| October 3, 2002 | Thursday | Rajab 25, 1423 |
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Curbs on smoking
Jinnah’s viceregal role
Deduction of Zakat by banks
Defence spending
Rulers that suit US
Plea for unity
Beauty of Karachi
Communal massacres
APWA Peshawar
Ownership of land by foreigners
‘Indian music’
Harassment
Strengthening the United Nations
Such requests are usually allowed for mutual benefits. Karachi
WHILE agreeing with the views of Maisoon Hussein (‘Employers cheating the disabled’, Sept 29) that compliance with the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) Ordinance, 1981, by the private and public sector employers is much below satisfactory level, I wish to put across another view in the matter.
In the advanced countries, especially the USA, the gainful employment of persons with disabilities is considered to be a social responsibility and every effort is made to make them as useful and productive in jobs as their fully fit colleagues at workplaces.
Although there is also reluctance amongst employers to employ the disabled, those who are keen to work get employed sooner or later. And, with the help of ‘Assistive Technology’ and some accommodation by the employers, they start delivering as much as their colleagues.
The ‘AT’ includes tools such as large-size monitors for someone with poor vision, speaker-phones for those who cannot pick up or hold a receiver, e-mail for individuals who may not communicate verbally and, similarly, answering machines, voice mail, FM system, hearing-aids, talking calculator, Braille printer, etc.
At the time of interview for employment, an open discussion of concerns by both parties would benefit the company and also make the hiring process easier.
In order to perform the job successfully, the disabled person may request the employer to accommodate him in terms of flexible working schedule or wheel-chair accessibility
etc.
Our employers should also be made to realize and believe that they are not extending favour to anyone by employing a disabled person but meeting a social demand.
Various bodies of employers, having their concerns within the country, can play an effective role in this regard by seeking guidance from the US-based organizations which help employers in integrating the people with disabilities into the workplace and job accommodation networks. They provide such services free of cost.
PARVEZ RAHIM
Karachi
I SHARE the views expressed in the editorial, ‘Curbs on smoking’ (Sept 28), which was written in context of the newly-announced Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-smokers’ Health Ordinance 2002. However, I would like to point out a major flaw in this new ordinance.
In spite of the repeated demands by medical organizations, the ordinance has fallen short of banning tobacco advertising. Scientific research has confirmed that tobacco advertisements have strong influence on children, particularly teenagers.
According to a survey, approximately 1,200 children in Pakistan turn to smoking every day. The advertisements, where the use of tobacco is portrayed as exciting, adventurous, cool and glamorous, are one of the major instigations that an increasing number of youngsters are prone to and these advertisements cause more and more people become addict in Pakistan.
The tobacco companies at present are also free to sponsor TV programmes. Sporting events, musical concerts, quiz shows, drama serials and many other programmes are watched mainly by the teenagers.
Most of the countries in the world, including India and Bangladesh, have completely banned tobacco advertisements on TV. Why can’t Pakistan do the same?
Is the revenue from the tobacco advertisements more important than human lives? According to a recent WHO report, about 500 million people, 50 per cent of them children or teenagers today, will eventually be killed by tobacco.
It’s time that PTV took initiative and gave importance to public health by banning tobacco advertising.
DR JAVAID A. KHAN
Aga Khan University Hospital,
MR Anwer Syed’s letter, ‘Jinnah’s viceregal role’ (Sept 15) carries a contradiction in itself on the constitutional role of Mountbatten in India.
He writes: “He served during his prime minister’s pleasures instead of the other way round. He was content with being his prime minister’s instrument instead of directing him as the constitution (same as that in Pakistan at the time) expected him to do.”
How true and what a tribute! But this much maligned man set true democracy on the right track and it continues its journey without hindrance.
Alas, if only the Quaid-i-Azam had followed that, we would not have had so many army takeovers, nor remained without a Constitution! The entire psyche of the people would have had changed.
DR ABDULLAH JAN PATHAN
Hyderabad
ON the first of Ramazan each year, our banks deduct the so-called Zakat from the savings deposits maintained with them. This practice has been there for quite a long time.
What actually happens is that as the month of Ramazan approaches, most of the bank managers themselves remind their valued customers (those who maintain large deposits) about the Zakat deduction and allow them to withdraw most of the money from their accounts for a couple of days just before the Zakat deduction day.
Thus, the balances of these account holders fall below the Nisab or the limit where Zakat becomes deductible. These managers do not realize that by doing so they are being dishonest in fulfilling their obligations. As a result, the Zakat fund (Baitul Ma’al) is deprived of a big amount of money.
On the other hand, only those account holders have to undergo a Zakat deduction who might have received their salaries only a few days before the first of Ramazan and did not get the time to draw it. This middle income group of our society is, in fact, very often not even liable to pay Zakat.
I request the concerned officials of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the State Bank of Pakistan to revise the existing policy of Zakat deduction by banks and find some other method which might be in accordance with the true Islamic teachings.
MARGHUZ KHAN
Peshawar
DEFENCE spending in Pakistan has not ensured the kind of security that it was supposed to provide. The main reason for this happens to be India’s ability to spend even more due to its much larger economy. Where does that put us then?
With a rapidly rising population, we are spending less and less on education and basic health per person, as compared to other countries having the same size of the economy. The need of the hour is, therefore, to freeze our defence budget and then start reducing it, making more money available for human development. That would certainly put us on the path of progress and prosperity, which would, in turn, translate into real and lasting security.
Fifty years of incremental spending on defence has only resulted in our seeing more and more generals in larger and more expensive cars, living in even bigger houses. On the other hand, the number of those living below the poverty line, has been increasing every year.
Let us keep on decreasing our defence expenditure for the next 20 years and invest the amount thus saved in education and health. I am sure we would find ourselves more secure at the end of that period.
DAANIAL MANSOOR
Karachi
THE United States wants to convert the war against Iraq into one against Saddam Hussein’s autocratic government. But it would be fair to say that Washington has always applied colossal double standards in its claimed fight for a democratic world.
If one makes a list of the biased tolerance or intolerance for autocratic regimes or monarchies one could go on and on. In the ’50s, Washington supported the Egyptian monarch but when Gen Naguib removed him, we heard calls for democracy from the US. There was a similar scenario in Libya, where another monarch was overthrown by Col Qadhafi.
In the ’70s, Washington supported the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, while in Iran it fully backed a Shah. When Ayatollah Khomenie toppled the Shah, there was an outcry from America for the removal of his ‘non-democratic’ rule, although the Ayatollah was brought to power by the masses of Iran, and he covered all the three aspects of a true democracy i.e. ‘of the people, by the people and for the people’.
Coming to more recent examples, one looks at the pressure Washington maintains on countries like Syria, Iran and Iraq for the restoration of democracy while it allows undemocratic governments doing its bidding to go scot-free. Even Saddam Hussein was, for years, fully supported by the United States until his invasion of Kuwait.
TAIMUR T. MALIK
Multan
MUSLIMS today are being threatened the world over. Terrorism indeed is a menace to humanity. However, attributing it to a particular religion, caste or creed is a great offence committed by the US. Terrorism is anathema to Islam. It is a religion of peace and respect for all.
The wave of terrorism across the world is the result of dual and exploitative policies towards the Third World.
The United Nations is in place for settling all conflicts and differences through bilateral and multilateral talks. However, waging a war in the name of ‘war on terror’ can never be an alternative in this nuclear age. Afghanistan has been ravaged, Palestinians are at war and Iraq is preparing to become a victim.
It is time all Islamic countries were united to help avert the hard times threatening their identity, integrity and sovereignty.
SUMERA MUSHTAQ
Lahore
I AM encouraged and amazed that Dr Ilmana Fasih from Saudi Arabia, in her letter, ‘Beauty of Karachi’ (Sept 30) has appreciated the efforts of Karachi Building Control Authority towards initiating a competition to selecting the most beautiful buildings astride Sharea-i-Faisal and M. A. Jinnah Road.
She has suggested that the scope of this competition be extended to other parts of the city.
It is to assure the people that the idea is on the cards to include more prestigious roads of Karachi in the folds of this campaign. We are planning to proceed from phase-I to the subsequent phases to cover most of the roads. The phase-I, which starts this week, will teach me and my organization as to how one should make our future programme more comprehensive and objective so that we continue to be relevant and practical. It is for the information of general public that our inspections envisage landscaping and stress on facade.
We have composed four committees — two each for each of these roads for vintage and size of plots, over which structures are raised — and the chairmen of these committees are Mr Hussain Haroon, Mr Abdus Sattar Afghani, Mr Ardeshir Cowasjee and Mr Babar Ghouri.
Each committee has six very eminent town planners, architects, engineers and members of the KBCA staff.
I seek people’s cooperation and guidance to get this and many other missions accomplished as per the KBCA agenda.
BRIG (R) A. S. NASIR
Chief Controller of Buildings,
Karachi
THE recent cold-blooded murders of worshippers in a temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, and workers in a Christian charity office in Karachi must be condemned strongly.
Whenever innocent members of a society are attacked, it is a time of mourning for humanity. When such a crime is committed in the name of religion, the pain increases tremendously.
Bigotry knows no frontiers and both Pakistan and India have their share of this disease. Appropriate, proportionate and corrective action must be taken without delay in both countries. They should cooperate with each other in tackling this deadly virus which seems to be getting out of control.
Instead of dealing with each other acrimoniously, Pakistan and India should take a hard look inside their borders and establish true democracy with equal rights for minorities, in reality and not just theoretically.
India may claim to be the world’s largest democracy but its commitment to a true democracy will remain unbelievable as long as it continues to treat the people with brutality and discrimination. Pakistan’s officials may refer to written statements describing the country’s commitment to protect minorities but as long as it continues to maintain discriminatory laws, these statements are of no value.
The question is whether the present and future leaders of Pakistan and India will be able to end the deadly status quo and lead their people down the path of friendship, peace and prosperity.
With the nuclear demon dancing obnoxiously in the background, they have no choice but to initiate and persist with their efforts, until they succeed.
SIDDIQUE MALIK
KY, USA
THIS is in reference to the press release appearing in Dawn (Sept 2) issued by Begum Hashmat Anwar.
All Pakistan Women’s Association (national) strongly refutes the press release and stresses the fact that according to the Constitution of the Association, the APWA Peshawar is a branch of the organization.
BEGUM TAZEEN FARIDI
President, APWA
IT has been reported that the government is to amend the 1973 Constitution so as to give a legal right to foreigners and foreign companies to own and cultivate agricultural land.
In fact, the government has already undertaken measures that displace domestic ownership.
The Board of Investment allows the Trans-National Agribusiness Corporations to buy up as much land as they want. Also, the foreign landowners can easily increase their advantage over domestic producers by importing agricultural tools cheaply and easily because the BoI guarantees ”0 per cent customs duty on import of agricultural machinery, equipment and implements.” And following a cabinet meeting on June 19, foreign corporate farming companies can be locally incorporated under the Companies Ordinance, 1984.
Although Pakistan is giving its agricultural lands to foreign hands, Pakistan would hardly benefit from advanced farming methods because foreign companies jealously guard such technology through patent laws. Also, the huge profits made by the foreign owners will not be injected in the local economy because the government has guaranteed “remittance of capital, profits and dividends”.
WASEEM ASLAM
Rochdale, UK
THIS is with reference to Suraiya Hafeez’s letter, ‘Indian music’ (Sept 28). She is against calling the music of the subcontinent ‘Indian’.
Nobody should feel offended by the use of words like Indian music and Indian Ocean, because they have been known as such. The word Indian does not have a limited meaning. Karnatic music from south India, though known by its regional identity, is still Indian. Hindustani music is also Indian but known by the place where it was nurtured.
Similarly if music in Pakistan is sought to be regarded as Pakistani music, nobody should object to it. Remember the Pakistani artiste, Adnan Sami, is a craze here. The late Nusrat Ali Khan is no less. Ghulam Ali I thought was Indian till I was told he is not. There is a big list of performers whom we consider as ours (Indian) than Pakistanis.
Music is universal and knows no boundaries like air and water. Let’s not bring politics into music.
VIJAY VEERLA
Ahmedabad, India
A meaningless road checking has been going on for months which is nothing but harassment. This is not the way to ensure security.
AHMAREEN JAUHAR
Karachi
THERE is a regional adage which says that whereas one can wake up someone asleep how can one awaken someone who is already awake?
This unfortunately is the situation surrounding the postures adopted by the ‘Big Five’ of the United Nations in regard to the Iraq crisis. No one can deny that they are aware of the gravity of the consequences which would shake the whole world if hostilities break out.
Indeed if a military confrontation does take place its nature and scope would make the tragedy of 9/11 look like a morsel against a feast of horror.
Therefore, it is vital that world opinion must mobilize itself and insist on the five permanent members of the UN Security Council that they give up their own hidden agendas in an honest problem-solving way and hammer out a concerted UN-moored — for make no mistake that the 21st century will never be free of fear without it, strategy in approach and action, even if it requires round-the-clock deliberations.
Unless this is done, they will have yet again failed in fulfilling their world role of guardians of peace and fallen foul of the pledge they gave when framing the UN
Charter.
A portion of this pledge is so tellingly enshrined in the preamble of the charter and needs to be re-read as was done by Jack Straw, the British Foreign Secretary, with animated flair at the Labour Party conference at Blackpool on Sept 30, though noticeably with some contrition born of long-standing guilt. This portion of the preamble reads:
“... to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom....”
M. J. AS’AD
Karachi
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