| March 23, 2002 | Saturday | Muharram 8, 1423 |
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Religious harmony
KWSB’s open defiance
Jurisdiction of cantonment areas
Minimum bank deposit
Raise in salaries and perks
Size of currency notes
Overcharging at Bagh-i-Jinnah
The Lahore killings
Conservation of wild species
Postal services
Transport problem
World of our intellectuals
Telephone line rent
A job well done
Neutrality of elections
PTV plays
Open manholes
CNG stations on the motorway
THE Pakistan Railways used to contribute substantially to the federal revenues till the early sixties. Today it is claimed to be in the red by Rs8 billion per annum, which the present government claims to have reduced to Rs5 billion. But this claim is subject to a careful technical audit, as many sections and services have been discontinued and properties are reported to have been sold.
All over the world, the main source of railway revenue is freight, while passenger trains are invariably subsidized, being a social obligation of the government. This is the reason why the World Bank reports have been insisting that the Pakistan Railways cut down the number of passenger trains and increase the freight services.
Despite this, every new passenger trains are added, while freight services have been reduced from 22 Up and 22 Down trains in early eighties to hardly 9+9 freight trains at present. A few more luxury trains are being introduced on some main line routes, which will surely add to PR losses.
The PR had acquired sufficient self-reliance in the manufacture of railway carriages, based on modern German technology with exportable surplus, and in the manufacture of DE locomotives, based on latest Japanese technology. Both these facilities have passed through a long period of tests. However, it is very surprising that instead of buying machinery and know-how to make components of these items, which are still being imported, the authorities are importing completely built and partly CKD carriages and DE locomotives. This is likely to kill our local industries built at a heavy cost and add to PR losses.
It is, therefore, requested that the planning commission and the federal government take up the matter to curtail passenger services and increase freight services to save the national economy from such heavy losses. This can be easily done through the following measures:
Amalgamate all passenger trains, increasing their passenger-carrying capacity by converting all sleeper/AC/DC carriages into parlour, with additional upper berths, thus decreasing their number to half, saving locomotives and train paths to operate more freight trains.
Add two tracks from KPT to Pipri marshalling yard in the space already available since over a hundred years, thus reactivating the marshalling yard, which is lying idle ever since it was inaugurated two decades earlier.
Immediately review the shopping list for passenger carriages and DE locomotives in order to save PR’s own factories, besides saving additional losses on costly new spares inventory which will add to more costly imports.
S.M.H. RIZVI
Former Chief of Federal Govt Rly Inspectorate
Karachi
AN assumption is prevalent in the world today that differences between divergent civilizations are incurable. The theory helps fashion a mindset that thinks through win/lose paradigm and believes in solving problems through violent means. This as a result gives birth to cynicism and undermines the efforts initiated with a view to bridging the widening gap between the major religions of the world.
But, luckily, despite the gloomy situation there are those who are hopeful and staunch believers in inter-faith dialogue. Believing in peace, they hold the view that inter-faith harmony is the only solution to the mounting sectarian tension in the world. One of them is Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri, an enlightened scholar and well-known politician. The formation of a Muslim-Christian dialogue forum under his patronage is a welcome step in this regard. Bishop Andrew Frances is leading the Christians in this forum.
What is needed now is to follow the course set by the two leaders. This will indeed plug the gap and arrest the mounting tension.
JOSEPH FRANCESS
Lahore
THIS is with reference to ‘KWSB’s open defiance of law’ (March 16). We, the residents of Marina Elevation, Block 2, Clifton, too, are buying water at an exorbitant rate from water tankers, and, ironically, also getting water tax bills from the Water and Sewerage Board regularly.
It is an extraordinary situation in that the board wants us to pay twice for the same service in violation of what is called natural law under which one is required not to pay twice for the same service.
We have been telling the board repeatedly to either arrange for the supply of water or withdraw the water bills, but, to our misfortune, our representations have not borne any fruit so far.
Our only hope now is the Nazim-i-Aala of Karachi, Mr Naimatullah Khan, whose integrity and honesty are above board.
We appeal to him to come to our aid and discipline the officials of the board because the water board has now come under him. He is people’s elected representative and, therefore, is in a position to appreciate our plight and provide a solution.
ISAR AHMED
President, Marina Elevation Residents Association
Karachi
ABOUT two weeks ago, the Faisal Cantonment Board put out a public notice in the press excluding seven kutcha abadis from its jurisdiction (Al-Haider Society, Rehmanabad, Azeemabad No.1, New Iqbalabad, Saadan and Millat Colony, Saadan Ghaat and Tandoor Colony).
On the other hand, about 15 months back, the Clifton Cantonment Board was trying to expand its jurisdiction by including the rest of the KDA Scheme No. 5 (Kahkashan) and other contiguous areas, within its boundaries.
The citizens of Karachi would like to know exactly what is going on.
Why are the old and poor areas being abandoned while the rich localities are being taken over? Is it so because there is money to be made by corrupt officers?
Furthermore, why do we need such large cantonment areas within the city? They are meant to house troops, store ammunition and install military equipment, and should, therefore, be away from civilian population.
Will the relevant authorities clarify?
JOSEPH EUGENE
Karachi
SOME time back, several banks had started charging a penalty from their account holders who were not maintaining the banks’ required minimum balance. This was stopped by the State Bank of Pakistan on the complaints made by some account holders.
Some banks have now found a new way to defy the SBP’s orders. My daughter received a letter from her bank informing her that they will be charging on her PLS account Rs25 for each cheque transaction. In case she maintains a certain average balance in her account, the charge will be relaxed depending upon the amount of the balance maintained. For example, if the average balance is between Rs50,000 and Rs100,000, then she will be allowed two free transactions a month and so on. If the balance maintained is over one million rupees, then she can have unlimited free transactions.
I feel that this is unfair and illegal. Would the SBP please take notice of it?
H. FEROZ SHAMSI
Karachi
GOOD governance is the only way a country can prosper, and honest servants of the government achieve it through dedication. But there are hardly any honest government servants left because the salary and perks structure in Pakistan, since the ‘70s, does not match the market value.
The Nawaz Sharif government increased the salaries and perks, commensurate with the existing market value, of some high officials like UBL and NBP chiefs, CBR chairman and an education secretary. There was strong hopes that such reforms would trickle down to the bottom cadre but nothing happened, with the result that corruption continued to be the order of the day.
Now, President Musharraf has raised his own salary and perks as well as those of the judges of the high courts and the Supreme Court, as if these are the only people who can reform the whole government structure.
I, therefore, appeal to the President to raise the salaries of all government servants, from top to bottom, so that everyone is given a chance to prove his/her honesty.
ZAHID HUSSAIN AWAN
Karachi
THE Pakistani currency notes come in denominations of 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000. Recently, the government withdrew the notes of one and two rupees and introduced coins instead. Every currency note has a distinct colour and design representing our cultural heritage, and a size corresponding to its value. The size of our notes, too, is large compared to those of many other countries.
It is suggested that the size be reduced to standard size employed in most of the countries across the world. This way the cost of paper and printing would be reduced significantly. The space required to keep and carry money would also be reduced considerably.
When carrying in a wallet, the different sizes of currency notes don’t fit in properly, thus wearing out quickly.
Important currencies like dollar, pound, riyal and euro all come in one standard size, of course much smaller than ours. Why don’t we have the same?
BILAL ALI
Lahore
THE official entrance fee for Bagh-i-Jinnah is Rs3, but on Eid and other public holidays Rs5 per person is being charged.
The canteen on the Bagh premises also charges exorbitantly, making it impossible for a person of modest means to afford refreshments.
Since those who visit this park are mostly poor people, it is requested that the authorities concerned should take steps to stop this overcharging by the contractors.
ZIA ANSARI
Karachi
THE killing of three innocent people in Lahore is highly regrettable and shocking. It appears as if the law enforcement agencies did not take the Islamabad incident seriously. It also reflects lack of farsightedness on their part.
It’s a relief that the President is taking such incidents seriously enough to shake up the law enforcement agencies.
MUHAMMAD AITIZAZ MASOOD KHAN
Lahore
THE wild species are vanishing from the planet fast. The need for conservation of wild species and animal biodiversity is being realized today, more than ever before.
Crocodiles are among the endangered species in this country. However, some persons are looking after about 100 crocodile at Manghopir. They are being kept in a small reservoir or a pond. But this pond is too small for them.
It will be highly appreciated if organizations like Sindh Wildlife Department, parks and zoo department of Karachi Municipal Corporation, WWF, IUCN and Rotary International or some industrialists come forward and make this place comfortable for the crocodiles.
MUHAMMAD IQBAL
President, Pakistan Society for Conservation of Wildlife
Karachi
THERE is no postal service in DHA Phase-8, Karachi. I have been living here for the last two years without ever receiving any letter by post.
I have written to the Post Master General, Islamabad, several times but there has been no response from him. My servant writes letters to his village in Ghorni, P.O. Lora, Abbotabad District. His family gets the letters, but we in the most fashionable part of Karachi, don’t have any such facility.
DR KHALID BUTT
Karachi
SOME time back, we heard that new buses had been imported from Sweden and that they would come into operation by the end of the previous year, 2001. However, we have yet to see them on the roads.
The public transport system in Karachi is in a chaotic state. It is absolutely stupid to use in this city of a population of more than 10 million, buses that are elsewhere used for schoolchildren.
It is surprising and regrettable that the city government is not taking this matter seriously.
ZIAUR REHMAN RAZWY
Karachi
A WORLD that thrives on inequalities and where the road to justice is heavily booby-trapped, people go on suicidal missions because their convictions urge them to do so.
The Palestinian suicide bombers are a case in point.
An intellectual’s true calibre is gauged in times of crisis. Stifling his inner voice for material reward would be a convenient bargain, but probing historians never spare such self-serving inclinations. Perhaps the intellectuals of our times should take a leaf out of Noam Chomsky’s book, who has taken his government head-on in an attempt to discover the truth.
SHAHZAD AHMAD
Lahore
THE Pakistan Telecom has once again increased the monthly line rent without giving any reason, from Rs245 to Rs261.
The company has been earning huge profits, so the consumers rightly expected some relief. Instead, during the last five years, the line rent as well as the local call rate have been increased regularly.
The local call rate, which was Rs1.25 in July 1997, has now gone up to Rs2.01 for every three minutes. The line rent that was Rs50 before July 1997, has been increased by more than 500 per cent over a period of less than 5 years.
In addition to this, the consumers are charged withholding tax (if the bill exceeds Rs1,000) and 15 per cent sales tax on the billed amount.
The burden on the common man on account of such increases is becoming unbearable and they badly need some relief.
SHAHID ALI KHAN
Karachi
I WOULD like to congratulate the Highway Police for disciplining the inter-city buses and truckers who run vehicles between Karachi and Hyderabad.
To further improve the travelling conditions, I would like to suggest a complete ban on the playing of indecent songs and smoking inside the buses.
I request the concerned authorities to take appropriate action at the earliest.
ASAD BARELVI
Karachi
CEC Irshad Hasan Khan says that there will be neutrality at every stage of the elections. Going by past experience, we can safely predict the colour of the promised neutrality.
KHURSHID ANWER
Lahore
IN PTV plays, there are two aspects which seem to have escaped the notice of the management and the producers. The first is the ratio of advertisements in a play. Generation of revenue is quite understandable, but if a sixty-minute play carries 40 minutes of advertisement, with many ad repeated several times, hardly anything remains of the entertainment value of the play.
Secondly, if background music is many times louder than the dialogue, how can the viewer pick up what is being said?
S. IRTIZA HUSAIN
Karachi
THIS is to draw the KMC’s attention towards the several open manholes on the service road of Shahrae Jehangir, North Nazimabad. All of them pose a serious threat to the pedestrians of this busy road, as they can lead to fatal accidents.
The concerned authorities are requested to cover not only these, but every other open manhole of the city.
SABEIN FATIMA
Karachi
THE National Highway Authority has advertised for expression of interest and proposals for the establishment of CNG stations on the Lahore-Islamabad motorway (M2).
The advertisement appears to be a cover up for something already cooked, or else is reflective of the incompetence of an agency that calls itself an Authority.
First, the NHA is asking the investors to pinpoint the location on the 360 km long motorway as to where they would like to set up the station. Why? The NHA, which is supposed to be an authority on highways and roads, now wants the CNG investors to pinpoint the location.
Second, the NHA expects the investors to propose the size of land they need. Why? Has the NHA never seen a CNG station!
Third, a rate of 7 per cent of the official value of the land will be the minimum yearly rent. If an acre of land on M2 costs Rs150,000, two kanals for a CNG station will cost Rs37,500, the 7 per cent of which will be Rs2,625, the amount payable as rent per year. Have we not committed a mistake by making the NHA the trustee of our motorway assets?
The right approach for the NHA would be to finalize the sites, the design, the capacity and the equipment specifications and then invite expression of interest and proposals for specific and specified CNG stations. They should then hold a fair competition and award the job to the highest bidder. Let us be honest in our approach, our planning and our implementation.
DR NAJMA AFZAL KHAN
Faisalabad
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