Latest news with #Pakistan-like
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
BJP MLA slams Cong for ‘pro-terror' stand
Lucknow: BJP MLA from Sarojininagar, Rajeshwar Singh, on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the , accusing it of adopting a "pro-terrorism" stance by siding with Iran and vilifying Israel. Singh condemned Congress for what he termed a "shocking and shameful" defence of Iran, a country he described as a known sponsor of and a rogue nuclear aspirant. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "While the global community — from the United States to Europe and Israel — is uniting against Iran-backed terror networks, Congress has chosen to defend Tehran and criticise Israel, the only democracy in the region," Singh said. Taking strong exception to Congress referring to Iran as a "long-standing friend," Singh reminded the public that Iran had repeatedly insulted India over Kashmir, interfered in domestic matters like the CAA protests and Delhi riots, and echoed Pakistan-like narratives on Muslim persecution. "A nuclear Iran is not Israel's crisis alone — it's a global nightmare," Singh warned. Calling for national unity, he urged all political parties and citizens to reject Congress's alleged soft stance on terror regimes.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
NDA flays oppn for targeting PM, CM
Patna: Leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have launched a scathing attack on the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) for allegedly targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar through a ' poster war '. While the Congress circulated on its social media platforms an image of a headless man in kurta-pyjama with the word 'GAYAB', purportedly aimed at the PM, posters of CM were defaced in the VVIP zone of Patna on Tuesday. The BJP accused the RJD of orchestrating what it described as a "cheap" stunt. The RJD, however, denied the allegations, calling them "baseless." Expressing surprise at the defacement, RJD spokesperson Ejya Yadav said, "It is shocking that posters of the CM were defaced by unscrupulous elements in a state where he has ruled for the last 20 years." She dismissed allegations from JD(U) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad and BJP's Kuntal Krishna, who claimed the act reflected the return of 'jungle raj' and opposition to Nitish's 'sushasan' image. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Highest Earning College Majors—2025 Edition Best Paying Degrees | Search Ads Learn More Undo "The govt should investigate the incident instead of accusing the opposition, especially when there were no eyewitnesses," Ejya added. BJP spokesperson Prabhakar Mishra said the RJD was acting out of frustration. "They are rattled because Nitish is firmly with the NDA," he said. JD(U) state spokesperson Abhishek Jha said, "You can deface posters, but how can you erase the image Nitish has in the public's mind? The people of Bihar trust him and will bring him back as CM." Meanwhile, Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal condemned the Congress poster targeting PM Modi over his absence in Kashmir after the Pahalgam terror attack. "The 'jimmedari ke samay GAYAB' poster shows Congress's Pakistan-like mindset. That is why it has lost its relevance and existence in the country. It's a sinking boat," Jaiswal said. Backing the NDA, LJP (Ram Vilas) chief and Union minister Chirag Paswan said, "The Pahalgam terror attack is a sensitive matter. The Congress should take a cue from J&K CM Omar Abdullah's dignified response on such issues that shake the nation."
Express Tribune
30-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
The bitter cost of sweetness
As the sugar industry continues to thrive at the expense of depleting Pakistan's water resources, there is no justification for incentivising it further. However, a sound policy could focus on rewarding efficient water use. photo: file Listen to article Washington has a very Pakistan-like sugar problem, and for decades, US citizens have paid a premium for their home-grown sugar. Inspired by Soviet practices, the US sugar programme, authorised by the 2002 Farm Bill, sets a minimum price level for sugar – one that is significantly higher than international prices – while simultaneously imposing tariff-driven controls on sugar imports. The result: wealth transfer from consumers to protected producers who channel taxpayers' money back into campaign coffers. Big Sugar invests heavily in lobbying and political contributions to maintain the status quo and deter any regulatory oversight. Allied industries that depend on sugar have been directly affected by this long-standing protectionist measure. Hershey Company and other confectioners have been moving their factories out of the US and into Canada and Mexico. Thanks to this sour 'sugary' deal, the Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo in the US use high fructose corn syrup in their soft drinks instead of sugar, unlike the rest of the world. It is interesting to note that, like the US's 2002 Farm Bill, a similar protectionist policy was introduced in the same year in Pakistan. In 2002, an executive order was passed barring the establishment of new sugar mills or the expansion of existing mills in the districts of Multan, Pakpattan, Lodhran, Bahawalpur, Rahimyar Khan, DG Khan, Rajanpur, Layyah, Muzaffargarh and Okara. By 2006, the Punjab government placed a complete ban on setting up new sugar mills or expanding existing ones, citing concerns over new mills encroaching on Pakistan's cotton belt. This policy effectively froze the sugar industry, leaving it entirely in the hands of a mere dozen families. Now fast-forward to 2025 – cotton farmers are shifting to sugarcane due to its lower manpower requirements, resilience against climate change, and resistance to disease, unlike cotton. The ban under the Punjab Industries (Control on Establishment and Enlargement) Act, 1963, failed to save the cotton industry and instead created severe distortions in resource allocation and management. Sugarcane, a highly water-intensive crop requiring 18-20 hours of irrigation for proper growth, is depleting groundwater reserves; not to mention that sugarcane fields are breeding grounds for pests that damage cotton crops. Due to a protectionist approach over the years, the sugar ecosystem is plagued with inefficiencies. When international sugar prices are high, the government sets higher domestic prices, and when international prices are low, financial subsidies are provided to sugar mills to keep them competitive. Despite these economic distortions, Pakistan's sugar sector still does not produce enough to sustain long-term exports. Pakistan's total sugar production for the current financial year is forecast at 6.8 million tonnes, while consumption is expected to be about 6.7 million tonnes. With a mere 1.5% of stocks contributing to buffer reserves, there is no room for sustained exports in this sector. If buffer stocks are exported, it will leave the country vulnerable to demand shocks, inevitably leading to the costly import of white sugar later. This means that over the past two decades, Pakistan has traded a forex-earning cotton crop for domestically consumed white sugar. Moreover, if water pricing were factored into the cost of sugar production, it would be highly uneconomical to produce sugar locally at all. This calls for drawing parallels with another domestic sector – the fertiliser industry. Fertiliser manufacturers have historically enjoyed protectionism and benefited from subsidised gas, just as the sugar industry enjoys access to free water. International fertiliser prices for di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) could, in theory, bring substantial foreign exchange earnings, but there is a permanent ban on its export. The reasoning behind this ban is to prevent domestic shortages, ensuring availability for local agriculture – a precaution Pakistan fails to take with sugar, leading to periodic market crises. Taking a cue from the fertiliser industry, Pakistan should impose a permanent ban on sugar exports. Though this goes against free-market principles, it is necessary to prevent the country from repeatedly exporting sugar at low prices and then importing it back at higher costs. As the sugar industry continues to thrive at the expense of depleting Pakistan's precious water resources, there is no justification for incentivising it further. However, a sound policy could focus on rewarding efficient water use and replenishing aquifers rather than providing production-linked incentives. Rather than restricting the output and size of sugar mills, as is currently the case, quotas should be set on water usage, and its cost should be reflected in the price of sugar. Like the US government, Pakistan must introduce a mandate ensuring that the sugar industry operates on a zero-net-cost basis to the federal government in the short run. In the long run, it must also account for hidden ecological damage, ensuring the industry bears the full cost of its environmental impact. THE WRITER IS A CAMBRIDGE GRADUATE AND IS WORKING AS A STRATEGY CONSULTANT
