| January 23, 2002 | Wednesday | Ziqa'ad 8, 1422 |
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US media’s bias
Right to self-determination
Sindh Madressah affairs
Death of a poet
Need for traffic signal
More taxes?
Weddings then and now
Foreign policy
CSA test for doctors
Criteria for NA membership
Low gas pressure
Role of entrepreneurs
WAS it Hegel who once said that no one learns from history? I was reminded of this saying after reading a news item (Dawn, Jan 13) which revealed that the government intended to launch a new education policy. It proposed “to set up a higher education commission to promote quality higher education.” The method contemplated to achieve this end will now require the universities “to award the bachelor’s degree after successful completion of 16 years of study instead of 14.”
Such a measure would be most ill-advised and short-sighted, considering the socio-economic conditions of the overwhelming majority of our people. The poor parents will be over-burdened.
Why have the authors of this policy forgotten the fate of the three-year degree course introduced by President Ayub Khan in the early sixties? Why do our educational wizards link the quality of education with an increase in the number of years for the degree courses?
Have our authorities ever thought that institutions like the Aga Khan University, the HEJ Institute, LUMS and FAST have got their standards recognized abroad while the institutions under their control, consuming huge sums of public money, have failed to achieve excellence?
Who is responsible for this failure? No one but these very planners and managers of education. Have those in authority ever bothered to address the problems of the primary schools, mostly in the rural areas or those of the high schools? While too much attention is being paid to higher education, primary and secondary education suffers by default. Does not the base need to be strengthened first?
The news item cited also informs us that the “appointment of the vice-chancellors shall be made more transparent”. Well and good. But at this juncture, a thought may be spared for the system which produced Dr O.H. Malik, Mian Afzal Husain, Dr Raziuddin Siddiqui, Dr Mahmud Husain, U Kramet, Dr I.H. Qureshi, etc.
Instead of punishing the people with longer courses of study and overburdening them financially, efforts need to be directed to rid the present system of its shortcomings.
M. NAWAZ QASMI
Multan
ACCORDING to the US media, the crisis between India and Pakistan is entirely Pakistan’s ‘fault.’ With a few notable exceptions, most writers have argued that India is the ‘victim’.
There are several explanations as to why the US media is biased against Pakistan. One of them is Pakistan’s consistent support of the Palestinian cause. Since the security of Israel is regarded as a cornerstone of the US foreign policy, regardless of which political party governs the country, a Pakistan armed with nuclear weapons is seen with suspicion.
Another important factor is the presence of analysts of Indian origin among the academic circles in the US-India is large enough to have professorial chairs devoted to Indian studies in major US universities. Most occupants of these chairs are of Indian origin. The media often contacts them as sources of information not only on India, but also on South Asia as a whole.
It is disturbing that so many western analysts adopt a double standard when dealing with South Asia. There is no discussion of the subversive activities of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). There is little recognition of India’s failed intervention in the civil war in Sri Lanka that resulted in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, or of its violent intervention in Indian Punjab, which resulted in the assassination of Indira Gandhi.
The pundits in Washington need to shed some light on the dark side of Indian democracy. It is not just Pakistan that needs political reform.
AHMAD FARUQUI
California,
USA
EVEN after 50 years of harsh rule, during which handpicked rulers were described as patriots one day and traitors the next, India has been unable to bring peace to Kashmir.
The underlying cause is simple: India. It just won’t accept the fact that the only thing the Kashmiris are asking for is the right to decide their own destiny. The world must understand that it has only been a few years that foreign militants started helping the Kashmiri insurgents. The Kashmiri separatist movement was born much earlier: as soon as the Kashmiris realized that India had no intention of giving them their right of self-determination.
As late as two years ago, the Jammu and Kashmir legislative body, individuals who the Kashmiri freedom fighters consider not too loyal to this cause, asked India to withdraw all central laws extended to the state after Aug 4, 1953 under Article 370 of the Indian constitution (that is give Jammu and Kashmir the kind of autonomy the region enjoyed before 1953).
What better indication does India need of its unpopularity with the Kashmiris? What better proof does the civilized world need to realize that the recent military stand-off between India and Pakistan may be a tiny bit about terrorism, but it is a whole lot more about the fundamental human rights of around 15 million Kashmiris.
A PAKISTANI
USA
THIS is with reference to Ali Ahmed Brohi’s letter that appeared in Dawn (Jan 12) under the caption “Sindh Madressah affairs.” Sindh Madressah Board being the parent body was given representation in the Board of Governors of Sindh Madressah-tul-Islam right from 1974 to 1999 to safeguard the interest of this great institution. But due to the negative role of the then Principal, the Ministry of Education reconstituted the Board of Governors notified in January 2000 in which the Ministry excluded the names of the representatives of the SMB.
This made us call on Ms Zobeda Jalal, Federal Minister of Education in June 2000 at Islamabad. Thereupon the Ministry of Education assured us in writing that the re-constitution of the Board of Governors was under active consideration of the Government of Pakistan and the request of Sindh Madressah Board to have representation in the Board of Governors would be given due consideration.
Now while visiting the school on Jan 5, the Minister has taken a U-turn. She has given a hint to dilute the colour of Sindh over this institution. In this connection, we fully share the apprehensions of Mr Brohi since Sindh Madressah-tul-Islam is the identity of Sindh.
The Board of Governors for the school should consist of the members of Sindh Madressah Board and from among persons who identity with Sindh.
YOUSUF MUSTI KHAN
Honorary Sec, Sindh Madressah Board
Karachi
POET Saqib Zirvi’s death last week went largely unnoticed. But then so were the last 25 years of his life for reasons wholly unrelated to his poetry and literary pursuits.
The considerable worth of Saqib’s poetry dominated by the theme of the majesty of God and the love of His last and perfect messenger was heightened by his powerful resonant voice to hold the audience in trance.
He dominated the poetic recitals (mushairas) up to the mid-seventies when he fell out of the public view. Khwaja Nazimuddin, a man of piety and letters when the G.G. and prime minister heard him often and spell bound.
Trained in journalism in the school of Abdul Majid Salik and Ehsan Danish he single-handedly wrote and produced a weekly for 50 years right up to his death. It was a lonely furrow that he ploughed with tenacity and courage.
In the last decade of his life he suffered successive heart and brain strokes but emerged out of it all with physical and mental faculties unimpaired.
Some time ago his friends sensing that luck was running out held a valedictory reference for Saqib. The familiar and known faces who spoke were Munnu Bhai, Kishwar Naheed, Wazir Agha, Raja Ghalib, Ahmad Faraz and many others. The tribute flowed freely, poet Ahmad Faraz had the last word: Saqib was not just an individual, he was a culture — of grace and conviction — that should be protected for the future generations. This note is in small fulfilment of Ahmad Faraz’s plea.
KUNWAR IDRIS
Karachi
THE Urdu Science College is located on the main University Road adjacent to block 13-C of Gulshan-i-Iqbal.
The road remains very busy during the morning hours because of the heavy traffic. And this is also the time for the students of this college to attend their classes.
Many of them have to cross the road to reach their destination. But due to uncontrolled traffic, this becomes a highly risky affair. It is, therefore, suggested that a zebra crossing with manually controlled light signals, such as the one in front of the Agha Khan Hospital’s main gate, may be installed near the Urdu College.
In the meantime, traffic constables may be posted at that spot from 8 am to 2 pm, to help the students and commuters to cross the road.
MUHAMMAD ALI BALOCH
Karachi
THIS is with reference to a news item ( Jan 19) regarding levy of taxes by the city government for the uplift of the city.
On behalf of all the residents of Karachi, I would like to request the Nazim that before levying such taxes, authentic figures of the amount of tax collected from Karachi during the last five years and the actual amount spent on Karachi, may be made public. The general belief is that Karachi is the main source of tax revenue in the country, though a small percentage of this revenue is spent on the upkeep of this city.
I would suggest to the Nazim that instead of levying further taxes, he should ask the federal government to provide to this city, 50 per cent of the amount the federal government earns from Karachi.
It may be added that Karachiites are already heavily taxed not only through direct taxation like property tax, motor vehicle tax and parking fee but also by indirect taxation such as petrol and electricity charges.
In this scenario, there is no justification of levying any new taxes on Karachiites.
MUHAMMAD RIAZ SIDDIQUI
Karachi
I had the opportunity to read Hafiz-ur-Rahman’s article ”Weddings, then and now” (Jan 16).
Describing as an instance the wedding of his nephew in Islamabad, he criticized the non-observance of the time schedule at the function and expressed his annoyance over unnecessary rituals and ceremonies.
He was also critical of the illuminations, music, five feasts and the “showing off” of fancy dresses. This reminded him of his own simple wedding decades ago. Then he asked, “I don’t know how things are in Karachi?”
We are birds of the same feathers, and things are the same here also. Such functions and rituals have become a part of our culture.
Even the laws promulgated by the government from time to time to curb them have proved futile.
We are a developing country, that is to say we are in the process of “being made.” Let us wait till we have completed this process. Who knows how long it will take?”
ABDUL SALAM DADABHOY
Karachi
PAKISTAN has passed through foreign policy failures at two fronts—Afghanistan and Kashmir. Long pursued policies have had to be abandoned under new demands. This is merely a lack of farsightedness on the part of its policy makers. Lured by misconceived friends and lack of perception to analyse past events to shape the future course of action is the main reason for these failures.
Only the suggestions well discussed at intellectual fora and studied and endorsed by a prudent technical community after considering all its consequences be moved for acceptance as a part of foreign policy. The development and reinforcement of ties with the international community is purely dependent on the very essence of the implications of our foreign policy.
There is a need to establish a permanent body to shape our foreign policy.
RANA ISRAR
Lahore
REGRETTABLY, Pakistani doctors wishing to go to America for higher training are having to bear the brunt of the fallout of the Sept 11 incident. Having passed their USMLE theory examinations in Pakistan with honours, they went to appear for their practical CSA test in Philadelphia in the US.
Unfortunately, all such doctors taking this test after Sept 11 last have reported a stiff, rather scornful attitude on the part of the examiners. It is unlikely that any one of them will pass the CSA because it is a face-to-face examination depending mostly on the examiner’s subjective perception. It is really sad that the world-famous American merit system should be allowed to fall victim to prejudice.
KHALIL HUSSAIN
Lahore
THE government has made graduation an essential requirement for contesting elections for the National Assembly. This step was long over due.
The politicians did not dare to take such a step because most were fuedals and education had little value for them. They had little or no education but dominated the political scene on the strength of their wealth. Now, for the first time since independence, we shall have a parliament having well educated people as its members.
This was indeed a requirement of the 21st century.
MASROOR H. SHAH
Peshawar
SUI gas supply in the various parts of Larkana has become so low in pressure that it has now started getting on the nerves of those who try to cook their food on gas stoves.
The people of Muhalla Rahmat Pur are the worst affected. They are now compelled to use wood for their cooking.
Complaints made in this respect to the local authorities have gone completely unheeded. The higher authorities in the Sui Southern Gas Company are, therefore, requested to intervene and redress the problem.
IMRAN SAMO
Larkana
MAY I refer to Dr Mrs Khawar Tazeen’s letter (Jan 14) regarding Yusuf H. Shirazi’s article, ‘Glocalization, not globalization’ published on Dec 31.
I agree with Mrs Khawar Tazeen that without commenting on the role of the entrepreneurs the country, Mr Shirazi’s thesis on the lack of national business environment remains incomplete. In this connection, may I submit that setting up hi-tech value-added industries in this country has been the responsibility of the entrepreneurs in as much as of the government — not international finance institutions - (IFIs - as Mr Shirazi perhaps seems to believe!
It was, during the tenure of a Finance Minister from the business community during early 50s that setting up of the steel mill was not encouraged as long as he remained the Finance Minister. Perhaps, he also thought that the steel mill was not feasible here for the same or similar reasons as stated to be of the IFIs.
Therefore, when Mr Shirazi singles out the World Bank for proposing to phase out the steel mill among other hi-tech value-added industries, earlier nationalized, he should not forget the role of such powerful business groups in this country as a party to such global strategy.
Again, it was another Finance Minister from a business group in an interim government in early 90s that the competitive advantage to the local industry was reduced from 65% to 35%. The business community had a Prime Minister to; twice during all this period. Now, there are at least two businessmen in the cabinet of the present government when the competitive advantage as Mr Shirazi says, is being reduced to 15-25% of customs duty! He should, therefore, blame his own entrepreneurial class who have always dominated the politico-economic scene for the malady.
How is that such groups have never agitated against these IFIs and instead built business empires in and out of Pakistan, including some hospitals and universities generously financed by these very IFIs. Why then is Mr Shirazi agitating against them?
There is another inconsistency in Mr Shirazi’s article regarding the role of the IFIs in this country: while he is critical of the role of the IFIs, he is appreciative of the role of the World Bank President, Mr Wolfensohn, whom he admires and quotes him from one of his addresses,: “.... for a need of local ownership and local participation” with full involvement in whatever is entrepreneurial. It is thus not understandable which report is attributed to the World Bank that proposes to “phase out existing industries which are internationally uncompetitive .... sugar, refining, chemicals, automotive assembly, fertilizer and steel industries...” which Mr Shirazi must specify.
Be it as it may, does it also mean that the World Bank reports supercede the World Bank President’s stratagem or vice versa? This question is equally applicable to our thinkers, planners and particularly the economic team, whether they are following the IFIs as Mr Shirazi alleges beyond national priorities or the World Bank President whose responsibility it is to create prosperity for the mankind, as a whole.
Whereas, I would thus like to join Dr Mrs Khawar Tazeen to call upon Mr Shirazi to elaborate on these vital aspects of his article, I would also call upon our thinkers, planners and more particularly the economic team, whether we are dovetailing our national priorities as all other countries of the world are doing in whatever form, such as, Malaysia, Cuba and India. At the same time, is the Government fully aware, why the economies of Egypt, Turkey, Argentina, Indonesia or, for that matter, the South East Asia, fell prey to the present modernization strategy of development, called globalization, through these IFIs?
This exercise must be carried out in our national interest before it is too late.
GHULAM KIBRIA
Karachi
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