| November 13, 2002 | Wednesday | Ramazan 7, 1423 |
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Unleashing students’ creativity
Away from or near democracy?
Leather industry in crisis
Urdu university
The need of the hour
If not yours, it was your father’s fault
Profiteering in Ramazan
Our Egyptian friends
Lifestyle of our politicians
PTCL’s clarification
Choosing a CM for Sindh
End of stand-off: Indian view
THE article, “Dealing with banks’ non-performing loans” (Oct 21-23), by Mr Ishrat Husain, governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, was indeed informative and illuminating.
He has shown his dissatisfaction with the declining trend of the non-performing loans (NPLs), for which a multi-pronged approach has been adopted. One such measure is to revive those sick units which have been found to be financially and economically viable. But except for a passing reference, this aspect was, unfortunately, not fully elaborated. I, therefore, want to dwell upon it briefly.
Though the setting up of a committee for the revival of sick industrial units (CRSIU) in respect of NPLs was a good step, the committee seems to be more interested in the recovery of defaulted loans rather than the rehabilitation and the revival of the sick industrial units.
In spite of a number of guidelines prescribed by the government under Notification No. F-6 (13) BKG (R&B)/2000-230 dated 3.5.2000, the members of the committee did not undertake in-depth studies of the sick units, nor did they make sincere efforts to revive and make viable such units, although this would have been helpful in the revival of the national economy.
On the contrary, it has been observed in many cases that the committee first tried to sell the assets of the sick units and, if that was not feasible, got suits for recovery with highly inflated claims and sale of the mortgaged/charged properties, filed in banking courts against the sick units and their directors. Since the committee is able to obtain orders from the court in their favour, a number of such units have been closed prematurely, rendering the employees jobless and depriving the government exchequer of millions of rupees by way of customs duty and taxes.
Even if the loans are rescheduled, the problems of the sick units are not over because the banks include very harsh conditions in the agreement. Moreover, the amounts claimed by banks are, in most cases, highly inflated but the decrees are always issued for the full amount claimed.
With this callous attitude of the banks the sick units, I am afraid, would never be able to get revived and stand on heir feet.
SYED IQBAL AHMED
Karachi
THE federal minister for science and technology and education, Prof Atta-ur-Rahman, in an interview (Oct 20) has pointed out a key factor vital for the progress of a nation — unleashing the creativity of students by encouraging them to question what they are taught, as opposed to blindly accepting everything.
This reminds me of a verse from Allama Iqbal’s famous poem, Saqi Nama, “Khirad ki ghulami se azad kar; jawanon ko piron ka ustad kar.”
I frequently quote this verse in my class. Once a student asked, “Does it mean that students should start teaching their teachers?” Certainly it does not mean that I told the student and added: it actually means that you should become independent in your quest of knowledge and be able to perform better than us in due course of time. This is the only way a nation can progress. Do not keep moving in circles. I would not be at all happy if some years later you come to me saying that you still know less than I do and still need my guidance.
The ability and courage to question the validity of long-accepted ideas form the essence of a scientific attitude, be it about natural sciences or social sciences. Unfortunately, this is not so in our society and that is why we are lagging behind in science and technology.
I remember, twenty years back as a young researcher, I wanted to present a hypothesis on the reproductive behaviour of acacia family. My supervisor disagreed, saying that no one would accept it. Just a few months later, I came across a research paper in which some Australian scientists, also working on acacia family, had come up with the same hypothesis. I showed this paper to my supervisor, who expressed his helplessness by saying that “now they have got it published.”
One experience being enough, I later got published another hypothesis on my own without discussing with him. I also remember how some years back I had to fight tooth and nail for bringing in new courses on biodiversity and evolution.
Dr SURAYYA KHATOON
Karachi
OVER a month has gone by since the general election was held, but leading political parties have failed to hold the first session of the National Assembly, leaving the electorate bewildered.
People are wondering why the government has postponed the first session of the National Assembly simply on the request of some ‘friendly politicians’. Judging the matter on merit, one cannot fail to take notice of the vested interests of the establishment in the formation of a new government.
Although it is the so-called king’s party that seems to have had the first NA session postponed after it failed to woo either of the two other leading political parties, namely the PPP and the MMA, it claims that it has managed the required number of seats to be able to form a new government at the Centre.
By putting off the first session, the PML-Q and the establishment have succeeded in buying more time for politicking to form a government of their own choice.
This is very deplorable. People now realize that it is the establishment that decides matters in Pakistan. This realization that their votes do not form governments will disappoint them and will erode their interest in the political process of the country. If we see fewer people casting their votes in future elections, we should not be surprised at all.
What is even more deplorable is the fact that our politicians are once again more than ready to dance to the tune of the establishment.
The People’s Party Parliamentarians, which has won 81 NA seats, is busy striking a deal with the military government. Does such an attitude serve the cause of democracy, the slogan that PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto often chants in her speeches and statements?
Saner elements can easily reach a conclusion; we are in no way near ‘real democracy’ which is often promised to us by both politicians and the military rulers.
AMANAT ALI CHAUDHRY
Okara
It was highly frustrating to read a news item in Dawn (Oct 17) stating that leather garment exports have declined by 29 per cent over the last 12 months and that 20,000 people have lost their jobs due to a massive shutdown in this industry.
However, the reason for this extremely alarming situation was not difficult to find. Without any prior notification, the KESC had increased its fixed load charges, applicable to industries, from Rs.200 per unit to Rs.300 per unit, an increase of 50 per cent. No matter how many excuses the government might make to support such incredible price hikes, these rising costs are actually destroying the leather garment industry which is already going through its worst days ever.
A large number of leather garment factories have closed down while others are producing much below their normal capacity. I am afraid the government fails to recognize that massive unemployment has already been triggered due to our industrial decline and in such a precarious situation any preposterous increases in costs of production cannot be sustained by the industry. This would ultimately lead to an industrial collapse which means more unemployment and poverty.
The government can surely boast of increases in revenue collection. But if industries continue to close down, how long can this increase be sustained? Even our seven billion dollars’ foreign exchange reserves, of which the government frequently speaks boastfully, cannot help us in fighting unemployment and poverty.
I hope that the present and the future governments do realize that instead of harassing the industrialists, they should help them because that is the only way to have economic growth and eliminate the menace of unemployment and poverty.
REHAN SALMAN
Karachi
PROF (Dr) Tariq Rehman’s article, “The Urdu University” (Oct 13), brings the issue under the spotlight.
I cannot understand why an Urdu university should be established. I and my friends discussed the matter but could not figure out why an Urdu university should be opened when all universities in Pakistan already have the department of Urdu as the highest seat of learning.
All universities, particularly in Sindh, have been facing shortage of funds, an important factor that has affected the quality of higher education to a great extent.
How can the government, in such pathetic financial conditions, think of opening a new university for teaching a language, which with no market value will certainly fail to attract our youth? And how many people will send their daughters and sons to learn Urdu in such a university? I believe a very few people will be ready for such an adventure because most people know that a graduate from a Urdu university will fail to get a good job. Really, It will be a wastage of time and resources.
I appeal to the government to open English language centres throughout the country, specially in rural areas, so that graduates could get jobs in both the local and international markets where people who are good at it are given preference.
ABDUL GHANI N. SOOMRO
Shikarpur
IN THE present depressing scenario, we should cherish the memory of the days when Omar Khayyam dominated the cultural scene and Ghalib presented the outlook of a happy pattern of living. Some prophets of doom are always present in society all times but there are also others who discard pessimism and look for bright aspects of life.
Most people have become lonely these days. There are various reasons for this unhappy development. Family ties have become fragile and do not have the strength of attachment. Out of sheer desperation, people look for healthy digression.
Society must provide for such people who starve for healthy entertainment. Libraries, reading rooms and social clubs should be set up in all residential localities for the benefit of the lonely souls. This is the need of the hour.
M. W. Z. ADENI
Karachi
THE news that the United States is threatening to invade Iraq on the pretext that Iraq has either already produced weapons of mass destruction or is about to produce such weapons is hitting headlines the world over and reminds me of a story which I read in my school days.
Once upon a time a lion was drinking water from a stream in a jungle. A little lamb also came and started drinking water at a downstream level. When the lion saw the lamb, he thought of a plan and to justify his aim, he roared at the young sheep and said: “You have dirtied the water I was drinking and, therefore, I will kill you.” The young lamb got surprised at the judgment of the lion, and said, “Sir, I am drinking water at a distance and that, too, at a downstream level. How could have I dirtied the water?”
“Well, if it was not you, it must have been your father,” saying that the lion jumped at the lamb and, to gratify the lust for his hunger, he ate it.
The moral of the story is: do not argue with someone who is bigger, just stay clear because “na inki dosty aachi na inki dushmani aachi.”
PROF (DR) ASLAM PIRACHA
Islamabad
SINCE the holy month of Ramazan began, fruit rates have been rising continuously in Karachi. Fruit sellers are charging consumers up to 100 per cent more than the fixed rates. The same is the case in all major cities and towns of Pakistan.
People, who are already overburdened because of price hikes, can now hardly afford any fruits, which are largely eaten in Ramazan to make up for the loss of energy during the day.
It is very unfortunate that the Karachi city government has not kept its promise that it would check profiteering during Ramazan.
One wonders whether fruit sellers have any regard for the law and for the holy month of Ramazan. They seem to have totally forgotten what the teachings of Islam really are. It seems the most sacred thing in their lives is profit, which deprives them of the virtue of honesty.
I request the city Nazim to immediately take action against these profiteers.
SYED ALI JOHN
Karachi
I read with sadness the article, ‘Citizen of Pakistan’, by Ardeshir Cowasjee (Nov 10), concerning the treatment meted out by the Egyptian authorities to three citizens of Pakistan (including a lady in a wheel-chair) in transit via Cairo. Does the Egyptian embassy in Islamabad have anything to say about this?
I would have thought that being the second highest US aid recipient in the Middle East, after Israel, the Egyptian authorities would have the means to control the Al Qaeda element in their own country, rather than ‘exporting’ them to Afghanistan, Pakistan and other countries.
FARID QURESHI
Singapore
I recently watched a programme on a private TV channel, on the personal lives of the politicians of Pakistan. These politicians belonged to different political parties.
I was extremely saddened and depressed at what I have seen. These persons, who claim to represent the poor, live in big cities in palatial houses. They enjoy all the comforts and luxuries of life. I wonder how individuals, whose lives are so removed from the lives of common man, can do any good unto the masses.
I am also saddened by the likelihood that Pakistan would always be ruled by the richest people in the country. Take any politician from any political party— from the political right, centre or left—- and one would find him to be rolling in riches with landed property and bank accounts not only within the country but also abroad.
I ask, why should it be they who should be leading the nation? What is common between them and the masses? I pray that some day God gives us leaders who live like us.
OSAMA LONE
Lahore
This is with reference to a news item which appeared in a section of the press regarding the failure of the ZTE system to run the Internet smoothly.
A thorough check-up has been carried out by the PTCL and no such fault has been found in the system. Such faults mostly occur in the system of the Internet user and not in the PTCL system, which is operating throughout the country in a smooth way.
The news item did not mention the exact location where the customers were facing a problem. In any case, our valued subscribers are advised to contact the concerned divisional engineer or other related PTCL staff in case of any problem, so that a fault related with the PTCL might be removed at the earliest.
DEPUTY MANAGER, MEDIA,
Northern Telecom Region
Peshawar
THIS has reference to Abdul Khalique Junejo’s letter, ‘Choosing a CM for Sindh’ (Nov 8).
He has stated that any American, who is a US citizen by birth, can be elected president of the United States. This is true but this rule is not applicable to any other political office.
In the US, a person can change his residence from one county to the other and from one state to another very easily. And if he/she declares his/her permanent residence in a particular city, county or state, and becomes a registered voter (which takes only a telephone call) of that district, he/she can run for any elective political office, including the state governorship, county commissioner and county judgeship.
ZAKI MALIK
Rowlett, USA
Muhammad Ali Siddiqi, in his article, “End of stand-off: a balance sheet” (Nov 11), attempts to give a self-contradictory analysis and fails to articulate the losses to Pakistan. Let us see the contradictions first.
Paragraphs one and two: “Who won in the end? The obvious answer is: neither.” Last paragraph: “This is Pakistan’s major and indisputable gain. India has gained nothing.” Which paragraph to believe?
Paragraph 3: “...for Islamabad did not initiate the ten-month- long military stand-off...” and para 7, “every call from... Secretary of State Colin Powell to India to show restraint was coupled with a mild rebuke for Pakistan ‘to do more’ to rein in Islamic militants.” What to believe? If Pakistan did not start the conflict, why did Colin Powell want Pakistan “to do more”?
Para 16: “Now with India placed infinitely better economically and militarily...” and para 17, “ultimately it was Pakistan’s conventional defence set-up...” What to believe? India is better militarily as said in para 16 or Pakistan is better or same as India as per paragraph 17?
Now let us see what Mr Siddiqi did not tell readers:
1. Musharraf on Jan 12 said that from that day onwards Pakistan would not promote cross-border terrorism.
2. Musharraf had to ban Lashkar-i-Taiba and Jaish-i-Muhammad and arrest the leaders.
3. Obviously, the MMM was upset with 1 and 2 and so they could come back to power. The MMA in power will definitely project an altered image of Pakistan.
4. Musharraf told Armitage that the end to the cross-border terrorism was permanent. The objective of deployment was to make Musharraf tell the world that “we will stop CBT”, which anyone will interpret as, “Yes, we were supporting CBT but now will stop it” and this is India’s biggest gain. Without winning war, India achieved what a war could achieve. What India would have forced Musharraf to say after the war Musharraf said before the war. That doesn’t mean Pakistan has lost. I think both India and Pakistan have gained from the deployment. It was a good excuse for Musharraf to confess their deeds and act against the Lashkar and the Jaish, which otherwise would not have been possible.
RAKESH SHAH
(via email)
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