| December 8, 2001 | Saturday | Ramazan 22, 1422 |
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A shameful episode
Injustice to pensioners
Cable Internet for commercial areas
Americans are tolerant
Rickshaw and taxi fares
Savings centre at Kotli Loharan
A clarification is due
Cancer hospital in Karachi
Public transport and the police
Use of chewing gum
Environmental agenda for Karachi
Arrogance
IT is indeed satisfying to note that the State Bank has finally called applications from sponsors in the private sector for granting licences for the establishment of Islamic commercial banks. These banks, which are to operate on the Shariah principles, would benefit millions of Pakistanis who do not consider the profits given by the existing commercial banks as also those earned through the national savings schemes as “Halal earnings”.
It is my considered opinion that if the boards of these Islamic banks consist of honest, dedicated and knowledgeable persons and these banks are run by professional bankers committed to and well-versed in the Islamic system of banking and are properly supervised by the State Bank, they will be able to declare a profit rate which would be more than double the rate of profit on savings deposits being paid by the major banks.
The following are some recommendations in this regard:
Initially, the paid-up capital of the Islamic bank should be Rs 500 million instead of Rs 1000 million. As the capital adequacy ratio is required to be 8%, these banks could safely attract deposits up to Rs 6250 million while still remaining within this ratio. A condition may however be laid down that within a maximum period of 5 years or their attaining a deposit base of Rs 6000 million, these banks would be required to enhance the paid-up capital to Rs 1000 million.
The federal government should take the initiative and an Islamic bank should immediately be established in the public sector.
It is a fact that the existing laws and procedures for the recovery of stuck-up advances are not effective. New laws and procedures would have therefore to be introduced to ensure the recovery of banks’ financing within days of the maturity date as any delay would be detrimental to the health of these banks.
The State Bank has asked the applicants willing to establish Islamic banks to indicate the modes of financing proposed to be adopted for raising resources and extending financial assistance. It is suggested that the recommendations of the Commission for Transformation established about two years ago regarding these modes should be made known to the public as well as for the guidance of the applicants.
It was over four years ago that a proposal to establish a model Islamic bank was put forward by us which was published in the national newspapers. This proposal was also submitted by us before the Shariat Appellate bench of the Supreme Court which was duly incorporated in the judgment dated December 23, 1999 of the Chairman of the Bench of the Supreme Court. A period of almost two years has elapsed since then.
As per directives of the State Bank, the existing banks are required to transform their operations according to the Islamic system up to June 2002. It is important that there should be no extension in this time limit.
DR SHAHID HASAN SIDDIQUI
Chairman of the Research Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance
Karachi
AMIN M. Lakani’s article, “Memorializing attacks on the Supreme Court” (Dec 2) is a timely reminder and a worthwhile suggestion to remember November 28—a day of shame for the nation. While the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Sajjad Ali Shah, was hearing cases against the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif including a contempt case, a conspiracy was hatched to dislodge him and isolate him by winning over the support of other judges of the Supreme Court in favour of the prime minister. Who did what is now a part of history.
One must not ignore the other actors in the episode and the role played by them. First the respected judges themselves did not stand together to protect their own institution’s dignity. The other spectator was the ex-chief of army staff, Gen (Rtd) Jahangir Karamat, who did not provide protection to the most important pillar of the State, the Judiciary. If such a situation arise today, will Gen Musharraf also take the same stand?
Without an independent judiciary and a free press there is little chance of accountability and check on the government that is essential for a civil society.
ENGINEERS FORUM
Lahore
THIS refers to Abdul Ghani Ruhi’s letter “ Injustice to pensioners” (Nov 25). He has pointed out that the decision of the government to withdraw the benefit of restoration of commuted value of pension with effect from Dec 1, 2001 is great injustice and should be rescinded.
In this connection I would like to add that the recovery of an amount extra to that loaned out as commutation is plain Riba which was declared un-Islamic by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 1999 and about which it was directed by President Musharraf in the inter-ministerial meeting held on 4-9-2001 to initiate an evolutionary process for its elimination.
It is otherwise also unjustified as in the event of premature death of a pensioner the unrecovered amount of commuted value is counterbalanced by the savings in pension resulting therefrom. In the case of recovery of this amount from the other pensioners, it may be stated that Islam does not permit recovery of an unpaid loan from a third party. A similar decision was taken in the past, vide Fin. Div. O. M. No. F5(2)-Reg.6/95 dated 28-6-95 but was subsequently withdrawn due to the implications involved, vide Fin. Div O.M. No. F5(2)-Reg.6/95 dated 17-9-95.
A pensioner can off for commutation. This option was previously exercised according to the rules then prevailing. The present rules can apply only in the case of persons retiring on or after 1-12-2001 but without entailing the possibility of Riba as explained in the preceding para. The applicability of present rules in the case of pensioners exercising option for commutation before 1-12-2001 carries no locus standi or legality.
The pensioners should not be treated as a redundant segment of society and penalized unnecessarily. They spent the active part of their life in the service of the country. They are already leading a most miserable life owing to their meagre pension and should not be made to suffer further afflicted on the plea of paucity of fund. That plea is not tenable now because of the inflow of foreign aid.
S. MUZAFFAR HUSSAIN
Jehlum
IN some areas of Karachi the facility of cable Internet, similar to the cable TV, has become available. As a result, the telephone, which was previously utilized for the computer, has become free for its normal use. This facility is usually provided by those who run the cable TV system.
The Internet cable facility is being provided at present in some residential areas only. No such facility is available in commercial and industrial areas of Korangi and SITE. However, I am sure that if cable operators provided facility in those areas, many organizations would avail it to free their telephones.
This is a good opportunity for the cable operators to expand their services.
A.M. SAYIED
Karachi
THIS is with reference to a letter from Dr Yousef Khan about the discrimination faced by Muslims in the US (Dec 3). I dis-agree with him.
I am a young man of Pakistani origin and have to travel almost every week in connection with my work. I have flown to many corners of the US after Sep 11. In all my trips I was never discriminated against in any way. My middle name is Mohammad and it is written clearly on my driving licence. But I have never been singled out, harassed or insulted.
I live in Washington DC. Of all the places in the US, it would be DC and NY that would have the most angered people. Yet I have received the best treatment here.
Americans are now extra careful in what they say and what they do. I have had strangers tell me on flights “Keep your chin up high and don’t let anyone get to you” and that “ we love having you here”. I have had friends send me e-mails of support. My managers in the office and my co-workers have been the most supportive.
Americans are very tolerant. On Fridays, I take time off to go for my prayers and my managers have had to reschedule high level meetings to enable me do so. Never once was I asked to miss my Friday prayers in order to attend a meeting. This is just one example.
I have asked all my Pakistani friends if they have been mistreated in any way. Their answer has always been in the negative.
I do understand Dr Yousef’s frustration as there may have been some racially motivated incidents against Pakistanis and Muslims. But that were only a few incidents. Yes, there are the ignorant ones, but ignorance is everywhere and I personally would never let it prevail over me.
ARIF M. KHAN
Washington DC
THE decision to reduce public transport fares in the city was taken in a meeting between the Sindh Minister for Transport and representatives of the transporters. But the minister forgot to invite the representatives of rickshaw and taxi owners in the meeting. This has resulted in no change in the rickshaw and taxi fares despite four substantial cuts in the prices of POL over the past two months.
Rickshaws and taxis plying in the city are charging the public exorbitantly. First, their meters do not work. If they do work, they charge the passengers at Rs 6 per kilometre for rickshaws and Rs 8 to 10 per kilometre for taxis, whether they run on petrol or CNG.
The Governor should take notice of the exorbitant rates charged by the rickshaw and taxi drivers. The relevant authorities should be asked to bring down their rates and get their meters set according to the reduced fares.
SYED A. MATEEN
Karachi
IT is being said that the national savings centre (NSC), Kotli Loharan, Sialkot district, is going to be shifted to Sialkot city which is 16 kilometres away.
This will create great problems for the Kotli Loharan people, specially for the old and the sick. There must be many other centres elsewhere in the country that might be running much below their annual business targets. If business targets are any standard to retain or shift a centre then those centres deserve to be closed or shifted operating much below their business targets.
Kotli Loharan is a reasonably flourishing centre. However, its targets should not be compared with two NSCs of Sialkot city which is one of the richest cities of Pakistan. If Sialkot can generate more business then new NSCs should be opened there instead of shifting the one at Kotli Loharan. However this centre could generate still more business if it is shifted to Qureshi Chowk on the Sialkot-Head Marala Road which is a central place.
M. ANWAR KAZMI
Sialkot
I WAS shocked to read a news item that a senior doctor, Dr Hassan Nadeem Afzal, brother of Mr Hassan Waseem Afzal, health secretary, Punjab, sentenced by the Lahore High Court, to a five-year term in prison for issuing a bogus medico-legal certificate is still on the government payroll and is getting his salary regularly, (Dawn Punjab edition, Nov 24).
The news item further states that the Supreme Court has reduced the punishment to one year, thus sealing the fate of the doctor once and for all. A convict automatically stands dismissed. May I know, how the accountant-general, Punjab, is paying salary to a convict?
I was expecting a contradiction from the Punjab government, if the news was wrong. Is the bureaucracy in Punjab so powerful that it can flout the decision of the apex court? The health minister is very vocal generally, but has not come out with any clarification on this important issue. Is he hostage to his secretary? If not, what action has he taken in this regard?
The governor of Punjab is requested to take cognizance of the issue. An impartial and judicious decision in this case will determine the style of the present governor’s method of governance.
HAFEEZ AKHTAR
Lahore
IMRAN Khan is to build a cancer hospital in Karachi. For this gigantic project, the government of Pakistan has allotted a piece of land, around 20 acres, on the National Highway. The estimated cost that will take the project off the ground is Rs 600 million.
After building a cancer hospital in Lahore, Imran Khan has got all the necessary experience required to handle a huge project like this successfully.
Being a fighter right from day one, Imran Khan is a person who never gets subdued under any circumstances. His motto is that good intentions followed by hard work are bound to get you success.
RAFAT MAHMOOD ANSARI
Islamabad
THE only good thing that has occurred as a consequence of the on-going war is that there has been a significant decrease in POL prices. But the sad part is that the transport sector has not passed on this advantage to the general public. These same transporters who don’t wait even for a second to hike the fares when petrol/diesel prices go up, have not shown any sign of bringing down their fares in the immediate future.
Most of the private sector transport is reportedly owned by police officers who invest their illegal income in this sector. This gives rise to a conflict of interests, resulting in unsafe roads due to rash driving and pollution because smoke-emitting vehicles are not checked. Whom should one complain to?
Thousands of vehicles are stolen from Karachi alone every year under the watchful eyes of the police and the rangers. These eventually reach Balochistan and the NWFP without much difficulty.
I was shocked to see the Afghans selling used vehicular tape recorders and radios openly in Peshawar. Obviously it had come from stolen cars. Isn’t it like living in the Wild West with no sheriff?
DR JAMAL MEMON
Karachi
JUST what is Dr M. Yaqoob Bhatti (Dec 3) writing about when he says that chewing gum and the advertising thereof “are aimed at polluting the minds of young children”.
The death of any young boys is of course deeply regrettable. The use of sugar-free chewing gum in the West is positively encouraged as part of one’s dental hygiene. Chewing gum helps to produce saliva, which in turn helps slow down dental decay.
As for asking the superior courts to ban the promotion of gum, surely this would be eroding away the freedom to choose. Singapore is the only country to ban chewing gum and this was due to the disgusting habit of dropping used gum on their wonderful clean streets.
PAUL REED
Manchester, England
WE would like to propose a pragmatic environmental agenda for the city of Karachi:
For air pollution control the city government should ban open burning of garbage and order the introduction of CNG buses and minibuses, a strict control over the issuance of vehicle fitness certificates and removal of two-stroke and diesel-run vehicles. It should also ask the concerned authorities to introduce lead-free petrol.
Removing of congestion, road encroachments and bottlenecks, and better traffic control will contribute a lot in controlling air pollution. The city badly needs a mass transit system.
There is a need for establishing sorting stations and proper landfill sites for proper disposal of solid waste. There are enthusiastic entrepreneurs around who want to establish compost manure plants.
With regard to hospital and hazardous waste management, The Society for Conservation and Protection of Environment (Scope), NIH and others have done a lot of research on this subject. A viable plan can be worked out in collaboration with industries, hospitals, KMC and the private sector, in case the city government takes a lead.
Here are some other areas that require attention:
Drinking water contamination control; monitoring water filtration facilities, replacing age-old damaged water distribution system, public awareness campaigns for boiling and cleaning water.
Dealing with coastal pollution: renovation and full-scale operation of the existing waste water treatment plants, and fixing of low cost small water treatment plants in Karachi. A lot of revenue can be generated by selling treated water and manure to farmers on the outskirts of Karachi. KWSB has the feasibility plans, on the lines of Australian Veriby farms patterns.
Controlling noise pollution: work with traffic police to get rid of pressure horns from buses and trucks; removing all auto-workshops from residential areas, banning loudspeakers (except for Azans and Friday Khutba) banning loud music and firecrackers.
Reducing pollution and atmospheric warming: planting maximum number of trees at open spaces, parks, state lands, road sides and even on rooftops. Voluntary associations and neighbourhood committees can be involved effectively.
Sanitation improvement: Sewage system improvement has been the greatest challenge for city municipal authorities; however there are some easy things to do such as construction of public toilets and fines for throwing litter on the streets and footpaths.
Hazardous accident contingency plan: This is vital as in case of emergencies and calamities like wild fires, earthquakes and cyclones. Much damage and human losses can be caused due to unsafely stored chemicals, inefficient handling of gas cylinders, hazardous industrial activities in residential areas. The city government must have a contingency plan with the help of civil defence, fire brigade and voluntary associations.
We strongly recommend the formation of a broad-based and effective environment protection task force for Karachi, which may be represented by all skilled and interested organizations and individuals.
TANVEER ARIF SCOPE
Karachi
THERE are only two countries in the world which can do what they like, when they like, without any explanation or remorse, no matter how blatant their actions may appear to the rest of the world—the US and Israel. mann mani, aur woh bhi. dunkay ki choat par.
KHURSHID ANWER
Lahore
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