| August 16, 2002 | Friday | Jamadi-us-Saani 6, 1423 |
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Mehran scam: Leghari’s version
Disappointed talent
Rising trend of suicide
No financial misdeeds: PCB
Weather reports
UK visit visa: HC’s version
Mobile phones and driving
Political kickbacks
Abolish TV licence
Stranded Pakistanis
Wapda’s explanation on tariff
DR Ashfaque H. Khan’s article (Aug 5) which was written in response to Dawn’s excellent editorial ‘Not the right indicator’ (July 29) is misleading.
While trying to clarify the editorial’s points regarding the recession-ridden state of the economy, shrinking economic growth and foreign exchange reserves, he exhorts commentators not to write about these economic indicators as, according to him, “an understanding of these indicators and their mechanics require considerable knowledge of macro-economics” which only he has and no one else possesses.
Dr Ashfaque after quoting data for the past two decades has shown that investment has declined and GDP growth has fallen below its potential. Consequently, unemployment and poverty have risen and general level of prices are declining which is another symbol of recession. But he refuses to admit it is recession. He has devised a new definition of recession and says: “Technically speaking, when an economy registers negative growth for two consecutive quarters it is said to be in recession.”
It is indeed mind-boggling that instead of presenting the real picture of the economy, our economic managers juggle with figures to prove that the government has been achieving great success in the economic field.
The real picture of the economy is clear to our common man who confronts it on a daily basis. Pakistan’s economy is the most reformed economy in the world. Every government from pseudo democrats to caretakers and military dictators have been introducing their reform agenda. It started from Moen Qureshi’s reforms in 1993 and still continues without any light at the end of the tunnel. These IMF-dictated reforms have brought our economy to a grinding halt.
Dr Ashfaque’s assertion of mopping up excess supply of dollar by the SBP to protect the value of the dollar from falling is wrong — on both theoretical ground and the real world situation.
First of all, there is no excess supply of dollar in Pakistan. In a country like Pakistan, there is always a shortage of dollars. The SBP intervenes in the market and purchases dollars to check the dwindling rupee from further depreciation.
This intervention is not done for making exporters competitive as Dr Ashfaque tries to make us believe but rather making imports cheaper. Central banks all over the world intervene once a while to protect the value of their domestic currencies from volatile depreciation and not for appreciating the value of another country’s currency.
Furthermore, our SBP intervenes most often to accumulate reserves for paying the loan instalments. Dawn’s editorial is right in calling it controversial.
Whenever sacrifice and belt-tightening is required for reducing budget deficit, it is the common man who is always burdened.
Utility prices have been increased several times. The price of basic necessities of life, like medicine, bread and house rent, are skyrocketing making the life of the common man miserable.
The profit rate of the NSS has been massively cut by 5.5 per cent over and above the withholding tax of 10 per cent. Cumulative inflation between 1998-99 and 2001-02 calculated from government’s own published CPI indices comes to 11 per cent.
JAMILA KHATOON
Islamabad
ARDESHIR Cowasjee has twice made references to the President of the Millat Party and the former President of Pakistan, Mr Farooq Leghari, in his columns ‘We never learn from history’ (part two and three, Aug 4 & 10 respectively).
The columnist has claimed that certain amounts were paid to Mr Leghari by the ISI in 1993-94. This is a baseless allegation.
While we wish to commend Mr Cowasjee for reminding the public at large and the establishment/courts in particular of their failure to bring to justice the corrupt elites of Pakistan manifested so clearly in the fate of Air Marshal Asghar Khan’s petition filed before the Supreme Court in 1996, the columnist then goes on to quote Gen Asad Durrani’s letter written in his own handwriting “YH TT Peshawar A/c Sherpao For Election 5,00,000/-. Anwar Saifullah for MBL deposit 15,00,000/-, Farooq Leghari PO issued 15,00,000/-. Another 15,00,000/- paid through bank: There are a host of other political figures who received funds like Liaquat Jatoi, Imtiaz Sheikh.”
Lt-Gen Asad Durrani has been contacted on telephone and he denies ever having written any note mentioning Mr Farooq Leghari. Mr Cowasjee also knows fully well that the payments made by or on behalf of Yunus Habib through Mehran Bank were made through crossed cheques in the name of Mr Leghari for the sale of land belonging to Mr Leghari’s family which was a recorded, open and transparent transaction undertaken when Mr Leghari was not in power and was not even a member of any legislature.
Mr Cowasjee also knows that a high-powered Commission, headed by a Supreme Court judge and comprising High Court judges, had clearly determined that the Leghari family transactions did not involve any wrong-doing.
Mr Cowasjee himself testified to this and vouchsafed publicly in a crowded press conference at the Karachi Press Club two-and-a-half years back that Mr Leghari was ‘clean’ and not involved in any such wrong-doing.
Now to mention Mr Leghari’s name in the same context as of those who may have been involved in the Mehran Bank scandal is not only unjust and a travesty of truth but also tantamount to defaming him.
Since Mr Durrani categorically denies ever writing such a note and since his concern was in any case solely with explaining his role in distributing ISI funds to politicians and others, he would have no knowledge nor responsibility with regard to land sale money.
BRIG (R) MOHAMMAD YUSUF
Central Secretary, Information Millat Party
WITH reference to the recent suspension of US visa issuance in Pakistan, we appeal to the Pakistan and US authorities in Islamabad to consider the cases of desperate students planning to study in US colleges and universities.
Several hundred students from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad are in a pathetic situation. What did we do wrong? Why punish us when we have done no wrong? The US embassy has “indefinitely suspended” the visa process at a crucial juncture — this is the time when students are about to fly off to their colleges. It is a matter of days now before colleges will refuse entry since classes will begin and enrolment, therefore, becomes impossible.
Most of us have worked hard for years to be admitted to some of the best colleges and universities in the US, often with scholarships, and to be denied our rightfully-earned chance at good education is a painful injustice.
If we do not receive our visas in time (which is now a matter of days), several hundred of some of the best students that Pakistan has to offer will be spending at least a year (possibly more) in educational exile.
There is a threat that if this situation is not resolved soon, our admission to universities will be cancelled — admissions that we have earned with commitment and dedication over several years. Do we deserve nothing better than this?
More than 100 students have signed this letter and we all appeal to the US and Pakistani authorities to resolve this crisis with sincerity that shows that they care for bright, young people who believe in, and are working for, a better future for us all.
AFFECTED STUDENTS
Karachi
DURING the last 12 months, 2,386 people committed suicide in various parts of the country on account of unemployment, poverty, domestic disputes etc. while 468 people failed in their bid to commit suicide, according to an NGO’s report.
The break-up shows that Sindh has the highest number of such cases (1,391) as compared to Punjab (804), the NWFP (108) and Balochistan (83).
The NGO’s report indicates that the trend in Sindh is on the rise with five cases being reported every day.
Among the 2,386 people, 1,455 were men and 723 women. It is also worth mentioning that 143 of them were minor boys and 65 minor girls while 43 minor boys and 24 minor girls failed in suicide attempt.
Investigations shows that nine of the 10 people who committed suicide suffered from an active mental disorder. Ten per cent of those who failed in the first attempt, did so again and died.
According to psychiatrists, people who fail to solve their complicated and pressing problems resort to suicide.
It is, therefore, necessary to address the causes that usually lead people to take this extreme action.
Perhaps the root cause is unemployment which creates serious problems and ultimately instigates the sufferer to surrender to these problems.
I appeal to the government, political parties and all others to work vigorously for the introduction of some sort of social security programme in our country to contain the rising trend of suicide.
It is very disturbing and unfortunate that no official statistics are available on suicide cases.
SULTAN KALAMATI
Karachi
THIS refers to a report “PCB’s financial misdeeds exposed” by Ali Kabir (Aug 14). The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) describes the report as highly inaccurate and unethical.
A point-by-point reply to the issues raised follows:
The accounts of the Pakistan’s home series against West Indies at Sharjah are being reconciled with CBFS, who handled it on behalf of PCB, and some payments, including that of appearance money, have already been received.
The writer has confused UAE dirhams with US dollars while referring to visa fees and thus inflating the amount which was paid by the CBFS for the members of the two teams and all officials visiting Sharjah for the tour. The same formula has been applied to the hotel accommodation provided to the two teams and all the visiting officials, which was stated as US dollars 247,500/- instead of UAE dirhams.
The payment made by the “Ten Sports” channel to the PCB was on behalf of the CBFS, which is their sister concern and pertained to the amount receivable from the PTV, and it relates to their TV rights for the series.
Mohammad Bashir is the senior groundsman of PCB whose services were acquired by CBFS to prepare the pitches at Tangier and all his expenses were to be paid by them. Zakir Hussain Syed, who was the Secretary of ACC, was invited with his wife by CBFS, to witness Sharjah matches. The payment of air tickets was made by the PCB on behalf of the CBFS and recovered subsequently.
KHALID BUTT
Media Manager PCB,
Lahore
ALL over the world people make use of weather report, especially forecast, to schedule their travel plan and other programmes.
They get the information through the electronic and print media. Weather report over the electronic media is a feature keenly watched and adhered to by the viewers.
Unfortunately this report, as carried on our national television and the radio, is so ambiguous and incorrect that it has lost its credibility and interest.
PTV’s weather report appear to be monotonous. Its accuracy is restricted to the happenings during the previous 24 hours. Forecasts are often wrong.
Much attention should be paid to the forecast which may cover the next day’s temperature, rain, cloud etc. especially the conditions over the sea. Such a report could be a guideline for thousands of fishermen who schedule their fishing trips every day and can benefit from the forecast.
The importance of forecast is obvious. Inaccuracy and misleading information in the weather report put thousands of lives at risk.
Furthermore, localized weather reports from main cities of the provinces should be aired for our agrarian folks.
ANIS UR RAHMAN
Karachi
I REFER to Mr Naqvi’s letter about UK visas (Aug 9). He says: “there are no visitor visas in prospect.”
In fact the visa section at the British High Commission in Islamabad has processed more visa applications in the last month than in the same period last year, most of them for visitors.
Mr Naqvi suggests that the visa section should consider applications from those who have had multiple visit visas before, that we should centralize the service in one city, and have applications sent by courier.
We are already doing all of these things. The visa section in Islamabad is considering applications from those who have visited the UK within the last three years. Applications may be made through 14 regional offices of Gerry’s FedEx from where they are sent by courier to Islamabad, where UK visa services are now centralized.
Mr Naqvi also says that it “should not be beyond the ingenuity of British bureaucracy” to make alternative arrangements. Although our visa section has already anticipated his suggestions, he will find that further extensions to the present restricted service will be announced soon.
He, and your readership, may be interested to see the information which is updated from time to time on our website: www.britainonline.org.pk
RACHEL JAMIESON
Press Officer,
British High Commission
GONE are the days when a mobile phone was considered to be a symbol of status. The phone has now become an inexpensive necessity.
Though useful, it is very risky to use it while driving. Motorists as well as bikers are often seen using the mobile while driving and thus putting their own lives and others’ at risk.
I request the concerned authorities to impose a ban on using mobile phones while driving.
SYED ALI HASNAIN TAQVI
Karachi
THIS is with reference to a letter ‘Political kickbacks’ (Aug 8) written by Kunwar Khalid Yunus in response to the column of Ardeshir Cowasjee.
Mr Yunus has tried to deny an implied accusation against MQM chief Altaf Hussain. However, those who voted for the MQM have a right to know the following:
Why did the MQM boycott the National Assembly elections in 1994 and did not do the same in the Provincial Assembly elections which were held just after three days?
What were the reasons of the disrespectful expulsion of Ishtiaq Azhar from the MQM although he had tried to protect the MQM from Operation Clean-Up ordered by Gen Naseerullah Babar?
Who has been paying for the comfortable living of Mr Altaf Hussain in London for more than a decade? He owns only a 120 sq yards house in Karachi, the income from which can not possibly be sufficient to bear these expenses.
A.A. ANSARI
Karachi
THE cable TV operators have extended their network over almost the entire urban areas and a large part of the rural areas. The viewers now receive television programmes through the cable network for Rs100-200 per month.
There are about 20,000 cable operators in the country who pay Rs25,000 each as licence fee to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra).
The Pemra is a government organization and thus the television owners are paying to the government a huge sum for the TV programmes, through the cable operators. So, now on what grounds the PTV is charging the public in the name of a TV licence?
In the neighbouring country, too, TV set owners who make monthly payments to the cable operators do not have to pay the licence fee. The federal government is requested to abolish the TV licence fee.
ENGR SACHANAND
Larkana
MORE than 30 years have elapsed but the stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh are still waiting for return to their country.
These Urdu-speaking people are not beggars. They have skills and can contribute towards the development of Pakistan.
The Rabita al-Alam al-Islami still has funds for their repatriation. We should establish contacts with our Muslim brothers in Bangladesh to solve the problem of stranded Pakistanis immediately.
President Musharraf took a big step by expressing regrets for what had happened in 1971.
SHAH AFFAN
Ontario, Canada
THIS refers to the letter ‘Improving things in Wapda’ (Aug 8). In the first place, it is clarified that increase in electricity rates allowed to Wapda for domestic consumers is only 19 paisas per unit on the directives of the President to provide relief to the consumers and not 99 paisas.
Under the present management, all round improvement in various operations of Wapda has taken place.
This is evident from the fact that Wapda’s revenue has gone up from Rs93 billion to Rs186 billion.
Arrears from the public and private sector consumers have been recovered. Similarly, losses have been reduced from 42 to 25 per cent.
Administrative losses, i.e power theft, have also been curtailed. Wapda’s surveillance teams carry out physical checking of consumers’ premises/ meters regularly. People found guilty of stealing are penalised under the procedural code of law.
Thousands of power theft cases have been detected and punishment awarded to the culprits irrespective of their status in the society.
As such the impression that influential people go unpunished is not correct. The case of FATA is, however, exceptional and both, the government and the Wapda, are taking concrete measures to overcome power theft there by metering the electric supply. It is not true that Wapda is adjusting the losses by increasing the power tariff.
As a matter of fact, increase in electricity tariff has been necessitated due to periodical raise in the cost of furnace oil and gas that are basic inputs for thermal power generation.
Against the base prices of furnace oil (Rs5,500 per ton) and gas (Rs89 per MCF) in May 1999, fuel prices have gone up by more than 100 per cent whereas the increase allowed in power tariffs is much lesser.
The Wapda management is alive to the consumers’ concerns and difficulties but under the circumstances, the raise in power rates has became inevitable.
MALIEHA AFTAB
PRO, Wapda
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