to be free.”

Thomas Jefferson, the US founding father who drafted the Declaration of Independence, said:
“The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down

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with the chains of the Constitution so the second will not become the legalised version of the
first.”

A troika(triad,‫ )ﺗﮭﺮﯾﮑﺎ‬of power brokers has always called the shots by

manipulating(controlling,‫ )ﮐﻨﭩﺮول'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬constitutional provisions(supplies,‫)ﺳﺎﻣﺎن‬.

However, “modern society, governments and freedom need not be at odds(chances,‫)اﻣﮑﺎﻧﺎت‬,”

says Stiglitz, provided the rulers abandon the authoritarian(dictatorial,‫ )آﻣﺮاﻧﮧ‬tendencies that
breed despotism(autocracy,‫ )آﻣﺮاﻧﮧ‬and persecution(oppression,‫ )ﻇﻠﻢ‬in the body
politic(diplomatic,‫)ﺳﻔﺎرﺗﯽ‬. This is our key challenge today, as we ask how tolerant(open-
minded,‫ )ﺑﺮدﺑﺎر‬we should be of those who are intolerant(narrow-minded,‫ )ﻋﺪم'ﺑﺮداﺷﺖ‬and
tyrannical(oppressive,‫)ﻇﺎﻟﻤﺎﻧﮧ‬. One option is extreme, leading to revolt(uprising,‫ )ﺑﻐﺎوت‬and
violence; we must not tread that path. The saner(more sensible,‫ )زﯾﺎدہ'ﺳﻤﺠﮭﺪار‬course is for state
institutions to admit their mistakes and undertake(commit to,‫ )ﻋﮩﺪ'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬serious introspection(self-
examination,‫ )ﺧﻮد'ﺟﺎﺋﺰہ‬in the larger interest of the nation, and to rise above narrow self-interest
for steering(guiding,‫ )رﮨﻨﻤﺎﺋﯽ'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬the ship of state(government,‫ )رﯾﺎﺳﺖ‬out of
turbulent(unstable,‫ )ﻏﯿﺮ'ﻣﺴﺘﺤﮑﻢ‬waters. This involves changing mindsets.

The military establishment has ruled Pakistan directly or indirectly since the
abrogation(abolition,‫ )ﺧﺎﺗﻤﮧ‬of our first constitution (1956). Four army chiefs ruled directly by
either imposing martial law, suspending the constitution, or becoming either president or chief
executive. Most other army chiefs have been de facto(in practice,‫ )ﻋﻤﻠﯽ'ﻃﻮر'ﭘﺮ‬rulers under the
façade(appearance,‫ )ﻇﺎﮨﺮی'ﻧﻤﺎﺋﺶ‬of democratic dispensations(regimes,‫)ﺣﮑﻮﻣﺘﯿﮟ‬.

Four political leaders who tried to assert(declare,‫ )اﻇﮩﺎر'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬civilian supremacy met with an
adverse(negative,‫ )ﻣﻨﻔﯽ‬fate. One was hanged in a murder case. Two other heads of political
parties were sacked(dismissed,‫ )ﻓﺎرغ‬one after the other without completion of parliament’s
tenure in the 1990s. The fourth one, brought to power by the establishment to replace two
political dynasties(ruling families,‫)ﺧﺎﻧﺪاﻧﯽ'ﺣﮑﻮﻣﺘﯿﮟ‬, was shown the door through a vote of no-
confidence. The first went to the gallows(execution,‫)ﭘﮭﺎﻧﺴﯽ‬, the second chose exile(banishment,
)‫ ﺟﻼوﻃﻨﯽ‬over incarceration(imprisonment,‫)ﻗﯿﺪ‬, the third was assassinated, and the fourth, after
surviving an assassination attempt, is in prison under frivolous(trivial,‫ )ﻏﯿﺮ'ﺳﻨﺠﯿﺪہ‬charges.

A troika of power brokers has always called the shots(decisions,‫ )ﻓﯿﺼﻠﮯ‬by manipulating
constitutional provisions. Initially, it was the president, prime minister and army chief under
Article 58(2)(b) of the 1973 Constitution. Later, the president lost his clout(influence,‫ )اﺛﺮ‬with the
repeal of the draconian(severe,‫ )ﺳﺨﺖ‬clause. Then emerged the new troika of prime minister,
army chief and chief justice. The shenanigans(misbehavior,‫ )ﺷﺮارﺗﯿﮟ‬continue to this day, with the
military establishment and deep state involved in political engineering. Political
tussles(conflicts,‫ )ﺟﮭﮕﮍے‬end up in courts and judicial verdicts(judgments,‫ )ﻓﯿﺼﻠﮯ‬decide the fate
of political leaders.

Such a messy(chaotic,‫ )اﻧﺘﺸﺎر‬state of affairs cannot be sustained(maintained,‫ )ﺑﺮﻗﺮار'رﮐﮭﺎ‬for long.

The military is a strong national institution. It comprises mostly disciplined(organized,‫ )ﻣﻨﻈﻢ‬and
professional rank and file exuding(detailed report,‫ )ﻣﻔﺼﻞ'رﭘﻮرٹ‬patriotic fervour(passion,‫)ﺟﻮش‬,
with officers and their men willing to sacrifice their lives for the security and sovereignty of their
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homeland. They are waging(engaging,‫ )ﺷﺎﻣﻞ'ﮨﻮﻧﺎ‬a heroic battle against militants and violent
extremists who want to unravel(untangle,‫ )ﺳﻠﺠﮭﺎﻧﺎ‬the state. We salute them for their courage
and sacrifices.

But when officers of the armed forces and intelligence agencies indulge(partake,‫ )ﺷﺎﻣﻞ'ﮨﻮﻧﺎ‬in
political engineering, they lose the public’s respect, and the compact(agreement,‫ )ﻣﻌﺎﮨﺪہ‬between
state and society comes under serious threat. This is where our state and society find
themselves currently. The nation looks up to its protectors and defenders, and expects them to
abide by(follow,‫ )ﭘﺎﺑﻨﺪ'رﮨﻨﺎ‬their oath, rise above narrow self-interest, and assist in nation-building
in these trying times(periods,‫)اوﻗﺎت‬.

The only way forward is to embark upon(start,‫ )ﺷﺮوع'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬course correction for the sake of equity,
justice and the collective well-being of citizens. Can our leaders ponder over George
Washington’s words to Alexander Hamilton: “I hope I shall always possess
firmness(stability,‫ )اﺳﺘﺤﮑﺎم‬and virtue(morality,‫ )ﻧﯿﮑﯽ‬enough to maintain (what I consider the
most enviable of all titles) the character of an honest man”?

We, the people, demand nothing but honesty and fairness(justness,‫ )اﻧﺼﺎف‬from those leading
our armed forces, intelligence agencies, judiciary, bureaucracy and police services. Is it asking
too much, or shall we echo(resemble,‫ )ﻣﺸﺎﺑﮩﺖ‬the Virginian Patrick Henry’s cry, “Give me liberty,
or give me death”?

The writer is a former inspector general of police.

Challenge to the ‘moral economy’

THE world is intricately(complexly,‫ )ﭘﯿﭽﯿﺪﮔﯽ'ﺳﮯ‬linked, but nations are becoming increasingly
inward-looking(introspective,‫)داﺧﻠﯽ'ﻧﻈﺮﯾﮧ‬, challenging the concept of import substitution, free
trade and globalisation. These concepts present economic opportunities, but balancing global
economic connections with the preservation(conservation,‫ )ﺣﻔﺎﻇﺖ‬of local interests is an
ongoing concern. The concept of a ‘moral economy’, which highlights how economic behaviour
and decisions are influenced by societal norms and values rather than just by market forces and
profits, seem to be gaining firmer(stronger,‫ )ﻣﻀﺒﻮط‬ground.

The idea of a ‘moral economy’ comes from the English historian and writer E.P. Thompson, who
came up with the term ‘moral economy’ while studying the 18th-century food riots in England.
According to The Economist, “the rioters, he argued, were not motivated purely by empty bellies,
but by a belief that the bakers(bread makers,‫)ﻧﺎﻧﺒﺎﺋﯽ‬, farmers and millers(grain processors,‫ﭼﮑﯽ'ﻣ‬
)‫ ﺎﻟﮑﺎن‬had violated paternalist(guardian-like,‫ )ﺳﺮﭘﺮﺳﺘﺎﻧﮧ‬customs, which suggested they should
limit their profit, sell locally and not hold back(restrain,‫ )روﮐﻨﺎ‬grain(cereal,‫)اﻧﺎج‬.
Gradually(slowly,‫)آﮨﺴﺘﮧ'آﮨﺴﺘﮧ‬, Thompson argued, the moral economy was being displaced by a
market economy, in which prices follow the amoral(unethical,‫ )ﺑﮯ'اﺧﻼﻗﯽ‬logic of supply and
demand, rather than ideas of what would be a ‘fair price(appropriate cost,‫ ’)ﻣﻨﺼﻔﺎﻧﮧ'ﻗﯿﻤﺖ‬in times
of scarcity(shortage,‫”)ﮐﻤﯽ‬.

His concept of the ‘moral economy’ still holds appeal. “Respondents to [Bulgarian-French
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economist Stefanie] Stantcheva’s surveys suggested that inflation widened the gap between
rich and poor, while businesses allowed prices to rise because of corporate(business,‫)ﮐﺎروﺑﺎری‬
greed(avarice,‫)ﻻﻟﭻ‬. They also ‘tend to believe that employers have a lot of power and
discretion(judgment,‫ )اﺧﺘﯿﺎر‬in setting wages’, notes Ms Stantcheva. In their view, inflation is not
a phenomenon that emerges from hundreds of millions of people taking trillions of decisions. It
is something inflicted(imposed,‫ )ﻣﺴﻠﻂ‬on them by people at the top of the totem(symbol,‫)ﻋﻼﻣﺖ‬
pole. ... In a moral economy, concerns about what is right and wrong outweigh(override,‫)ﻓﻮﻗﯿﺖ‬
efficiency(productivity,‫)ﮐﺎرﮐﺮدﮔﯽ‬, imposing a cost on those assigning blame as well as those
being blamed.”

In Pakistan, ‘moral economy’ provides insights into(understanding of,‫ )ﻓﮩﻢ‬various

socioeconomic(economic and social,‫ )ﻣﻌﺎﺷﯽ'و'ﺳﻤﺎﺟﯽ‬dynamics and challenges. It’s a
complex(complicated,‫ )ﭘﯿﭽﯿﺪہ‬trade-off(compromise,‫)ﺳﻤﺠﮭﻮﺗﮧ‬, with cultural and social factors
influencing economic behaviour — given the short-sightedness(lack of foresight,‫ )ﮐﻢ'ﻧﻈﺮی‬in
policy decisions, the early stages of the business maturity lifecycle, and the writ(order,‫ )ﺣﮑﻢ‬of
government and regulators. Hence, the pervasive(widespread,‫ )وﺳﯿﻊ'ﭘﯿﻤﺎﻧﮯ'ﭘﺮ‬rent-seeking and
elite capture.

Global resources are becoming increasingly scarce and their deployment in terms of the best
socioeconomic returns is a must(necessary,‫)ﺿﺮوری‬.

Global resources are becoming increasingly scarce(rare,‫ )ﻧﺎﯾﺎب‬and their deployment in terms of
the best socioeconomic returns is a must, especially in Pakistan’s case, where over 95m souls
live below the poverty line.

The definition of a ‘moral economy’ varies. In the West, it is focused on ‘climate compliance’. Its
relevance, however, can also incline(slope,‫ )ڈﮬﻠﻮان‬towards more fundamental issues, like the
allocation of budgetary revenues in Pakistan, which makes fiscal(budgetary,‫ )ﻣﺎﻟﯿﺎﺗﯽ‬account
imbalances the single biggest culprit(offender,‫ )ﻣﺠﺮم‬responsible for our ills, particularly the
unproductive(futile,‫ )ﻏﯿﺮ'ﭘﯿﺪاواری‬diversion(detour,‫ )ﻣﻮڑ‬of our precious(valuable,‫ )ﻗﯿﻤﺘﯽ‬resources
towards debt servicing and privilege-soliciting subsidies. Of course, the equitable(fair,‫)ﻣﻨﺼﻔﺎﻧﮧ‬
and judicious(sensible,‫ )ﻋﻘﻠﻤﻨﺪاﻧﮧ‬collection of taxes is critical to enhancing revenues, but it is the
expenditure side which is the focus of our argument.

A significant challenge to Pakistan’s moral economy is weak governance structures and an ever
-growing informal economy. Efforts to align economic practices with moral and ethical
standards often face hurdles(obstacles,‫)رﮐﺎوﭨﯿﮟ‬. Ironically(sarcastically,‫)ﺗﻀﺤﯿﮑًﺎ‬, debt
servicing(repaying,‫ )اداﺋﯿﮕﯽ‬and indirect subsidies are intimately connected and circular in nature,
as if the government is borrowing(loaning,‫ )ﻗﺮض‬to extend the fruitless(unproductive,‫)ﺑﮯ'ﻧﺘﯿﺠﮧ‬
allocation of resources to benefit only a handful(few,‫)ﭼﻨﺪ‬.

In the past five years, of the Rs47tr the federal government spent, 42 per cent went into foreign
and local currency debt servicing, while 19pc went towards government salaries and pensions.
Regrettably, a negligible portion is allocated for health and education (predominantly provincial
subjects). The most inflation-inducing, nevertheless(however,‫)ﺗﺎﮨﻢ‬, has been the dishing
out(distributing,‫ )ﺗﻘﺴﯿﻢ'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬on development programmes, which has been clocked at over 10pc.
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The cost-of-production([production expense],‫ )ﭘﯿﺪاواری'ﻻﮔﺖ‬argument, unfortunately, has lower

weight in inflation, given the relatively smaller credit([financial trust],‫ )ﻗﺮض‬to the private sector
since, with banks, most of the cumulative(collective,‫ )اﺟﺘﻤﺎﻋﯽ‬liquidity(cash flow,‫ )ﻧﻘﺪی‬goes
towards government securities, resulting in stacking up(piling up,‫ )ڈﮬﯿﺮ'ﻟﮕﺎﻧﺎ‬debt,
stoking(stimulating,‫ )ﺑﮭﮍﮐﺎﻧﺎ‬inflation and, consequently(as a result,‫)ﻧﺘﯿﺠﺘًﺎ‬, causing a debt-trap
situation and elevated(raised,‫ )ﺑﻠﻨﺪ‬interest rates.

Just as exports can’t be enhanced through the free float(sustain,‫ )ﺑﺮﻗﺮار'رﮐﮭﻨﺎ‬of the exchange rate
alone, a tight monetary policy can’t beat inflation on its own.

There’s surely an extent to which monetary policy can help in controlling inflation, but after a
stage, it loses steam(energy,‫)ﺗﻮاﻧﺎﺋﯽ‬. The only way to bring debt servicing down is by cutting the
fiscal deficit(shortfall,‫ )ﺧﺴﺎرہ‬and making the subsidies direct and constructive(positive,‫)ﺗﻌﻤﯿﺮی‬.

Other than the ineffectiveness(inefficiency,‫ )ﻏﯿﺮ'ﻣﺆﺛﺮﯾﺖ‬of trickle-down([economic

theory],‫ )ﺗﺮﻗﯽ'ﮐﺎ'ﻧﻈﺮﯾﮧ‬subsidies, most of them, in fact, are not recorded as such.
Incremental(gradual,‫ )ﺗﺪرﯾﺠﯽ‬interest paid on national savings schemes are recorded as an
interest and not subsidy, for example, and the discount at which real estate(property,‫ )ﺟﺎﺋﯿﺪاد‬is
transferred to the public sector does not show up as a subsidy either.
Interestingly(curiously,‫ )دﻟﭽﺴﭗ‬enough, the nominal(minimal,‫ )ﻣﻌﻤﻮﻟﯽ‬amount paid on them is
recorded as ‘revenue’ instead. The same goes for the deeply discounted leased land to urban,
privileged(favored,‫ )ﻣﺨﺼﻮص‬social clubs([community organizations],‫)ﺳﻤﺎﺟﯽ'ﮐﻠﺐ‬. The cross-
subsidies([financial support from one area to another],‫ )ﮐﺮاس'ﺳﺒﺴﮉی‬on utilities are also not part
of the government’s subsidies, while the losses of state-owned enterprises(businesses,‫)ﮐﺎروﺑﺎر‬,
invariably(always,‫)ﮨﻤﯿﺸﮧ‬, do not show up(appear,‫ )ﻇﺎﮨﺮ'ﮨﻮﻧﺎ‬as subsidies either. In fact, their true
loss is hidden in debt-servicing expense(cost,‫ )ﺧﺮچ‬against government-guaranteed loans, and
by the cross-subsidy burden(load,‫ )ﺑﻮﺟﮫ‬of the higher-paying segments of consumers (primarily
industries).

There is, therefore, a quid pro quo([a favor for a favor],‫ )ﺑﺪﻟﮯ'ﻣﯿﮟ'ﻓﺎﺋﺪہ‬between loose monetary
policy and fully encompassing(including,‫ )ﺷﺎﻣﻞ'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬subsidies. We need to let go of
exploitative(taking advantage,‫ )اﺳﺘﺤﺼﺎل'ﮐﺮﻧﮯ'واﻻ‬subsidies to control inflation and to achieve the
interest rates adjustment for the greater good. Implementing economic reforms that align with
moral and ethical principles can be challenging, but also offer opportunities for sustainable and
inclusive growth. Policies promoting financial inclusion, social justice, and ethical business
practices can strengthen the ‘moral economy’. American economist Samuel Bowles argued in
his book The Moral Economy” that “[Even] Good incentives(motives,‫ )ﻣﺤﺮﮐﺎت‬are no substitute for
good citizens.”

Sultan Ali Allana is chairman HBL. Zafar Masud is chairman Pakistan Banks Association.

Istanbul, not…
TURKISH cuisine(food,‫ )ﮐﮭﺎﻧﺎ‬is to die for, not from. What seafood([marine food],‫ )ﺳﻤﻨﺪری'ﺧﻮراک‬is
to the Japanese, meat is for the Turks. It promises longevity(life expectancy,‫)ﻋﻤﺮ‬.

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The average lifespan(lifetime,‫ )زﻧﺪﮔﯽ'ﮐﺎ'دوراﻧﯿﮧ‬of a Japanese is 84 years, a Turk 71 years.

Indulgent(lenient,‫ )ﻧﺮم‬Pakistanis last only 66 years.

Türkiye today is where Pakistan should have been, had it been properly
husbanded(conserved,‫)ﻣﺤﻔﻮظ'ﮐﯿﺎ‬. Pakistan, although a brother in Islam, took instead(rather,‫)ﺑﺠﺎﺋﮯ‬
the path of unbridled(uncontrolled,‫ )ﺑﮯ'ﻗﺎﺑﻮ‬procreation(reproduction,‫)ﭘﯿﺪاﺋﺶ‬. Türkiye’s population
(99 per cent Muslim) increased from 21 million in 1950, to 86m in 2023. Over the same period,
Pakistan’s population burgeoned(grew rapidly,‫ )ﺗﯿﺰی'ﺳﮯ'ﺑﮍﮬﺎ‬from 34m to over 220m. Birth control
is spelt differently in Turkish.

Today, while Pakistan is still struggling to emerge out of its ideological sac([a pouch],‫)ﺗﮭﯿﻠﯽ‬,
Türkiye knows what it is. It is the Türkiye envisaged(imagined,‫ )ﺗﺼﻮر'ﮐﯿﺎ‬by its Jinnah; ie, Kemal
Atatürk. On Nov 10 each year — Atatürk’s death anniversary(celebration,‫ — )ﺳﺎﻟﮕﺮہ‬all Türkiye
comes to a halt and observes one minute’s silence. Jinnah shares his birthday with Jesus Christ
and Nawaz Sharif.

The late president Pervez Musharraf studied in Türkiye until 1956. He spoke Turkish
fluently(smoothly,‫)رواں‬. Unfortunately, that is all he learned. He forgot Türkiye’s
seismic(earthquake-related,‫ )زﻟﺰﻟﮯ'ﺳﮯ'ﻣﺘﻌﻠﻖ‬shift from a khaki([military uniform],‫)ﮐﺎ'ﮐﯽ‬
kleptocracy([rule by thieves],‫ )ﭼﻮروں'ﮐﯽ'ﺣﮑﻮﻣﺖ‬to a democratically elected dictatorship.

Türkiye today is where Pakistan should have been.

Its present ruler, Recep Erdogan, has been in power as prime minister, then president, since
2003. On his way up, he served as Istanbul’s mayor(city leader,‫)ﻣﯿﺌﺮ‬. (In China, being mayor of
Shanghai helps in reaching Beijing.)

In 1999, he served four months in jail for making a speech in which he recited Ziya Gökalp’s
1912 poem, Soldier’s Prayer. Erdogan quoted: ‘Minarets([tall towers of mosques],‫ )ﻣﯿﻨﺎرے‬are
bayonets(knives,‫)ﺳﻨﮕﯿﻨﯿﮟ‬, domes are helmets, mosques are our barracks(military
housing,‫)ﭼﮭﺎؤﻧﯽ‬, believers are soldiers’.

Is Erdogan a second Atatürk([Mustafa Kemal Atatürk],‫ ?)اﺗﺎﺗﺮک‬No. Türkiye’s pantheon([temple for

gods],‫ )ﭘﯿﻨﺘﮭﯿﻮن‬has only one place at the top. Is he a Turkish version of the Saudi MBS([Saudi
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman]? Erdogan, even if he had the money, is too
canny(clever,‫ )ﮨﻮﺷﯿﺎر‬to waste resources on the folly(foolishness,‫ )ﺑﮯ'وﻗﻮﻓﯽ‬of a $1.5 trillion Neom
city project.

Türkiye — dismissed(rejected,‫ )ﻣﺴﺘﺮد'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬in the 19th century as the “sick man of Europe”, and, in
the 20th century, denied entry into the EU — has decided to steer(direct,‫ )رﮨﻨﻤﺎﺋﯽ'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬its own
course. It is a vibrant(lively,‫ )زﻧﺪہ'دل‬example of a benign(harmless,‫ )ﺑﮯ'ﺿﺮر‬Islam —
shorn(shaved,‫ )ﻣﻮﻧﮉا‬of ritualism(ceremonialism,‫ )رﺳﻤﯽ‬and an intrusive(obtrusive,‫)ﺧﻠﻞ'ڈاﻟﻨﮯ'واﻻ‬
clergy(religious leaders,‫)ﻋﻠﻤﺎء‬.

Its priorities are education, infrastructure and expanding tourism. In 2023, Türkiye’s income
from 57m visitors exceeded $54 billion. The largest number — Russians — live within
spitting(expelling saliva,‫ )ﺗﮭﻮﮐﻨﺎ‬distance across the Black Sea. Pakistan sent 140,388, less than
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155,155 Mexicans. The Mongolian hordes have yet to invade(intrude,‫ )ﺣﻤﻠﮧ'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬Türkiye. A Turkish
Chinatown is still decades away.

A 1990 guide book warned travellers that Turks were just “beginning to learn about living on
plastic”. Modern Turks are now as addicted(dependent,‫ )ﻋﺎدی‬to plastic cards as the Americans
are to plastic surgery.

Turkey is becoming a preferred destination for medical tourism. Almost half a million foreign
visitors come to have their Iooks improved (or damaged) by Botox([a cosmetic
treatment],‫ )ﺑﻮﭨﻮﮐﺲ‬procedures. Some hospitals have dedicated hotels where patients check in,
go next door to have their operation, and return for five-star recuperation(recovery,‫)ﺻﺤﺖ'ﯾﺎﺑﯽ‬.

In Istanbul, stray dogs and cats are tagged(labeled,‫ )ﻟﯿﺒﻞ'ﻟﮕﺎﯾﺎ‬at official expense and
pampered(indulged,‫ )ﻻڈ'ﭘﯿﺎر'ﮐﯿﺎ‬with free meals and comfortable kennels([dog houses],‫)ﮐﺘﮯ'ﮐﺎ'ﮔﮭﺮ‬.
The Indian cynophile([dog lover],‫)ﮐﺘﺎ'ﭘﺴﺎﻧﺪ‬, Maneka Gandhi, who fought for Delhi’s canines, would
have been gratified(pleased,‫)ﺧﻮش‬. After the recent Eidul Azha holidays (known as Kurban
Bayrami), bones became hard to come by. A rabies([a viral disease],‫ )رﯾﺒﯿﺰ‬epidemic(outbreak,‫)وﺑﺎ‬
could force the Turkish administration to rethink its hospitality(welcoming nature,‫)ﻣﮩﻤﺎن'ﻧﻮازی‬.

Despite(in spite of,‫ )ﮐﮯ'ﺑﺎوﺟﻮد‬the keenness(enthusiasm,‫ )ﺟﻮش‬to encourage tourists, Turks are
curiously(inquisitively,‫ )دﻟﭽﺴﭙﯽ'ﺳﮯ‬xenophobic(fearful of foreigners,‫)ﻏﯿﺮﻣﻠﮑﯿﻮں'ﺳﮯ'ڈرﻧﺎ‬. They insist
on speaking only Turkish. This often leads to a dialogue of the deaf between Turks and
strangers, until both tap into(utilize,‫ )اﺳﺘﻌﻤﺎل'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬their mobile phones for translation.

Istanbul’s shopping malls are a treat(a pleasure,‫)ﺧﻮﺷﯽ‬, even for a tourist tired of London. In
them, designer outlets(stores,‫ )دﮐﺎﻧﯿﮟ‬rubcheeks([a term for affectionate gesture],‫ )ﮔﺎل'ﻣﻼﻧﺎ‬with
shops offering every kind of Turkish sweetmeats(candies,‫ )ﻣﭩﮭﺎﺋﯿﺎں‬and flavours(tastes,‫ )ذاﺋﻘﮯ‬of
honey. Haunches(upper thighs,‫ )راﻧﯿﮟ‬of cured meat(preserved meat,‫ )ﻣﺤﻔﻮظ'ﮐﯿﺎ'ﮨﻮا'ﮔﻮﺷﺖ‬compete
with Harrods([a famous department store],‫ ’)ﮨﯿﺮوڈز‬Food Hall. The generational divide appears in
the Food Court, where hamburgers([sandwich with a patty],‫ )ﮨﻤﺒﺮﮔﺮ‬and fried chicken
overwhelm(overpower,‫ )ﻏﻠﺒﮧ‬traditional adana kebabs([Turkish minced meat kebabs],‫ )اداﻧﺎ'ﮐﺒﺎب‬and
shorba(soup,‫)ﺷﻮرﺑﮧ‬.

Türkiye is now more than a country; it is an experience. To savour(enjoy,‫ )ﻟﻄﻒ'اﻧﺪوز'ﮨﻮﻧﺎ‬its

fullness(satisfaction,‫)ﺗﺴﮑﯿﻦ‬, one needs to immerse(submerge,‫ )ﻏﻮﻃﮧ'ﻟﮕﺎﻧﺎ‬oneself in it. Young
locals do it by dipping into the Bosphorus([a strait in Istanbul],‫)ﺑﺎﺳﻔﻮرس‬, which is remarkably
clean considering the armada(fleet,‫ )ﺑﯿﮍہ‬of tankers, cruise(voyage,‫ )ﺑﺤﺮی'ﺳﻔﺮ‬ships,
ferries(boats,‫ )ﮐﺸﺘﯽ‬and boats that ply(travel,‫ )ﺳﻔﺮ‬through it.

To spend a few days in a Turkish hotel is to escape from home. To live in a villa(mansion,‫ )ﺑﻨﮕﻠﮧ‬in
the cool, silent suburb(outskirts,‫ )ﻣﻀﺎﻓﺎت‬of Zekeriyaköy([a neighborhood in Istanbul],‫)زﮐﺮﯾﮧ'ﮐﻮﺋﯽ‬,
high in the green, undulating(rising and falling,‫ )ﻟﮩﺮﯾﮟ‬hills that overlook(neglect,‫)ﻧﻈﺮاﻧﺪاز'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬
Istanbul, is to holiday in heaven(paradise,‫)ﺟﻨﺖ‬.

Over Kurban Bayrami, its affluent(rich,‫ )ﻣﺎﻟﺪار‬residents fled(escaped,‫ )ﻓﺮار'ﮨﻮﮔﺌﮯ‬to their second
seaside homes, leaving streets empty for dogs, their walkers, and for those who prefer their Eid
away from an urban abattoir(slaughterhouse,‫)ذﺑﺢ'ﺧﺎﻧﮧ‬.
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Holiday in Türkiye. You will emerge from its hammam(bathhouse,‫ )ﺣﻤﺎم‬physically

cleansed(purified,‫)ﺻﺎف'ﮐﯿﺎ‬, emotionally relaxed, and pummelled(beaten,‫ )ﻣﺎرا'ﮔﯿﺎ‬free of domestic
anxieties.

The writer is an author.

Taxing health
‘BABU’ a colloquial(informal,‫ )ﻏﯿﺮ'رﺳﻤﯽ‬term and a remnant(remainder,‫ )ﺑﺎﻗﯽ‬of our colonial past,
was used to refer to the British bureaucracy, who would wield(exercise,‫ )اﺳﺘﻌﻤﺎل'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬the stick to
tax the people. Even after independence, our inherited(inborn,‫ )وراﺛﺘﯽ‬bureaucratic system and
‘babu’ mindset(mentality,‫ )ذﮨﻨﯿﺖ‬haven’t evolved. Every year before the budget, we hear of tax
babus([bureaucrats],‫ )اﻓﺴﺮ‬arbitrarily(randomly,‫ )ﺑﻼ'وﺟﮧ‬formulating policies, including on health, to
decide the fate of the people.

Interesting research published by the British Medical Journal in 2011 chronicles how, in 2003,
the Tony Blair government in the UK invited all food companies, secretly, and informed them of
the burden of hypertension(high bloodpressure,‫ )ﺑﻠﻨﺪ'ﻓﺸﺎر'ﺧﻮن‬cases on the National Health
Service. The government’s ask was to reduce sodium content by 10 per cent every year for three
years. It was an inclusive(all-encompassing,‫)ﺟﺎﻣﻊ‬, well-informed policy directive(instruction,‫)ﮨﺪاﯾﺖ‬
that didn’t appear out of thin air, but was backed by(supported by,‫ )ﮐﯽ'ﺣﻤﺎﯾﺖ'ﺳﮯ‬data and
research. After many years, once its impact had taken effect, the study quoted above was
published to document this.

Clearly, almost eight decades after leaving the subcontinent, the British have evolved, backing
policy measures with authentic data to make informed decisions without disadvantaging any
specific stakeholder. But we have not. Take the matter of health tax; there are numerous global
examples of health taxes on a myriad(numerous,‫ )ﺑﮩﺖ'ﺳﺎرے‬of items consumed by the public to
save on healthcare costs. Some countries impose duties on beverages(drinks,‫( )ﻣﺸﺮوﺑﺎت‬liquor
and carbonated drinks) and junk(trash,‫ )ﻓﻀﻮل‬food, and particularly on tobacco. The decisions
taken are well-informed and intended for the long term; they are not simply an arbitrary(random,‫ﺑ‬
)‫ ﻼ'وﺟﮧ‬exercise to meet revenue shortfalls(deficiencies,‫)ﮐﻤﯽ‬.

Last year, the government imposed massive duties on the cigarette sector to discourage
consumers. While the decision was correct, it should have also noted that the number of cases
of oral cancer exceed(surpass,‫ )آﮔﮯ'ﺑﮍﮬﻨﺎ‬those of lung cancer. Gutka([a form of chewing
tobacco],‫ )ﮔﭩﮑﺎ‬consumption is the main reason behind oral cancer, an
undocumented(unrecorded,‫ )ﺑﻐﯿﺮ'دﺳﺘﺎوﯾﺰات‬area that is not just completely off the tax authorities’
radar(detection,‫ )رﯾﮉار‬but that also doesn’t face any action except for the occasional ‘ban’.

It makes little sense to tax juice.

Meanwhile, it is undeniable(irrefutable,‫ )ﻧﺎﻗﺎﺑﻞ'ﺗﺮدﯾﺪ‬that sugar consumption has harmful effects.

Yet solely holding fruit juices and drinks responsible for our increasing diabetes burden is to
overlook other factors. This is backed by studies. For example, official research published by
the US in 2022 on the role of dietary sugars and obesity in type 2 diabetes, conducted a
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meta(comprehensive,‫ )ﺟﺎﻣﻊ‬analysis of multiple interventional(involving intervention,‫)ﻣﺪاﺧﻠﺖ'ﭘﺮ'ﻣﺒﻨﯽ‬

studies. It showed that one can no longer conclude that sugar consumption alone causes type 2
diabetes, and that, instead, a hypercaloric(high-calorie,‫ )زﯾﺎدہ'ﮐﯿﻠﻮری'واﻻ‬diet — defined as “one in
which a person’s energy consumption exceeds their energy expenditure” — achieved by the
overconsumption of any type of macronutrients(essential nutrients,‫)اﮨﻢ'ﻏﺬاﺋﯽ'اﺟﺰاء‬, is a major risk
factor.

Diabetes avoidance needs a total lifestyle change; attributing(crediting,‫ )ﻣﻨﺴﻮب'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬diabetes

solely to sugar consumption oversimplifies(simplifies excessively,‫ )اﻧﺘﮩﺎﺋﯽ'ﺳﺎدہ'ﮐﺮﻧﺎ‬the complex
factors involved in the development of the disease. In Pakistan’s context, the lion’s share of
sugar consumption stems from our cultural sweet tooth thanks to halwais (who more often
than not evade tax regulations), while the risks of packaged confectionary(sweets,‫ )ﻣﭩﮭﺎﺋﯿﺎں‬items
are completely overlooked. The easiest sector to drop the anvil on is beverages that have some
goodness of fruit in them, and to bracket(category,‫ )زﻣﺮہ‬them with energy drinks and sodas that
are caffeinated(with caffeine,‫ )ﮐﯿﻔﯿﻦ'واﻻ‬and full of added sugar.

How can a country that is already facing a malnutrition(undernourishment,‫ )ﻏﺬاﺋﯽ'ﮐﻤﯽ‬crisis and

needs fortified products tax juice with natural fruit content, which contains essential
micronutrients such as Vitamin C, often prescribed by doctors for pat-ients recovering from
illness to boost immunity(resistance,‫ ?)ﻣﺪاﻓﻌﺖ‬Multiple research has suggested the importance
of juice as a healthy source of energy, whereas in countries such as the US, the
dietary(nutritional,‫ )ﻏﺬاﺋﯽ‬guidelines for 2020-2025 allow for up to half of the recommended daily
fruit intake to be replaced with fruit juice.

All this brings me back to the point that any policy decision should be well-thought-out,
especially when it comes to one that will have an impact on the health of the common man. It is
an unfortunate fact that when those in policymaking circles are not connected with the ground
realities and tend to overlook hard facts as well as research, it becomes near impossible to take
the correct steps. Invariably(consistently,‫)ﮨﻤﯿﺸﮧ‬, the fallout of uninformed policymaking is
suffered by the masses, and not by the decision-makers who will get transfers and postings and
will eventually retire with hefty(large,‫ )ﺑﮍا‬pensions and perks(benefits,‫ )ﻓﻮاﺋﺪ‬without having to
answer any uncomfortable questions about how they exercised their powers.

The writer is an academic medical researcher and a doctor working for a tertiary care hospital in
Karachi.

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