CONTENTS:

• Governments Versus Markets
• A Model of Corporate Social Responsibility
• On Switzerland, Anarchy, Theory, and Practice
• Urdu Translation of "The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible: A Free-Market Odyssey"
• Letters
• FreePakistan News Briefs

GOVERNMENT VERSUS MARKETS: NO SET RULES FOR DETERMINING THEIR APPROPRIATE ROLES
Aftab Ahmad Khan
[Excerpts from an article whose author oscillates between governments and markets.]

The cardinal policy issue facing modern economic systems is the determination of the appropriate role of the government and of the market and the articulation of the appropriate rules and considerations to be applied in making this choice. The choice cannot be dichotomized as between relatively perfect governments and imperfect or inadequate markets. The choice in reality is among imperfect markets, imperfect governments and various combinations of the two. The crucial economic choice concerns the degree to which markets or governments - each with their respective flaws - should determine the allocation, use and distribution of resources in the economy.

In most of the 145 or so Third World countries there has been a strong statist disposition, primarily on account of historical association between socialism and the nationalist, anti-colonialist movements or these countries. The state's predominant role in the economy has in many cases been promoted by the benefits it conferred on those acquiring power over the machinery of the government. In recent years, the statist legacy has waned on account of accumulated evidence of the disappointing performance of the strongly interventionist economies in the Soviet Union, Cuba, many Eastern European countries and elsewhere.

By the end of the 1990s, more than 70 countries had received loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that were conditioned on promises to adopt free market economic policies. Many of these countries were also receiving structural adjustment r sectoral adjustment loans from the World Bank again conditioned on the implementation of liberal pro-market policies. "The objective of structural adjustment programs," observes a World Bank report "is to restore economic growth while simultaneously supporting internal and external financial stability. As such, these programs have macro-economic and micro-economic aspects. The major macro-objectives are to improve the external balance and domestic fiscal balance. An adjustment program thus commonly includes a combination of (1) fiscal and monetary policies (mainly the exchange rate, import/export taxes and subsidies) to alter the relative incentives between tradable and non-tradable goods. On the micro side, the major objective is to improve efficiency in the use of resources by removing price distortions, opening up more competition, and dismantling administrative controls (de-regulations). Such programs include those for government expenditures and the management of public enterprise, including reduction in the government's presence in areas where private enterprise can operate more efficiently."

Simply put, structural adjustment means less government, freer trade and more private enterprise.

These changes mark a clear departure from previous theory and practice about development. For a number of years after World War II, the conventional preached on interventionist state. The private sector, so went the argument, would not be able to mobilize the massive funds required for sustained growth, and markets in under-developed countries did not function according to economics text books. Because of market imperfections and inadequacies, it became imperative for the government to mobilize economic resources and manage them.

In contrast, these days government practically is shrinking both in size and scope. The emphasis is on the market and the private sector's efficient use of resources to maintain high rates of growth.

This shift in pendulum of opinion is primarily attributable to disillusionment with state intervention in economic development. In a large number of countries, instead of promoting growth, the state sponsored inefficiency. Instead of re-distributing resources to the poor and the powerless, the interventionist state too often coincided with elitism, corruption and dictatorship.

In the current swoon over the charms of the market and disillusion with government in the Third World, then, there is, however, a danger that policy makers and economic managers may forget past disappointments with private sector. Even where the economic role of the state was negligible, growth was minimal in many developing countries. Often, what was advertised as "free enterprise" or "competition" turned out to be fraudulent mercantilism. In a large number of countries, an oligopolistic private sector did not result in efficiency or dynamism but led to exploitation and misallocation. Moreover, even where private capital and fairly free markets were the rule, basic needs were not satisfied, and democracy and fundamental human rights were often abrogated. Precisely, because in many ways the private sector had failed to achieve development with equity, many countries in the 1950s and 1960s turned admiringly to the planned interventionist strategies.

Taking a historical view, some economists perceive a pendulum swinging between calls for a strong state (after a time when an emphasis on the market has failed) and calls for a de-regulated private sector (after a period of failed state led strategies). The fact is that neither the interventionist state nor the minimalist state has guaranteed rapid growth with equity. In much of South Asia, Africa and Latin America, neither state nor market has lived up to the expectations of its enthusiasts.

The current economic science, however, does not permit us to say much about this mixing and weighing. As the Nobel laureate Prof. Paul Samuelson concluded years ago, "there are no rules concerning the proper role of government that can be established by a priori reasoning."
[Courtesy: The News Lahore Edition January 20, 2003]

A MODEL OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
By Zohair Ali Sharif

Over the past few decades, there has been a fundamental change in the relationship between corporate entities and their customers. Whether the entity is a producer of goods or a supplier of services, its role in the marketplace has expanded to well beyond merely manufacturing a good quality product or delivering a high standard of service. This is partly due to the increased competition between the commercial companies themselves that requires each to outdo the other in terms of building a positive image in the eyes of the customer.

Another, perhaps more important reason, has been the immense growth in the flow of information globally. The consumer today is highly well informed. He/she is not easily swayed anymore by alluring advertising or sales promotion gimmicks that are now viewed with skepticism and with a grain of suspicion. Therefore, at the end of the day, it is the perceived image of the company that determines how successful it is in the marketplace or at the simplest level, what people think about it?

To this end, companies get involved in a diverse range of activities to improve their public image. However, more often that not, the activities undertaken have a clear marketing or commercial angle that the target audience does not fall to see. Thus, while some image-building may be achieved, it is obvious that the motives are not entirely altruistic.

HUBCO's Social Action Program (SAP), on the other hand, is a singular example of a company caring for the local community without any consideration of commercial gains. HUBCO's only product - electricity - has one single buyer in the whole country and that is Wapda [a government monopoly]. As such, its SAP is not aimed at influencing the general public to buy its product. In this light, the SAP must be seen as a selfless endeavor to benefit the local community, and it is a shining example for others to emulate.

The HUBCO-SAP has been in place for several years now on a continuous basis. It concentrates on health, education and environment. The beneficiaries are the villages in Hub, Gadani, Lasbela and the nearby 'goths.' The SAP is designed and executed to ensure the benefits of a common man, and of those who do not have resources of their own to meet even their basic health and education needs.

During the last year, the health side of the SAP has seen various different activities taking place. A major activity was the holding of a three-day free eye camp at Gadani in which International Power also participated. The Eye Camp turned out to be a real blessing for a large number of local people suffering from various eye ailments.

During the three-day camp, a record 1,318 OPD cases were handled and 123 operations for cataract removal and implant of Intra Ocular Lenses (IOL) were performed. HUBCO and IPR also arranged free transport in the Gadani area to bring people to the eye camp, as it was felt that many people suffering from eye ailments would not be able to visit the camp on their own.

Another health-related activity under SAP was the donation of a large quantity of medicines for the hospitals and dispensaries for the hospitals and surrounding areas. Apart from this, Mobile Medical Units of IPR are working in 25 villages and offering free medical facilities to more than 3000 people.

HUBCO also provided Hepatitis B vaccine to the local people. Arrangement of vaccination for Hepatitis B was also made through the Mobile Medical Units and through the local hospitals and dispensaries.

A major contribution in the health sector was the donation by HUBCO of the Laser Photo Coagulator to Layton Rehmatullah Benevolent Trust (LRBT) Eye Hospital in Quetta. This high tech machine, costing around Rs 2.3 million is an incomparable gift for the people of Baluchistan who till now had to travel to Karachi or Lahore for treatment. Such a treatment in a private hospital, using laser technology, costs the patient up to Rs 40,000 in addition to the money and effort spent in traveling to Karachi or Lahore.

In the field of education, the services rendered by HUBCO include the construction of new school buildings, construction of additional rooms in the old school buildings, installation of water coolers for drinking water, provision of textbooks and uniforms, and arranging free transport facility to the students of nearby villages. HUBCO has also constructed a new school building in Goth Ibrahim Zore. This 3-roomed school building replaced the old one which had become unsafe for students.

Recently, the education initiative under SAP has been given a major boost with an agreement between HUBCO, IPGD (International Power Global Development) and The Citizens Foundation (TCF) to set up a full-fledged school in Tehsil Hub, Lasbela, Baluchistan to meet the basic educational needs of the children.

Speaking on the occasion of the signing ceremony, Vince Harris, CEO HUBCO, said, "This project is another step forward in the company's commitment to its social welfare and support program. As a caring and committed corporate citizen, HUBCO believes that education is an answer to many problems in the country, and thus takes a proactive part in providing opportunities wherever possible. IPGD, too, has in place a Social Action Program, with particular emphasis on education."

Under the agreement, this primary and secondary school, spread on four acres of land, will be built with funds provided by IPGD. Thereafter, the running costs will be borne by HUBCO. The school shall have a capacity to accommodate 500 students and shall consist of a pre-primary section, a primary section from Kindergarten to Class Five, and two secondary sections (one for boys and one for girls) form Class Six to Ten.

In the field of environment, HUBCO performs exemplary efficiency. Building on the success of previous years, the IPR-HUB Power Station received RoSPA commendation in the Electricity Awards 2002 for occupational safety. For the purpose of promoting and enhancing the awareness on Health and Safety amongst the employees and contractors, a safety poster competition 2002 was held and prizes were distributed to the winners and runner-ups. A total of 306 entries were received from 260 participants in two different categories, Health and Safety at Work.

HUBCO is popular amongst the local people due to its aforementioned activities in health, education and environment fields. People also appreciate HUBCO for electrifying the nearby villages of Hub and Lasbela and for providing support in various ways to sporting events for the youth of the area.
[Courtesy: The News Lahore Edition March 23, 2003]

ON SWITZERLAND, ANARCHY, THEORY, AND PRACTICE
By Manuel Miles
[Courtesy: The Libertarian Enterprise TLE Issue 226]

In a previous article, I made the mistake of claiming that Switzerland was "entirely free from coercion" both internal and external; I should have said, "mostly" or "generally". I was speaking in the general sweep of their 700 year history, of course, and in comparison to every other country in the world. Over the seven centuries of the Swiss experiment, the Swiss have enjoyed a level of prosperity and self-government unparalleled in that sametime period -- not perfect, just way out ahead of whoever is in second place.

Mr Davidson wrote an article in opposition to my suggestion that this unique experiment in self-government is instructive to the cause of Liberty. I shall reply here: The fact that Switzerland was overrun by Napoleon hardly disqualifies the concept of armed neutrality; unlike specious anarchist theory, Liberty doesn't come with a guarantee of easy success. Every nation in Europe which ole Nappy attacked fell, right up to the gates of Moscow. Switzerland suffered aftershocks from their brief occupation for many years afterward, and they were not immune to the various troubles sweeping nineteenth-century Europe.

The Swiss, however, managed to learn from the experience (there's that nasty concept of learning from experience, as opposed to trying to force reality to fit some theory), and held off the entire Axis during the six years of World War Two. That their neutrality included allowing the continued use of some Swiss roadways does not negate it. Unmentioned in Mr Davidson's article is the fact that Switzerland also shot down quite a few Nazi planes and, in essence, provided a safe haven for a great number of crippled US and UK bomber and fighter aircraft which would otherwise have had to land in Axis territory. (The American OSS also was allowed to operate nearly openly in Switzerland during this time, by the way.) This is hardly collaboration with the Axis.

The Swiss were neutral, not non-existent, during the war. Neutrality does not mean one cannot favour one side or another, it means that one does not become directly involved in alliances and the hostilities which inevitably result therefrom. The Swiss traded with many nations (mostly in exchange for food, of which they were desperately short -- the reason they did not accept every refugee in Europe, by the way), and supplied war materiel to the Allied nations, shipping their wares through fascist Italy. The Axis had to allow it, or the Swiss would have closed their borders to all Axis traffic, instead of just most of it.

Other complaints: the Protestant and Catholic Swiss have not made their cantons kosher. Maybe that is "bad", but it is their decision and their right. Perhaps they feared that they would suffer the fate that befell the Palestinians. In any case, immigrants don't have to go there if they don't like it. Those who hate the Swiss would likely feel happier bulldozing Palestinians' homes, murdering the residents, and "settling" their stolen lands and businesses. In that case, they know where they can go... Palestine's Christians have not exactly had an easy time of it under Israeli fascism, either, but that would be applying the same standards to Zionists which they attempt to force on the rest of the world.

[Note that the numbers game ("25 000 refused!") is played every time "the Holocaust" is used to attack anyone outside the pro-Israel lobby; the numbers cannot be verified, of course, as no source is given (as usual), although it is indicated in Mr Davidson's article that his claim is based on "probably". I have never been able to find a reliable source for the notorious "six million" figure, either, but since "everybody knows it's so," we peasants probably don't need to know how this "fact" is arrived at -- or why it was changed from the four million touted in the '50s and '60s.]

Also unremarked is how many Jews did find refuge in Switzerland, how many were accepted in the USA (which turned away all but the handful of scientists they needed for atomic bomb building, et cetera), how many "Gypsies" (Roma) were sheltered by European Jews, how often the Holocaust Industry mentions the five million Poles killed by the Nazis, et cetera. It's always easy to hint at the dreaded "anti-Semitism", however, as every neocon and pro-Israel lobbyist knows, and this seems to be a convenient club to use on the Swiss, too.

The nonsense about "Swiss collaboration" with other countries because they refused to stop doing business with them, is just that; banks are under no obligation, moral or otherwise, to investigate their customers' finances, even if the Simon Wiesenthal Center does want more cash. Of course, in "the land of the free", the federales have powers to do just that. I feel "safer" already... The recent extortion and fraud that was committed against the Swiss people by the Holocaust Industry has already been widely exposed and denounced elsewhere; for more on that topic, do some research at www.lewrockwell.com, for example.

Finally, the complaint that the Swiss have not done as others want: this does not mean that they have not provided a lesson in self-government. When nations and peoples are free to determine their own course, they will do so, even without consulting with Americans. It's one of the drawbacks of (even a modicum of) Liberty.

Switzerland is a long way from perfect, and there is much that I do not like about it (fondue, for example, is way overrated), but as Edward Gibbon pointed out, "The ones who carry the arms determine the form of government," and the Swiss are themselves the army of Switzerland. The Swiss at least moved in the opposite direction from all the competing empires of Europe, Asia and North America.

The point of the article, restated here, is that there is much to be learnt from Switzerland, primarily: the concepts of a citizen soldiery, armed neutrality, a weak and part-time federal government, the rights of recall, referendum and initiative. As Libertarians believe in minimal government, as opposed to statism, that is of interest to us.

This brings us to a letter which bemoaned the "attacks" on anarchists which have "sullied" TLE recently. In opposing anarchy, I have pointed out that anarchists are not Libertarians, and should stop masquerading as such. They should stand on their own philosophical feet and stop attaching themselves, leech-like, to other philosophies. "I was under the impression that..." hardly qualifies as a basis for this behaviour, either. Libertarians believe in (severely) limited government. That is why we can learn from the Swiss, who have had more experience of it than anyone else.

A good explanation of basic Libertarian principles is available at several sites; all of them concede that some common functions (notably mutual defence against fraud, coercion and invasion) must be carried out by people acting in concert. Of course, anarchists don't believe this; that is why anarchists are not Libertarians. Perhaps there is a movement afoot to rename L. Neil's site, "The Anarchist Enterprise". If so, just be open and honest about it.

It has been my experience that anarchists spend a lot of time talking about their theories, but cannot point to any actual historical examples of anarchy which have accomplished what they claim for them. Anarchists oppose doing anything that they don't approve of (which is usually doing anything at all), and consistently oppose all serious attempts to do something concrete about reducing the interference of government in peoples' lives.

Those who wish to believe in anarchy are welcome to do so; those who believe in Libertarianism don't have to pretend that anarchists share our beliefs. There is more to Libertarianism than just "the non-aggression principle" and the silly claim that "private enterprise can do everything"; as a matter of fact, we Libertarians actually believe that some things which are necessary to the preservation of Liberty will not be accomplished by private enterprise. Then people will need to work cooperatively. That, of course, is anathema to anarchists, and that is why they are anathema to the cause of... Peace and Liberty.

URDU TRANSLATION OF "THE ADVENTURES OF JONATHAN GULLIBLE: A FREE-MARKET ODYSSEY"

Ken Schoolland's award-winning libertarian fable "The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible: A Free Market Odyssey" has become the outstanding tool for free-market youth education - winning rave reviews from readers, and have been published in a remarkable 26 languages! Urdu translation of JG has recently been completed by Khalil Ahmad and we are awaiting some sponsors to publish it. If you are interested in sponsoring its publication, please visit www.jonathangullible.com or contact FreePakistan Newsletter.

LETTERS

Thanks, once again! I noticed the quote from Jefferson - "Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppression of body and mind will vanish like spirits at the dawn of day." - Which, I used to believe was true. Sadly, I no longer do. As the old saying goes, "You may lead a horse to water but, you can't make it drink." Without a desire to "enlighten" one's self, there can be no "enlightenment". Sadly, that desire seems to be lacking in a great majority of the people. And, as Jefferson also said, "If you wish to remain ignorant and free... you wish what never has been and what can never be." I sincerely wish that I could, once again, be optimistic, but, the longer I've been involved with this, the more I learn, and the more people I have attempted to "enlighten," the more pessimistic, sceptical and cynical I have become. Regardless, I thank and commend you for your efforts, and your tenacity. I wish you all the luck in the world; I'm just no longer very optimistic, I'm afraid.
Sincerely,
Claude A. Bohn
Louisville, KY (U.S.A.)

[Notwithstanding your words of despair, your communications are encouraging for me. I realize your agony! And, being a teacher (I am a college teacher, and that by choice, and teach Philosophy of Education), I must be a pessimist (like you); but in fact I am a pessimist only theoretically, and practically I am an optimist. You might know that the Greek philosophers raised this question: Can we teach a person? And, they answered in No. Of course, as you say and quote the old saying, we cannot teach or educate anybody unless he is prepared to educate himself. Ultimately, every education is self-education. Or, every person is his own teacher; we can only help him or guide him. It is up to him to learn or not to learn. It is his right, his freedom. Why should we be pessimistic if most of the people prefer to live a life we don't commend or recommend? Likewise, they would be deploring the life we prefer for ourselves! Every year I see that out of more than a hundred and fifty students, there are only a few who pick up the point and start thinking over it and getting inspired by it. That's enough for me. Until the values and principles we cherish do not become part of the mainstream thought, majority of the people won't believe in them and won't prefer to live according to them. This has been so, and is so and will remain so for a long time to come till every individual starts, as Socrates envisaged, living an examined and not an unexamined life. Let people choose either the freedom of ignorance or the ignorance of freedom as we view both. This is their inalienable right. I think teachers and educators must realize their limitations or rather the limits of other person's freedoms. A good teacher does not teach, he inspires; and only those get inspired who have a penchant for an examined, thoughtful life.
KA]

Thank you for your thoughtful reply! Concerning "education" and my sense of pessimism: My despair comes, as I mentioned previously, from the realization, that, as Jefferson said: "If you expect to remain ignorant and free, you expect what never has been and what can never be." Given the propensities of the overwhelming majority to live the "unexamined life," I realize that freedom - in any real or meaningful sense - is merely a pipe dream. Or, perhaps, a delusion would be a more appropriate term. What those of us who desire freedom are really up against is, human nature itself. And, that hasn't changed in ten thousand years; nor does it promise to do so in another ten thousand. But, until it does, we seem doomed to keep repeating the same mistakes, over and over again, while expecting different results. If, as former president Clinton once said, "The measure of a civilization is the degree to which cooperative intelligence replaces brute force," then, mankind in the 21st century seems as far from being "civilized" as its Neanderthal counterpart. Take care, my hopeful friend! As Crosby, Stills and Nash once wrote, "Teach your children well"!
Sincerely,
Claude A. Bohn

Thanks for your wonderful newsletter.
Warm regards
Zafarullah Khan

I was very happy to see the initiative under your leadership for a Free Pakistan. I was impressed by the consistency of your intellectual framework and boldly taking position. I was wondering if we could meet some time and discuss areas of mutual interest, and if possible, collaboration.
Warm regards
Ali Salman

Hello, Thanks for the links to Bureaucrash and Jonathan Gullible. Do you have your own web site yet? When you get one online, we'd love to help promote it!
Bests,
Louis
Louis James
CEO, Free-Market.Net

It's very nice and encouraging to hear such news. We, some friends are also interested and engaged in similar activates for the last few years. Where are you based by the way? Hope to hear from you more.
Bilal

Thank you for your letter # 2. I must say that I am surprised or I do not really understand it. Chapters 1 and 2 are in my opinion only pleading for MORE GOVERNMENT RULES AND POWER!! I think that is not libertarian, it is the wrong solution and makes consumers only more dependant of the government. Let me know if I see this correctly.
Best,
In LIBERTY
Hubert Jongen

[I appreciate your concern. As to the FreePakistan format, I keep in view the following things: 0 to include in it what is going on in Pakistan at various levels such as in the press, at the level of government [legislation], etc. 0 to include what may promote the cause of Free and Prosperous Pakistan or may hinder it [as in NewsBriefs] 0 to include such material which may be instructive as to how Pakistan can become Free and Prosperous 0 to keep informed others [outside Pakistan] interested in what the few Libertarians are doing in Pakistan Now as to your objection: In Pakistan, there are no laws or regulations at any level ensuring the quantitative and qualitative aspects of goods and services; even the multinationals exploit the consumers. Local exploitation is rampant. So, we need such protection. And, I think all of the developed countries, and 'the freer ones' also, do have such laws. And, when we say it's the duty of the state to protect the life, liberty and property of the citizens, what do we mean? Don't we mean that citizens must have the right to sue any manufacturer or service provider who violates the 'contract' between him and the customer? We have quite different conditions here: both public and private sectors exploit the citizens/individuals/customers alike. Our private sector is in its infancy; and it depends or likes to depend mostly upon the state to earn profit; and perhaps it is because Pakistan's economy is totally controlled by the government. There is no free market in Pakistan. The Heritage Index of Economic Freedom 2003 has ranked Pakistan as "mostly unfree."
KA]

It is important to look at the fundamentals. In the "protection" you asked for, the GOVERNMENT arranges (with high costs for the taxpayer) what you are allowed to eat or not. Here in the EU they are already so far that "curved" cucumbers are not allowed. They should be "straight". I will give some more indication in your text, marked with ***** Hope this will clear my "libertarian" position. We have lots of work to do before we have a free life!

I appreciate your concern. As to the FreePakistan format, I keep in view the following things: ***** I agree with them. Good points. I would advise to couple them as much as possible with: "Libertarian Solutions"

• to include in it what is going on in Pakistan at various levels such as in the press, at the level of government [legislation], etc.
• to include what may promote the cause of Free and Prosperous Pakistan or may hinder it [as in NewsBriefs]
• to include such material which may be instructive as to how Pakistan can become Free and Prosperous
• to keep informed others [outside Pakistan] interested in what the few Libertarians are doing in Pakistan

Now as to your objection: In Pakistan, there are no laws or regulations at any level ensuring the quantitative and qualitative aspects of goods and services; even the multinationals exploit the consumers. ****** Do we really "NEED" laws to "ensure" this? I think that you are right in saying that if somebody supplies you with a lesser quantity or quality than agreed, that there is a breach of contract. And these questions can be handled by the normal judge. Local exploitation is rampant. So, we need such protection. And, I think all of the developed countries, and 'the freer ones' also, do have such laws. ****** NO, we need only the common judge who has the possibility to enforce justice. And, when we say it's the duty of the state to protect the life, liberty and property of the citizens, what do we mean? Don't we mean that citizens must have the right to sue any manufacturer or service provider who violates the 'contract' between him and the customer? **** Right, that is what I say. But try to keep away from all government controls in shops and factories. If there is a need for these checks, why not do it by a private organization? We have quite different conditions here: both public and private sectors exploit the citizens/individuals/customers alike. ***** Both should be convicted by the judge! Our private sector is in its infancy; and it depends or likes to depend mostly upon the state to earn profit; and perhaps it is because Pakistan's economy is totally controlled by the government. **** Sure, just like here, many factories/companies USE the government for there own purposes (often at expense of the customers, always at expense of the taxpayer) There is no free market in Pakistan. **** There is not in Holland and EU either, we have some mixed economy. Probably freer than Pakistan.
In LIBERTY,
Hubert

[I think we have no disagreement as such; only that we are cautious about the role of government because usually when minimum of the laws are allowed under a limited government, it doesn't stop there; laws multiply and government swells. I too concede to Milton Friedman's view of government as 'Rule-Maker and Umpire' .The following lines form "Capitalism and Freedom" will suffice to make my position clear: "The existence of a free market does not of course eliminate the need for government. On the contrary, government is essential both as a forum for determining the "rules of the game" and as an umpire to interpret and enforce the rules decided on. What the market does is to reduce greatly the range of issues that must be decided though political means, and thereby to minimize the extent to which government need participate directly in the game. The characteristic feature of action through political channels is that it tends to require or enforce substantial conformity. The great advantage of the market, on the other hand, is that it permits wide diversity. It is, in political terms, a system of proportional representation. Each man can vote, as it were, for the color of tie he wants and get it; he does not have to see the color the majority wants and then, if he is in the minority, submit."
KA]

TETRA PAK HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT CAMPAIGN
Tetra Pak, the world's leading supplier of food packaging and processing solutions, recently launched its recycling campaign themed, "PROUD PAKISTANIS RECYCLE," in Lahore to coincide with the globally celebrated World Environment Day. The objective of the campaign is to provide clean & healthy living environment to the people of Pakistan; to help ministry/government in managing waste and to promote small and medium enterprises in the recycling industry for employment generation and poverty alleviation. Tetra Pak Pakistan is organizing this campaign in collaboration with its partners including government of Punjab, UNIDO, a paper and board mill Packages, some of its valuable customers, Green Earth Recycling Plant and an NGO Waste Busters. Initially to be launched in Lahore, this campaign will later be expanded to other parts of the country. The campaign includes collection of post-consumer Tetra Pak waste from schools and market places for recycling. This recycled material will be converted into school furniture and will be gifted to selected public schools in the city while the rest will be re-used in the paper industry. Being the first and the biggest environmental campaign of the country all partners are going to benefit tremendously from it. As part of the promotion, Tetra Pak will request consumers to deposit 20 empty packs of Tetra Pak and get a free filled juice/milk pack. "We urge all consumers to help us keep our country clean and beautiful by proving that they are proud Pakistanis. Let us join hands to leave our children a healthy planet," requests Communications and Environment Manager Tetra Pak, Rauf Hameed.

PRIVATIZING MAJOR PUBLIC SECTOR ENTITIES
The Privatization Commission Board has given a go-ahead signal to the Privatization Commission to divest shares of major public sector entities through stock exchange of the country. These entities include the National Bank of Pakistan, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd., Pakistan International Airline Company, Sui Southern Gas Company and the initial public offering of two enlisted companies namely Oil & Gas Development Company Ltd., and Pakistan Petroleum Ltd.

SMOKING BAN
The President has promulgated an ordinance which will provide for prohibition of smoking and other tobacco uses in public work places or on public service vehicles with the aim to protect the health of non-smokers. Any violator of the ordinance shall face fine up to five thousand rupees and imprisonment to 3 months. The ordinance will be effective from 31st of May this year.

CRACKCOWN ON PORN WEB SITES
In a crackdown on internet pornography, so far 1,800 web sites have been blocked. But, it's not proving to be easy. "Curbing porn sites is as difficult as blocking wind," said a web engineer of the state-owned telecommunication company. "You block one, and dozens more come up like mushrooms," he added. Under pressure from powerful religious parties, minister for information technology ordered Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd. to filter porn sites.

POLICE WON'T PROTECT
Lahore [metropolis of Punjab province] city police has been directed to make compulsory on jewelers, financial institutions and other important organizations to hire security guards.

45,000 NGOs ACTIVE IN PAKISTAN
There are 45,000 non-governmental organizations active in Pakistan out of which 17,000 are un-registered, says a Social Development and Policy Center study. The total number of registered NGOs is 27, 855. The figures show that 34.1 per cent of the NGOs working in the country are inactive. A total of 6,840 organizations (15.2 per cent) got themselves registered under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies Ordinance 1961 while 18, 225 under the Societies Registration Act 1860.