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Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Cop accused in kidnapping case reinstated as SHO
A police officer suspended over his alleged involvement in a kidnapping-for-ransom case has been appointed as an SHO, raising concerns over the role of political influence in police appointments. According to sources, Hyderabad SSP Adeel Hussain Chandio issued transfer orders relieving SHO Anwar Khanzada and SHO Imtiaz Lark from their respective posts, assigning them to the police headquarters. Sub Inspector Abdul Waheed Panhwar, who had earlier faced criminal charges, has now been appointed the new SHO of Bhittai Nagar police station. Panhwar's appointment has sparked controversy as he, along with his associates, was accused of abducting two businessmen — Muhammad Saleh and Ateeq Haider — from outside the District Court premises in October 2024. The victims were allegedly held for ransom and were released after the payment of Rs1.9 million. Panhwar was arrested, jailed, and later granted bail in connection with the case, which is still pending adjudication. His appointment has triggered concern among citizens who allege that political backing facilitated the reinstatement of an officer previously charged with a serious crime. They have called on the Sindh police chief to review the decision.
Business Recorder
16-07-2025
- Climate
- Business Recorder
Rain reimagined: could monsoons be the answer to Pakistan's water problems?
In Pakistan, where flooding devastates some regions while drought cripples others, rainwater harvesting is an uptapped lifeline that could turn the monsoon season from a nuisance to a resource. Rainwater harvesting is the collection and storage of rain for reuse before it drains away. From rooftop catchment tanks in homes to large underground reservoirs in communities and farms, this system allows water to be stored for irrigation, washing, livestock, and even safe drinking with basic filtration. In cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, flash floods during monsoon seasons cause chaos, yet the same water could be stored to recharge groundwater or provide months of clean utility water. In rural Pakistan, especially in arid zones like Tharparkar, Cholistan, and Balochistan, where rainfall is rare but intense, harvesting systems could mean the difference between survival and starvation. These areas desperately need community based water tanks, dug wells, and natural catchment restoration all of which can be done with low cost, local materials. According to the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), more than 29 million acre-feet (MAF) of rainwater goes unused annually. That's enough to meet the drinking and household needs of every Pakistani for a year yet it simply washes away. Dams dry up, groundwater drops, and climate change tightens its grip. What's more, cities draw groundwater at unsustainable rates, causing the water table to fall dangerously low. In parts of Punjab and Sindh, groundwater depletion has already reached crisis levels, threatening both drinking water and food production. As Pakistan faces yet another year of unpredictable rains, parched fields, and shrinking water supplies, a centuries old solution is knocking from the sky. Rainwater harvesting - once a common practice in rural communities that has faded into obscurity amid urban expansion and mismanaged water systems - needs to be revived. 'It's not rocket science' 'Pakistan is now ranked among the top 10 countries most vulnerable to water stress. With an alarming per capita water availability of less than 900 cubic meters, we've plunged below the scarcity threshold. And yet, every year, billions of liters of precious rainwater are wasted flowing off rooftops, flooding streets, or evaporating unused,' associate professor at Sindh Agricultural University Dr Aasia Akbar Panhwar said. She said rainwater harvesting 'isn't rocket science'. Countries like India and Australia have already made it part of their national water management. Dr Panhwar called for mandatory rainwater harvesting in all new buildings and housing schemes; community tanks and recharge pits in water stressed areas; training and awareness programmes for farmers, builders, and local governments; integration of rainwater harvesting in school and college curricula; and government subsidies and technical support to promote adoption. 'As climate change worsens and rainfall becomes more erratic, we must act now or face an even drier, more divided future.' 'Rainwater harvesting offers a rare win-win situation as it reduces flood risk, replenishes aquifers, supports agriculture, and strengthens water independence. Let's stop watching the rain as a passing storm and start seeing it as a precious gift.' she said. Assistant Professor Dr Tanveer Ahmed Gadhi - who works at the US Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Water at Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoro - said Pakistan receives an average of 137 billion cubic meters of rainfall annually, equivalent to 111 MAF. Yet, due to inadequate infrastructure, poor urban planning, and a lack of strategic catchment systems, over 60–70% of this goes unutilized, either running off into drains or evaporating. 'If even 30% of annual rainfall were effectively harvested and stored through rooftop systems, urban recharge schemes, and small check dams, Pakistan could potentially capture around 33–35 MAF/year, or over 90 billion liters per day - that is nearly four times the nation's drinking water requirement, and about 15% of total agricultural water use, a meaningful cushion for drought-prone periods,' he said. He said for urban areas, rooftop rainwater harvesting alone holds significant promise. In cities like Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Quetta, annual rainfall ranges from 150 mm to 500 mm. A single 1,000 sq. ft. rooftop can collect up to 50,000 liters/year, which, when scaled across urban housing units, could offset municipal water stress significantly. Similarly, rain-fed (barani) areas of Punjab and Balochistan could enhance agricultural resilience by using localized harvesting and storage systems for supplemental irrigation. On top of that, groundwater recharge, now critically low in urban centers, can be dramatically improved by channeling rainwater through percolation pits and aquifer injection wells. In parts of Islamabad and Lahore, pilot recharge systems have already shown promising results in restoring shallow aquifers after monsoons. 'From scarcity to sustainability' Despite the potential, rainwater harvesting in Pakistan remains underutilized due to weak policy support, lack of public awareness, and fragmented institutional ownership. While countries like India have legally mandated rooftop harvesting in many states, Pakistan's uptake is still mostly limited to pilot projects and donor-funded initiatives. 'Harnessing even a fraction of the annual rainfall through systematic harvesting could transform Pakistan's water outlook from scarcity to sustainability. It is not a question of availability, but a question of will, planning, and action,' Dr Gadhi said. According to the World Bank and FAO studies and reports, Pakistan requires an estimated 922 billion liters of water per day, equivalent to 236 MAF annually, to meet its national needs across drinking, domestic use, livestock, and agriculture. However, the breakdown of this demand reveals a striking imbalance in how the country allocates its water. Despite a population exceeding 241 million, the combined requirement for safe drinking water and basic household needs accounts for only 36 billion liters per day, less than 4% of total usage. This includes around 12 billion liters for drinking and hygiene (at 50 liters per person/day) and 24 billion liters for broader household use. In stark contrast, agriculture alone consumes nearly 880 billion liters daily, making up over 93% of Pakistan's total water use. This is largely due to inefficient irrigation methods and cultivation of water-intensive crops like rice and sugarcane. With nearly 200 million animals, the livestock sector adds another 6 billion liters daily to the national demand. These numbers underscore a systemic misalignment, while safe drinking water needs are modest, they remain unmet in many regions, often due to poor infrastructure and contamination. The data suggests that Pakistan's water crisis is not purely about scarcity; it's fundamentally about governance, efficiency, and misplaced priorities. Without urgent policy shifts towards equitable distribution, sustainable irrigation, and investment in treatment systems, the country risks deepening its water insecurity even with more than enough water on paper.
Express Tribune
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Justice Salahuddin Panhwar steps down from bench in reserved seats case
Justice Salahuddin Panhwar recused himself on Friday from the bench hearing the reserved seats case. An 11-member constitiutional bench (CB) led by Justice Aminuddin Khan is currently hearing the case. In its short order on July 12, 2024, eight out of 13 judges concluded that 39 out of 80 MNAs on the list were elected candidates of the PTI, positioning it as the largest party in the National Assembly. However, the National Assembly has not yet implemented the ruling, and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has raised several objections. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and the ECP have submitted review petitions challenging the Supreme Court's July 12 decision from last year. The hearing was briefly adjourned for 10 minutes, but the bench has since resumed proceedings. The decision comes after objections were raised regarding his participation in the case. Justice Panhwar, part of an 11-member bench, opted to step down from the case on the grounds of preserving the court's dignity. In his remarks, he mentioned that his past association with the case's key players, including lawyers Faisal Siddiqui and Salman Akram Raja, led to the objections. He emphasised that his recusal was necessary to protect the institution's integrity. But, he clarified, that it should not be seen as an admission of the objections' validity. The decision was met with mixed reactions in the courtroom. Advocate Hamid Khan lauded Justice Panhwar's step, but Justice Aminuddin Khan said that the situation stemmed from the conduct of the involved parties. Justice Jamal Mandokhail echoed this sentiment, highlighting that despite the controversy, Justice Panhwar was given a chance to speak even when two lawyers from the same party are generally not allowed to argue the case. On Thursday, the CB turned down the request by one of PTI's counsels to defer the hearing of the reserved seats case till August, noting that the bench intended to hear the case daily. Earlier, PTI's counsel advocate Salman Akram Raja resumed his arguments in support of the July 12, 2024, majority order of a full SC bench. He referred to the SC judgment in the Sindh High Court Bar case, which, he said, serves as an example of how the SC can intervene for the restoration of the Constitution. Read: CB refuses to adjourn reserved seats case till Aug "After the emergency imposed on November 3, 2007, several actions were taken, but the Supreme Court declared that emergency unconstitutional, and all actions taken in its aftermath were also annulled." "The court had ruled that the judges appointed after the emergency held no legitimate status, and their removal of sitting judges was also declared unlawful; the removed judges were reinstated." During the hearing, Raja also referred to the allocation of reserved seats in the general elections of 2013, 2018 and 2024. He stated that the record shows that in previous elections, the political party that won general seats received reserved seats in roughly the same proportion. "However, the situation is different in the recent general elections. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a party [PTI] that secured 83% of the general seats was allotted zero reserved seats," he said. Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail asked Raja as to how the apex court can stop any politician from contesting elections independently. "Suppose Imran Khan, Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto, or Maulana Fazlur Rehman, being major party leaders, decide to contest independently, how can we prevent them?" he asked. Justice Musarrat Hilali stated that losing an election symbol does not mean the political party's registration is canceled. PTI candidates joined the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), but the SIC was not present in parliament, she said. Justice Mandokhail noted that Raja cited the SHC Bar Association case, but in that case, the facts were undisputed. Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi commented that in the 1985 non-party based elections, a political party called itself the 'Awam Dost' party. "Did you introduce any such term [for the PTI for the polls]?" asked Justice Rizvi. The lawyer responded that the PTI introduced the term "Kaptaan ka Sipahi". Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar observed that there seemed to be a lack of coordination within the PTI. Justice Mandokhail added that it appeared that the 39 members of the Assembly who openly declared their affiliation with the PTI were more sensible." "Either they were more sensible or they had a higher tolerance for pressure," added Justice Hilali. Recalling past political events, SIC's counsel Hamid Khan said the decision in the PTI intra-party election case was announced on the very last day for the allotment of election symbols. "It was a Saturday, a holiday, but the case was heard until 11pm that night. Our candidates kept waiting, wondering what the verdict would be. At midnight, our election symbol was taken away from us, and the deadline for symbol allotment passed. After that, where did we stand? He said the ECP gave more time to the ANP even though the ANP had not even held any elections "We had conducted elections, but the ECP did not accept them. We urged it to fine us, if needed, but it stripped us of our election symbol. On the same day, the ANP and the PTI were treated differently," he said. Justice Mazhar responded that the ANP was being given an opportunity for the first time, while the PTI had already been given several years. "Your party constitution was made more foolproof; we can even say it's better than others," he noted Hamid Khan remarked that it seemed the PTI was punished for drafting a better constitution. The CB also dismissed Hamid Khan's request to defer the case till August. The court will resume hearing at 9.30am today. On January 13, 2024, a three-member SC bench upheld the ECP's December 22, 2023, order declaring the PTI's intra-party polls null and void. As a consequence of the SC verdict and its misinterpretation by the ECP, the PTI candidates had to contest the February 8, 2024, general elections as independents. Eighty such independent candidates reached the National Assembly and later joined the SIC in an apparent bid to claim reserved seats for women and minorities. The ECP, however, refused to allocate the seats to the party, a decision that the SIC challenged in SC.
Express Tribune
07-05-2025
- Express Tribune
BISP director acts on illegal deductions complaints
Following numerous complaints of illegal deductions from Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) payments to eligible women, the Director of BISP Thatta district, Jaffar Hussain Panhwar, conducted surprise inspections of distribution centers, including in Makli. During the operation, authorities blocked over six devices used by individuals involved in these illegal deductions. Speaking to the media, Director Panhwar stated that the government has disbursed Rs13,500 each to over 80,000 deserving women in the district, establishing various distribution points for easy access to funds.
Express Tribune
24-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Competitive power market faces delays
Listen to article Despite approvals from the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) and the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), following a six-month test run by the Central Power Purchasing Agency-Guarantee (CPPA-G), the Competitive Trading Bilateral Contracts Market (CTBCM) has yet to become fully operational. Leading stakeholders from across Pakistan's energy and policy landscape convened a high-level multi-stakeholder dialogue hosted by Renewables First (RF) to discuss financial and technical readiness for the operationalisation of a competitive electricity market, a reform process that has shown accelerated progress in recent years. The event brought together senior government representatives, legislators, regulatory bodies, development partners, and power sector experts to chart a path forward for implementing the long-delayed market reform under the CTBCM. The CTBCM reform has already been approved by the ECC and Nepra, followed by a six-month test run by CPPA-G. However, its commercial operation has not begun to date. During the event, the stakeholders expressed concern that the power sector of Pakistan remains entrenched in a single-buyer model, with CPPA-G as the sole purchaser and distribution companies (DISCOs) holding exclusive distribution licences. This structure has led to escalating capacity payments, underutilised generation assets, and suppressed private-sector participation. Ramsha Panhwar, energy analyst at Renewables First, presented a critical overview of one of the most debated aspects of the CTBCM regime: the Use of System Charge (UoSC). She pointed out that the market has remained uncompetitive primarily because these charges have not been rationalised, making them unaffordable and excessively high for market participants. "The UoSC is a central pillar of the CTBCM regime, determining how market participants pay for access to the transmission and distribution networks. However, more than 80% of the proposed UoSC comprises stranded costs and cross-subsidy, which exacerbates the overall power tariff. It directly affects the economics of open access and competitive supply," said Panhwar. "Rethinking the UoSC with a planned and phased recovery of stranded costs reduces the overall UoSC, making it attractive and affordable for the market participants."
