| December 24, 2001 | Monday | Shawwal 8, 1422 |
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Learning from past experience
Small dams
Encroachment in Lines Area
Pak-China friendship
SPSC clarification
Afghan adventure
Schools without budget
How?
Poor children
$200m for roads
Karachi Circular Railway and mass transit
THIS is with reference to Rafi Ahmed’s letter “Kashmir 50 years ago” (Dec 14). From time to time Indian leaders have sabotaged the various proposals for holding a plebiscite in Kashmir, on one pretext or the other. As pointed out by Mr Ahmed, Dr Frank Graham’s proposal for de-militarization of the disputed State, prior to holding a plebiscite there, was rejected by India in the early 1950s.
In 1957 a very practical proposal put forward by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Feroz Khan Noon was turned down by India. Alastair Lamb, in his book, Kashmir A Disputed Legacy 1846-1990, has this to say on p.176, and I quote: “During the debate on Gunner Jarring’s report, which began in late September 1957, the Pakistan Foreign Minister, Malik Feroz Khan Noon, declared that his country was prepared to withdraw every soldier from those parts of the State of Jammu and Kashmir which it controlled, including by implication Azad Kashmiri troops, if their place were immediately taken by United Nations forces. He doubtless had in mind the example of the use of such peace keeping forces in the Suez crisis. The proposal was opposed not only by India but also by the Soviet Union wielding its veto, a phenomenon which was henceforth to become increasingly common in the Security Council deliberations of the Kashmir issue.”
In the context of America’s war against terrorism, following Sept 11, in which Pakistan is an active and strategic partner in the US-led international coalition, India feels that it can cut the ground from under Pakistan’s feet, by characterizing the freedom struggle in Kashmir as a war of terrorism, aided and abetted by Pakistan - and it will go to any ridiculous extent to achieve this objective. Without any credible evidence at its disposal, it has tried to implicate the freedom-fighters in Kashmir, as well as Pakistan, in the recent terrorist attacks on the assembly buildings in Srinagar and in New Delhi. In keeping with the Indian policy to malign Pakistan and the freedom struggle in Kashmir, these attacks, in all likelihood, were carried out by the Indian authorities themselves.
These crude tactics are not going to work any longer. Even the international community is becoming increasingly aware of India’s Machiavellian policy in Kashmir.
The British newspaper, The Guardian, in a recent issue carries an article by Isabel Hilton, which states quite categorically that “to define the unrest in Kashmir as terrorism sponsored by Pakistan is a monstrous distortion” ... and that “Kashmir is recognized by the UN as disputed territory.
It is time that the international attention was concentrated on the dispute before the war against terrorism provides the pretext for further tragedy”.
The Kashmir dispute has all the ingredients of a tragedy, which has been in the making for a long time now. It is earnestly hoped that the Indian leadership, realizing the gravity of the situation, will rise to the occasion and cooperate with Pakistan in finding a just and lasting solution which will satisfy all the three parties concerned - Pakistan, India and the people of Kashmir.
SALAHUDDIN K. LEGHARI
Lahore
THE Ummah’s elite brigade could not even effectively escort a bunch of unarmed prisoners from place A to B.
The prisoners did exactly what they did many times before under even harsher circumstances. In the bargain we lost half a dozen of our good soldiers - an irreparable loss that could have been completely avoided — if only we had learnt from previous two very similar incidents. But then we exhibit a near dyslexic performance by our adamant refusal to learn and modify our behaviour in the light of past experiences.
Is it not the right time for Pakistan, its people and its primary think tank, the ISI, to pause and ponder as to why we indulged for ten long years in creating, supporting, sustaining, training, misguiding, sending and killing thousands of our innocent children in Afghanistan. The overnight turn around of our Afghan policy does not wash out either our guilt or our crime. Will we ever hold responsible those who sponsored this “jihad unlimited” and the disastrous consequences that we suffered as its fall — out.
It is time we clamp down on the Jihadi organizations, their training camps and their activities in and outside Pakistan. Pakistan today stands at the brink of a nuclear conflict, simply because it has not been able to reign in the unlawful activities of its own home-grown militants. It is unfortunate for a large sovereign state to become hostage to the activities of a handful of its own people.
It is time for us to understand the reality of contemporary times and radically reconstruct our worldview. For years we have used our religion more as an instrument of penal code and less as a guidance for compassion and tolerance. For years we have aligned ourselves and looked with holy reverence towards the non-democratic countries of the Middle East, instead of learning how the civilized world has moved forward in science, technology and welfare of their people. For years we focused more on building battalions and bombs, instead of schools, and institutions. For years we worked to beef up our security by extending our strategic depth to Afghanistan, but only ended up acceding the same to others.
It is time for the state and citizens to take a clear position and bid goodbye to dogmatism, fanaticism, religious extremism and militancy. It is also time to understand that creating a law-abiding, civil, pluralistic, peaceful and tolerant society at home may be the only route to our survival as a dignified nation.
NAEEM SADIQ
Karachi
THIS refers to a report (Dec 1) about small dams planned by the Ministry of Water and Power to meet the water needs, especially in Punjab and the NWFP provinces. This is indeed a right decision in the right direction.
On the same date, it was reported in the local newspaper that 15 people have died due to the prevailing drought conditions in the Kacho area of district Dadu. The condition of the two famous wetlands, Manchar and Hamal, has also deteriorated. These wetlands used to be the source of livelihood for a large number of local people.
It may be pertinent to note that more than 60 per cent of Sindh’s land mass is already arid and the rest is on the verge of being converted into arid zones. To combat the drought situation we need small dams in both Sindh as well as Balochistan.
SINDHU PANHWAR
Jamshoro
I request the City Nazim to make a surprise visit to the Lines Area to appreciate the problem of encroachment by the inter - city buses.
During the last two years the number of these buses has increased three to four fold. After occupying the roads and footpaths, these bus operators have now started occupying the empty plots. Several roadside garages and “charpai” hotels have cropped up. The cleaning and repair work is carried out on the spot and solid waste, diesel, brake fluid and other toxic chemicals are thrown in the area without any respect for the environment.
The touts of these operators roam around the area and waiting taxis and rickshaws make the area inaccessible for the residents and the doctors and the patients visiting the Hamdard University Hospital. The Lines Area which lies in the centre of the city and adjacent to the Quaid’s Mazar, has been completely devastated by these bus operators and now looks like a dirty rural town.
It is a mystery that, despite repeated protests by the residents, the number of coaches in Lines Area has grown to several hundreds. This could not happen without the active participation of the traffic police and permit issuing authority. There is a growing suspicion that these operators have strong connections with the police and the bureaucracy. Would NADRA be interested to investigate?
DR ABDUL HAMEED
Karachi
China is a tested friend of Pakistan and has always helped it in difficult times. The sentiments of the Chinese people have always been warm for Pakistan. And the people of Pakistan have reciprocated these sentiments.
During the recent visit of Pakistan’s Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Usman Aminuddin, the Chinese officials showed a keen interest in exploring natural resources in Pakistan and a Chinese technical delegation is expected to come to Pakistan shortly to assess the possibilities in this respect.
The President’s visit will give a boost to the existing economic ties between Pakistan and China and both sides are expected to bind themselves into new agreements for collaboration in various fields including mining, thermal power generation, hydropower, oil and gas.
For mutual benefit of both the countries, there is a need to open branches of Pakistani banks in China and People’s Bank of China in Pakistan, by which the business community of both sides would feel at ease in importing and exporting various items of their interest and requirements. This would enhance bilateral trade between the two countries.
At the same time, the people of Pakistan and China must break the language barrier between them as that would provide one to one opportunity for the businessmen to talk, without interpreters. The Chinese government should take the initiative in opening Chinese language centres in the major cities of Pakistan and the Pakistan side should also establish Urdu language centres in China.
There are more than 4000 small and big, sick industries with all the basic infrastructure available in Pakistan due to various reasons. If these industrial units are offered to Chinese businessmen on equal opportunity partnership, they can, with the help of Chinese technical expertise and technology, be turned into profitable units and so provide employment opportunities to thousands of people.
Defence is one of the most important areas where Chinese help would be highly valuable. By the end of 2013, Peoples Republic of China is expected to become a super economic power, and by extending co-operation in the economic field and the defence sector, Pakistan would become one of the China’s strongest allies.
SYED A. MATEEN
Karachi
THIS is with reference to Shaiq Bhutto’s letter (Dec 10) under the title ‘SPSC inefficiency’. He says that in spite of increase in test fees, the Commission has not shown any improvement in its working and that it is common practice to dispatch letters to candidates too late.
The Commission normally dispatches letters through the Post Office, 10 days in advance of the date of the interview. Realizing that sometimes, particularly in Karachi, the letters are delivered late, the Commission issues a press note informing the candidates about the dates, much in advance and asks them to collect the duplicate letters from the offices of the Commission in Hyderabad and Karachi, if they do not receive them in time. In addition where necessary, the candidates are contacted on telephone and reminded about the relevant dates.
Incidentally, the amount of fees is increased by the government and not by the Commission. The entire collection of fees goes to the government and is not available to the SPSC. With very limited resources and even with voluntary shedding of the load of non-performing staff, the Commission has been making recruitments within a span of 5 months, instead of 2 years as in the past. The organization culture of the Commission has been changed. It is much more user-friendly than in the past.
SECRETARY Sindh Public Service Commission
Hyderabad
OUR becoming a part of the American war machine against Afghanistan was based on the logic that we did not want to become isolated like the Taliban, and were anxious to safeguard our vital national interests like nuclear assets etc. In spite of granting the Americans total access to our military installations, and turning a blind eye to the “collateral” deaths of innocent civilian women and children in Afghanistan, what have we achieved?
Maybe a total of $ 2 billion, while our external debt is $40 billion plus and the internal debt is around Rs 3300 billion. We also received a pat on the back from all the nations of the world and maybe there is a chance of increasing our exports in the future.
But the Bush doctrine, as it is being practised by the US in Afghanistan and by Israel against the Palestinians, is also a fate that awaits us.
Once the Afghanistan situation is under control, the US would not continue to remain a silent spectator to what India has been labelling as ‘crossborder terrorism’ in Kashmir.
We remain to be the real enemies of the ‘civilized world’. This is confirmed by the way Pakistanis are being treated by common Americans on the streets of America and the on-going undeclared propaganda war unleashed against Pakistan by the western media.
DR JAMAL NASIR MEMON
Karachi
THE Sindh Government’s Education Department has upgraded eleven middle schools to high schools and five high schools to higher secondary schools in Sanghar district. But no teaching posts have been sanctioned for the upgraded high schools except that of headmaster / headmistress, though students have taken admission in large numbers.
No budget has been sanctioned for these eleven high schools and five higher secondary schools in Sanghar district. Other districts in Sindh have been given the budget for such new schools to make them functional.
It is learnt that a summary was sent to the Finance Department of Sindh by the Education Department on October 15 but the papers are still lying in the Finance Department.
It is requested that the Education and Finance departments should help these schools at the earliest by issuing corrigendum in the Budget Booklet Vol: III for the current year, so that the staff posted may get their salaries.
ABDUL HAQUE SOOMRO
Sanghar
THE recent attack on the Indian Parliament must be condemned but what really is interesting is the timing of the attacks. This occurred when the ruling party in India was finding it difficult to get an anti-terrorism bill, the Poto passed even by some of its coalition partners; in fact the Parliament was in session to discuss this Bill when it was attacked.
Another fact which raises more doubts is how did the attackers manage to reach inside the parliament’s vicinity before being challenged?
AYAZ ZAIN NOORANI
Karachi
I WAS in my car. On my left, I saw a child who was wearing a very expensive dress and he obviously belonged to a rich family. He said to his friend. “Yesterday, my mom purchased a dress for me for Eid and it cost Rs 2,000 but I do not like it and I shall buy another.” Suddenly on my right, I saw a child in rags asking for two rupees for food. What was his fault?
I appeal to the people not to neglect poor children on Eid so that they can also enjoy the festival. They should help them financially as well as morally because it is our national and religious duty.
USMAN SARWAR
Lahore
THE Asian Development Bank has approved $200 million for Pakistan’s road sector. For decades, Warispura Colony Roads and also La Salle Street in Faisalabad, have been in a shambles. Who will come to the rescue of these roads?
B. OSMLUND
Faisalabad
IN order to solve Karachi’s traffic problem, the 1977 RTC report had proposed a five-km basement level subway from Tower to Old Exhibition in extension of the KCR, utilizing the existing diesel operating trains on the pattern of the first metros of London and Paris which used steam-operated trains for 30 years.
Since then there have been many studies and reports. However, I wish to offer some suggestions which could be implemented in a very short time at a very low cost:
Six km extension from Nazimabad station to North Karachi (Nagan Chowrangi), using secondhand track materials, to operate four to five trains with old and surplus rail car trailer units, which were actually operating here some time back in the form of closely following convoys, in the morning and evening peak hours, serving several huge residential colonies en route, carrying about 10,000 to 12,000 passengers each way, thus replacing about 800 mini buses / coach trips in the city.
These trains can cover the distance to the city centre in about 40 minutes at about Rs 5 fare, as against 60 minutes and Rs 8 fare by bus, thus attracting the maximum commuters, stopping only at about three stations. This will require closing of all level crossings for about 30 minutes in the morning and evening peak hours when the traffic will, in any case, be considerably reduced and can be easily diverted to the existing flyovers during such periods.
After the success of this trial phase, further improvements can be made such as a couple of flyovers and doubling of track, signalling etc on this route, besides a six km branch from Drigh Road station to Korangi, improvements on the other portions of KCR to serve Liaquatabad, Sohrab Goth and Gulshan with suitable rail-bus interfaces at such points as Urdu College, Gilani etc.
Quadrupling of the main line from KPT to Pipri can further improve operation of commuter trains, as well as transfer of most of the dry cargo, especially container traffic to PR up to Pipri and beyond. This would lessen most of the heavy trucking through the city, thus avoiding the need for the costly bypass, Lyari expressway and even some flyovers.
It would also be advisable to review the 1977 RTC plan for the five-km basement level subway from Tower to Old Exhibition, possibly passing through Saddar and ending near the open spaces serving as bus-rail interface in the early phase, to be extended beyond at a later date, as also to cross subsidize the fares through commercial complexes on all available government lands and sites along its route. This will solve the chronic Saddar problem and the worst congestion on MA Jinnah Road.
As envisaged in the RTC plan, the debris from the subway could be utilized for extending KPT berths in what was called the back water complex in the western lagoon, through economical rail subway built under a movable ramp / bridge, thus achieving natural dredging of about 10 feet, by providing a suitable weir to allow high tide water to fill in the lagoon and a well designed passage through the new jetties in low tide, as was initially planned through the China Creek for the existing jetties.
This has perhaps been closed, resulting in mostly dredging, making the port charges high, to divert many large ships away. The cost so saved could be used to cross subsidise the O&M and fare of the subway. Commercial utilization of lands and properties along KCR and the subway could further reduce the fares.
S.M.H. RIZVI Karachi
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