Zubair Ahmed Khan
Minister for Rural Development
Sindh
Interview Panel:
Dr Masood R. Qureshi
Ms Adeela Siddiqui
Mr Syed Fareed Hussain
Dr Sadia Irfan
The Capital Post recently had an exclusive interview with Sindh Minister for Rural Development, Mr Zubair Ahmed Khan. During the interview, TCP editorial team discussed with the provincial minister the constraints, issues and new opportunities to bring about a much-needed socio-economic change for the people of rural Sindh.
Political economists opine that this growing rural-urban divide is a serious concern not only for the welfare of the rural population, but also because it is potentially destabilizing. Thus revitalizing the rural economy, accelerating rural growth, and improving the income level of the rural poor is urgently needed.
TCP: Thank you very much – please tell us a bit about your academic background and political career?
ZAK: I thank The Capital Post and its editorial team for giving me this opportunity to present my views to my fellow Pakistani Americans. I was born in Hyderabad (Sindh) in 1970. From my student days, the philosophy and vision of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Mr Altaf Hussain has been a great source of inspiration for me. For the first time in Pakistan’s history, Mr Altaf Hussain raised a political party taking the middle class on board. He thus created a sense of political participation for all and provided emancipation from bonds of feudal culture. I joined the All Pakistan Muttahida Students Organization (APMSO) and then never looked back. I obtained a masters degree in Economics and then completed my MBA in management sciences from Sindh University.
TCP: Historically and factually speaking, the conditions of rural areas of Sindh still remind us of the Dark Ages? Why is it so?
ZAK: Well - you are right. The rural Sindh embodies about 50% of the province’s population. While urban Sindh’s social indicators equal or surpass the level of development in other developing countries with comparable per capita income, the level of human development in rural Sindh is worse than in some of the Sub-Saharan African states.
In rural areas, nine out of every ten newborns are delivered without proper medical supervision, three out of four girls are not enrolled in school, two out of three adults cannot read or write, and two out of every five of its citizens survive below the poverty line. This increasing social gap in Sindh is the highest among all the provinces. The space widens as one moves to higher education and finally to participation in the job market. The rural-urban duality is widespread in both the economic and social sectors.
Despite all these demerits and feelings of deprivation, we are actively trying to alleviate the sufferings of the people and Sindh government has sanctioned various projects in this regard.
TCP: What were the factors that led to the establishment of Rural Development Department?
ZAK: Sindh is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy. No public sector development programs were undertaken in the province by any government until 1972 when Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto conceived and established this department. The rural development department lost its identity when the other military regimes merged it into the Local Bodies System (LBS). There used to be about 700 employees before its merger with the LBS.
After 2008 general elections, when Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) joined the coalition government in Sindh – we were assigned this department.
TCP: Was it by chance that this department was given to MQM?
ZAK: No – it was not by choice. To date three of MQM’s provincial ministers have no portfolios; therefore it was not at all by choice. When I took oath as provincial minister, the philosophy and vision of Mr Altaf Hussain proved to be a guideline for us to embark on new development projects in rural areas. One of our slogans in 2008 election campaign was “Ikhtiyar Sab Ke Liye” (Empowerment for All), and on the same pattern we re-organized this department to resolve the issues of rural Sindh. This department was officially notified on October 6, 2009 by Sindh Chief Minister. After notification – we undertook a number of rural development schemes keeping in view budgetary constraints.
TCP: What is your departmental criterion for undertaking public welfare schemes?
ZAK: Our ministry can take up development projects only in rural areas meeting certain requirements. For example, we would prefer a populace of minimum of 500 people. When we visit far-flung areas in interior Sindh, it is commonly observed that even villages comprising of 100 or even less habitants do exist. According to official statistics, there are approximately 94000 such villages in Sindh. We have built road networks, provided potable water and basic healthcare to villagers.
TCP: In this 21st century, it is awful to see vast majority of these people are still drinking “Green Water” (water contaminated with Algae)?
ZAK: Yes, this is highly unfortunate. The past governments have done nothing to avert this situation and we had to inherit all these problems. However, ours is a visionary leadership and has a manifesto that promises basic amenities like healthcare, education, shelter and food for all. In 23 districts of Sindh, our department has constructed roads, provided hand pumps especially in Thatta, Badin, Shikarpur and Kashmore districts to alleviate the sufferings of these people.
Considering our performance and viability of projects, Sindh government approved the grant of Rs 316 million for our new projects. However due to worst flooding in 2010 which caused massive destruction of across Pakistan – 30 percent of our budgetary allocation was diverted to Prime Minister’s flood relief fund.
TCP: What is your viewpoint on reports that massive aid was misappropriated in Hand Pump schemes, and like in the past this corruption episode was also hushed up?
ZAK: We had very limited resource allocation for this Hand Pump project. I personally visit all districts to inspect our various ongoing projects since we don’t want any corruption. A few days ago, I visited Ghotki, Sukkur and Thatta districts to look overthe construction of a road at Chal Gari area. The purpose of my visits is to keep a check on the pace of all these projects and make sure that these public welfare schemes are not engulfed by corruption.
The World Bank gave us financial assistance for a number of infra-structure projects. Many such projects could not reach the fruition just due to the lapse of specified time. Under the existing rules and regulations, we cannot directly approach the World Bank or any other donor agency.
TCP: How do you liaise with donor agencies to get funding for your projects?
ZAK: The federal government can liaise with these aid agencies. The ministry of finance notifiesthe chief secretary who then informs us about the availability of funds and resource allocations.
TCP: If seen in a broader context – what are Sindh’s overarching constraints?
ZAK: The constraints facing Sindh are numerous. Some of the province-wide constraints that affect both urban and rural districts, and impede investment and development include regulatory policy uncertainty, law and order, corruption, and a culture of nonpayment for or even outright theft of government provided services, like through utility hook-ups. Attention to these issues is important if rural development is to be successful and enduring. However, strategic framework will not address such overarching constraints. Nonetheless, it is essential that the provincial government address these concerns to buttress direct rural development programs and initiatives.
TCP: Major stumbling block to improving human development in the province is weak governance?
ZAK: The cause of poor service delivery in Sindh is not the under-provisioning of key inputs (teachers, doctors, schools, hospitals, budget outlay), but their low productivity. For example, Sindh has adequate number of teachers, but many of them are either not competent (issue of capacity) or they do not show up for work because there is no effective monitoring system (issue of corruption). The rural residents have little choice in schooling, as government policies do not encourage private schools (issue of competition), and, at the same time, the provincial and local governments work at cross-purposes to undermine each other’s effectiveness (issue of coordination). The “governance deficit” has translated into a “service delivery deficit” in the province. One of the most compelling pieces of evidence supporting the argument above comes from policymakers themselves, who in their response to a survey indicated that the biggest stumbling block to improving human development in the province is weak governance.
TCP: How would you gear up efforts to develop basic infrastructure in rural areas?
ZAK: I think that critical constraint inhibiting rural development is the lack of infrastructure to support agro-enterprises and farmers. The per capita amount of roads, electricity, and domestic water supply is very low, and inhibits economic growth. Farm to market roads, roads linking markets to district centers, and to the national road grid are required. Electricity supply in the hinterland is non-existent or unreliable, making investments in small and medium enterprises unprofitable. Clean water supplies for human consumption are also extremely limited, and contribute to added health problems in rural areas. Investments in all three areas are required to support interventions in directly productive enterprises on the farm, and in enterprises that create rural employment off the farm.
TCP: How much investment does the government plan to make for short, mid and long term projects?
ZAK: In the past, the people who managed rural uplift projects were either not serious at all or fell prey to administrative or political corruption.
The progress on current schemes at the beginning of the fiscal year FY2009-10 as well as new projects included in the PSDP FY2011-12, make up the Rural Investment Plan. These new schemes of FY2012 reflect the priorities of our department and the focus on rural growth and revitalization. Pl note that huge allocations of PRs6 billion and PRs10 billion have been kept for FY2011 and FY2012 and these may be allocated against new schemes (to be formulated from PRs30 billion).
To sum up – It gives me immense pleasure to put it on record that despite financial constraints, we have wisely channeled our budget and launched well-planned schemes. We are involving all stakeholders so that there is no chance of corruption or nepotism as you rightly mentioned had been happening in the past. I would like to be remembered as a minister who delivered for his people. Unfortunately, people are drinking unhygienic water even after 63 years in these areas. It is alarming to note that cases of Hepatitis and Tuberculosis are also on the rise.
TCP: How do you forecast new political scenario in Pakistan? Challenges are cropping up from all sides?
ZAK: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement proposed to convene an all party’s conference to address national issues. Our greatest threat emanates from within and not without. Onus is on all political forces of Pakistan to show exemplary political maturity and tolerance to sort out differences so that Pakistan can see political and economic stability. The MQM and PPP coalition government in Sindh is a good example for others to follow. The people are getting disappointed from this political dispensation since they notice their problems are increasing with every passing day and there is no ray of hope at the end of the tunnel.
MQM also took up the issue of Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) very forcefully. We are against burgeoning unemployment in the country. We don’t want injustice – however, the federal government should take bold steps to quell this ongoing power crisis. Once it becomes serious, all these problems will resolve amicably to the satisfaction of all.
TCP: What do you have to say about the future of Pak-US relations?
ZAK: It lies in our own wider political and economic interests to have equitable relations with United States. Pakistan and United States understand each other’s strategic compulsions and both remain determined to resolving all bilateral issues under the umbrella of civil-military dialogue process. Being a superpower, the US should understand Pakistan’s problems and create an atmosphere which is conducive to peace and development.
TCP: Do you wish to give any message to Pakistani Americans especially business community?
ZAK: Well, Pakistani American community can play a very important role in the rural development of Sindh. We can jointly offer human development programs, vocational training schemes, basic computer training courses etc. We would welcome investments from private sector in our projects. Your organization, Sindh Vision in collaboration with our department can impart technical training in diverse fields such as information technology, resource development etc. I believe growth prospects for our rural areas will get impetus as we see increase in foreign investment and technical assistance. Here I would thank The Capital Post for highlighting the merits and demerits of our rural areas – since we believe in working together and would welcome initiatives in this regard.
TCP: Minister thank you very much for your time
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