Earlier this evening here in New
Delhi, i logged in to a ‘livestream’ internet video transmission of an event of
the Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician, Imran Khan’s political party. It was
a convention to announce the Movement for Justice (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf PTI)
party’s Environment Policy Vision.
The environmental expert from
Imran Khan’s team, Malik Amin Aslam (who i think is a former Minister of State
and an expert on Climate Change), made the technical presentation. The
presentation was a very broad treatment of the subject. Some of the stated approaches
held a lot of promise.
At the outset, it was pointed out
that the PTI’s party constitution includes environmental conservation as one of
its objectives; that the party structure and manifesto include spaces for and views
on environmental conservation, and that the party was clearly outlining its
environmental commitment, even if it meant stating the obvious. It was said
that there was a need to bring this commitment into writing and to politically
own it.
The presentation on the Green
Agenda spanned across topics ranging from the intrinsic value of nature to internalizing
and integrating true environmental costs in all economic decision-making. It
talked of environment impact assessments; of the need to improve the storage
capacity for water; of cleaning water-bodies
and restoring wetlands; of the need for air quality-related standards and
management for vehicles; the requirement for mass transit systems; of the
requirement of technology for clean coal since coal is a significant part of
the country’s energy mix; irrigation; land use planning; involving the private
sector in waste management; forestry; biodiversity; climate change; environmental
education.
It was refreshing to hear from a
political party from somewhere in the world, that it will work towards
including Environmental Rights as a basic Human Right under the country’s
constitution, and that the PTI is for the preparation of a National Eco-budget along
with the National Budget.
The concerns that the technical
presentation touched upon (and most of the solutions), were akin to the many
discussions that we hear, see and read in India, and indeed, in the development
sector worldwide. There were references to UN reports, also to the cover of the
Newsweek magazine that had described Pakistan in 2008 as being a Most Dangerous
country, but two years later, the same magazine described it as the Bravest
Country. It was said that this was because the people were strong and
resilient, and that the economy was a survival economy. That civil society had
stepped in where the government had failed. That people had started giving
money directly to beneficiaries of charity (for health and education) instead
of paying taxes, as there was a mistrust of the government.
As a part of the much-needed people-to-people
contact between India and Pakistan in the interest of fostering peace and
harmony between our nations, it would be worth looking into ways in which to
encourage the non-profit sector and institutions of local governance to enter
into more collaborative work to promote community-oriented conservation
initiatives; fair trade of natural resource-related art and craft; natural
resource-related intellectual property rights rooted in traditional knowledge,
to name a few relevant points of connection. The work of the Imran Khan
Foundation as viewed on the IKF website, drives home the similarities of terrain,
livelihood and lifestyles of many natural resource-dependent people including
tribal communities across the border.
The optimistic note that characterizes
the PTI rang through in its reiterations that corruption is reversible;
governance can be improved; transparency in governance can be achieved.
The conviction with which these
ideals are pursued by the PTI finds resonance with efforts in India (and elsewhere),
to bring about better governance and a more just and humane world.
Imran Khan has, on several television
interviews, cited the example of Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar in
India, as an example of someone who has brought about significant improvements
to governance over a comparatively short span of time. However, it was Imran
Khan’s interviews to Indian television channels last year, opposing the US
drone attacks in the tribal areas of Pakistan, which drew my attention to, and
appreciation of his work, politics and writing. i have, ever since, keenly followed
through the internet, the speeches, interviews and campaigns of Imran Khan, the
Chairman of the PTI, and have read his recent book: Pakistan, A Personal
History.
Imran Khan’s speech at today’s
Convention complemented the technical expert’s speech well, and made the
politically crucial point that even for environmental problems to be solved,
what one first needs is the Rule of Law, something which he believes his
country lacks, and which the PTI can give to the people.
From what i have read and watched
in the media, i believe the subcontinent must realize the opportunity that it
has in Imran Khan. A person who i think has displayed courage, who stands for
clean politics, who has the capacity to inspire, and the humility to listen and
learn.
The PTI is in the process of
conducting elaborate intra-party elections. Later in the year, Pakistan is
expected to hold its elections. While the PTI has been in existence for over sixteen
years, the party has stepped up its outreach, and has been drawing
unprecedented crowds and support from the people. They hope for a Tsunami of
support in their favour at the polls.
Coincidentally, today also turned
out to be the day on which Pakistan’s long-pending National Climate Change Policy
was reportedly launched at a formal ceremony by the UNDP and the Federal
Ministry of Climate Change. The PTI said at its Convention today, that if
it comes to power, it is the party that will be able to properly implement this
National Climate Change Policy.
V. Shruti Devi
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