Munter's exhortation to Pak businessmen

United States Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter while addressing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KPCCI) urged Pakistani businessmen not to look towards the United States but towards the Pakistani government to resolve their issues. This statement was no doubt made in the context of KPCCI President Afan Aziz's welcome remarks in which he reminded the Ambassador that the only significant bill - Reconstruction Opportunity Zones Bill (ROZs) - with the capacity to effectively tackle the menace of Talibanisation in the war-torn region, through encouraging output that would find a ready market in the US remains pending in the US Congress. ROZs were first promised by President George Bush but it was the Democrats-controlled House of Representatives that passed the bill in 2009. However, the US retailers and clothing importers, a politically significant group, complained that the legislation was too narrow in scope to meet their concerns. Additionally the Republicans also objected on the grounds that the bill imposed overly restrictive labour requirements on Pakistani companies. The ensuing controversy blocked Senate action on the legislation and to date there appears to be no resolution in sight. There is no doubt that it is the Pakistan government's responsibility to support Pakistani manufacturers and traders and not a foreign government. However, in this particular instance, it is relevant to note that army action in parts of KP continue as a direct offshoot of US policy on the ongoing war on terror; the passage of the ROZ was offered by the Bush administration as a means to resolve the growing threat of fundamentalism and militarism in our tribal areas rooted in poverty and illiteracy. Failure to pass the ROZ bill, therefore, must be seen in the context of compromising the overarching objective of the US-led Nato forces in Afghanistan: to root out fundamentalism and terrorism and to take away the terrorists' ability to recruit. There is no doubt that terrorists have particularly targeted not only the US but also Pakistan causing the deaths to thousands and destruction to property worth millions of dollars. One can only hope that the US Congress reconsiders this well-designed and focused policy that could have dealt with terrorism in the region without firing a single shot. The second major impediment to growth in this country is attributed to the continued severe energy shortfall. Critics of the US place the blame for our continued loadshedding on US opposition to the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline that has the capacity to significantly reduce loadshedding. There is sufficient evidence to support this contention especially given that documents available with Business Recorder reveal that this view is shared by the relevant ministry. However, the recent US-led World Bank approval of one billion dollars to boost power in the country is being seen by many as support that would not have been possible without the US administration's nudge. The money would target enhancement of capacity of Tarbela, improve irrigation and cut wasteful water use and would, without doubt, be accompanied by a host of policy reform measures focused on ensuring sustainability of the energy sector - measures that the government has failed to implement for the past four years. One can only hope better sense would prevail and the government would begin implementing policies that would reduce loadshedding though tariffs may have to be raised further and not, as is happening today, raise rates as well as loadshedding. In addition, Munter once again stated that the US is engaged in improving Pakistan's energy sector and has extended assistance for the construction of the Gomal Zam dam. Cameron Munter assured continued US support for Pakistan's development. However he added that the Pakistani leadership must focus on business, investment and issues of the people. He added perhaps not quite diplomatically though certainly fittingly, "Pakistan desperately needs a leadership which could prove to address key issues of the country." Unfortunately it appears that our politicians today remain focused on Memogate, Younis Habibgate and the Prime Minister's contempt of court case while the economic compulsions are allowed to play a distant second fiddle to political compulsions.