| August 31, 2002 | Saturday | Jamadi-us-Saani 21, 1423 |
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Amendments and democracy
Delaying pensioners’ benefits
Relief to calamity-hit areas
PTV panelist’s wrong claim
Uncertain future of the rupee
US intelligence failure
Healthy recreation
Senior citizens’ plight
PIA aircraft
Reconciliation, the key point
Medical college affairs
Foreign policy
ADDING his voice to the cliched whining against the new graduation condition for participating in the national elections, M.Z. Malik (Aug 24) claims in his letter that a “majority of our top army brass has not attended a university” and wonders, “I am not sure how many, if there is any at all, have graduated from a university.” He further declares that “most of them got their commission after passing intermediate exams and studied at the army schools which is not the same as getting a graduate or post-graduate degree.”
Sitting in Texas, USA, thousands of miles away from Pakistan, Mr Malik suffers from severe lack of knowledge about the military training and education system of his country.
I’d like to bring to his knowledge the fact that all the three of Pakistan’s military academies namely the PMA Kakul, the PAF Academy Risalpur and the PN Academy Karachi (Manora) have the status of a university to the exact definition of the word ‘university’ which according to the Webster’s dictionary means ‘an educational institution offering undergraduate and graduate degrees’.
Anyone passing out from any of these prestigious military institutions not only passes out with a uniform and knowledge of operating weapons, as assumed by Mr Malik, but also formally graduates in the academic discipline of his/her choice and/or eligibility, which may range from arts, science, different engineering fields, business administration, etc.
Before the passing out parade is held, for each course, a formal convocation is held in which all ‘graduating’ cadets (students) are awarded their ‘degrees’.
Today every military officer in our country is a graduate. As far as their competency is concerned I am absolutely sure that our military is one of the world’s best in every aspect. Their training makes them perfectly capable of handling all sorts of situations and I’m sure they are running institutions like the KESC, Wapda and Pakistan Steel much better than civilians.
Regarding Mr Malik’s examples of non-graduate people like Bill Gates, Krock and Edhi reaching the heights of success in their fields I’d like to say that they are all one in a million exceptions.
We have had bad experiences with illiterates; at least with an educated person the risks involved are slightly lower. Besides, if we really want to improve our condition and promote education in Pakistan, such measures will have to be taken. In this modern world, how much longer can we afford to stay ignorant?
HARIS MASOOD ZUBERI
Karachi
IT is really unfortunate that even after 55 years of our independence, the rulers could not find the right path for the country. Several governments came and went but the miseries of the masses, who are the real strength of our country, have increased manifold.
Every ruler thinks that he or she is doing a great job, but at the end of the day the result is just the opposite. We talk a lot about democracy, but unfortunately the people who want to bring the democratic change in the country do not act democratically.
Democracy is not something which is to be imposed on the people, but it requires time to flourish according to the wishes of the masses. People should have the right to express their opinion, argue on the bright and dark aspects of the prevailing laws in the country and should have power to remove black laws.
By reviving article 58-2(b) and inserting a new clause 152-A for the creation of National Security Council, the present government has in fact closed the door on democracy. The main problem of our rulers is to keep all the powers in their hands.
The previous rulers failed to choose the right path for
the people and the present rulers want to govern the country according to their own wishes.
The president has regained the powers either to dissolve the elected national assembly or just the prime minister on the recommendations of the National Security Council.
The right to discuss the constitutional amendments in the parliament have been denied even before its existence and the prime minister as chief executive of the country will be having no say in his government, as he can be removed anytime by the President.
The creation of the National Security Council and its recommendations from time to time to the President will not pave the way for democracy to flourish in the country.
People will be choosing members for a powerless parliament, which will only act according to the wishes of the president and the NSC.
SYED A. MATEEN
Karachi
IT’S clear from the finance minister’s recent budget speech that the restoration of the surrendered portion of pension in lieu of commutation and gratuity has been allowed as a gesture of goodwill. However, it has so far remained unimplemented in most cases because of the newly introduced condition.
In the past, the term after which one becomes entitled to the restored benefit was 10 years after retirement. Now it has been changed to 15 years.
As a result of this new condition, the pensioners who have attained the age of 70 years are not able to get their surrendered portion restored. Thus, the relief offered by the finance minister in his budget speech has become only a ‘cruel joke’.
Furthermore, most of the senior citizens do not maintain good health as numerous diseases are linked to the advance age.
Instead of lengthening the term, the minister should have considered shortening it if he was really sympathetic to the senior citizens and eager to provide them relief within their life time.
I would request the President and the finance minister to please intervene and ask the finance ministry to adopt a pragmatic approach. If they are really sincere to this deprived segment of the society, then they should not let the already ‘long wait’ to prolong because this is the only section of the society which cannot wait for long.
A SUFFERER
Lahore
THE small cultivators of calamity-hit areas of Sindh are thankful to President Musharraf for giving them the much needed relief package, absolving them of paying loans up to Rs25,000 and markup thereon.
The content and connotation of his announcement were absolutely unambiguous and lucid. Consequently, the Agriculture Bank of Pakistan took no time in implementing it. It is really heartening that all such borrowers of ADBP received the benefit of the President’s relief package within a short period of time.
But one fails to understand what is holding back the State Bank of Pakistan and the Federal Ministry of Finance from acting upon it.
Small land holders of the affected areas of Dadu, Thatta, Sanghar and some other districts who had obtained loans up to Rs 25,000 from commercial banks dealing with agriculture, have not been passed on the remission of their small loans by NBP, UBL, HBL, ABL, etc.
The small peasants of calamity hit areas appeal to the President to kindly issue orders to the SBP to direct nationalized commercial banks to immediately entertain applications of small land owners and relieve them of their liabilities at these banks.
KHALID MEMON
Hyderabad
I WAS quite shaken to my foundations upon seeing a programme on PTV aired in the Middle East about India’s ‘Jewish connection’. The programme in Urdu (Aug 27) was a discussion by four panelists on India’s ‘sham democracy’ and ‘sham secularism’ etc.
No complaints about that as any government can further its agenda. However, I was shocked out of my wits when a lady panelist said that “more than 350 million people in India are of Jewish origin.”
At first I thought I was hearing things, but the figure of 350 million was repeated ad nauseum. There had been a few thousand Jews in India in the past but, I think, only a few dozen may have left now and that, too, only in the southern Indian state of Kerala.
Wrong information amounts to insulting the intelligence of PTV viewers. More than anything else, PTV has a duty towards its viewing public.
A.C. JOHN
Doha, Qatar
THIS refers to the article ‘Uncertain future of the rupee’ by Sultan Ahmed (Aug 26). He has much sense in saying that State Bank of Pakistan has used others’ money, including FE investments of private parties in banks, to boost its FE reserve to over seven billion dollars — one of the few achievements the present regime can claim any credit for.
The author is also right in saying that benefiting a small number of exporters through keeping the rupee cheap at the cost of the entire nation paying for the larger volume of imported goods and services through dearer hard currency is not a fair practice.
A casual study of daily shipping column reveals that imports, both in volume and value, have been three to four times larger than exports. When the final tally is taken we stand to lose than gain.
Furthermore, keeping the rupee cheaper against the US dollar through artificial means is not only against the demands of free marketing but has negative repercussions too. Boosting the volume of exports at all costs is not a wise policy. Selling goods and services abroad at cutthroat rates amounts to dumping and forcing domestic producers to work cheaply for foreign customers.
A better alternative is to maximize production to replace the imports or importing from quarters where bilateral barter trade is possible or local currencies are used.
Notwithstanding the fact that low quality of technology in the South drives us to undertake increasing volume of trade with the developed countries, the variety of goods produced within the under-developed nations and the comparatively shorter haulage distance involved will be beneficial to focus more on South-South trade.
Additionally, avoiding use of cash transactions and that, too, in hard currencies in dealings between under-developed nations will reduce the potential cost of trading.
Using hard currencies also involves paying their premium value as well, another addition to the cost. When more under-developed nations resort to using local currencies, the lowering in demand for hard currencies will also bring their value down.
TARIQ MAHMOOD
Peshawar
THERE are reports in newspapers that the US intelligence has information that Osama bin Laden and Mulla Umer are in Pakistan. Let’s consider this report keeping in view the wrong information given by the US intelligence in the recent past.
The US intelligence issued the list of ‘terrorists’ involved in or who got killed in the planes that crash on Sept 11. Two of the hijackers ‘who got killed’ were Saudi nationals according to the intelligence report. But afterwards both of them were found alive in Saudi Arabia living with their families.
A few months ago, the US intelligence received reports that Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters were gathering at a place to fight against the Americans. B-52 planes bombed the place but it transpired later that those killed were poor innocent civilians who had gathered for a marriage ceremony in Afghanistan. The US forces also attacked ‘Al Qaeda fighters’, but again those poor people were participants of the grand assembly, Loya Jirga.
It is really strange that all the US intelligence reports say that extremists, terrorists, fanatics and other ‘-ists’ are in Muslim countries. While terrorism in its true form is being witnessed by the whole world in Palestine by Israel and in Kashmir by India, the US intelligence does not see that. State terrorism and human rights violations in Palestine and Kashmir are deliberately ignored by US intelligence.
Keeping in view the above mentioned facts, the US intelligence report that Osama bin Laden and Mulla Umer are in Pakistan cannot be believed.
AHMED BUX GHOTO
Islamabad
THE city district government must be commended for organizing quality events for the general public. The provincial capital had hitherto remained devoid of any source of entertainment arranged by the local government. But the present city government seems to be alive to the importance of healthy recreation.
The Cactus Exhibition held recently in Bagh-i-Jinnah in collaboration with The Cactus and Succulent Society of Pakistan, was a laudable exercise on the part of the district government.
The Bonsai exhibition that will be held shortly is another event to look forward to.
It is hoped that the city district government would continue its efforts to offer simple yet educational avenues of fun for the masses.
SIDRA TAUSEEF ALI
Karachi
THIS refers to Qutubuddin Aziz’s letter ‘Caring for senior citizens’ (Aug 25). May I ask the government what they have done to ameliorate the condition of the elderly, though there is loud talk of poverty alleviation?
Governments, past and present, have never taken care of them. They continue to suffer financially.
What facilities and benefits have they provided for the old discarded lot? May I ask Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz, who always gives explanation to satisfy his audience, to tell us why the benefits announced by the former prime minister on Oct 1, 1999 for senior citizens were not implemented?
With prices going sky high, cost of entities becoming unbearable with more taxes, how can an old person live when he is unable to earn anything?
The elderly persons will be thankful to the finance minister for looking into the matter and ensuring that the benefits announced on the date are allowed with retrospective effect. Whenever needed, money is always found.
We talk of economic recovery and balance of payments accumulation but with what benefit?
I request President Musharraf to ensure that the hardship caused to pensioners is removed.
S. FARID AHMAD
Karachi
MAY I ask why the national carrier is buying, instead of leasing, four Airbus aircraft (Aug 24) when the general practice, especially among the poor countries, is leasing? In that case, the initial outlay is less, you pay as you earn and you also do not have to face allegations of a sleaze.
The international aviation community has amended the international convention of 1944 on aviation to facilitate leasing.
Why does not Pakistan take advantage of that option?
With all the emphasis on clean government, leasing was the only way to procure aircraft for PIA.
K.M. AHMAD
Montreal, Canada
FOR me, the key point made by the President during his press conference was his appeal for ‘reconciliation’. This is a very significant message for everyone involved in the election process.
President Musharraf was absolutely right when he said that it was time to reconcile because Pakistan is again set to see a transfer of power. It should be smooth, sustainable and solid. If the inner bickering continued, as it did in the recent past, Pakistan would be back to square one.
The spirit of reconciliation should also go beyond the election process. The next issue where we need it badly, is that of sectarianism.
In the last 55 years, the biggest mistake committed by us has been the fact that we have made our differences a basis for mutual hatred that has led us away from each other.
And it is not only the politicians who should work for reconciliation. Everyone, including the President, should work for it at his own level.
MEHWISH KHANDRANI
Islamabad
THIS is in response to Mr Asif Siddiqui’s letter captioned ‘Medical college affairs’ (Aug 26).
Some of the author’s observations are not only astonishing but also self-contradictory. Had the teachers/examiners accepted the list of candidates under a threat to declare them successful, the announcement of results would not have been uneventful. The event shows the integrity of the examiners of Sindh Medical College, Karachi.
Sensing possibility of action by police, the student themselves repaired the minor damage caused to the office of Community Medicine department, perhaps, for the first time in the history of medical colleges in the city. However, none of the staff members was injured or manhandled.
An FIR had been lodged by the college administration and police had rushed to take appropriate action and started investigation which is under way while the Principal has constituted an inquiry committee headed by Vice Principal. The students have been asked to appear before the committee within three days.
Students’ parents have been invited to the meeting of Parent & Teacher Committee scheduled for Sept 5.
As for the ‘concern’ expressed by the letter’s author it may be mentioned here to set the record straight that the wards of senior teachers/examiners of this college have been declared ‘fail’. So, the question of ‘favouring VIPs and professors-backed students, does not arise at all.
Perhaps Mr Siddiqui’s letter was based on some misinformation or disinformation.
SENIOR TEACHERS,
EXAMINERS SMC,
Karachi
IT’S time we reset our foreign policy priorities. The warmth that appeared after the tragic 9/11 event is nothing but a myth with no strategic value. It will evaporate soon after the ‘war against terror’ ends.
Our foreign policy think tanks must concentrate on developing long-term strategic partnership with China, Iran and Russia. All the three in principle oppose the unipolar world and unilateralist approach of the sole custodian of democracy, its values and liberty. We must also improve economic ties with these countries.
We must ensure our economic sovereignty because without this we cannot follow an independent foreign policy in world affairs.
ADNAN YOUNIS LODHI
Rawalpindi
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