Losing price control

Recent wave of price hike have badly affected the middle class people. Prices of vegetables and fruits have registered increase from 35 to 70 percent before the advent of Ramazan, writes UZMA ALEEM


“We are trying to hire a rickshaw to go back home after spending half of my father’s salary for a handful of vegetables and fruits. The month of Ramzan would start after 8 or 9 days but the prices of commodities are already skyrocketing badly affecting common people like us. Oh, this shopping (while pointing towards her shopping bags) just frustrates me. Few years back the situation was far better. I don’t know what the government is doing? Why don’t they control the situation?” blurted Sidra when asked to comment on the situation while she was shopping at the sabzimandi of Singhpura, Lahore.
Sidra is not the only person expressing her despair over the price hike. Sunday Plus conducted a survey to assess the volume of price hike before Ramazan.
Though rising prices is not a new phenomenon, yet the common people tend to compare the current prices with those of the last few years. Prices have substantially increased since 1995, and have shown an upward trend, especially after the budget and hikes in administered prices. It is now very difficult for people to make both ends meet. We all feel that something should be done to control the prices.
There is a lot of anger, resentment, and discontentment over the rising prices, and most people seem to think that the government has been very ineffective in checking the prices. However, the controlling price rise is not an easy task, it require special product, by product and industry, by industry analysis. The price issue involves everybody at present. Though the government claims of doing whatever it can yet the price hike is still panicking the masses.
Prices of most food items have registered an increase in July 2010 in most parts of the country, warranting a prompt government action to enforce price control mechanisms or ensuring steady supplies of items that are most used during the holy month of Ramazan set to begin in mid-August.
According to FAFEN’s Retail Price Monitor, prices of fresh food items like tomatoes, potatoes, garlic and mangoes increased in July 2010 as compared to the preceding month in most parts of the country.
The prices of the two most commonly used vegetables - tomatoes and potatoes - registered high increases of 35 percent and 11 percent, respectively. Garlic price went up by 9 percent in July as compared to June 2010. Potato and garlic prices continued an upward trend for the second consecutive month. Mango prices, which were quite low in June, went up by 6 percent in July. Sugar prices also increased by 7 percent, perhaps as information of inadequate stocks of this commodity started reaching the market, with fears of yet another sugar crisis.
During the month of July 2010, FAFEN Governance Monitors collected prices of 69 commodities and services at retail outlets in 129 National Assembly constituencies in 82 districts in the four provinces, Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
According to FAFEN’s Retail Price Monitor— part of FAFEN’s nationwide initiative to monitor governance processes under its Democratic Governance Program—meat prices also increased in July as compared to June, with beef increasing by 5 percent, chicken by 3 percent and mutton by 2 percent, indicating that prices of meats may further increase during Ramadan. Fresh milk and yogurt prices also registered an increase of 2 percent each. Basmati rice price was up slightly in July (1 percent as compared to June prices), while the price of Rice Irri was up by 3 percent nationally. The prices of mash, lobia, gram and moong pulses were up by 4 percent, 3 percent, 2 percent and 1 percent, respectively. Firewood prices registered an increase of 8 percent in the reporting month as compared to the preceding one.
While 35 consumer commodities and services registered increases in price, 28 consumer items were available at relatively cheaper prices in July as compared to June. In general-use consumer items, the price of washing powder and toothpaste decreased by 19 percent and 6 percent, respectively, in July as compared with June. Apples were available at 13 percent lower prices. Dry dates and bananas were also relatively cheaper in July as compared to June 2010 (7 percent and 4 percent decrease in price, respectively).
There was a wide regional variance in terms of changes in the prices of some essential commodities. For instance, the price of tomatoes, the food item with the most fluctuating price, registered an increase of 62 percent in Punjab and 61 percent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as compared to just 8 percent in Sindh. In contrast, the price of the same commodity decreased by 14 percent in the province of Balochistan, which enjoyed the harvesting season of this commodity in reporting month. There was a nominal increase of 1 percent in the price of Basmati rice nationwide, but it increased by 28 percent in FATA.
These statistics of FAFEN also reflected that price hike has affected the buying pattern of a common man as it has reduced to the necessities while making modern living essentials a luxury for him. Socio-economic middle class of Pakistan is worst affected by the price hike. The industry and the trade are responsible to a good extent for not playing fair with the public. The government, businessmen and the public should collectively tackle the problem, back in theory and practice.

Too noisy for life

BY UZMA ALEEM

Shahid Awan, a former van driver who now works as a daily wages worker in a factory, bears scolds and abuses of his contractor for not fulfilling all the given tasks because of his partial deafness. The problem of hearing impairment gradually occurred because of his old occupation as the accumulated exposure to traffic noise led to partial deafness.
The case of Shahid Awan is not the only case of hearing impairment. Since noise pollution does not only affect hearing rather it causes mental fatigue, cardiac arrest, restlessness and frustration, while raising anger, anxiety, blood pressure that ultimately reduces people’s morale, motivation and judgment. Moreover noise pollution also retards student learning ability and concentration.
During the past thirty years, noise in all areas, especially in urban areas, has been increasing rapidly. In Pakistan, there is no proper implementation of laws regarding noise emanating from vehicle horns, railway engines, air crafts, airport or industrial and construction activities.
Though public complaints on noise pollution are often received in the federal and provincial environmental protection agencies, yet they have rarely taken any legal action.
It is pertinent to note that road traffic noise is most widespread source of noise nuisance in the urban areas of Pakistan. The situation is getting alarming with increase in traffic density on city roads, particularly in Lahore.
Environmental Protection Agency of Pakistan exercises its power under clause (d) of Section 6(1) of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Ordinance, 1983 with the approval of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Council established National Environmental Quality Standards, for motor vehicle exhaust and noise.
Pakistan NEQS for motor vehicle noise allows the maximum permissible noise emission limit of 85 dB for new vehicles at a distance of 7.5 metres from the source without specifying the type of motor vehicle and measuring technique.
Most of the areas of Lahore and other major cities are subjected to unacceptable noise conditions due to construction, manufacturing, traffic and recreational activities. But unfortunately, no national survey has been conducted to assess noise level in cities. However, random tests in different cities showed that the noise level in most of areas was as high as 70-90 dB which was much higher that the acceptable limits. The major source of this increasing noise pollution on roads is unnecessary and uncivilized usage of horn.
Taufeeq Ahmad, a retail and wholesale dealer of Horns, told S+ various types of Horns were available in market. But around six major kinds of horns were most sold i.e. Single stage horn, double level horn (commonly known as double pressure horn), little speaker horn, Multiple stages/circuits horn, broad band horn, high performance electronic horn. “Broad band horns and high performance electronic horns are being import from China. Three tones are available in the electronic horn range and almost forty ranges in the high-performance horns are available to better differentiate from ambient noise. Step less volume control via potentiometer is used in electronic horns instead of mechanical screw to accommodate fluctuating ambient noise. However people do not prefer these horns because of their expensive rates and lack of shrill in their sounds. Whereas the multiple stages horns and double level horns are mostly liked by drivers of vehicles of public transport like motorcycle rickshaws, buses, vans and coasters etc”, he added.
Though high pressure horns are banned yet some of the private vans’ drivers also prefer horns with little speakers. So on the demand of consumers, sale of these types of horns is highest.
While talking about the latest technological horns, Tabeer Mustafa, a former engineer of Railways of Pakistan said that a very interesting technology was the “Broad Band” horn, developed in England for the Noise Abatement Society there, and tried out in 2003, very successfully - it could not spread out as much as Chinese and Pakistani horns - these were considered much less disturbing to neighbours. Some US rail lines had apparently bolted plates onto the horns to get the same effect.
However in Pakistan noise pollution is on a rapid increase because of lack of road sense and irresponsible behaviour of masses and government towards noise pollution. Although the Motor Vehicle Rules, 1969 (Section 154, 155 and 158) guarantees the absence of noise pollution through following clauses:
• No motor vehicle shall be fitted with and multilinked horn giving a succession of different note or with any other sound producing device giving an unduly harsh, shrill , loud or alarming noise on other similar vehicles of such sound signals.
• Every motor vehicle shall be fitted with a device (therein after referred to as a silencer) which by means of an expansion chamber or otherwise reduce as far as may be reasonable and practicable the noise that would otherwise be made by the escape of exhaust gases from the engine.
• Every motor vehicle shall be so constructed and maintained as not to cause undue noise when in motion.
According to environmental protection department of Punjab, government of Punjab constituted a committee to address the issue of use of pressure horns. A number of meetings had been held in the past and more than 80 percent illegal horns were removed from intra city route buses of Lahore.
Awareness raising campaigns regarding noise pollution were also initiated like Blue area in Islamabad and Jail road in Lahore had been declared as silence zones (no horn blowing allowed). Despite these efforts of government any significant change in the environment of metropolis could not be observed. Lack of commitment of government and indifferent approach of masses made the situation worse. The level of noise has exceeded the maximum limit in most of the areas of Lahore. As Naseem Ahmad of EPA told the city was being hit by the worst levels of noise pollution. “Around 55 decibels in residential areas and 75 decibel levels in commercial areas should be mandated to reduce noise pollution,” said the Assistant director EPA
“Whereas we recorded 73 to 91 decibels at Shadman Chowk, 90 at Circular Road, 85 at Kalma Chowk, 98 at Azadi Chowk, 93 at General Post Office Chowk and 91 to 100 decibels at Railway Station,” he explained.
Medical survey reports and studies also reflect impact of noise pollution on public health. According to a cross-sectional and descriptive study of ENT Department, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore, several commuters and drivers of public transport drivers are exposed to excess noise on roads in Lahore and most of them are suffering from noise induced hearing loss.
This report stated that 65 percent of the people including drivers had noise induced hearing loss. (NIHL) 25 percent had normal hearing threshold and 10 percent had disabling hearing loss in Lahore.
There is no doubt that there is excess noise on roads in all major cities in Pakistan but the situation has become worse in Lahore with more than 3 million vehicles running on roads. According to ISO standard noise levels on roads should not exceed 70 dB. In Lahore, the noise limit on roads laid down by National Environment Quality Standards is 85-90 dB with in the radius of 7.5 meters. Also the Motor Vehicle Rules 1969: Section 158 states that every motor shall be so constructed and maintained as not to cause noise when in motion. But the fact is other wise and noise levels on roads average around 90 dB. This excessive noise on roads in Lahore city has resulted in hearing loss (from mild to acute level) in 75 percent of the commuters. “This NIHL will continue if corrective action is not taken. More over NIHL is progressive if noise pollution is not controlled and this hearing loss is irreversible. What damage has been done cannot be corrected, only prevention is the treatment of NIHL”, Dr. Shahzad Mirza explained.
“Hearing loss is not only one of the hazards of noise. Prolonged or excessive exposure to noise, whether in community or at work place, can cause permanent medical conditions as hypertension and ischemic heart disease. Noise can adversely affect performance, attentiveness, and memory. On roads or in industry these deficits in performance can lead to accidents. Noise above 80 dB may increase aggressive behaviour, and can result in changes in social behaviour. The main social consequence of hearing impairment is the inability to understand speech in normal conditions, which is considered severe social handicap,” he added.
While talking about the preventions he told noise control measures could be in the form of various type of engineering, personal protection, and administrative approaches. Most important was awareness among community about the health hazards of noise pollution. Moreover the government should ensure smooth traffic flows to minimise noise pollution since horns are mostly used in traffic jams.


Random tests in different cities showed that the noise level in most of areas was as high as 70-90 dB which was much higher that the acceptable limits. The major source of this increasing noise pollution on roads is unnecessary usage of horn.


Around 55 decibels in residential areas and 75 decibel levels in commercial areas should be mandated to reduce noise pollution. 73 to 91 decibels at Shadman Chowk, 90 at Circular Road, 85 at Kalma Chowk, 98 at Azadi Chowk, 93 at General Post Office Chowk and 91 to 100 decibels at Railway Station have been recorded.

VAT: Towards economy’s documentation or chaos

Retail sector in Pakistan has always refused to come into the tax net despite government offers of lucrative minimum tax schemes launched in the past. Now Value Added Tax would be implemented from July 1, 2010 but FBR’s clarifications about the proposed VAT regime have failed to build the trust of stakeholders, reports UZMA ALEEM

The International Monetary Fund had deferred, earlier, for an indefinite period of the disbursement of the fifth, US$1.2 billion, instalment of funds to be paid to Pakistan under their $11.3 billion standby agreement. This came after the government failed to meet the condition of tabling draft value-added tax legislation in the four provincial assemblies. Now the IMF has given May 3, 2010, as a tentative date for the approval of the fifth tranche after seeking assurances on VAT implementation from July 1 by government of Pakistan. The IMF was pushing Pakistan to levy the tax to increase tax-to-GDP ratio, the lowest in the South Asia.
The Fund has already twice postponed the executive board’s meeting scheduled earlier to be held last month after Pakistan could not meet the pre-condition of tabling value-added tax in provincial assemblies.
Pakistan agreed with the IMF in November 2009 to impose VAT from July 1 this year. The new tax would help the government to raise an additional 150 billion rupees (US$1.9 billion) in revenue. Local traders and businessmen see inherent flaws in the VAT Act. While a certain section of economists favour this regime of taxation as they see it an important step in economic development through the documentation of economy.
“Though the VAT regime is a much simple trader and customer friendly system of taxation but all the same it is very noble too for the people. It is therefore, yet natural that the trading community in particular and the consumers in general feel unrest about this new tax regime,” Riffat Saqlain, an economist was of the view.
While explaining the phenomenon of VAT she said that each commodity had to pass through several stages of production and distribution. “Value at the final stage is the sum of value created/added at each of these stages. Under VAT value added at each stage of production and distribution is taxed. VAT is essentially a multi-point system of taxation. Thus value added is the difference between a dealer’s Sales and Purchases. Moreover VAT is immensely popular throughout the world. VAT system is presently in operation in more than 135 Countries and covers nearly 85 percent of the World’s population. Even it is operational in the neighbouring countries like India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and China” she elucidated.
“Actually only dealers above the taxable limit have a tax liability under VAT. VAT is consumer friendly, because of the mechanism of Input Tax Credit where the dealer gets a set-off for the taxes paid earlier within the State, such taxes are not treated as part of the cost thus there is no cascading i.e. Tax on Tax. This ensures that the price of commodities does not increase under VAT,” she added.
Much of Pakistan’s economy is not documented, encouraging the parallel economy to thrive. Pakistan’s parallel economy, or untaxed illegal money, is estimated at $83 billion, or half the country’s entire GDP of $166 billion. The problem has become so big it threatens public welfare plans
In addition, Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Sohail Ahmed also stressed the need to clarify that the VAT would replace the general sales tax (GST) and it would not be an additional tax. The VAT would replace 16 percent GST with the lower rate of 15 percent. The higher rates of sales tax like 21 percent or 19 percent etc would be considerably reduced to 15 percent.
He strongly dispelled the impression that the FBR was not fully prepared to implement a broad-based integrated VAT. The factual position is that the FBR, being a revenue collection agency, has finalised all arrangements for the implementation of VAT. It depends on the successful negotiations of the Ministry of Finance with the provincial governments for implementation of the federal and provincial VAT Bill 2010. However, if even one province disagrees with the VAT law, it cannot be implemented in an integrated form as drafted by the FBR.
However, the existing constitutional and legal framework allows the provinces to empower the FBR to collect sales tax on services. Responding to a query, he said that the taxpayers should deal with a single tax collecting agency for payment of taxes. In case the taxpayer has to confront two to three federal and provincial revenue-collecting agencies, it would not be acceptable to the business units.
About the attitude of the retailers, he said that the retail sector has always refused to come into the tax net despite offering lucrative minimum tax schemes to them. “We will never force the small retailers to obtain registration under the VAT law. Only big retailers having annual turnover of Rs 7.5 million would be liable to registration. The registration threshold of Rs 7.5 million clearly reflects that big businessmen and retail outlets would be liable to register excluding small shopkeepers and retailers. The small business units would be automatically excluded from the VAT regime due to higher registration threshold,” he clarified.
He said that retailers would prefer to come under the documented regime of VAT to avail the facility of input tax adjustment. They would voluntarily obtain VAT registration to make purchases from the registered units. Ahmed was confident that the VAT would not have any major inflationary impact on consumer goods from the next fiscal.
It is a total misconception that the prices of commodities and goods would suddenly jump following imposition of lower rate of 15 percent VAT from 2010-2011. The VAT is a modern and progressive way of taxation on consumption stage. When highest rates of sales tax would be brought down, it would definitely raise prices of the commodities.
“The introduction of 15 percent VAT at consumption level would not escalate inflation, but instead it would encourage voluntary compliance at consumption and retail levels, besides benefiting the economy of the country,” he remarked.
While Main Muhammad Haroon, Lahore chamber of commerce industry’s executive committee member, said that the imposition of VAT would immediately drive up inflation. “Earlier the central bank forecasts that consumer price index (CPI) inflation for the fiscal year ending on June 30 will be close to 12%, up from a low of 8.9% in October 2009 after price increases for electricity tariffs, petroleum products and commodities. In the last fiscal year, the average inflation was 20.5%. The CPI has risen 36.3% since the present coalition government came into power in 2008, with the prices of wheat flour surging 83% and of sugar 168%. The increase in prices of essential items has continued despite regular government promises to contain the trend and punish hoarders and profiteers.
However FBR chairman further clarified that every taxpayer had to deposit his share of tax at the stage of value addition. The registered taxpayers would have the facility of the input tax adjustment and they would pay 15 percent VAT at their stage of value addition. The 15 percent VAT would be paid on the profit earned by a business entity operating under VAT regime. It will result in broadening of the tax base by bringing the entire chain into the VAT net. The biggest advantage of the VAT is the facility of input tax adjustment available to the registered persons under the VAT. It would encourage documentation, as adjustment would not be available to those purchasing from unregistered sellers. In the long run it is a big step towards documentation, as burden of taxes would be shared by the entire supply chain starting from manufacturing sector up to the retail stage.
As far as sales tax on services is concerned, the FBR chairman said that it is the right of the provinces under the National Finance Commission (NFC). Under the NFC Award, the collection of taxes on services is the right of the provinces and FBR being a technically tax collecting agency with expertise at federal level can collect VAT on services also only after the approval from the concerned province
Despite all the clarifications of FBR and government officials, most of the economists and traders do have their apprehensions on the said regime of VAT.
Akmal Hussain, renowned Economist, said that the proposed VAT would increase inflation, erode consumers’ purchasing power and dampen demand. Local business communities have strongly opposed the imposition of VAT, saying it will harm every sector of the economy. However, the rupee “will come under pressure if the IMF money is delayed for more than a month”,
Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry, President of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry urged the government to put off the implementation of Value Added Tax until and unless a consensus is developed among all the stakeholders including all the chambers and trade bodies in the country. He said that there were number of points in the proposed VAT law that need to be amended and in the existing shape it is bound to open floodgates of corruption besides discouraging any new investment.
The LCCI president said that abolition of zero-rating facility available to five export-oriented sectors and reverting back to refund regime is beyond the understanding of the business community as it will open the way of corrupt practices to obtain flying invoices and seriously impede cash flow of the companies.
“The definition of tax fraud has been extended to cover tax evasion. The provision would be massively abused by tax officials. Similarly, vast powers are proposed to be given to tax officials to determine open market value of goods at their whims,” president of LCCI explained.
He was of the view that the section 87 of proposed VAT law was against all norms of justice as it denies a tax payer of his basic right of justice. He further stressed that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry would not accept the proposed VAT law in its present shape as it has been designed to promote the culture of flying invoices and other prevalent mal practices due to which the law abiding tax payers were suffering a lot and were even paying the taxes of those buyers/sellers who were not paying due taxes and making money.
The methodology to introduce an integrated VAT may have serious implications during implementation of a broad-based VAT from next fiscal year as the government has not taken into confidence the stakeholders. He suggested that each and every trade body including LCCI should be consulted and their views be obtained whether this new proposed draft of the VAT is in conformity with the law of the land or whether it would suit the stakeholders or not. He requested the authorities concerned that unless and until all the trade bodies and stakeholders agree on the enforcement of VAT Act 2010 it should not be implemented.
The LCCI President recommended to restore exemption from Audit on Payment of advance value added tax at import stage; reduction in record keeping period from six years to three years; curtailing discretionary unlimited powers given to the officials for recovery of amount; adjustment of input tax; retention of carry forward facility, streamlining the process of cancellation and suspension of registration; right to go in legal court of law against the tax official decision etc.
He said that any haste in the enforcement of VAT Act will prove to be counter productive to the trade and industry due to its harsh and irritant measures.

Glued down to hell

Drug addiction is increasing among children. Child labourers and runaway kids in streets are becoming addict to glue in the urban sprawls of Pakistan, reports UZMA ALEEM

During the mid night hours in a run-down part of downtown Lahore, Muddassar and some boys squat in a dirty alley, getting high on glue. Breathing in fumes from glue-soaked rags and glue-filled plastic bags is a daily ritual for these boys who live rough on the streets of Pakistan’s second largest city.
“The fumes burn the eyes and leave the body dry. It kills your appetite. But after being kicked and treated like a dog it gives you peace,” said Muddassar, who is not an exceptional case as this story as in every major city of Pakistan many kids are seen living on roads and streets.
They can be seen near the garbage cans looking for cigarettes butts to smoke, food to eat, sitting under the broken bridges to get protection from the sun or on the brinks of the gutters, in the ruins, under the trees of graveyards and in the verandas of bus stops. Moreover, they can be seen on almost every major road, every busy traffic junction — begging, washing cars, selling flowers, roaming idly, being chased and harassed by policemen and bullied by petty criminals and thugs. These are the children of the street.
“The term “street children” was introduced in 1980s to refer to the children who live or spend a significant amount of time in the streets of urban areas to fend for themselves or their families through various occupations. This also denotes children who are inadequately protected, supervised or cared for by responsible adults,” a sociologist Sara Hammad explained.
Most of them are between seven to 15 years old while some of them are barely six or seven-year-old. They earn, eat, sleep, and live on the streets. The traffic choked roads are their playgrounds and footpaths their homes. The world is giving lessons to them about life, relationships and the society in the hardest possible way.
In fact the plight and suffering of the street children of Pakistan is hardly news now. Tragic stories float around unnoticed in every major city — be it Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar or Rawalpindi-Islamabad.
Though there is no reliable data available about the exact number of these children who live on the streets. The number of this population is increasing as homeless children’s ranks continue to swell. Save the Children, a non governmental organisation, has estimated that over 50,000 children live on the streets of Pakistan. In Karachi alone, the number of street children is estimated to be around 25,000 while, in Lahore more than 5,000 children live on streets.
“It is pertinent to note that these street children do not include the ones involved in manual labour with the consent of their parents. The children who are into labour under the supervision of parents are certainly better off. At least they are more protected. But those who live on the streets are among the lowest of the low and the most vulnerable to drugs abuse”, Hammad elucidated.
Some limited surveys and interviews conducted by various non-government organisations and by scribe herself show that an alarming 90 to 95 per cent of the street children are drug addicts. The most popular and affordable of the drug is a type of glue — used mostly in home repair and maintenance — which these children inhale by putting it on a piece of cloth.
Iqbal Dethu, National Manager Child rights in SPARC, said that the menace of drugs was increasing rapidly among the youth especially street children of all the major cities of Pakistan. The number of young drug addicts was highest in Karachi, while Lahore and Peshawar were followed by Quetta respectively.
“The cost of glue tin is Rs 50. It easier to get than illegal drugs in Karachi, Quetta, Lahore and Peshawar. According to a research, 90 percent of street children are involved in glue sniffing or in some other solvent abuse. If more is not done soon, Pakistan is heading for a grave crisis on the scale of other countries like Morocco and Brazil,” said Iqbal Dethu.
A vast majority of the children who end up on the roads are driven away from their homes because of domestic violence, corporal punishment, abuse, and poverty. They are usually members of divided or single-parent families. In some cases, simply bad company, the desire of unrestricted freedom, and the pull of the hustle and bustle of cities, prompt them to leave homes in rural areas and low-income localities of our cities, especially from southern Punjab and parts of North West Frontier Province.
It has been reported in a research report of an NGO Sahil that 56 percent of street children run away from their homes due to domestic violence, 22 percent because of hostile behaviour of their parents and 12 percent due to their parents’ drug addiction.
Some of the street children did not do any work. When asked that how they met their expenses? They told “Through begging we get money and food”. Others were doing small jobs like polishing shoes, washing cars, cleaning restaurants, selling cheap commodity items like artificial jewellery, toys and eyewear. Many of these kids are involved in pick pocketing and mobile phone snatching.
According to a report of Sahil, 53 percent were earning less than Rs.50 a day and 26 percent were getting less than Rs.100 a day. Actually lack of income in the home pushed these children on the streets. Statistics recorded during a research showed that the household income of these street children remained Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 4,000, which pushed them to leave home.
The household incomes gave a glimpse of their socio-economic status, and were cited as a major reason for their being on the streets. There were 61 children (34 percent) who belonged to families where there was no bread winner at all. Either the father was dead or an addicted doing nothing to support a large family consisting of 8 to 10 family members. In some of these cases, mothers were earning meagre amounts by doing house hold chores for others, providing domestic services, begging or living on alms. 11 percent children were from households with monthly incomes below Rs.2000, and 19 percent children belonged to the families where father’s monthly income was less the Rs.3,000. The fact that there were 18 percent children who came from households whose income was in the Rs. 4,000 category leads to the next concern of whether there is addiction in the family which has influenced the child.
Statistics show 80 percent of the children had a family history of addiction. Mostly fathers and elder brothers were using drugs like hashish, heroine and cocaine. Few children said that their mothers were smoking, drinking and using other drugs such as heroine.
All the children knew the harmful and serious effects of drug abuse. So there are great chances that someone introduces street children. When S+ probed about it and asked from some of the street children, they replied that they indulged in drugs due to the influence of their friends and peers.
Moreover talking about the increasing usage of drugs among youths Iqbal Dethu, national manager child rights SPARC said that most of the street children were introduced to drugs by the drug sellers. Although most of the family members may not have given the children access to drugs, it is evident that the environment was conducive to the availability of drugs.
Khadija Najmi, clinical child psychologist of Children Hospital Lahore, said that street children used some unbelievable chemical based solvents like glue, pilla and petrol along cigarettes, herion, naswar, alcohol, drug coated supari, and opium drink. “Some children use more than one drug. The most used drugs are also the most easily available and inexpensive. Since alcohol is a ‘prohibited’ item it is not consumed in large quantities. Pilla is a term used for any new combination of these drugs,” she elucidated.
There is an immediate need to control this growing menace among children. Though some non-governmental organisations are working at limited scale to highlight this grave issue yet serious structural changes at government level are required to combat this menace. Federal law does not deal exclusively and separately with street and neglected children.
While explaining the constitutional provisions regarding street children in Pakistan Rashid Aziz, legal advisor of Society for the Protection of rights of children said that there was no provision in the constitution of Pakistan regarding street children or destitute kids. Though the provincial laws of Punjab and Sindh provided protection to street children and destitute youth yet on partial basis, as Punjab destitute and neglected children Act 2004 and Sindh Children Act 1955 could be practically implemented to protect street children. “The emphasis of provincial law of Punjab remains on beggars and their rehabilitation while the major chunk of destitute remained unaddressed. There is need to broaden the horizon of this Act and proper implementation of law to secure the future of ours, indeed children,” Aziz was of the view.
Poor human development, especially among women and children, because of poverty, social disparities, has pushed back Pakistan in Human Development Index (HDI) rating as Pakistan ranks 136 out of 177 countries with an HDI of 0.551.
Moreover increase in population of drug addicts especially children addicts is also a contributing factor in low HDI ranking. In Pakistan, population of drugs addicts is 3 million and 1.8 million out of them are children (under 18 years). Easy availability of drugs in down turn areas of Lahore and other cities, cheap narcotics substance, high number of immigrants or refugees are the pushing factors for drugs addiction among children.
National Child Protection Policy was prepared in consultation with stakeholders and submitted to the Cabinet for approval. The approval was expected next month after which the Bills would be presented before the Parliament. Proposed national child protection policy sent to the cabinet then it was reversed for some revision without outlining the objection. “Now hoping that within few days it would again go to the cabinet then to the floor of parliament. Because Child Protection Bill would be a ray of hope for many children including these drugs addicted street children and it would eventually brighten our future. By promulgating the Child Protection (Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, a child friendly and protective environment will be created. The perpetrators will be brought to justice under various sections inserted in the Pakistan Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure,” Aziz told.
Iqbal Dethu told S+ Child Protection Bill would provide justice to street children as these children were not only vulnerable rather they were used as narco-drug mules (transporting agents to supply drugs). “When these children caught by police selling narcotics substance, police file the case in court under Articles 12 & 13 r/w Control of Narcotic Substances Act (XXV of 1997) as section 9 C of the said Act prohibits the transportation and use of drugs. Then trails and environment of jail instead of rehabilitating them worsen their lives and make them criminals. So we need proper implementation of juvenile justice system in Pakistan. Along laws, structural and organizational changes are also need of the hour. Government should evolve a separate ministry for children, as 48.3 percent population of Pakistan is of children (people under 18 years), to address the issues of youth for the betterment of country’s future,” said Dethu.
Young people may see drug use as a solution to their problems, rather then as a problem in itself. Even though using drugs may lead to serious problems, many children and youth still use drugs because it either adds something to their lives or helps them to feel that they have solved their problems however fleeting this feeling might be. It is evident that children on the streets have major problems within their families. Drug addiction, lack of education, and poverty are significant factors common to all the street children.
Health, food, and lack of shelter, lack of resources, harmful effects of drugs, rejection from the family and poverty all contribute to the existence of these children on the streets.
These problems can and must be solved. Firstly, it is necessary to address and eradicate the causes of these problems. There is a need to provide a range of support services including laws and infrastructure which will protect children.
Raising awareness on this issue is imperative for changing attitudes in the society. Of course, this is not an over night possibility. A continuous effort has to be made to ensure that the communities at large are fully cognizant of this menace and crime against children.
There must be consistent political will and commitment to the welfare of children to achieve these goals. The idea of separate ministry for child welfare can be implemented.
The most important step is to help the children in their present situations. A safe shelter is required to provide them the haven that is needed for a happy and healthy outlook on life.
The provision for education and the learning of a vocational skill must de provided to ensure that their lives are in their control.
There is a dire need to develop some strategies to prevent children from suffering, from drug abuse and often untimely deaths. Government should take immediate actions for their rehabilitation by establishing support systems. Drop in centres with all health facilities should be available for them. Educational and vocational amenities should be provided to them. Civil society and the families of these children should be involved in the remedial process for the children.

This investigative feature was published on April 18, 2010 in S+ of Daily The Nation.

Floral expressions

report of an exhibition

Floral workshop provides opportunities to women for enhancing their professional skills in the floral industry, reports UZMA ALEEM

Floral art society of Pakistan arranged a workshop under the title of ‘Expression’ after General body meeting for January of chapter Lahore. Islamabad’s top floral art designer Yasmeen Sohail conducted the workshop and gave an outstanding demonstration on contemporary designs with new concepts and techniques of floral art.
Almost all the members from chapter Lahore of FASP attended the workshop and participated in training session of workshop.
While talking to Sunday Plus Information sectary of FASP Farida Hassan said that women from all walks of life were the members of floral art society and they tried to actualise their wonderful sense of aesthetics through this unique and delicate art. “This art actually adds colour and life in home décor. Moreover this art has become a growing industry all over the world. FASP is also striving to give international exposure and recognition to Pakistani floral art designers. Our designers participate in international floral designing competition. Though they lack modern facilities and techniques but due to their exceptional sense of aesthetics they receive terrific appreciation at international floral art arena,” she added.
Show Chairperson Zehra Azmat said that FASP won the competition of holding World Floral Art Show 2008 because of its talented floral art designers and efforts of office bearers of society, but unstable law and order situation proved impediment and World floral show 2008 at Lahore was cancelled. “Now it is need of the hour to improve the law and order situation in Pakistan for the growth of this industry,” she opined.
Rubina Khalid, Sectary of Floral art society of Pakistan, said that aim of floral art designing was not to satisfy aesthetics only, rather FASP believed in helping less privileged people of the country and held fund raising exhibitions for the deprived sector of society. Previously they arranged a grand floral show for the poor patients of Shaukat Khanum Memorial cancer hospital and SOS village etc. “Now we want to bridge the gap between rich and poor of society through elegant activities of art,” she said.
“The Society holds regular shows within the country, which has played a vital role in creating appreciation for capturing the beauty of flowers through different techniques. Participants take keen interest in the floral art competition. The club provides the plant and designing materials to each participant but they bring their own tools’ kits. For this workshop of contemporary floral designing 11 groups are formed, names of the eminent floral designers are followed; Zahra Aslam, Huma Jamshed, Farida Hassan, Nighat Izhar, Dr. Tahoor, Nazli Asif, Aqeela Saeed, Saima Sikander, Anjum Raheel, Shahnaz Mehmood, Shirin Khan, Sameera Nadeem, Ambreen Irfan, Romana Maqsood, Durdana Asif and Aqsa Aslam,” she added.
“Flowers are the gift of the nature and symbol of love while such workshops provide opportunities to women for further enhancing their professional skills in the field,” said Anjum Rehman.
“FASP members are admired globally for their unique designs. Our members also go aboard to attend international training workshops and competitions of floral art. In following days they are going UK and Australia to participate in international floral art conferences and workshops,” she said.
The Floral Art Society of Pakistan is member of World Association of Flower Arrangers (WAFA), which aims at promoting the art of flower arranging throughout the world to reinforce the ties among member countries through regular exchange visits and establishing international standards for flower arranging competitions.
A number of ladies related to the field of arts and working in different institutes having passion for floral decors and the members of Pakistan Floral Society attended the workshop.
The members also displayed elegant arrangements of fresh flowers adorned with various accessories.

Human Cargo

Human Trafficking

The phenomenon of human trafficking has made people cargo commodities and which is an open violation of basic human rights, reports UZMA ALEEM

‘Its so suffocated around, my breath has stifled, please help me, help me please, I cannot breath……….it has become difficult to breath. Please help me, I do not want to die…….. Oh God please help……… is there anyone to rescue me………please, please ……..ple…….’ these were the last few sentences uttered by Hamid Watto. Hamid was illegally migrating to his dreamland Dubai via a cargo container that was completely sealed and ventilation was almost impossible. In that cargo container of 12x12, 46 people of different age groups travelled, along Hamid six people died of suffocation before reaching Dubai while 39 people were jailed because of illegal migration.
This incident is not a single example of human trafficking, such incidents appear in headlines of newspapers when victim of human trafficking caught by police in different countries and they distort the image of country too.
Human migration is not a new phenomenon. For centuries, people have left their homes in search of better lives elsewhere. In the last decade, the process of globalisation has enhanced the ‘push-pull’ factors, which drive migrants’ desires to seek more gainful employment abroad. This has caused an unprecedented amount of migration from the least developed countries of Asia, Africa, South America and Eastern Europe to Western Europe, Australia and North America.
Criminal networks that smuggle human beings for financial gains increasingly control the flow of migrants across borders. Due to more restrictive immigration policies in destination countries and improved technology to monitor border crossings, willing illegal migrants rely increasingly on the help of organized people smugglers. Like Hamid did to reach Dubai.
People smuggling is not a homogenous criminal activity; the price of the trip, conditions of travel and status upon arrival can vary significantly.
Trafficking is distinct from smuggling insofar as the traffic of human beings involves the exploitation of the migrant, often for purposes of forced labour and prostitution. People smuggling simply implies the procurement, for financial or material gain, of the illegal entry into a state of which the individual is neither a citizen nor a permanent resident.
It is acknowledged that the smuggling of people is a growing as a global phenomenon. It is not only a trans national crime, but also an enormous violation of human rights and a contemporary form of slavery. Currently, economic instability appears to be the main reason for illegal migration movement throughout the world.
When S+ probed about this growing illegal phenomenon it was found that many of the willing migrants from Pakistan undertook the hazardous travel to their destination country with criminal syndicates specialised in people smuggling. These syndicates arranged everything for the migrants, but at a high price, like recently a government servant from province Punjab paid Rs. 700,000 for illegal immigration to Greece.
Very often the travelling conditions are inhumane, the migrants are overcrowded in trucks, containers or boats and fatal accidents occur frequently. After their arrival in the destination country, their illegal status puts them at the mercy of their smugglers, which often force the migrants to work for years in the illegal labour market to pay off the debts incurred as a result of their transportation.
People smuggling syndicates still benefit from weak legislation, huge profits and the relatively low risk of detection, prosecution and arrest compared to other activities of trans national organized crime. This creates the need for a structure, which enables police and other law enforcement agencies to co-operate on a global basis.
Leading Human rights activist Ansar Berni said, “actually human trafficking has become a complicated phenomenon and profitable business dominated by organised criminal groups and their worldwide chains. It generates US$7 billion a year and is the second largest illegal trade after drugs and weapons.
Human trafficking often occurs in connection with the movement of the people from rural to urban and from poor to rich areas, both within the country and across the international borders.”
Berni was of the view, ‘trafficking in person is always characterised by elements of exploitation through fraud, coercion, deception, and other illegal means that place people in harmful and exploiting situations.
The cases of human trafficking have been rising in Pakistan and females are being smuggled from rural and urban areas for various reasons including poverty, forced marriage, under age marriage, fake marriage, sexual motive, overseas employment and domestic work.
Mostly small children have been smuggled for the purpose of camel jockey races, child soldiers, domestic work, beggary, sexual assault and slavery,” he added.
Director of FIA Azam joyia said that in 2002, Pakistan had criminalized trafficking in person and had taken several steps to curb its occurrences. He said, “Pakistan is a source, transit and destination point for severe forms of trafficking in persons, especially women and children. Pakistan is a destination point for those being trafficked from Bangladesh, Burma, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. The country serves as a transit point for those brought in from East Asia and Bangladesh to be taken elsewhere, and lastly it is a recruiting ground for those who are internally (inter-provincially) trafficked or sent to Afghanistan and the Gulf countries. Now we are trying our best to curb this problem. Now situation is improving ”.
Almas Mirza, a renowned civil lawyer, said Trafficking in persons was modern-day slavery, involving victims who were forced, defrauded or coerced into labour or sexual exploitation.
“Annually, about 600,000 to 800,000 people -- mostly women and children -- are trafficked across national borders which does not count millions trafficked within their own countries.
People are snared into trafficking by many means. In some cases, physical force is used. In other cases, false promises are made regarding job opportunities or marriages in foreign countries to entrap victims,” she said.
While talking about its global impact she said, “Human trafficking is a multi-dimensional threat. It deprives people of their human rights and freedom, it is a global health risk, and it fuels the growth of organized crime.
Human trafficking has a devastating impact on individual victims, who often suffer physical and emotional abuse, rape, threats against self and family, passport theft, and even death. But the impact of human trafficking goes beyond individual victims; it undermines the safety and security of all nations it touches.”
Collaborative efforts against human trafficking are needed to combat this global menace, she added.



Dying for dreamlands



Routes used for human trafficking may sometimes be simple and direct, whereas most of the times circuitous. The time between departure and arrival may vary from some days to several months or even years. Smuggling is carried out by land, air or sea. During this process many people may perish before reaching their destinations but few lucky ones can reach back to their homes too and a resident of Lahore Zulfiqar Ali is also among those survivors. During an interview with the S+ he told that his cousin, who promised for a good job in Muscat, made him fool. He told about his journey that his cousin, Shahzad, was part of a network of human smugglers and they sent 26 people in a boat having capacity of 3-4 persons.
Actually we wanted to go to Oman for better opportunities of employment.
While talking about that worse journey of his life he said “we reached from Lahore to Karachi then to Gwader. From Gwader we crossed the boarder of Iran, our agent bribed Iranian Army and it became so easy for us to cross the boarder. After ward we travelled through jungles of Iran and then we crossed the Iranian boarder via sea. But unfortunately we missed our way; we have been wondered in open sea, without any food and very small quantity of water, for 4 days. Then a French ship rescued us and provided us food and water. Then before entering in Oman, we were caught by Omani Army and they kept us in a small jail for 26 days, without enough food.” He praised that Pakistani ambassador in Oman remained so cooperative and helped Pakistani prisoners.
While talking about the increasing trend of illegal migration he said, “legal migration from Pakistan is complicated, people smugglers around the globe are profiting and have created a network of organized crime to facilitate the illegal immigration of Pakistan.
The migrants and facilitators are generally amateurs of same ethnic origin of those they are smuggling. This form of illegal immigration poses great challenges to the international law enforcement community and has great ramifications for policy and legislation regarding immigration. He added that now he has released it so he was trying to go





Smuggling routes

Changing methods of people-smuggling networks as a response to legislative and law enforcement activities are necessary for their survival. Flexibility is thus one of the main characteristics of transportation and the choice of routes. This means that the routes used by people smugglers may sometimes be simple and direct, at other times circuitous. The time between departure and arrival may vary from some days to several months or even years. Smuggling is carried out by land, air or sea.
The following outlines are some examples of routes frequently used for people smuggling. Migrants from the Asian region mainly use the route via Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan to Russia and from there, via Ukraine, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, to western European countries or even further to the United States and Canada.
At the same time, the Balkan route from Asian countries via Iran and Turkey and from there, via Balkan states, to Western Europe is used for the smuggling of migrants as well as other kinds of illegal goods such as drugs, firearms, etc.
Especially during summer months, Spain has to face the arrival of thousands of illegal immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa. These willing immigrants undertake the hazardous trip to travel from Morocco to southern Spain through the narrow Strait of Gibraltar, where only 21 kilometres separate Europe and Africa. Many people travelling in small, overcrowded boats have drowned attempting to reach Europe.
Australia is also facing a growing number of illegal immigrants, mostly from the Middle East and southern Asia, landing at its western coasts and especially on Christmas Island, which is located relatively close to the Indonesian archipelago.
Most of the refugees from Asia first enter Malaysia, where they are taken to the south before making a short ferry crossing to the Indonesian island of Batam. From there, it is not difficult to reach Jakarta and go on to the southern Indonesian islands of Bali, Flores or Lombok, where they embark for Australia.
Smuggling migrants to the United States is mostly achieved by putting them on planes. Ships with migrants on board are mainly bound for the West Coast, but the use of this route has dropped considerably. Smuggling networks seem to focus more and more on Central and South America, where they maintain the necessary links to Mexican people smugglers in order to move the illegal migrants via Mexico to North America.

The bane of charity

The bane of charity

UZMA ALEEM reports sadaqa meat and their vendors are adding pollution in city environment


‘A man wearing dirty cloths throws few pieces of meat of sharp red colour in canal, kites and crows catch few of those pieces. Then a shocking incidence appears that one kite expires at canal bank followed by a crow. Another man throws more pieces of meat, this time kites and crows take the flight but do not take any piece. Another man comes and throws more torn pieces of same sharp red coloured meat then till sunset some people repeat this activity time and again. By the evening that particular place has filled with filthy red torn pieces of meat and sharp red coloured spots, flies are flying on that garbage and on two dead birds while a straw dog is trying to satisfy its appetite through the dead birds.’ This series of incidents happen at the canal road, which is one of the busy roads of provincial capital. Actually the religious ritual of giving sadaqaat or providing food to birds has become a heinous act of adding environmental pollution in the metropolis.
Many vendors of sadaqa meat can be found at different spots of main canal road of Lahore and at the bridge of river Ravi. These vendors sell one shopping bag of sadaqa meat of Rs. 10. People, who are passing by them on their motorbikes or cars, buy this sadaqa meat and vendors get their sadaqa by moving this shopping bag around their head (a conventional way to do the sadaqa) and then they throw the meat at the canal bank and move to the next car when traffic signal turns red. It is important to note that most of the people do not touch the shopping bags of the sadaqa meat because of bad odour of meat and dirty shopping bags. But these people firmly believe that they do it for virtue and all bad fortunes would be reverted through this.
While talking to Sunday Plus a sadaqa vendor Shafiq Babu said that they were standing at the road sides to revert the bad fortunes and they were doing it for the betterment of humanity. ‘When people give sadaqa meat and we throw this meat out then actually they throw their bad fortune away from them. We facilitate people by selling meat in cheap prices.’
When Splus probed about the texture and colour of meat Shafiq Babu said, ‘you know about the price hike, the prices of meat has also increased manifold. So we sell pieces of the lungs of cows or buffaloes, that is the reason that the meat looks tender and quite different from the red meat.’ While refusing the allegation of adding some toxic dying chemicals he said, ‘Lungs have the same colour and we do not add any chemical to dye it.’
On assurance from Sunday Plus for anonymity another Sadaqa meat vendor said, ‘we dye meat with sharp red colour to add sharpness and attract the people because the flesh of lungs is of light pink colour which fails to assert the attention of people who tend to give sadaqaat. We use red colour that we buy from paints and sanitary shops. But these dyes are not bad as we have been using these dyes since long.
When S+ asked about the birds’ expiring incidents and low tendency of birds of eating sadaqa meat, he said that it had no connection with low quality of meat or dying chemical, actually these birds expired because they got the bad fortune of people who gave their sadaqa. ‘Moreover we throw meat in huge quantity that they satisfy their appetite soon and then they do not turn back to have more pieces of meat.’
Neelofar Sadiq, a student of environmental sciences, said, these vendors of sadaqa meat are actually adding pollution in the environment of our city. Because they give poisonous meat to the birds and birds may expire after having those pieces of meat. Whereas these meat pieces add more garbage at the beautiful canal bank now the roadside of canal has become polluted as straw dogs roam around the garbage at the roadside. It becomes difficult for pedestrians to walk at footpaths or cross the roads.
While talking to S+ Asma Amir, representative of PCSIR, said, ‘if these sadaqa meat vendors dye meat with toxic chemicals of paints then they are committing crime because some of the chemicals of paints are very dangerous. If they would be given in excessive quantity they can be proved killing for humans too whereas birds can be easily expired by these chemicals. If birds do not eat meat dyed with toxic chemicals even then these chemicals can be poisonous for the spices living in canal water. Moreover if we throw toxic chemical dyes near trees and plants they can be hazardous for the vegetation and even soil.’
‘Some toxic chemicals of paints are resistant to degradation and, due to their environmental persistence, may move long distance and concentrate very far from the sites where they are thrown. These are bio-accumulate in the tissues of humans or animals. The most common among these substances, DDT and PCB (Poly Chlorinated Biphenyls), are widely contaminating the canals and river Ravi they have been found in tortoise of Lahore canal and other marine mammals. PCBs persist in the environment for years and may bio-accumulate up to 70,000 times,’ she added.
She maintained that it was reasonable to believe that many other POPs, Persistent Organic Pollutants, contaminated the canal water but sub types of PCBs which were used in paints industry were also adding pollution in canal water.
Tariq Zaman, district officer of environment of city district government of Lahore (CDGL), was of the view that we had tried several times for the eradication of these encroachments at road sides of canal now their number has decreased but it could not be eradicated completely because these vendors rode on bicycles and moved quickly at the raid of officials of CDGL.
When S+ probed from eminent Islamic scholar Dr. Sarfraz Naeemi about the importance of sadaqaat in Islam and its specific way of giving dyed meat to birds, he said, “This was 1400 years ago long before it became fashionable or “politically correct” to care about “animal rights.” Yet even in this barbaric time the Prophet (S.A.W.) had banned forcing animals to fight for human entertainment (Sunan Abu Dawud #2556). And He taught kindness to animals and birds. We human beings are made viceroy of Allah on earth. What is expected of a viceroy, a trustee or ruler? If those over whom one commands power are killed without cause, have their homes polluted heedlessly with toxic wastes, and have deformities and diseases resulting from the careless and wasteful disposal of carcinogens, should not the ruler be asked if he is discharging his responsibilities and trust faithfully? Unfortunately, there have been altogether too many shameful, unnecessary cases of pollution that have taken their toil on the planet, the animals, and the plants that inhabit it. One wonders if man is taking his responsibilities seriously.”
“Quran 2:30 “…Your Lord said unto the angels: “Lo! I am about to place a viceroy on the earth…,” and Quran 22:65 “Do you not see that God has made subject to you (humans) all that is on the earth”
But what we are doing in the name of giving sadaqaat we are destroying environment and killing birds. In such a situation when people are dying of hunger and they do not have enough to eat then sadaqaat should be given to human beings. No doubt it is good to care for birds but it is better to give alms to humans then to birds.
He said, “ aim of alms is to create equality in society and it can be possible when we people will start giving importance to the needy people as well. A society can flourish only when its members do not spend all their wealth on the satisfaction of their own desires but reserve a portion of it for parents, relatives, neighbours, the poor and the incapacitated. As the saying goes: Charity begins at home. A true believer is thus always prepared, after meeting the needs of his family, to assist other people in need of his help.”
In such a situation when Islam does not promote such alms which are harming living beings like birds and aquatic animals and adding misery for mankind as pollutants and environmentalists also discourage such acts. Then CDGL should take immediate steps to curb this situation.