Here’s what’s happening across the border: Rise in govt vehicle thefts in Karachi, while baby food formula companies caught off guard by govt diktat.
Pakistani actor proposes a #MeToo movement for men
With the #MeToo movement catching up on social media in Pakistan, actor Mustafa Ali Khan has proposed a similar narrative for men.
The #MeToo movement aims to generate awareness about sexual harassment faced by women globally.
In a Facebook post, Mustafa said that there should be a #MeToo for men as well, however not the kind where men talk about their sexual experiences, but where men confess about their complicity in creating an unsafe environment for women around them.
“Every single man is guilty. Guilty of perpetuating this environment where EVERY woman feels unsafe. I too am guilty,” Mustafa’s post read.
He explained how the statement, “boys will be boys”, is problematic, and owned up to indulging in sexist behaviour in the past. He also apologised to women he might have made uncomfortable in the past and encouraged others to address the issue at hand in a humane manner as well.
Government vehicles a target for stealing in Karachi
In the past year, 26 cases of snatching or theft of government vehicles have been reported in Karachi. SSP of Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) Asad Raza said that although snatching of private cars has declined over time, the same for government vehicles has increased.
According to Raza, due to provision of technology like sandblasting and tracking devices that are being installed in private vehicles, it is becoming harder for thieves to steal from these vehicles, making them target government vehicles instead, which don’t have such safety provisions.
He has requested the authorities concerned for installation of these safety equipment in government vehicles.
“The vehicles with the trackers installed can be recovered in minutes if the device is not removed or jammed while the vehicles which have their particulars sandblasted on their screens are less prone to theft or snatching and cannot be sold in the market easily,” Raza was quoted as saying by the Dawn.
Companies producing baby milk face an identity crisis
Due to contradictory instructions issued by two different government agencies, infant milk producing companies are unable to brand themselves without landing into trouble.
An order issued by Punjab Food Authority’s (PFA) called ‘marketing of infant formula regulation 2017’, has banned all manufacturers, importers and marketers to mention the word ‘milk’ or ‘doodh’ on the product packaging, or anywhere in their promotional material. This was done in order to promote breastfeeding of infants for healthy development.
However, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has mentioned all infant formula products in its Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) 412 as ‘baby milk’. This has created a conflict for the companies about whose orders to follow.
23 officers fired for misconduct
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of Pakistan fired 23 officers on the charge of misconduct and negligence. Another 32 have also been awarded penalties by chairman Justice Javed Iqbal (retd).
A NAB spokesperson was quoted by DAWN as saying, “The NAB chairman is of the view that self-accountability is very necessary towards adoption of ‘accountability for all’. NAB is absolutely committed to eradication of corruption from the country across the board”.
Among the 85 officers against whom the disciplinary action was taken, was deputy director of NAB, Kashif Mumtaz Gondal. After many complaints that were registered against him, he was suspended for three months on the charge of misconduct. A formal inquiry has also been initiated against him.