The week was dominated by CSS officers (both of the DMG and the Foreign Services persuasion) complaining about how mean everyone is to them. For the sake of the Twitter followings of all these ACs, we will not say much about the whole episode, particularly beaus other things were going on as well including some interesting offers from Waqar Zaka, the impact of Zakat, and tackling vaccine hesitancy.
Profit’s Ariba Shahid brings all this and more to you in this week’s social media roundup.
- Beyond Zakat
In an otherwise regressive tax regime in Pakistan, I value the informal presence of Zakat. But that’s what it is: a safety net in the face of state failure. It is not a replacement for progressive taxation, and public welfare, which is what the state ought to strive for. https://t.co/t9wMnq57Ah
— Gulraiz Khan (@gulraizkhan) May 7, 2021
In the absence of a true welfare state, Zakat has your back as an informal means to address inequality. Gulraiz Khan reminds us in this month of Ramzan how despite it being a safety net, it does not make up for public welfare and taxing the rich. The state still has a responsibility, and no, deducting Zakat from your bank account is just not enough.
- Youtube royalty
From ruling over one of the largest empires in the history of the world to becoming YouTube influencers. The downfall of the British Empire is complete. pic.twitter.com/q5oiLyGRjb
— Arhum (@arhuml92) May 5, 2021
In the age of influencers and monetization of social media, it does not come as a surprise that the royal family are ready to earn off Youtube. Reminds us of a time when the recently late Duke of Edinghburg let the BBC record a documentary about how royals live to prove they need more money. That experiment did not go very well as far as public opinion was concerned, but it was one of the many moves that helped propel the royals into the new age. Is this another media baptism? Maybe Kate and William are in a crunch and trying to do the same while earning a quick buck?
- Living on the edge
I can pay off PAK debt using crypto but the condition is @ImranKhanPTI should step down and let me run the country if not then Pakistanis should demand what solution respectable , olive plantation, tourism , anti corruption lovers IK has. I challenge all Politican koi idea hai
— Waqar Zaka (@ZakaWaqar) May 4, 2021
The late Khadim Hussain Rizvi had a strategy to deal with our external account deficit. He suggested we pay off countries when we can and that too without interest. He went on to say that if any country objected, we could use Ghauri to scare them off. While that is an idea (good or bad we’ll let you decide), Waqar Zaka has jumped into the fray with a unique idea of his own. He claims he can pay off Pakistan’s debt by using crypto. His only condition is that he is allowed to run the country. By the looks of how Zaka has been able to get thousands of people to join his crypto group, one could say that he might be able to bring about more tax collection too. But I doubt anyone wants to live on the edge with Zaka as PM.
- CSS tears
A well timed report on Civil Service Compensation by @PIDEpk, to quantify the benefits and perks that civil servants enjoy, and calculating the cost of the service.
Thank you @durre_nayab_ @nadeemhaque!https://t.co/dJpuUwXnXu
🧵A thread on few of their findings: pic.twitter.com/SmQwDVMLDw
— اسریٰ (@freakonomist5) May 6, 2021
Firdaus apa vs Assistant Commissioners was a common theme on twitter this week. One thing is for sure, CSS officers definitely need a lesson in PR. Asra, or @Freakonomist5, reminds us how we are to keep check of the colonial mindset that comes with the job and fix the system through a reform. But hey, this doesn’t mean we don’t need a check on Firdaus apa and her clan. There must in all ernest be a balance that the government has failed to find across regimes. Publicly humiliating government officers was a very Shehbaz Sharif move, and you cannot expect to humiliate officers publicly. Yes, the babus need to be less babu-ish, but even their dignity does matter.
- Foreign service joins the disgruntled
I work thanklessly, in extremely harsh conditions, with very limited resources. I am:
1. AC
2. Ambassador— samir ahmed (@samirahmed14) May 7, 2021
This week was not good for Assistant commissioners and ambassadors. Why? Well, they were critiqued. They came out in defense of how their lifestyle suffers so that they can help the public only to be reminded of their countless perks and privileges. This reporter is hoping they wish to exchange privileges. Without getting into the specifics, let’s just say that “our morale has been affected” is not an endearing response to criticism, warranted or unwarranted.
- PSA: Get vaccinated
More importantly there has been no indication of a shortage in the availability of vaccination that could induce panic. With new stock regularly arriving, less chances of it depleting. Let’s see how it shapes up in the next stage as a larger bulk of the population registers. https://t.co/3l0Xcv9phc
— Aadil Nakhoda (@EconomistAadil) May 6, 2021
Dr Aadil Nakhoda reminds us that while Pakistan can be critiqued for not ordering a lot of vaccines, there is no shortage yet, and eligible people are able to get vaccinated easily. He also reminds us that the supply is regular and isn’t depleting. However, we are concerned about what happens when mass vaccination opens up.
- PSA part 2: Please get vaccinated
74% efficacy (for sinopharm), says 16% may still get infected. But almost no one will die due to severe infection.
94% efficacy (for Sputnik), says 6% might still get infected, but almost no one will die.
Even if you do get infected, Vaccines save lives almost 100%! pic.twitter.com/3LLdMZDwVD
— Umar Saif (@umarsaif) May 6, 2021
This is a public service message by Profit and Umar Saif. Get vaccinated, you may get the virus but you won’t die! And you might possibly save the lives of everyone around you. Don’t worry about which one you get, just get it.
