I'd like to begin by saying that I hope you don't mind a citizen coming forward to talk to you, and hopefully get some answers for matters that weigh on the heart and souls of many Pakistanis across the country.
Were we surprised that you'll be staying onChief Minister of Punjab? Not really, it makes sense - you would need to oversee the ongoing projects and development that has already started a cycle of conversation and given your party the right to rule with a simple majority for the next five years. Did we hope that perhaps health, education and other important matters would be pulled into federal interests again and you would be directly overseeing that? Yes. I was most definitely looking forward to that- even your harshest critics cannot deny the on ground presence you have.
However, I would like to question a few things. PML-N traditionally has not been a strong voice as far as secularism, tolerance and women's rights are concerned. This is not to say that women do not show up at your rallies, or take part as MNA's and MPA'sfrom PML-N, they most certainly do. I know a few my self personally, and one woman in particular in the Chakwal District who has dedicated most of her time to the people who she represents. So much to say, household staff in that house are not allowed to stop anyone coming into see her no matter what time of the day or night, because she feels people who vote for her have a right to talk to her whenever they choose.
Maryam's presence in the election campaign showed that perhaps PML-N is softening up to the women's representation and voice?And Marvi Memon being a part of PML-N is an even stronger presence and voice for women's issues to be addressed. She was a strong leader in the bill being passed for Acid Prevention Bill and if one follows her Tweets long enough, you know she's always on the move. I may not necessarily agree with the Urdu/Sindhi to Roman English spelling she some times uses, but I find her accessible, and reasonable and most importantly, educated.
Does this mean perhaps more attention will be given to women's issues in this country? We can only hope.
In this past year I my self have suffered the wrath of being "just a woman" in this country where I have been educated, learnt to drive, have voted, have paid taxes and began my career. In the Union Council in Karachi, I was unable to submit paperwork for my father's death certificate because "only a son can sign on the official paper work" - my argument clearly being, what exactly do people do with dead fathers paperwork who have no sons? I was advised by Union Council 10 of Karachi to have my driver as the "male" representative of the family to whom the paperwork would be issued. I hope no one else has to go through that humiliating process where your own Union Council degrades you as a woman.
Not only that, in a country where women have the right to vote since its inception - and can and have held public office up to the highest degree of a prime minister, but the late Benazir Bhutto also could not have been a member of certain private recreational clubs. Of course the argument to that would be, that private clubs are not of governmental jurisdiction, but gender equality throughout the country in every matter most certainly is.
And one thing I would think is one of the top priorities in the country is the health reforms. Since it's been moved to a provincial level, it's really upon the chief ministers to make things happen. I know as a first hand account of someone who approached you in the open forum you used to have in Minar-e-Pakistan to talk to the public, and how she managed to get money together from the Government of Punjab to help her critically ill husband who serves in the Punjab Police, for a liver transplant in India.
There is a requirement of 1200-1600 liver transplants in Pakistanevery month due to the scarily rising number of Hepatitis patients, and as Dr Faisal Dar's Liver Transplant program in Islamabad which is in it's infancy stages can only take care of two to three patients a month, the rest go to India, primarily Delhi, and China for their healthcare needs.
Each transplant costs roughly between 17-24 lakh Indian Rupees - say an approximate $35,000, so there is a foreign exchange bleed of roughly 1500 patients x $35,000 which is $52,50,000 every month to India and China. I speak to you as a medical attendant of a liver transplant patient, and want to know why I couldn't have this life saving procedure in my own country?
How is it possible that this is overlooked as a nationwide health reform? There are various charity hospitals dotted through out the country that provide free health care from cancer patients to eye care and every illness in between, but when will there be a regulatory authority for the various private medical facilities that do not meet hygiene or medical care standards even for animals?
