Pakistan, envisioned as a democratic parliamentary republic by its founding father, Muhammad Ali ... more Pakistan, envisioned as a democratic parliamentary republic by its founding father, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, has faced numerous challenges in establishing a stable democratic system. Despite being constitutionally committed to democracy, the nation's political journey has been marred by military dominance, clerical influence, and the power of the landowning aristocracy. However, the signing of the Charter of Democracy (CoD) in 2006 by the two main political parties marked a significant step towards strengthening democratic institutions and governance in Pakistan. Now, as Pakistan faces new political and economic challenges, there is a pressing need for a new, inclusive Charter of Democracy, referred to as CoD 2.0, to further solidify democratic practices and institutions.
Sustainable Cotton Production, Trade and Environmental Impact: Policy Issues and Options for Pakistan
... Shahid Zia, Chaudhry Inayatullah, Mehreen Samee and Tahir Hasnain ... ADB Asian Development B... more ... Shahid Zia, Chaudhry Inayatullah, Mehreen Samee and Tahir Hasnain ... ADB Asian Development Bank AJK Azad Jammu Kashmir APCOM Agricultural Prices Commission APTMA All Pakistan Textile Mills Association ATC Agreement on Textile and Clothing BOD Biological ...
Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 2007
More than ever, multi-sector partnerships are being seen as a key community development approach,... more More than ever, multi-sector partnerships are being seen as a key community development approach, with many governments, corporate bodies, and international agencies viewing them as an effective way of addressing complex development challenges that have defied singlesector interventions. In Nigeria, corporate bodies have, before now, demonstrated their commitments towards community development directly and independently. But presently, the attention has shifted to partnership approach for sustainable community development. The aim of this paper is to have an insight on the multi-sector partnerships employed by Shell Petroleum Developing Company-the Nigerian subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell, aimed at poverty reduction, and sustainable community development in their host communities. The paper uses a qualitative approach through exploring of relevant secondary sources and content analysis to evaluate the company's partnership initiatives. It argues that such partnerships have impacted more positively on the people by empowering community members, enhancing community well being, and solving community problems than the company's previous approaches to community development.
We should definitely like to see Pakistan without any environmental issue but currently there are... more We should definitely like to see Pakistan without any environmental issue but currently there are lots of challenges. As in fact we are growing at the rate of more than 8 percent in GDP and creating lots of economic opportunities, this is also growing stress and implications on environment. The constant growth in population is another massive challenge. As we grow economically, we have to decide at this point in time that we ensure better quality of life. At the end of the day, when we have more money but our quality of life suffers and we can't breathe and drink pure water; then it is not worth it. Now the Government must show scores of commitment to guarantee that as we grow, we also ensure that the quality of life of our citizens is made better and we, as a country, might be called an environment friendly country. The government should announce the 'National Environment Policy' with considerably increase in the budget for environment. Let us have a look at some of our burning environmental issues. 1. Need for tree plantations in urban centres – There is no doubt that planting trees help in maintaining good environment. Trees in urban centres help clean environment and reduce pollution. Islamabad, for instance, is one of most protected cities of the world with lot of vegetation and clean healthy environment. So there is need to plant trees in other cities like Islamabad.
Cotton is the most important agricultural product in Pakistan. It serves as both, a cash crop as ... more Cotton is the most important agricultural product in Pakistan. It serves as both, a cash crop as well as cheap raw material for the industry. There is a strong relationship between cotton growth and the country’s overall GDP growth. However, over the past decade, a combination of policy shifts and lack of policy coherence have caused both cotton production and exports to fluctuate. Its production, industrial use and trade have significant impact on the country’s environment. The increase in yield occurred mainly by the enhanced use of quality seed (new varieties) and agro-chemicals. Although pesticides help control harmful insects/pests, they impose serious environmental risks, especially if not used properly. Similarly, there are no regulations of hygiene and occupational health and safety in cotton-associated industries (pesticide formulation plants, cotton ginneries, oil expellers and textile mills) and hence it is not well documented. The effluents from textile mills contain large amounts of hazardous chemicals. Since the textile mills do not have effluent treatment plants, the effluents are discharged directly into drains, canals and rivers.
In the light of the above, it can safely be concluded that; (i) potential of cotton production in Pakistan is much higher than the existing output, (ii) the social costs of cotton cultivation are not accounted for in the present accounting system, (iii) the cotton ecosystem has been degraded over time, and (iv) trade policies have adversely affected crop production. This has happened due to lack of institutional awareness about the environmental impact of interventions intended to boost production.
The current textile policy however is deemed to help the textile sector re-establish itself without addressing the environmental impacts and hygiene and occupational health issues. The cotton policy of ensures free trade of cotton without any duty and quantitative restrictions and due to its surety of international price of cotton for the growers, the farmers are likely to grow more cotton and use more pesticides. Furthermore, current farming practices will lead towards a monoculture, declining crop diversity thus adversely affecting overall bio-diversity in the cotton.
This report highlights numerous measures, including further technical research, administrative measures, reforms in credit, subsidies, taxes and trade policies infrastructure development, social mobilization, and institutional reforms to make cotton production sustain able.
The study recommends that the key to sustain exports under competition is to reduce production costs, improve efficiency of resource use and improved quality of raw cotton and value-added products. While confronting export pressure, Pakistan should introduce sustainable cotton production practices which we will be in its long term interests.
It's basically a Guide to Formalization of Customary Land Tenancy Agreements in Sindh. On ground,... more It's basically a Guide to Formalization of Customary Land Tenancy Agreements in Sindh. On ground, verbal tenancy agreements prevail throughout the Sindh Province instead of signing proper written contract deeds. The ongoing insecure tenancy arrangement in Sindh is a major stumbling block to supporting agriculture and it usually gives rise to disputes between the landlord and tenants.
This Guide has been developed for signing customary Land Tenancy Agreements in Sindh with an aim to improve the existing relationship between landlord and the tenant and sensitize them that through signing proper tenancy agreements and enhancing land tenure security, their overall agricultural activity will improve besides raising their farm income which is a win-win situation for the both.
Since the advent of industrialization and globalization, the importance of food for the survival ... more Since the advent of industrialization and globalization, the importance of food for the survival of the human race has increased manifold as the food has now become a most precious commodity. A country is food secure where the food demand and supply are balanced in a way that food is affordable and accessible to all and it satisfies people's basic right to food. The food insecurity refers to consistent inaccessibility of food due to lack of money and other resources. A household is considered food-insecure when its residents are malnourished and live in hunger or fear of starvation. [1] Malnutrition or malnourishment is a broad term which refers to eating a diet in which certain nutrients are lacking or in excess or in the wrong proportions. According to the World Health Organization, hunger and related malnutrition are the greatest single threat to the world's public health. [2] Women, children, and the elderly suffer more from malnutrition. Women are vulnerable because during pregnancies and breastfeeding, women have additional nutrient requirements.
Disaster risk and the adverse impacts of floods can be reduced by monitoring, systematically anal... more Disaster risk and the adverse impacts of floods can be reduced by monitoring, systematically analysing and managing the causes of floods, including by avoiding floods, reducing social and economic vulnerability, and improving preparedness for response to adverse hazard events.
While renewable energy sources could help mitigate climate change and tackle energy crisis, it is... more While renewable energy sources could help mitigate climate change and tackle energy crisis, it is up to the Pakistan Government to take necessary actions and make that possibility a reality. Pakistan is among the most-affected countries by climate change worldwide. At the same time, it has been crippled by a raging energy crisis for the last few years. A large number of studies and policy recommendations have been produced on these issues without much visible impact.
Coastal ecosystem management is currently considered to be a key element for the sustainable deve... more Coastal ecosystem management is currently considered to be a key element for the sustainable development of these zones. Coastal areas are high activity zones for fishing, but also for farming, trading, tourism and industry. Coastal regions are especially vulnerable to the hazards of climate change, namely sea level rise, coastal erosion and extreme weather events like tsunamis and tropical cyclones. These impacts are leading to coastal vegetation and mangrove forests being destroyed and seawater flowing into freshwater reservoirs. People inhabiting coastal areas are especially at risk from natural disasters that threaten their lives or destroy the means to provide their livelihoods.
As the pressure to address climate change increases, debates on connections between the businesse... more As the pressure to address climate change increases, debates on connections between the businesses, the population and environment are being renewed. The importance of private sector involvement in terms of scaling up or leveraging public sector capital is now crucial due to two good reasons: 1) care for society and nature is linked with sustainability of the business, and 2) public funds will not be sufficient to meet the investment requirements of a successful climate change coping strategy.
Men and women relate differently to the environment, making it necessary to take into account the... more Men and women relate differently to the environment, making it necessary to take into account the linkage between gender and environment while assessing and assigning their different roles.
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Papers by Tahir Hasnain
In the light of the above, it can safely be concluded that; (i) potential of cotton production in Pakistan is much higher than the existing output, (ii) the social costs of cotton cultivation are not accounted for in the present accounting system, (iii) the cotton ecosystem has been degraded over time, and (iv) trade policies have adversely affected crop production. This has happened due to lack of institutional awareness about the environmental impact of interventions intended to boost production.
The current textile policy however is deemed to help the textile sector re-establish itself without addressing the environmental impacts and hygiene and occupational health issues. The cotton policy of ensures free trade of cotton without any duty and quantitative restrictions and due to its surety of international price of cotton for the growers, the farmers are likely to grow more cotton and use more pesticides. Furthermore, current farming practices will lead towards a monoculture, declining crop diversity thus adversely affecting overall bio-diversity in the cotton.
This report highlights numerous measures, including further technical research, administrative measures, reforms in credit, subsidies, taxes and trade policies infrastructure development, social mobilization, and institutional reforms to make cotton production sustain able.
The study recommends that the key to sustain exports under competition is to reduce production costs, improve efficiency of resource use and improved quality of raw cotton and value-added products. While confronting export pressure, Pakistan should introduce sustainable cotton production practices which we will be in its long term interests.
This Guide has been developed for signing customary Land Tenancy Agreements in Sindh with an aim to improve the existing relationship between landlord and the tenant and sensitize them that through signing proper tenancy agreements and enhancing land tenure security, their overall agricultural activity will improve besides raising their farm income which is a win-win situation for the both.