Concerns of corruption highlighted as MPs talk to Pakistani community
A GROUP of MPs have been told by Derby's Pakistani community how corruption is the major obstacle to getting aid to those in need in their home country.
The International Development Select Committee visited the city on the recommendation of one of its members – Mid Derbyshire MP Pauline Latham.
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The International Development Select Committee came to Derby to meet people from the city's Pakistani community about where and how aid is spent in their home country.
It was part of the committee's work to find out more about how £400 million of UK aid – being spent in Pakistan – is being distributed and how it could be done so more effectively.
Mrs Latham and fellow committee members also visited Pakistan to see for themselves some of the aid work which has been paid for.
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However, they wanted to hear the views of people living in Britain – and who have links to the country – about where and how they believe money should be spent.
Chairman of the committee Malcolm Bruce was joined by Michael McCann and Mrs Latham at the JET centre, in Normanton, yesterday where they heard people's views.
And the overriding message was that taxpayers in this country fear money is not getting to the right places because of corruption within Pakistan's political system.
Yasmin Nazir, chief executive of Derby Women's Centre, was among representatives invited to the meeting.
She said: "Corruption is rife and it starts at the airport.
"I was in Pakistan six weeks ago and, when I went to collect my luggage at the airport, one of the staff told me I'd have to pay a mobile tax because I had four mobiles in my bag.
"It doesn't exist. I challenged it and it took half-an-hour before they let me go but I know, what I didn't pay, the person behind me would be forced to."
Mohammed Sharief, executive director of JET, said: "The vast majority of people in this city, and indeed this country, in the 'Pakistani' community are from Kashmir.
"It concerns me that our British government only talks about Pakistan and Kashmir is overlooked, yet it is one of the most impoverished areas in the world."
Mrs Latham also asked what people thought the health needs and risks were in Pakistan.
The chairman of Derby's Pakistan Community Centre, Mohammed Yaqoub, said: "Hepatitis C and polio are the problems.
"The government did a good health campaign on Denghi fever, because it affects the rich and the poor, but it doesn't put the same effort into diseases affecting just impoverished regions."
Mrs Latham said the information would inform the committee's recommendations to Parliament next year.
Comments
by BusinessOwner
Friday, December 14 2012, 10:58PM
“by Neo_MadBadger
smshogun, please explain how a desalination plant would be set up in time to provide water to the inhabitants of a country hit by a devastating natural-disaster. How would the plant be powered?"
If you knew anything, which you often prove you dont, you would know that there are portable desalination units which can be run from portable generators and produce enough clean water to keep a few thousand people going.”
by dave12548
Friday, December 14 2012, 9:14PM
“Pakistan is the a n u s of planet earth, why give aid / money to it?”
by Neo_MadBadger
Friday, December 14 2012, 6:25PM
“It is interesting to see what these sorts of stories bring out in people. Rather than seeing themselves as humans and part of humanity, they defer to their artificial constructs based on those artifices, nation states, and to their so-called nationality which is nothing more than an accident of birth. Why do I owe, say, oscardoodle, amything more than someone in another country? The answer is, I don't.”
by Neo_MadBadger
Friday, December 14 2012, 6:19PM
“"...or desalination plants,...".
smshogun, please explain how a desalination plant would be set up in time to provide water to the inhabitants of a country hit by a devastating natural-disaster. How would the plant be powered?”
by oscardoodle
Friday, December 14 2012, 5:54PM
“I find it ironic that we are told time and time again not to give money to beggars on the streets since it is used to fund drink and drugs habits- we should give to a local charity. Yet the Government can hand out the sort of money each year that would get us back on an even keel in less than ten years to Countries with greater problems than ours but with more corrupt officials than ours ( yes, I know......)
Which is why I am suprised that the Mps are flag waving at all.
Arrange these words into a well known sentence-
'Door the bolted horse shutting after has the'”
by smshogun
Friday, December 14 2012, 5:42PM
“Stop all aid programmes to all parts of the world while the UK is in its current state and spend it here on our less fortunate and public services who have had funding slashed. If people wan't to give to a specific country or charity then let them do so, but people have made a choice to do so and are willing to do so.
In future I would only offer aid to country's suffering from natural disasters and it wouldn't be in cash, food, tents, portable water processing or desalination plants, medical supplies, and even portable buildings would offer more than money. They are practical help.”
by make_redgreen
Friday, December 14 2012, 1:42PM
“Well, they're talking to corruption experts at least!”
by Dave_Nottm
Friday, December 14 2012, 12:48PM
“We should not be giving ANY aid to a state that can afford its own nuclear weapons program.”
by BusinessOwner
Friday, December 14 2012, 11:49AM
“While there is one single person in need in Britain we should NOT be sending a penny abroad.
Charity begins at home.”
by Tamas
Friday, December 14 2012, 11:40AM
“Let's bung some money at these corrupt nations, then realise we have bunged money at corrupt nations, then hold an enquiry in to why, how, who what, when and spend millions apologising to ourselves and learning lessons.
Rubbish!”