| February 1, 2002 | Friday | Ziqa’ad 17, 1422 |
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Accountability process
Where is merit?
Appointment of teachers
Derecognition of medical colleges
Media co-operation in South Asia
Entry test for politicians
Computerized ID cards
Jinnah’s famous address
Scania bus project
Manufacturing industries
NA seats
Problems of pensioners
Electricity bill: inequitable charges
IN his article “Glocalization not globalization (Dec 31), Yusuf H. Shirazi has referred to the role of civil bureaucracy starting that they “have delivered the goods quite well wherever relied upon”. I wonder if the statement is based on facts.
Since the days of Ghulam Muhammad, an officer of the Audit and Accounts Services, who became Governor-General, the civil bureaucrats have been largely controlling the political and economic affairs of the country.
M. M. Ahmed, a CSP (ICs) Officer, who held the post of Vice Chairman of the Planning Commission, was responsible for the devaluation of the currency to 131% in 1972 at the behest of the IFIs which, in fact, never expected the government to agree to such a high-pitched proposed devaluation. That was the start of the mounting deficit finance, inflation and trade imbalance.
Mohammad Shoaib, another officer of the Audit and Accounts Services, who represented Pakistan in the World Bank, rose to the rank of Vice-President of the World Bank and was brought in as Finance Minister in 1960 by Ayub Khan, replacing Abdul Qadir, an officer of the Audit and Accounts Services. He laid the foundation of this country’s economy on the advice of the Harvard economists’ group. Since then the country has relied on the export of import-substitution-based simple manufactures like yarn and textile made-up goods. The hi-tech value-added industries have fallen prey to lack of investment, production and export and entrepreneurial ineptitude which Mr Shirazi has conveniently omitted to discuss.
The fact of the matter is that every head of state has been advised by a top civil servant and, therefore, the role of bureaucracy has always been predominant.
The present economic team of the government also includes several bureaucrats, whose performance may be seen from the sluggish investment climate. They take credit for the record foreign exchange reserves which, in fact, rose because of the dollar movement due to the war in Afghanistan and the Sept 11 events in the US much less by their policies in the normal course.
Where is then the bureaucracy which Mr Shirazi claims “have delivered the goods quite well wherever relied upon”? Mr Shirazi, however, insists that wherever there is a strong civil bureaucracy, there is a strong economy. It may be so elsewhere, but not in Pakistan.
However, the role of the IFIs needs to be evaluated, so that Pakistan may not suffer the fate of the countries with dilapidated economics, for which these IFIs are being obviously held responsible. It is only in this context that Mr Shirazi’s article is relevant which the government must take seriously. Let there be no globalization at the cost of political, economic and social deprivation of people at large anywhere, much less in Pakistan.
DR SHARAFUL ISLAM
Rawalpindi
ANWAR Saifullah, ex-federal minister, has been acquitted by the Accountability Court, Rawalpindi, in a corruption case. He is the brother of Salim Saifullah, President of the NWFP chapter of Pro-Musharraf Muslim League (‘Hum Khyal’). His acquittal was not a surprise as it was widely anticipated.
Similarly, Azam Hoti, a central leader of the ANP and brother of Begum Nasim Wali Khan, was released on bail on medical grounds though he is, by the Grace of God, healthy. It is also expected that he will be acquitted by the Accountability Court and also in his appeal pending in the High Court against his conviction - thanks to the support of the ANP to President Musharraf. Previously, Faruq Sattar, a central leader of the MQM, was let off on his appeal in the High Court against his conviction of 14 years due to a patch up.
It is also believed that Aftab Sherpao would be freed in the near future. The only sufferers at the hands of the NAB are those spineless government officials who have no forum or platform.
Under such pathetic circumstances, I can only request the superior judiciary (not the Accountability Courts) to come to the rescue of the hapless officers by deciding their appeals on merit without fear or favour.
ABDUL SAMAD
Peshawar
AN award-giving ceremony was held at the Chief Executive Secretariat in Islamabad, on January 28, for the distinguished achievers in the Secondary and Higher Secondary School Certificate Examinations, 2000.
The President distributed certificates and scholarships among the students of 16 educational boards of the country who had topped in the said examinations. He awarded Rs50,000 each to the position holders in SSC examinations and Rs200,000 each to the position holders in the HSC examinations.
Speaking on the occasion, he emphasized the need for developing a society where merit would be the only criterion. He said that a society which did not recognize merit could never progress, rather this has a demoralizing effect and eventually results in brain drain.
Now, I would like to inform the President and other authorities that I am one of the distinguished achievers and had secured 1st class 1st position (93.18%) in my SSC examination, 2000, in the Board of Secondary Education, Karachi. Why have I not been called for the award and why was I ignored? What has been the criterion of merit? Had merit been adhered to in my case?
I hope that keeping in view the “recognition of merit”, as emphasized by the President, he would probe the matter and I also be honoured with the award that I am entitled to.
MUNIBA ZAFAR
1st class 1st position holder, SSC examination 2000, BSE,
Karachi
AFTER a gap of about six years the Education Department, Sindh, invited applications for appointment as primary, junior and high school teachers against vacant posts through Public Service Commission in the early months of 2001.
After a written test and interviews, the final list of successful candidates was issued from the concerned departments for appointments. The process was very slow and took about nine months to complete.
Initially appointment to primary teachers were started followed by high school teachers. In the meantime the learned City Nazim asked the concerned officers to stop the appointments and keep the remaining appointments of PSTs, JSTs and HSTs in abeyance.
The education department also remained mum and did not even issue a notification. This situation has caused the incumbents frustration and agony.
We therefore appeal to the authorities to take remedial steps to save these unfortunate candidates from mental agony.
THE SUFFERERS
Karachi
THIS refers to the news item about the cancellation of recognition of some medical colleges of Karachi, run in the private sector (Jan 17). In spite of this announcement in the press, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has not as yet informed the concerned medical colleges anything in writing.
The management of these colleges hold the view that they were asked to rectify their deficiencies in a given time period, as per decision taken by the PMDC in its 97th council meeting and that there was no suggestion of derecognition at all. They also feel that this announcement of the PMDC is irrational. All these colleges are conducting their examinations as per scheduled.
This current state of conflict between these colleges and the PMDC has created confusion among us, the students, and has put our careers at risk. The question of prime importance at this time is, what will be the status of the doctors being produced by these colleges now?
So far, three batches of MBBS doctors have passed out of the Hamdard College of Medicine and Dentistry, and all of them were recognized by the PMDC. The fourth batch is due to appe