| June 19, 2002 | Wednesday | Rabi-us-Sani 7, 1423 |
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Education made too costly
Leasing a car
Qualification for MNAs
Improvement in isolation
Factory in residential area
‘Well-wishers’ of the poor
Islamic summit
Karachi bomb blast
Running away
Zafran Bibi
Indian tactic
Advani’s dream
THE finance minister has termed the budget as investment-friendly with the aim to reduce the cost of doing business in Pakistan. Time will show whether it is so.
However, it must be said to the government’s credit that the budget maintains continuity in its policies with most of the provisions having been discussed with the stakeholders before hand.
The federal budget stands out for a distinctive departure from the past by proposing a significant reduction in the current expenditure, especially in the allocation for debt servicing.
While it is humanly impossible to please everyone, the budget reflects the understanding reached with the multilateral institutions for structural reforms, resource mobilization and poverty alleviation.
It attempts to remove major irritants faced by businesses such as multiplicity of taxes, visits by various departmental officials ostensibly for inspection, avoidable audits and litigation. The capital market and non-bank financial institutions have received special attention in the budget, their long standing demand for tax rationalization having been met to a large extent in the hope that this sector, vital for investment, will emerge as a vibrant and strong element within the economy.
The demand of the banking companies to be taxed at the same rate as the corporate sector in general has also been acceded to.
However, change in tax treatment should facilitate mergers and amalgamation in business, particularly in the financial sector, allowing carry-forward of losses, tax admissibility of expenses, unabsorbed depreciation, while admissibility of different tax rates for banking and non-banking operations has been accorded with an eye on the privatization of the banking sector.
As regards the specific measures in the budget, they relate to rationalization, removal of distortions, ending preferential treatment to government managed mutual funds. These provide a level playing field to the private sector, and reduce the number of custom duty slabs with the rate capped at 25 per cent as agreed under the WTO.
While central excise duty has been enhanced on cigarettes and reduced on beverages, the GST re-imposition on vegetable ghee and cooking oil would impact the household budget.
The reduction of custom duty on imported cars and motorcycles as against the demand from the importers for allowing import of reconditioned cars is definitely a wise option. This measure will generate competition, bring about improvement in quality of locally assembled vehicles and maintain a check on delivery and premiums.
The full impact of the budget framed against a backdrop of increased foreign assistance and the much-needed fiscal space as a result of debt re-profiling, would unravel in due course as the real Budget. It is now abundantly clear that the true benefits of the much-trumpeted survey of taxpayers are yet to be reaped, the delay having been caused by lack of co-ordination and proper collation of data gathered in the survey.
The addition of less than a quarter of a million assessees in the tax net is indeed a disappointment. The revised estimates of fiscal deficit at Rs257 billion against a target of Rs186.9 billion inclusive of a one-off expenditure of Rs80 billion would help clean the government balance-sheet but would certainly contribute to inflation.
MAQSOOD BARI
Karachi
SCHOOLS have nowadays become the best source of minting money, mainly because there is absolutely no control whatsoever on the standard of education and on the exorbitant charges under various heads, which are:
High tuition fees range from Rs800 to Rs2,000 per month.
The admission fee depends upon big names and this ranges from Rs5,000 to Rs25,000. The admission fee is charged every year even from students who are promoted from one class to another in the same school.
Donations in thousands are demanded otherwise admission is denied. The annual fee is charged under all heads.
The latest is the computer fee. Hardly one or two defective computers are on display in some prohibited corner of the school (vice principal’s or computer instructor’s room). The computers are for display only and not to be used, as a majority of the computer instructors themselves are not properly equipped with computer knowledge.
Right from March of every year, students are forced to pay two months fee at a time to ensure that the school fee is realized for vacation periods also. Students appearing for Class IX and Class X examinations are asked to pay the fee for April and then get their admit cards for the examinations.
Sports and extra-curricular activities are almost next to nil.
Teachers are appointed on meagre salaries, salaries are not paid for the vacation period, though the tuition fee is realized for all the 12 months of the year.
Teachers are denied all the benefits an employee deserves such as annual leave, provident fund, gratuity and reasonable increments.
There is no facility known as first-aid, periodic vaccinations, medical examination of students at least once in three months followed by a report to parents to take care of their wards on deficiencies detected by the school health officer.
It is high time the Education Department took drastic action to root out this mafia from our society.
A person with an income of Rs10,000 per month and with four school-going children would has to beg, borrow or resort to unfair means to meet the unjust demands of the so-called prestigious English medium schools.
Fees for different categories of school should be fixed anda ban imposed on levying extra charges under fictitious heads.
A POOR FATHER
Karachi
Many leasing companies have cropped up, which are willing to fulfil all your desires by mortgaging your future. This, in principle, is not a bad thing but some of the high-handed tactics they resort to are deplorable. One such incident occurred to me a few days ago.
I had leased a car from a leading leasing company. After a few months, I found out that due to the prevalent sluggish business activity, it would be better for me if I liquidated the lease and waited for a better time to get a new car. When I informed the company about my decision, their representatives visited me and requested me politely to accompany them to the company’s office to see one of their senior officers who, they said, was authorized to take a decision in the matter.
I took out the car and went with them to their office where they asked me to hand them over the keys of the car, which I did. After this, their attitude suddenly changed. They handed me a notice saying that I had to pay their due amount within seven days or they would sell my car at a nominal price to recover the dues.
Finally what happened was that the ‘nominal price’ that they fixed for my car was Rs75,000 less than the prevalent market price. After settlement of dues, I found that my down payment on the car was entirely lost. I was shocked. But all my pleadings were of no avail and I could not do anything because the car was physically in their possession.
Then one of the company’s employees told me privately that what I was saying was true but they had to act according to the company’s policy. He also told me that I would have been financially a gainer if I had sold the car in the open market and then come to them for a settlement.
What I would like everyone to know is that the right path, as laid down in a leasing agreement, is not actually the right one.
As far as the higher-ups of the said leasing company are concerned, I can only say that this kind of business strategy cannot benefit them in the long-term. But probably they are not concerned about that, being too occupied in enjoying their spoils right now.
ADNAN Z. DADA
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the letters by R.R. Alvi (May 9), ‘Degree condition for MNAs’ and Feroz Shah Gilani (May 6), ‘Amending the constitution’.
Mr Alvi pointed out that some past prime ministers and parliamentarians were not graduates but they had occupied the exalted offices. He, therefore, advocated waiving the degree condition for being a candidate to the National Assembly in the elections to be held in October this year.
I firmly believe that illiteracy is the worst evil. Being in the grip of illiteracy, intolerance, feudalism and capitalism, we failed to have an effective democracy in Pakistan.
Three-fourths of our population is rural, largely illiterate and under the heels of feudal lords. The majority of our semi-literate urbanites is in the pockets of the capitalists. With just 20 per cent literate population in Pakistan we cannot bring in true democracy like that of the UK, Canada and Japan unless and until we push up the literacy rate to at least 80 per cent. This cannot be done in days. The only way out is to hold elections on the basis of literacy and educational attainments.
For the time being, the minimum educational criteria for eligible voters as well as that of the candidates should be:
Graduation and higher qualifications for the National Assembly.
Matriculation and higher qualifications for provincial assemblies.
Minimum literacy for the local bodies.
S.A. HAIRAT
Karachi
THIS is with reference to Engr Aftab Muhammad Khan’s letter, ‘Specialization in education’ (June 15), in which concern was expressed over the establishment of a separate commission for the improvement of higher education that does not refer to primary and secondary education.
We know that the quality of higher education mainly depends upon the stuff we get from secondary and higher secondary schools. If students from these institutions lack innovation, creativity, analytical and critical thinking, then it is very difficult, rather impossible, to improve their calibre at the university level.
If we try to improve university/ higher education without taking into account the necessity of revamping primary, secondary and higher secondary education, it would tantamount to putting the cart before the horse. If we try to improve higher education in isolation, I fear that our efforts would be fruitless and the resources involved would go down the drain.
We know that our present system of education at the elementary level is full of anomalies and inaccuracies. Therefore, it is proposed that another commission on primary, secondary and higher secondary education be set up that should consist of educationists from all levels. Both the commissions should make their recommendations in consultation with each other.
PROF ATA-UL-HAQ SUBHANI
Faisalabad
THERE is a cotton mill opposite the UBL sports ground in Block-21, F.B. Area. This mill continuously throws out cotton waste into the air, probably because the owners have not installed a filter. As a result the air is filled with tiny cotton particles that enter into our flats even if the windows are covered with chiqs or kept closed. This has become a health hazard for the residents of the area.
I sent an e-mail to the City Nazim, the Environment Protection Agency and the chief executive of the mill. But all of them seem to be too busy to give any response.
Would any other concerned authority look into the matter and save the residents of the area from this health hazard.
AFRASYAB
Karachi
IT was shocking to see the photograph published in Dawn (June 10) showing residents of Manzoor Colony trying to fill water from a leaking pipeline.
I do not understand why we, as a nation, do not judge our politicians and rulers by their performance and actions. All politicians of this poor mismanaged country claim to be the well-wishers of the poor, especially when they need their votes. But they do nothing to ameliorate their miseries.
In fact, these same people enjoy their lives at the expense of the poor citizens of this country. One can see tens of high priced sparkling and scratchless government vehicles in Clifton and Defence Society only. I am sure that around 200 tubewells can be installed in areas like Manzoor Colony for the price of one Mercedes or Land Cruiser.
A CONCERNED CITIZEN
Karachi
RECENTLY, the US government enhanced the visa fee by almost 30 per cent. But we have not reciprocated this action. It has also been reported that the US Attorney General, John Ashcroft, has proposed a new anti-terrorism visa regulation for visitors from all Muslim countries: they would be finger printed like common criminals, on arrival in the US. They will also have to get themselves registered with the Immigration and Naturalization Services if their stay is to exceed 30 days. Pakistan, the most allied ally of the US, will not be an exception. So, this is how we are being rewarded for helping the US in its fight against the Taliban and the Al Qaeda.
What is the so-called Muslim ummah or the OIC going to do about it? Is it not the time for an Islamic summit to consider this attitude of the US?
A. REHMAN
Hyderabad
THE IG, Sindh, Syed Kamal Shah, while briefing the press about the devastating bomb blast of June 14, is stated to have said: “Thank God no foreigners and diplomats are dead.”
I, as a citizen of this country, feel ashamed on this statement. Ten Pakistanis died in the incident but it seems that it was not a matter of concern to the government. Is the government worried only about the safety of the foreigners and not about the lives of its own people?
Pictures showing army men carrying dead bodies and the injured in their hands rather than using stretchers simply indicates that we are not trained and prepared to handle such emergencies.
MARIAM DURRANI
Karachi
The press reported the following statement of General Musharraf at a meeting of the National Security Council on May 22.
“In fact,” he had said, “I now want to shed power. I wish there was an elected prime minister to take the crucial decisions that need to be taken at this juncture.”
This is one of the most controversial statements made by a head of government at a time of crisis. The general spent billions of rupees on the referendum to stay as president for five years and clearly stated that the future prime minister would be subservient to him. Now the country faces threat of war and he is trying to run away. The Indians must be laughing.
A. KHALIL
Islamabad
WITH the timely intervention of the Federal Shariat Court, the poor lady was saved from yet another disaster she was destined to face.
While the government must be praised for its part in bringing justice to Zafran Bibi, I would like to know if there would be any check on the honourable judges who had nearly dispatched an innocent woman to her grave. Rather than punishing the tyrant offender who kept on playing with her honour, the victim herself was sentenced to death.
SYED SHAMEEL SANI
Islamabad
Whenever India-Pakistan dialogue appears likely to start, Indian security forces unleash a reign of terror in the valley by killing innocent Kashmiris. But at present, the Indians seem to have changed their tactics and have started arresting APHC leaders.
In all fairness, the USA and its allies should apply the same principles of the right of self-determination in Kashmir as they did in East Timor.
AMJAD QURESHI
Karachi
THIS is with reference to Mr Shakir Lakhani’s letter, ‘Advani’s dream’ (June 13), commenting on a proposal for a confederation of India and Pakistan. A Pakistani should not feel either threatened or teased with this statement of Mr Advani. After a spate of diatribe against Pakistan, it is the one statement from the hardliner that seems to carry some sense.
In fact, all along the struggle for freedom from the British yoke, the Muslims had eagerly desired for the entity of India to be kept intact. Even their supreme leader Mr Jinnah, was a staunch nationalist, so much so that he earned the appellation of ‘The ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity’.
It was only in the last days of the British rule that the Muslims started aiming at the division of the country when all their efforts for its unity had failed. Apprehensive of the fact that some day Hindu fundamentalists, the likes of Advani and his BJP colleagues, might come at the helm of affairs to the distress of the minority communities, the Muslims started demanding parity at the centre as a safeguard.
The Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 was the last attempt aimed at the unity of the country. The Muslim League accepted this proposal. Through this scheme the unity of India was to be preserved. At the same time it allayed the fears of the Muslims as the Muslim majority provinces could have their own governments.
The Muslim League considered the grouping as compulsory, and as the fundamental part of the Cabinet Mission Plan. But Gandhi and Nehru considered the ‘grouping’ of provinces as optional, because they hoped to win over NWFP (which had a Congress ministry at that time) and Assam (the Hindu majority province) for opting out of Groups B and C.
The Congress accepted the plan on June 25, but with reservations about interpreting the grouping provisions. On July 10, Nehru made a statement as the president of the Congress saying that the Congress would enter the Constituent Assembly ‘completely unfettered by agreement and free to meet all situations as they arose.’ Distrusting the sincerity of the Congress, Jinnah called a meeting of the Muslim League, which passed a resolution on July 29, 1946, revoking League’s acceptance of the Plan.
The last chance of a united and independent India was thus lost. ‘We have exhausted all reason’, said Jinnah. ‘There is no tribunal to which we can go. The only tribunal is the Muslim Nation.’ Indeed, the Muslims of India had become a nation, and a year later they achieved Pakistan.
SYED OSMAN SHER
Toronto, Canada
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