Informed writing on economic issues

This is with reference to recent articles on economic policies being followed by the government.

People need to wake up to the economic reality and have a good look around since Pakistan is currently not the hottest destination in the world as far as foreign direct investment is concerned. The government is fighting terrorist’s inside and outside the country and it is on the brink of war with India.

On top of that it has to deal with people who claim to be the torch-bearers of democracy, people who then turn their backs on the government when asked to forge a national consensus. It is a miracle that with all this happening the rupee has not crashed through the floor.

If economic writers understood their economics they would realize that purchasing dollars through open market operations in isolation would sink the rupee like lead. If the government miraculously manages to somehow buy foreign currency without pressurizing the rupee, then it should be credited for its efforts not berated.

The fact that the government has been able to reschedule as well as renegotiate better terms for the debt also goes in its favour. It did not run up these bills in the first place; it was incompetent corrupt buffoons in the past who created all this mess, especially people for whom the solution to reducing the debt burden was to print more money.

These writers are also critical of the government’s plans for privatization. They need to be reminded that the role of the government is to govern the state not run businesses. Russia, China, Eastern Europe and Vietnam have all turned to the private sector because it is a fact plain as day that you cannot run industries efficiently while they are state-owned. Things may have been very different if champions of the people like Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had not burdened us with the farce of nationalization.

Show me a man who says that a state-owned employee does an honest day’s work and I will show you a man who tells tales that are less than true.

To be more specific, in a recent article, Mr. Abdul Khalique Junejo raised the question of who’s buying dollars on the forex market. He then gave the answer to this himself by saying that perhaps the purchases were part of some scheme to use all this money for dubious activities. I would like to remind Mr. Junejo that when the government of Pakistan has to transact in foreign currency the finance minister does not get up in the middle of the night and go off to Jodia bazar with suitcases full of money. Rather it uses the services of the State Bank of Pakistan.

The State Bank gGovernor also does not buy his cash off dodgy street vendors, he is obliged to buy it in the inter-bank market.

For the record, I am not a government employee. I do not support all its policies and I strongly believe that the pace of reform is far too slow. At the same time I would like to point out that conspiracy theorists — and we have more than our share here — do more harm than good by writing up half-baked stories which are ill-supported by facts.

ARSALAN KAMAL

Bangkok

Reforming higher education

THIS refers to Dr Tariq Rahman’s “A voice in the Wilderness”, (May 26). While going through it, I experienced the same sense of lack of concern that I experienced during a session with Tariq Binuri at Karachi University.

The latter happens to be the head of the steering committee of the task force for reforms in higher education, organized by the government. In both situations of concern, it appeared to me that the whole thrust of reforms in higher education bypasses certain foundational aspects. It is expected to be directed maximally towards creating opportunities for enhancing research in science and technology. This, however, greatly undermines the whole concept of higher education.

Both, the government and the non-governmental bodies involved in the whole exercise seem to have overlooked the role social sciences play in higher education.

Nevertheless, if one could only look at the whole problem of higher education in a broader intellectual framework, one would realize that the purpose of higher education is not merely to compete in science and technology.

The very concept of higher education is multi-dimensional. It involves the idea that highly educated people of our country should be capable of an intellectual understanding of multifarious problems. They should be able to offer expert advice in specific areas of their specialized research.

Naturally, one does not expect a successful nuclear scientist to run the socio-political affairs of the country. That is literally as well as practically impossible. For that matter, we need competent politicians who can work with expert social scientists.

The point is that we need thinkers in every field of knowledge. This is the only remedy for the various ills of our society. Obviously, such thinkers do not come out of the blue. Public sector universities are the real places for such thinkers to come into existence out of the ordinary fold.

Social sciences are the real disciplines for providing sound and rational mental frameworks to such future thinkers. It is the social scientist’s neutral approach towards complex problems that matters, in contrast to the confused, partial and prejudiced approach of person who is not trained as a scientist.

Now Dr Tariq Rahman even wants scholars to be vice-chancellors of public sector universities. The question is where are we going to get these scholars from. Scholars are not manufactured like automobiles or missiles. They are borne out of an intellectual environment that offers the highest and finest level of research. It is a process that can take a lifetime. Nevertheless, it seems we are going to destroy what little is left of such an environment in public universities.

Our authorities seem to have unintentionally initiated this destruction by de-emphasizing the potential inherent in social sciences. Yet, we expect scholars to be available overnight to participate in help reduce various crises in this country.

Z. H. BABER

Assistant Professor

Dept of Philosophy

University of Karachi

‘Slum’ in Clifton

I wish to draw the attention of the Clifton Cantonment Board (CCB) to a problem that myself and other residents of Clifton Block 4 (across from Sindbad amusement park) are facing.

Two large plots of open land earmarked for parks have been turned into a junction for buses. Hundreds of buses are parked there at all hours. They play loud music and blare their horns throughout the day and late evening and cause us much misery.

Added to this are many improvised eating places which have opened up in this area, mostly to cater to the needs of the bus drivers and their staff. Every morning the whole neighbourhood is littered with leftover food and plastic bags. Since there are no bathrooms around, these open spaces are also used as open-air toilets.

On Fridays a Juma bazar pops up from nowhere adding to our hardship. When it ends, it leaves behind only more filth and pollution. As a result, this part of Clifton has become an eyesore. Is it too much to ask that the CCB maintain it properly and do the job assigned to it? After all, we live in an apparently civilized area, not a slum.

SABIHA HUSSAIN

AND OTHERS RESIDENTS

Karachi

Smoking in Tharparkar

Smoking affects every organ and system of the body. Tobacco-related diseases occur 15 years or more after you begin smoking.

It is a known fact that one out of four smokers dies of smoking-related illnesses after 20 years of tobacco use and one out of two smokers dies of smoking related illnesses after forty years of smoking. Before the British came the people of Tharparkar hardly used to smoke.

A survey carried out by me and some colleagues on the incidence of smoking in the area presents a grim picture.

The village of Nagarparkar in Tharparkar district was chosen and the survey was taken in November 2001. Ninety five per cent of households had one or more smokers. Twenty per cent were regular smokers and 93 per cent took up this habit in their teens or twenties. Ninety per cent said they began due to peer pressure.

The second aspect of study presents an even worse situation. The average daily expenditure of an individual smoker on smoking was a little over Rs 18. Converted to a monthly figure, this comes to quite a lot. I was shocked when I applied this data over the whole of the district and estimated the figures. Nearly 200,000 people were estimated to be smokers in Tharparkar, spending Rs 2.5 million every day on this addiction.

This money is approximately ten times more than the total amount received by the district in the form of aid to combat drought. The people of this region should realize that they are hardly in a position to be spending so much money on something that has the potential to seriously harm their health.

DR RANO MAL

Karachi

ID card delay

I applied for a new computerized identity card for my husband and a neighbour on July 27, 2001, and the receipt numbers of my application are A-672503 and A-672504. The delivery date was given as September 7, 2001.

My neighbour has received his new card last month but I still have not. During the past nine months period I have visited the Nadra office twice. Each time I was promised that I would should get my new ID card after a month’s time. Do I have to wait further or should I apply again?

ALMAS MAHMOOD

Karachi

Thank you, PTV

MUSIC lovers like me were pleasantly surprised when they came across a programme by the name of “Surprise” telecast on PTV on May 9. The programme was presented in three languages: Pushto, Punjabi and Urdu. The singer, Tahir Khan, was simply excellent in his composition and vocal ability. The programme was quite widely appreciated also because the singer apparently had many other talents proving his worth in fields not related to music.

It would provide much encouragement to the creative arts if people associated not only with music but also painting, writing, poetry or sport were introduced by PTV. It will also become easier and convenient for organizations like ours — called ‘Leekwaal Aao Fankar’ — to convince young people to pursue such worthy activities.

Before I conclude, I, on behalf of the members of Leekwaal Aao Fankar and other music lovers, would like to express our deep gratitude to PTV authorities for showing this programme and hope that more will follow.

SALEEM SHAH KAKA KHEL

Islamabad

Politicians’ refusal

MUCH has been spoken regarding the restoration of democracy and many a demand has been made by our self-proclaimed champions of democracy. It is time that the people of Pakistan take a closer look at the faces behind these masks of deception.

In these critical times when our enemy stands at the very gates of the country and there is a need to unite and stand under one flag these people chose to decline the invitation of President Musharraf. They should learn a lesson from across the border where Sonia Gandhi, a bitter rival of the ruling party, extended her unconditional support to Mr Vajpayee. It is pretty evident here that the greed factor in the case of our ‘leaders’ overrides more critical issues faced by the nation.

How can we expect such leaders to deliver when they turn down an opportunity to discuss matters pertaining to the survival of the country.

RIZWAN RAHEEL

Piscataway, NJ

US

Feeling for Kashmir

I am writing with reference to the article of Mr Kuldip Nayar (May 18). I was quite dismayed by his use of unsubstantiated and unproven facts. Mr Nayar said that the involvement of the Pakistani government was clearly proven in the recent Jammu incident and that it should hence be punished.

I would like to ask Mr Kuldip Nayar to explain how the involvement of the Pakistani government is clearly proven. How can it be clearly shown that the act was carried out on the orders of General Musharraf? How can Pakistan smuggle infiltrators across the LoC when the Indian army is on full alert and full strength? And what would be the benefit to us? Will it not expose Pakistan to more pressure? Would it not be suicidal to carry out such an act, especially when a top US official (as was the case) is visiting.

Mr Nayar wants the government of Pakistan to be punished. How do you go about doing this, except perhaps by punishing the people of Pakistan, many of whom are poor, destitute and quite worried by the prospect of war.

Mr Nayar, is a good man because he is among the few subcontinental persons who can rise to condemn their own community. Kashmir was a Muslim majority state with all geographical, ethnic, economic links through Pakistan. If the accession by its Hindu maharaja to India was correct then so was the accession of Junagadh ruler to Pakistan. How do you explain this contradiction?

You want Pakistan to respect international laws and avoid violence. I agree that the jihadis have harmed the Kashmir cause. But why do not you talk of Indian intervention in East Pakistan? India did that on the pretext of democracy and humanity. Tell me how do we get over that? Tell me how do we absorb that defeat?

Why do you not condemn Indian intervention? If India can help East Pakistan, then why should not we feel for Kashmir?

OSAMA LONE

Lahore

Road dispute

THIS refers to news items about naming of road in Gojra. Irrespective of the legal position it appears to be a conspiracy to involve the district authorities in a trivial matter between two families and ultimately stop them from maintaining the unprecedented pace of development works being carried out in the entire district.

The District Nazim of Toba Tek Singh is advised to continue serving the people of the district and to be careful of people who are conspiring to involve him in their politics of jealousy and hatred.

This is absolutely a non-issue as far the public at large is concerned.

FAWAD AHMAD CHEEMA

Lahore

Parking fees for what?

It has been seen lately that on the service road, adjoining the beach at Sea View, the authorities have started charged parking fee.

Why would anybody pay to see natural beauty or to enjoy themselves? People instead have started parking their cars on the main road, blocking the passing traffic. Will somebody in authority do something about this?

SAMEER BEG

Karachi

Call for peace

There is no denying of this fact that the war-like situation between Pakistan and India is going to further aggravate the relations of both states. Both countries are absolutely familiar with the fact that war is not the solution to the problems. Increasing tension wreaks havoc on both economies.

Both India and Pakistan, where a great chunk of population lives below the poverty line and many people die of hunger and fatal diseases, seem to be rather foolishly talking of war. The tense situation swallows the budget of both countries. The fragile position of both Indians and Pakistanis does not favour any further escalation of tension.

It is high time that serious and sincere efforts were made by the world to de-escalate the tension and bring both countries to the negotiating table, force them to adopt the path of dialogue and thus avoid another war.

SANAULLAH RUSTAMANI

Dadu

Death of MQM legislators

THIS is with reference to the TV review “The MQM chief on television” by Mr Omar R. Quraishi. The writer has every right to present his views, fair or otherwise on any political party or its leadership, but readers might be misled by the following sentence.

“... (T)he party and the government might have had some falling out over the April 30 referendum and the murders of former MQM legislators Dr Nishat Malick and Mustafa Kamal Rizvi. To this, the interviewer, P J Mir, asked the MQM chief whether he expected any more members of his party to change their loyalties...”

To a common reader such lines might suggest that the murders of MQM parliamentarians happened not because of a well-planned and calculated conspiracy but because they changed their party loyalties. The MQM has already lost two of its most dedicated legislators. They were my colleagues and I too feel quite hurt by such a description by the writer. It is not easy to forget the role these two gentlemen played while performing their duties as parliamentarians.

Mr Mustafa Kamal Rizvi was a successful businessmen. He was arrested in 1992, and we met for the first time in the North Nazimabad police station in unfortunate circumstances where I was brought by the police, a week after Operation Clean Up began in 1992. We both were tortured in the most inhuman way there. After his release he becomes one of the most diehard MQM supporters. In 1997, he was elected as a senator on the party’s ticket. He was a fiery orator.

Similarly, Dr Nishat Malick was arrested by the law enforcement agencies when they could not arrest his brother. For a month he was tortured. The fingers of both his hands were especially targeted. After his release, he had to travel to the US and the UK for treatment of his fingers, which are probably the most important asset of a doctor. It took him one year to partially recuperate. In 1997 he was elected MNA from Karachi on the party’s ticket.

Mr Malik was one of the few sports medicine doctors this country had and his work had been acknowledged in national and international sports circles. Those who deprived him of his life also deprived Pakistan of a renowned doctor. There was a seminar of doctors on sports medicine scheduled in Karachi three days after his death and he was supposed to be the host. The seminar was not cancelled. His son Aksi, a third year student of medicine, took his assassinated father’s seat. I would request the writer not to use his pen in a way that readers might misinterpret facts in reference to the slain MQM parliamentarians.

KUNWAR KHALID YUNUS

Karachi

Omar R. Quraishi adds: It seems Mr Yunus has quoted me out of context. He has mentioned only a portion of a much larger sentence to suggest that I had implied that the death of Nishat Malick and Mustafa Kamal Rizvi was due to a change in their party loyalty. That was not the insinuation, as a reading of the complete sentence would show.