| December 14, 2001 | Friday | Ramazan 28, 1422 |
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Kashmir 50 years ago
Amnesty for the Taliban
Reconstruction of Afghanistan
Palestine fighting: biased reports
Cruel treatment
A neglected city
Gauging public opinion
College’s unfair policies
Well done, traffic police
Fire tenders
Malpractices
Indian propaganda through BBC
THE International Monetary Fund’s approval of a US $1.3 billion loan for Pakistan is a recognition of its commitment to economic reforms. The PRGF is a three-year initiative and is part of the IMF’s drive against poverty. Pakistan will receive the allocated amount in 12 equal instalments of a little over 100 million dollars every three months.
It is intended that PRGF-supported programmes will be based on the country’s own poverty reduction strategies adopted in a participatory process involving the civil society and development partners, and articulated in a poverty reduction strategy paper. This is intended to ensure that each PRGF-supported programme is consistent with a comprehensive framework for macroeconomic, structural, and social policies to foster economic growth and reduce poverty. PRGF loans carry an interest rate of 0.5 percent a year, and are repayable over 10 years with a 5-1/2-year grace period on principal payments.
Though the approval comes against the background of the Afghan crisis with the popular perception that Pakistan is getting these approvals because of the country’s support for the international coalition against terrorism, yet after a long time the country has been able to restore its image as an economically responsible country. Pakistan for the first time ever successfully completed a 10-month IMF programme - Standby Agreement - which ran between November 2000 and September 2001 at US $600 million.
Pakistan suffers from a weak economy. The average wage in the country is US $1 per day. With a population of 145 million, increasing by three to four million people per year, adult literacy rates are lower than 30 per cent. The country has also been grappling with a three-year devastating drought, which has placed a burden on stretched resources in the country, largely dependent on its agricultural output.
If official donors agree to debt re-profiling, 12.5 billion dollars debt burden would be reduced to a couple of billion dollars, closing the financing gap significantly for the current year and helping Pakistan escape the debt trap.
PRGF envisages continuation of reform agenda with proclivity to increased spending on social sectors and poverty alleviation. The government would implement a policy framework aimed at increasing growth and reducing poverty and at the same time consolidating macro-economic stability and external viability. The strategy focuses on sustained fiscal adjustment supported by reforms in tax administration and widening the tax net.
The government would also be required to pursue restructuring and privatization of public enterprises, ensuring that gas and electricity prices reflect market conditions, deepening liberalization of the financial sector and integrating the kerb and inter-bank foreign exchange markets. The PRGF goals seek growth rate at six per cent over medium term, keeping inflation below five per cent and raising the official reserves equal to three months of import bill.
After more than two years in the saddle, the Musharraf government has gained the confidence of the donors, though it has to take difficult economic decisions. If PRGF is a show of confidence in the government’s determination to carry out reforms, it is also test for the government to see it through. Structural reforms and other conditions will have to be implemented to achieve the aims of sustainable growth rate, narrowing of twin deficits and reducing poverty.
FAIQA MASROOR
Karachi
EARLIER this year, in a televised press conference, the Indian FM Jasvant Singh was asked why India did not comply with the UN resolutions for plebiscite in Kashmir, to which he reminded the reporter that according to the resolution Pakistan was required to withdraw its forces from Kashmir which she has not done yet. Last year I recall the Indian PM Vajpayee exclaiming, “How long can we be expected to wait?” referring to the Pak withdrawal.
In the Dawn column, 50 years ago (11 Dec) for 11-12-1951, UN representative Dr Frank Graham confirmed that his mediation efforts on Kashmir were completely deadlocked due to this inability to persuade Bharat to compromise on the proposed de-militarization of Kashmir and determine the number of Bharati troops which could remain in Kashmir, without influencing adversely the proposed plebiscite, being one of the major problems blocking the agreement.
It is clear therefore that it was not Pakistan, but Bharat that was stonewalling the process for the troops’ withdrawal to evade the plebiscite.
RAFI AHMED
Karachi
AS reported by Dawn (Dec 6), interim Afghan prime minister Hamid Karzai announced a general amnesty hours after he was nominated head of the transitional government in a landmark meeting of the Afghan factions in Bonn to put an end to 23 years of fighting in Afghanistan. He has expressed his intention to rebuild his country by working hard to bring peace and reconciliation to his homeland.
Karzai has proved to be a better Muslim and human being than the Taliban and the Northern Alliance leaders who made intolerance and revenge their way of life after the withdrawal of the Russians from Afghanistan. He has emulated the example set by the founder of Islam, the Holy Prophet (pbuh) who granted general amnesty and forgave even his bitterest enemies after the conquest of Makkah by him.
LATIF QURESHI
Lahore
PRESIDENT Pervez Musharraf has taken the right step by assuring the head of the interim set-up in Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, of Pakistan’s cooperation in the war-ravaged country’s reconstruction. Pakistan has also welcomed the Bonn agreement. A foreign ministry press statement issued in Islamabad said that the “new interim authority would establish the foundation of a stable, prosperous Afghanistan which was friendly to all its neighbours.”
Reconstruction challenges in Afghanistan are not easy to meet. There are too many parties involved with various ethnic backgrounds and interests. With a strong warlord background that has developed over the last ten years, reconstruction becomes more challenging.
Economists estimate that Afghanistan will require between 6.5 and 10 billion dollars in humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance over the next five to 10 years. This is unlikely to materialize without clear progress towards stability in the country.
Next comes the security at local and national levels in Afghanistan. This will perhaps be the biggest challenge for the interim set-up. With the security situation worsening in northern and southern Afghanistan, the international aid community fears that this could leave hundreds of thousands of Afghans without food in the coming months.
The warlords in Afghanistan have failed themselves and also the country. They may be good at fighting, but certainly not at administration. Karzai’s elevation is a significant step for Pakistan. He understands the importance of Pakistan.
Another positive development for Pakistan is its ties with Iran, which have improved immensely over the last few weeks. This warming up of ties between two traditionally close countries also augurs well for Afghanistan.
REHAN ISPHAHANI
Islamabad
IN reference to the latest suicide bombings by the Palestinians and then the military attacks by the Israelis, almost all US newspapers quickly blamed the Palestinian Authority (PA) leader Yasser Arafat for not doing enough to stop it. In addition, they failed to mention other facts that surrounded the incidents. They were not fair, accurate and complete.
Let me stress the fact that Islam is against suicide bombings. Anyone who engages in such activities can only be politically motivated and must not have a strong faith in Allah and His revenge against the oppressors. It should also be noted that it’s not the clash of religions. It’s the Israelis oppressing innocent Palestinians. They are the occupying force.
After the suicide bombings, some newspapers reported:
“Arafat didn’t send the suicide bombers, but he didn’t stop them either,” - CBS Evening News.
“Mr Arafat’s lieutenants said they would crack down on two powerful extremist groups, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and began making arrests. Mr Arafat had said before that he would take this step, without doing so.” — NY Times.
In reference to the Israeli military attacks on Yasser Arafat’s compound and seven other sites, one report would suffice: “Payback” — New York Daily News front-page headline.
One must know as to why fully functional human beings gave up their lives in these suicide attacks. Before these attacks, Israeli forces attacked and killed Mahmoud Abu Hanoud, a Hamas leader - yet another internationally unacceptable ‘targeted killing’. He must have trained and armed military groups, as claimed by the Israelis, but Israelis didn’t have the right to kill him without a proper trial. That’s how the democratic governments work and Israel ‘claims’ to be the only democratic government in the Middle East.
NAUMAN FARIDI
North Carolina, USA
IT was December 8. The time was about 11 p.m. The venue was Islamabad International airport. I was there to receive my brother who was coming from the States.
The scene I witnessed there was enough to make me lower my head in shame. There were many people gathered around the fence to receive their guests. Somehow a man crossed the fence. He was pushed back by the ASF officials. Some harsh words were exchanged between them. All of a sudden that man was dragged inside the fence by the ASF guards, who pulled their belts out and started beating that man with it. All that was done in front of the passengers who included foreigners coming to Pakistan. That man was beaten until blood started dripping from his head. Then he was taken away by the ASF men.
The ASF personnel seemed to be least concerned about the impression that this incident must have made on the minds of the foreigners. The point is that if that man had done anything against the law, he could have been arrested instead of being beaten. The misuse of authority has become an old habit with our law-enforcers who care little about human rights.
REHMAN AZHAR
Lahore
HYDERABAD, most which has also been dubbed the ‘opposition city’, has always been neglected by successive governments. Once its roads used to be washed every morning. Now it is awash with stinking gutter water.
The only major road of the city, starting from the Tilak Incline to the railway station, used to be one way. Legally it still is, but nowadays cars, motorcycles and donkey carts go both ways in the presence of the traffic police. Suzuki vans plying in the city and Latifabad, pick and drop passengers at every intersection regardless of its being a bus stop or not.
Most of the vans and buses are owned by police officials and, therefore, traffic police dare not hold them up.
DR ABDULLAH JAN PATHAN
Hyderabad
WHY does Gen. Musharraf have to reassure everyone (and himself) repeatedly that his ‘principled stand’ has been vindicated and that a large majority of the people are with him on his decision to join the international coalition against terrorism?
I wonder what yardstick the General is using to gauge public opinion. The press is predominantly critical through editorials, numerous columns and even more numerous letters to the editors. There are those who might say Gen. Musharraf had no choice really, but I have not heard anyone talk about any ‘principled stand.’ The only principle involved was self-preservation, a very valid instinct, but not to be confused with principles.
My yardstick is the anti-American feeling that has skyrocketed these last two months. Find me one Pakistani today who is fond of George W. Bush or is prepared to speak well of the US administration. How can the Pakistanis be unhappy with the US but happy with their own government having joined up with the former in the demolition exercise in Afghanistan? Doesn’t make sense, does it?
KHURSHID ANWER
Lahore
THIS is with reference to a letter from Imtiaz Peracha (Dec 7).
While endorsing his views, I would like to add that the Sindh Education Secretary and the Director of Colleges, Karachi, seem to have given a free hand to private colleges in general and to DHA colleges for men and women in particular, to demand money from the parents of the children on one pretext or the other.
It seems strange that in the name of discipline the authorities at the DHA College for Men, are imposing fines of Rs 100 on students who miss a period. Recently, all students of the college were told that even in the case of sickness and submission of a medical certificate, the student concerned would be treated as absent and a fine would be imposed which could be of any amount depending upon the number of days the student remains absent.
Also, monthly fee slips are being issued late and the last date given is 15th of the month. In case the fees are not deposited by this date, a fine of Rs 10 per day is imposed. God knows under what laws or rules, the Principal has got such authority!
My advice to the parents who are keen to have their children admitted in DHA colleges is that they should not be impressed by the building of the college or the discipline enforced.
In fact they should give first preference to the quality of education which is definitely not upto the mark in the colleges run by the DHA.
A PARENT
Karachi
I WANT to congratulate the department of traffic police in Karachi for the extremely organized traffic during Ramazan.
During Ramazan and specially at Iftar time I have to go to different hospitals in different parts of city. The traffic generally flowed smoothly. I did not notice any chaos which we usually see during Ramazan. I particularly noticed that despite the hostile and aggressive attitude of some educated looking car owners, the traffic constables behaved very well. I salute their professionalism.
DR SHERSHAH SYED
Karachi
RECENT fires at Karim Centre in Saddar and one in Liaquatabad, were made worse by the lack of fully operational fire tenders.
Still we see these fire tenders, instead of being kept in a state of full preparedness for such emergencies, quite often being used as water supply tankers for people with the right connections. This puts the whole community at great risk.
Recently one such fire tender was seen supplying water to the underground water tank of the mosque adjacent to Jinnah University for Women in North Nazimabad.
City officials need to look into such incidents.
MUHAMMAD ALI
Karachi
SOME pharmaceutical agents, with the collaboration of some local doctors, are exploiting the helpless people of Turbat.
They want to sell their products in larger quantities though their medicines are less effective and more costly.
To achieve this end, the agents offer costly gifts to the doctors such as TV sets, computers and washing machines. In return, these agents get their medicines prescribed by the doctors.
This practice is very widespread in this area.
I appeal to the concerned authorities to take stiff measures to prevent this exploitation.
ZAFAR GICHKI
Turbat
AS Pakistanis, we are both saddened and frustrated at what is going on in the western media. We are seeing opinion leaders of one country using the media to spread bigoted slurs and incite anger and hatred among the people of other countries. One such example is Question Time India aired by the BBC. In one programme broadcast on Nov 24, Raj Chenappa, executive editor of India Today, N.J. Dixit, a former foreign secretary of India, Kiriti Azad, BJP MP, and Renuka Chawdhury of Congress Party went all out to malign Pakistan for the alleged increased wave of intrusions of the so-called terrorists.
The panelists were all suggesting a proactive stance against Pakistan and moving into Azad Kashmir in pursuit of Kashmiri freedom-fighters. They were confident that India has the military muscle and the best surveillance facilities to do so. They were also suggesting that remnants of the Taliban would come first to Pakistan and then infiltrate into the Indian-held Kashmir. So they were trying to justify India’s proactive stance to curb terrorism.
In the same programme the panelists were marketing their new Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance. Ironically, all the panelists were having the same views on all issues. Was there no other person who could oppose such suggested moves, at least to add value to the programme?
Apart from the BBC’s Asia Today, there is India Business Report. India even advertises its notice for Deposit your Income Tax Returns by 30 November.
If demography is the defining factor for such focus, then China qualifies to be treated on equal basis. Why not have Question Time China, Arab World, Latin America or even Question Time Pakistan? With this, there will be free flow of information from other parts of the globe as well.
People in the West have to be made aware that Pakistanis have the God given talent of being able to articulate their ideas in any arena through any media. There is much to discover in Pakistan.
Information plays a paramount role in international relations, both as a means of communication between people and as an instrument of understanding between nations. International media must have some operational norms and values to use information consciously without hurting the sentiments of others. It should bridge the gap of hatred and animosity and promote friendship and understanding.
News channels need to be more objective in presenting news and views. International ethics demand that both sides of the picture should be presented. Only then will the rise of reactionary forces be controlled.
ABDUL AKBAR YOUSAFZAI
Islamabad
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