| December 21, 2002 | Saturday | Shawwal 16, 1423 |
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Traffic culture in Karachi
Garbage burning in cities
Menace of ‘honour’ killings
Cricket: game of uncertainty
Kalabagh Dam: the only option
Pakistani passport
Judges’ remuneration
Stamp duty on sub-lease
A weapon of mass destruction
Why this Pakistan bashing?
THIS refers to the news item, ‘Rs80 billion loss in Ghazi Barotha Project’ (Dec 10), and the editorial, ‘Ghazi Barotha delay’ (Dec 12).
The original estimated cost of the project, consisting of three large segments — a barrage on the Indus River, a concrete lined power channel and a power complex (not power station alone), was $2,250 million, according to the World Bank 195 report.
The cost approved for PC-I of the project in 1994 was $2,848 million, with foreign exchange component of $1,629.85 million. The equivalent cost in rupee at the then exchange rate was 89.84 billion. So far, Rs75 billion has been spent and 90 per cent work has been completed. Thus, the figure showing a loss of Rs80 billion, as alleged in the audit report and referred to by the news item, is wrong.
The barrage and the power channel were to be completed in 51 months and a period of 64 months was set for completing the power complex project. These works were to commence simultaneously. However, water is required for the first unit which makes completion of the barrage and the power channel by that time mandatory.
Work on the barrage and the power channel commenced in December 1995, but work on the power complex could not begin till February 1997 due to a lengthy procedure of finalizing loan agreements, and donors’ insistence that the financial arrangements must be finalized before awarding the contract.
This alone delayed completion of the project by 14 months to June 2002. Initial delays occurred mainly owing to purchase of land required for the project and the changes made by the government in the imports’ regulations.
After the 9\11 incidents, all contractors, except the Chinese contractor, left the site. This caused further delays. Now the first unit is expected to be commissioned in May 2003 and all efforts are being made to adhere to this schedule.
Despite these setbacks, Wapda has managed to contain the overall cost of the project within the original estimate. Moreover, non-construction of Kalabagh Dam is costing the country a loss worth millions of dollars every day.
Liquidated damages (not late delivery charges) cannot be levied when there are numerous outstanding claims for extension of time. Similarly, non-recovery of interest on the revolving fund allegedly amounting to Rs528.309 million is illusory.
All inventories, where required, have been maintained. Inventories of items to be handed over by the contractors will be prepared by Wapda with the assistance of project consultants at the time of hand-over by the contractors in accordance with the contract provisions. This has already been done satisfactorily for the barrage contract.
KHALID AHMAD
Public Relations Officer, Wapda, Lahore
THIS refers to A. B. S. Jafri’s article, ‘About Karachi’s traffic culture’ (Dec 16).
The population of Karachi is 14 million and not 140 million, as written twice in the article in the eighth and last paragraphs.
There is no denying the fact that Karachi’s traffic is not up to the mark but if you think railway is the only solution, you do not have the right solution.
Karachi is still a city where the traffic problem is more of management and governance. Spending millions of dollars on Karachi Circular Railway is also a solution but the question is, do you have the required funding? If the answer is no, lets start with what we have.
I request the DIG (T&H) to implement the following steps so that the ‘chaotic traffic culture’ changes:
(i) Empower your officer so that they can challan everybody without fear of being reprimanded.
(ii) Do not entertain calls from VIPs to forgive the defaulters.
(iv) The challan money (Rs10-12 million per month) must be spent as per the government notification, i.e. 15 per cent to the police on roads, 15 per cent on the upkeep of the equipment whereas the balance, 70 per cent, should go to the exchequer.
(v) Laws regarding red light, zebra crossing and bus-stands should be strictly implemented on all roads throughout the city.
Just these steps would create room for the new buses on the roads and sanity would prevail.
JAMEEL HUSSAIN
Karachi
THE practice of burning garbage by roadsides and at dumps in residential areas in Karachi is on the rise. Sanitary workers often burn garbage for their convenience instead of dumping it away from the city. There seems to be no effective agency for controlling and regulating safe garbage disposal in the city.
In many localities, garbage is not removed from dumps and roadside cans for weeks. Thus, it gets spread, making the environment unhealthy.
Household garbage usually contains synthetics, plastic and metal goods and packaging that release potent chemicals, poisonous fumes, when burnt. Even common paper products contain harmful chemical dyes, coatings, pigments and chlorine.
Garbage burning not only poses serious health hazards, it may also cause a fire. Smoke inhalation may cause irritation and asthmatic attacks, and increases long-term health risks for those suffering from respiratory problems.
In a civilized society, garbage burning is an offence and permitted only under very strict control and supervision. Under no circumstances, garbage burning is allowed near residential areas and parks.
Recently, I went for a walk to the Aga Khan Gymkhana Park in Garden East, but I could not do so owing to poisonous smoke billowing out of a garbage bin adjacent to the boundary wall of the park.
I am sure residents of nearby areas must be suffering from this air pollution on regular basis. The worst affected are those living in buildings, particularly women, children and elderly people. The same problem can be seen in almost all localities of the city.
The question is, when shall we learn not to burn? Burning of garbage must be discouraged and stopped by the authorities concerned. I hope someone at the helm of the affairs will stop this hazardous practice.
MANSOOR ALI LALANI
Karachi
ACCORDING to a news report in the Wall Street Journal on Dec 11, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has found that 461 women were reported killed in the name of ‘honour’ in Sindh and Punjab in 2002. As no data was available about both Balochistan and the NWFP, the actual number of those killed this way is probably considerably higher.
There should be no cultural acceptability for this crime. Courts must take such murderers seriously and punish them accordingly. Unless this is done, this disgraceful practice is not likely to come to an end.
According to the WSJ report, this sick custom of killing women as a punishment for alleged immoral behaviour has become a part of Pakistan’s culture.
The fact is that “honour” killings began to rise only after the Hudood Ordinances were adopted and the state sanctioned the capital punishment for adultery and fornication even practically without any proof. This extremist legal culture developed under a military dictator is directly responsible for making murders in the name of “honour” acceptable in our society.
I would suggest that the Hudood Ordinances be repealed immediately. Pakistan which is aspiring to join the modern and civilized world must roll back the agenda of Talibanization before it is too late.
SALMAN FARSI
Beverly Hills, USA
THIS refers to Nizam A. Khan’s letter, ‘LBW decisions’ (Dec 16). I agree with him that LBW decisions affect the game of cricket negatively.
However, I do not think that lines should be drawn on the pitch, as advised by Mr Khan, to enable umpires to make better decisions. I am of the view that bad decisions are part and parcel of cricket.
It is a game in which balance is restored as both bowlers and batsmen get lucky and unlucky decisions sometimes. The glorious uncertainty that surrounds this game like a halo is what makes it so enjoyable for players and spectators alike.
Besides, I do not feel that we need lines on the pitch to help bowlers improve their line and length and batsmen to defend their wicket in a better way. Bowlers and batsmen have to work very hard to perfect their skills. That is why I do not believe they need or should have any outside help to give a better performance.
However, cricket needs improvement. I believe umpires should clamp down more firmly on the rampant “sledging” that is taking place on a regular basis now. Cricket has always been considered a ‘gentleman’s game’. We must not let some frustrated players spoil the game.
I think South Africans have taken the lead in creating this impression. There was a time when Australian players were masters of this vocation, but I think that they have sobered and South Africans have gone from strength to strength.
I am not suggesting abolition of sledging, as I believe it can be carried out, to some extent, to pressurize a batsman into playing a false shot. What I am proposing is that umpires regulate this tactic so that it does not overshadow the game.
NABIL HOODBHOY
Karachi
THE water scarcity problem in Pakistan looms ever larger with each passing day while successive rulers, both civil and military, have gloated over the issue forgetting that almost 90 per cent of our agriculture depends on irrigation.
The issue of building a viable reservoir on the Indus river has been made a victim of political expediency by myopic politicians without any technical or engineering acumen.
Eminent engineers and the print media have been crying hoarse over the impending disaster for a decade or so if a multipurpose dam is not built on the Indus. With the latest reports that Tarbela and Mangla which have already lost a quarter of their capacity are going to reach their dead levels sooner than normal, one ought to lament our complacent attitude on the water issue.
The government of Mir Zafarullah Jamali must direct its novice ministers to stop issuing anti-Kalabagh Dam statements as this dam is the only option available to solve our water and power problems at the earliest. The other options of Basha Dam and mini-dams will either take a very long time or will be small efforts to solve a mega problem.
Let us take pity on the 140 million people of Pakistan who risk facing a famine and mass starvation in another 10 years if the dam in question is not built post haste. There will be no politics then if we all land in a hell due to our own inaction which amounts to”Kufraan-i-Naimat” of our water resources, thereby bringing the calamity upon us that we will deserve.
DR M. YAQOOB BHATTI
Lahore
THE Pakistani passport seems to have been designed to make its bearer’s interaction with immigration officials abroad as unpleasant as possible.
It is the only passport in the world that does not carry its bearer’s name on the same page as his or her photograph. On several occasions, immigration officials have mistaken my address, which is what is written opposite my photograph, for my name which is written two pages before.
All the entries are written by hand and in my present case they are completely illegible. If the Bangladeshi and Senegalese passports can have typed entries, why cannot the Pakistani one?
While the majority of humanity reads from left to right, the Pakistani passport reads right to left. An immigration official must shuffle the passport around several times before he gets its right side up. Then he squints to decipher the illegible handwriting, following which, he must turn pages to search for my photograph.
All this creates unnecessary tension in an international environment where Pakistanis are suspected, particularly in an immigration context.
AHMED ARIF
Paris, France
THIS refers to the letters, ‘Judges’ remuneration’ (Dec 14), by Shamim Mirza and Qazi Nazim Naeem.
Judges in Pakistan, specially those of lower courts, receive remunerations which are not proportionate to the demands of their profession, leading to corruption and lack of motivation and also contributing to delays in judicial proceedings.
Judges should not only receive higher salaries, they should also be offered extra benefits such as health services and the establishment of a judges’ colony. This will enable them to live in comfort and receive the much-needed security. Such perks, if included in their salary packages, will also better their performance.
There are in the legal profession many competent people who possess the qualities of integrity and fairness and will make just and impartial judges, but unfortunately they shy away from sitting on the bench due to the lack of financial incentives to do so.
Most previous governments have not attached enough importance to establishing a strong and independent judiciary. One can only hope that the new government will take note of this situation.
SUMAYYA USMANI
Karachi
THE Board of Revenue (Sindh) is violating the ordinances of 2000-2001, 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 wherein stamp duty is exempted on sub-leases of less than Rs500,000 value.
Nothing in writing is given to the people concerned. They are simply told by the BOR staff that, because of some words in the comprehensive sub-lease document, stamp duty is applicable to the DHA sub-leases of less than Rs500,000 value. The BOR forgets that it is deviating from the established practice of more than 30 years, since all along this period the sub-leases of DHA have identical words and the format of sub-leases has always been the same and there is no such objection from the BOR.
Besides, the BOR is demanding stamp duty retrospectively on old cases. The cases of July 2001 which were fixed for delivery by February 2002 are still held at the BOR office, although all urgent delivery cases which were registered in July 2001 were disposed of within a week.
The question arises, why is the BOR treating the sub- leases of less than Rs500,000 value differently and differentiating between ordinary and urgent cases?
The BOR chief inspector of stamps (Sindh) is requested to look into all such cases and immediately order his staff to release all the pending sub-leases without any further delay.
AN AFFECTEE
Karachi
THE readers will agree with me that the most harmless weapon of mass destruction in the hands of the West is money.
After the end of its colonial rule, the West has intentionally left several problems unresolved in the developing countries to continue its policy of divide and rule. In such a situation, what steps can we take to improve our lot?
In my opinion, Muslim countries can have a single currency of their own to rid themselves of the yoke of dollar or euro.
Trade should be fair and not free. The West uses the term “free trade” for exploiting poor countries. All the Muslim countries should take precautions to avoid such exploitation of their interests.
SHABBIR HYDER
Karachi
THE allegations of nuclear collaboration between Pakistan and North Korea are being played up by the US and Russian media in an attempt to whip up the international community.
Ironically, both the US and Russia are responsible for producing and spreading nuclear technology; while the one produced it, the other stole it clandestinely.
Can anyone forget the words of President Roosevelt about Rosenberg and Ethal, the scientist couple, who were working in Los Almos Laboratories, USA, during the Korean war. He said he rejected the mercy petition because the American couple was responsible for the deaths of 50,000 Americans as they had passed nuclear secrets on to the Soviet Union, thus unnecessarily prolonging the war which the United States wanted to bring to an end quickly. Both were electrocuted.
The Soviet Union surprised the US by a counter threat. A security lapse in the Vietnam war also resulted in the deaths of 50,000 Americans.
In fact, what the Americans produced the Russians used for terrorizing the US by obtaining nuclear technology secretly. And now Russian nuclear technology is available in some former Soviet Union states for making dirty bombs by terrorists.
The Chernoble disaster killed people in the thousands. The Trombay Reactor fire near Mumbai which, if not controlled in time, could have wiped out Mumbai and Maharashtra. The Bhopal disaster by the US Union Carbide Company killed 10,000 in one night alone.
None of these nuclear disasters occurred in Pakistan, nor did this country do anything which could be attached to these incidents. Then why this Pakistan bashing by Russian, the US and other Western powers whenever something undesirable takes place anywhere in the world?
Although Pakistan is a peace-loving country and its security programmes are very safe, it is being pressured unnecessarily.
International terrorism which the CIA and the FBI are fighting is all right, but what about the terrorism created by those Americans who have easy access to guns and who kill around 30,000 fellow citizens every year, a figure which is 10 times bigger than that of the 9/11 disaster? (Time’s report).
The anthrax terror, the Tolenol N. case of mixing cynide in medicine capsules and the latest sniper terror in Washington were caused by Americans themselves.
Likewise, James Bond-type movies give birth to novel ideas of creating terror by throwing high-voltage wires in water killing thousands of people on a beach. What preventive actions do the CIA or the FBI take against such propagation of evil ideas by the media in the US?
American think-tanks need to reshape their policies and take a realistic approach vis-a-vis the problems of nuclear proliferation, terrorism and economic deprivation, specially in developing countries.
MAJOR (RETD) M. ANWAR ALAM
Karachi
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