| October 19, 2002 | Saturday | Sha'aban 12, 1423 |
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Pakistanis in US
PTCL shuts voice chat channel
Age limit for class IX exam
Let them face the music
Pakistan flag
British visa
What a start!
Public libraries
Electorate’s rights
Resignation is due
Petroleum price hike
Importance of Indus delta
Let us admit it: General Musharraf has triumphed. God is giving him victory after victory.
As a citizen, I have admired as well as criticized him. He was superb in handling foreign policy. His decision to align Pakistan with the US after 9/11 was based on common sense. It did not require a genius to realize that we had no options, and that joining the US-led world coalition was the only option for Pakistan.
His referendum was a fraud. It was not needed. I also opposed the arbitrary amendments he carried out in the Constitution. I deplore even more his persecution of the PPP. While I can understand his attitude towards the Sharif family, I am appalled at his enmity toward the People’s Party, which I think is the only truly national party. His decision to keep Benazir Bhutto out of the general election has not served the cause of democracy or of Pakistan.
Nevertheless, he has triumphed. Many thought he would postpone elections like Ziaul Haq for a decade or thoroughly manipulate them. He has done neither. While his administration undeniably helped the Muslim League (Q), the election on the whole has been fair. That is why some of his most severe critics and parties have won the election. Even the PPP itself has emerged as the second biggest party. Besides, he got what he wanted — a hung parliament.
Musharraf has also succeeded in getting America to resume military supplies. This by any standards is an achievement. What also surprised the world and the nation was that he kept the press completely free. This undeniably helped him in his public relationing with the western democracies.
His latest triumph is the withdrawal of Indian troops from our border. Frankly, India has made a donkey of itself. What has New Delhi achieved by keeping those troops for ten months on Pakistan’s border?
Has India achieved any of its objectives? Has “cross-border terrorism” stopped? Has India “taught” Pakistan a lesson? India has achieved none of its objectives.
It is Musharraf who has triumphed. The Indians are now pulling back without having achieved anything. This is India’s political defeat and a humiliating retreat. One hopes India will not take it out on its Muslim minority by ordering a new Gujarat-like massacre.
I appeal to the general not to prolong his rule. He should rest content with what he has achieved. Now let the civilians do their job. He should sit quietly in the president’s chair and let the politicians run the country.
JAMAL AFRIDI
Quetta
THIS is with reference to a letter from Mr Rizwan Yasin entitled, “Pakistanis in US” (Oct 16). I want to ask him, what an ordinary man in this country, suffering from poverty and other afflictions, gets if a Pakistani in the US is working on the moon project or owns a restaurant and lives in luxurious mansions?
When these people become affluent in other countries, they never care to do anything for their people. I have never heard of any scholarships awarded to local students by rich Pakistanis living abroad.
This poor country is facing a host of problems and the high rate of unemployment is one of these. If the Pakistani capitalists living in the US invest their money to set up industries in this country, that would create jobs for our youth. And only then the ordinary Pakistani would feel really happy on the prosperity of his former countrymen in the US.
SAMAR HUSSAIN QADRI
Karachi
Though Mr Rizwan Yasin has taken pride in the positions held by many Pakistanis in the US and their high living standards, he has not responded properly to Dr. Shahab Javid who had criticized the habit of many overseas Pakistanis of giving advice to Pakistan (Oct 13).
I am presently living in the US myself yet I do agree with Dr. Javid that my complaining about conditions in Pakistan would be far less useful than my returning to Pakistan and doing something about those conditions.
It must be annoying for dedicated Pakistanis living in the homeland to receive persistent complaints and advice from those who have deserted their homeland.
I take this opportunity to commend the recent efforts made to restrict smoking venues, and to stop advertising and sales of cigarettes to minors in Pakistan. It is indeed a very refreshing news.
DR MOHSIN ALI
Syracuse USA
THIS refers to the letter by Dr Shahab Javid (Oct 13). A writer should ascertain the facts before writing something for publication.
I am an undergraduate student in Atlanta while my sister has graduated this year from a prestigious university and is working for the largest paper manufacturing firm in North America. We have friends here who earn in excess of Rs300,000 a month, being programmers, managers, engineers, etc.
The writer should know that Pakistanis don’t come to the States only to become cab drivers and laundromat owners.
SHAMYL M.
Atlanta, US
I sensed some frustration and a bit of jealousy in Dr Javid’s letter. I have been living in the USA for the last 28 years and have been rewarded professionally and financially for my hard work. During these years, I have visited my homeland several times. I have also thought about moving back to Pakistan but every visit made me change my mind and I will tell you briefly why.
While living in the US, I never had to take or offer bribes. But whenever I visited Pakistan, I was compelled to offer a bribe for getting done what was legal and rightful. I had to beg taxi drivers to take me to the places I wanted to go rather than going in the direction they wanted to take, and on top of that, had to pay over and above the just fair.
I never heard “Thank you” from any person I had to do business with, in the normal routine. I expected simple, basic human decency but, on many occasions, I was disappointed. These are some of the very common experiences I have had on my visits. If the dear doctor can help me find the days of the early 1970s, I will come back in a jiffy and I am sure a lot of my friends would follow.
M. NASEEM BATLA
San Antonio, US
AS a technology entrepreneur living in the US, I was saddened to read the Oct 15 story entitled “PTCL shuts voice chat channel”.
While I don’t know the motivation behind PTCL’s action, if they think that the widespread use of Internet telephony is cutting into their revenues, then the solution they have taken to address the problem is, in my view, myopic.
The reality is that the voice-over IP or Internet telephony, including chat channels, has brought forward a number of innovations in the industry and hundreds of new companies have recently sprung up to offer products and services in this area. For example, a friend of mine has recently set up a call centre in Pakistan which employs many people and uses the Internet technologies to communicate with offices in the United States. I also know of several other Pakistani companies that make hardware and software that cater to these technologies.
For the most part, people use chat channels not at the expense of phone calls but in addition to them. PTCL’s concerns on reduction on the revenue side is far outweighed by advantages in other areas where this technology benefits the country.
I urge the PTCL not to take such shortsighted steps. The telephone companies all over the world have to come to terms with the effects of Internet technologies on their businesses. To address the same problem, they are now offering enhanced services to their customers to compete with inexpensive Internet communications. The PTCL should do the same. As they say, you can’t eliminate the problem of street crimes by eliminating the street itself.
SOHAIL SHAFI
Chicago, USA
The Board of Secondary Education has announced that the students who are less than 14 years of age and who intend to appear at Class 1X examination are not being considered for the Board examination this year. This seems ironical as in similar cases, such students were allowed to appear at the examination in previous years.
About 180,000 candidates will be affected by this decision. The students and their parents are running to schools and the Board office for relaxation in the age limit. This was a common practice in the past and exemption was regularly given to the students having an age difference of a few months.
Now that less than two weeks’ time is left for the submission of the examination forms, the school administrations have informed us that the admission forms of such candidates are not being forwarded to the Board. This would result in a colossal loss of precious time besides increasing the cost of education.
The Board maintains that the decision to this effect has been taken by the government and being a policy matter instructions for any change should come from the competent authorities.
To remedy the situation the Board may consider these two options: 1) The age limit of the students appearing for Class 1X examination be fixed at 13 years on a permanent basis and 2) this year relaxation in age up to one year be given. Along with it, the school authorities be advised to inform the parents at the very beginning of the new admissions about the age limit which should be fixed at 13 years for this purpose.
MRS SHAHEENA TANVIR
Karachi
IT appears that the chairperson of Pakistan People’s Party is thinking of striking a deal with the military rulers in forming governments in the center and in Sindh. In my opinion, this will be another political blunder in Ms Bhutto’s political career.
The post-poll scenario clearly shows that in the NWFP and Balochistan, the pro-Taliban MMA is to form the government. If the PPP forms the central government, it would face a confrontation with the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal provincial governments. Taking advantage of this, the General might dissolve the assemblies.
As a well-wisher of the Bhutto family and the PPP, it is my request to the chairperson not to form the government in the center and let the King’s Party itself face the music.
NAIMAT ULLAH KHAN
Dera Ismail Khan
THIS refers to Mr H. U. Hasnain’s letter “Pakistan flag” (Oct 14).
If one recollects, immediately after independence the waning phase of the moon got embossed on coins and printed on currency notes, postage stamps and other state stationery, etc. The error was, however, rectified soon and the shape of the moon was corrected to that of waxing phase on every logo of State and private organizations.
The matter of flag, however, is entirely different, since when it is fluttering on the mast it presents both sides of the moon and there is nothing wrong in it. But when printed or embossed on a flat surface, the side of flag has to be exhibited that carries the rising moon. Moreover, when shown along with another flag, the Pakistan flag has to be on the right shoulder of the other flag on a building, paper, cloth, photo, etc. This essential protocol has been forgotten.
Unfortunately somehow a complacency has taken over our psyche and no one seems to notice serious errors. At present, almost every agency that uses the crescent on its logo or advertisement or for any other purpose, adopts the wrong shape of the moon. Even on the government stationery waning moon has started appearing simply because we don’t care.
DR SAYEDAIN JAFFERY
Karachi
SOME candidates, who secured admission to British universities after passing the A-level examinations, have been refused visa by the British High Commission.
As these candidates did not apply for admission to the local universities, they are going to lose one precious year, for the admissions have already been closed. I urge the education minister to ask the local universities to accommodate them as a special case.
PROF. A. H. HAQUANI
Karachi
THIS refers to a news report “MPs-elect pressurizing businessmen” (Oct 16), stating that businessmen have started receiving pressures from the elected legislators to give employment to and accommodate their recommended persons in their business concerns.
Although, they have not even taken their seats yet, they have started indulging in nepotism. What a start!
RAFI AHMED
Karachi
IT is a well-know fact that libraries play an important role in building up a nation by way of its contribution towards education and acquisition of knowledge.
Unfortunately, this facility is not available in Karachi on a sufficiently large scale.
I hope that the city government would take an appropriate action in this regard.
SHAMIM AHMAD
Karachi
DURING the run-up to the recently-held election, we were incessantly exhorted to exercise our right to vote.
Now that the election is over, hopefully the legislators will honour the mandate and take concrete steps to ensure that:
— each citizen’s right to free speech is guaranteed;
— each citizen has access to affordable quality health and educational facilities;
— each citizen is provided with an opportunity to acquire gainful employment (on merit);
— each citizen’s right to be able to live in a peaceful environment, free from external or internal threats, is safeguarded;
— each citizen’s access to cheap and expeditious justice is made easy, uncomplicated, and devoid of any hassles.
If these rights are not provided to the electorate sooner than later, I will be honest in concluding that we have again gone through an unnecessary and futile exercise.
S. MAZHAR ABBAS
Rawalpindi
IN view of the humiliating defeat of the Pakistani hockey team recently at the hands of Malaysia, I urge the chairman of the Pakistan Hockey Federation to resign. He should follow the example of the PCB chairman who, too, has resigned following the cricket team’s pathetic performance in a number of plays.
It is time we realized that managing sports bodies is not the domain of the military personnel, whose job is to defend the country’s borders.
It is quite understandable why captain Waqar Yunus and coach Richard Pybus have been speaking up for the PCB chairman. With the chairman gone, careers of both of them seem to be in jeopardy, specially of Pybus who has been making money for nothing.
KASHIF USMAN
Karachi
The Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC) once again increased the ex-depot sale price of petroleum product, on Oct 15. This time the price hike has been enormous. These arbitrary increases in the prices of petroleum product have become a favourite and convenient tool in the hands of the government to generate additional revenue.
The common man is already hard pressed and unable to meet his essential needs. These increases would have a sharp effect on the price index and the common man would suffer the most. For example, the increase in the price of diesel would make the fares of public transport go up. This would also raise the prices of kitchen items of the common man as these are transported from far away areas to the cities and towns.
Could someone advise the government to introduce honest petroleum prices with no surcharges?
DR ALFRED CHARLES
Karachi
THIS refers to the news item “Water shortage looms” (Sept 23) which quotes a hydrologist working with the World Bank as saying: “One must not forget that around 2.2maf of water has already gone waste to sea due to silting up of dams and our failure to build new dams”.
It really surprises me that ‘an expert’, who is a hydrologist too and, is working for an international financial institution such as the World Bank, lacks awareness pertaining to the importance of river-flow into the sea and considers it a mere ‘waste’.
The river water flowing downstream of Kotri Barrage to the sea has the vitality to sustain the life of Indus delta which is not a small area but is a vast region spread in 5,000 square kilometres (see ‘Indus Delta in Retrospect’ by Commander (Retd) Syed Mazahar Husain of Pakistan Navy) with more than a million human population, many millions of livestock, the seventh biggest mangrove forest of the world flourishing in it, about 150 islands with great potential of tourism, and fish product worth billions of rupees per annum.
The Sindh coast, though only 338 kilometres out of the total 1,100 kilometres of Pakistan coast, contributes 83 per cent to the coastal economy. It is mostly because of the flow of Indus into the sea.
Pakistan earns valuable foreign exchange from export of fish produced from the Indus delta. In 1998, Pakistan exported 79,000 metric tons of marine fish and earned Rs6.17 billion. Most of the fishes breed in the brackish water of Indus delta created by a mix of fresh sweet water of the Indus and the brine. The mangroves of Indus delta happen to be the hatchery of the fishes, particularly shrimp.
And to maintain the mangroves, at least 27maf of river water is required to flow downstream Kotri barrage to the sea, as per survey of the IUCN. While the 1991 water accord provided for 10maf of water for the sea, the official figure of Sindh government pertaining to the river flow downstream Kotri barrage in the year 2000 was only 0.725maf. It is besides the fact that prior to 1830, when the Punjab first time started developing its agriculture, the lower riparian Sindh used to get 150maf of water in the Indus delta. Today, such quantum of water is not available in the whole of the Indus river system.
The area of the Indus delta now shrinking drastically (due to diminishing flow of river water from 181 billion to 25 billion cubic meters even during floods) used to get enhanced in every flood season because of unprecedented flow of river water into the sea.
“Some people claim that 35 per cent of water is lost to the sea during flood season. This figure is misleading according to IUCN, only 20maf of water actually reaches the mangrove forest. The rest is evaporated or percolated,” says Mr Mushtaq Mirani, an expert on the subject.
ANWER PIRZADO
Karachi
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