| December 22, 2002 | Sunday | Shawwal 17, 1423 |
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‘Where are our libraries?’
Plight of Umra pilgrims
Public transport in Karachi
What is behind war against Iraq?
Taking advice from Carter
Money for research
PAF plane crash
French consulate
China’s progress
Stipends for trainee doctors
Unoccupied flats in Islamabad
Why not go Europe’s way?
I AM a Pakistani and have been living in Cairo for 22 years. I have been doing all along import/export business and possess good experience of importing and exporting grain, foodstuff, cotton, machine tools, etc.
I was very happy to learn from my business sources that Pakistan has exported 40,000 metric tons of wheat to Egypt in 2001 and would export another 250,000 metric tons during the year 2002-3.
As my business friends were interested in importing Pakistani wheat in appreciable quantities, I contacted the Pakistan embassy here. They provided me with a sample and told me that they could not do more than that.
Here I want to mention that the embassy staff often arrange trade meetings, but strangely enough, they never invite people from the business community to attend these meetings. When a Pakistani trade delegation visited Cairo about two months ago, they did not invite either me or any other grain importers.
Anyway, since I had substantial orders for importing Pakistani wheat (Egypt 80,000 metric tons and Sudan 30,000 metric tons), I contacted the embassy staff for a list of Pakistani exporters. They provided me with a list of rice exporters, instead! When I wrote to them, only one of them replied and said he had closed his office in Pakistan three years back.
It is because of this indifferent attitude of our embassies that we have not been able to improve our trade links with other countries. The Indian embassy here is very vigilant and prompt and has enabled India to capture around 30 per cent of imports to Egypt.
Our own company is importing for Egypt stainless steel, emery papers and tools from India; sesame, white corn, gum, watermelon seeds from Sudan and red lentils from Turkey. We are anxious and willing to import Pakistani wheat, ground nuts, red pepper, sesame, red lentils, rice (cheaper variety) and cotton waste for Egypt, Sudan and other African countries.
At present, Pakistan is importing from Egypt clover and other seeds used to feed cattle. So, we can also have a barter arrangement. According to my information, Egypt can import from Pakistan whitish sesame with 48 to 52 per cent oil content, red lentils split, white corn, wheat, rice (cheaper variety), groundnuts/peanuts for cooking oil, textile yarn and second-grade cotton and cotton waste.
If Pakistan is producing natural fruit juices, there is a big demand for it in both the EEC countries and the USA.
ABDEL MAJEED ISMAIL
Cairo, Egypt
ZUBEIDA Mustafa’s article, ‘Where are our libraries (Nov 27), must have disturbed many people to whom education is an issue of some importance.
But most of all it should have opened the eyes of our cantankerous politicians who feel that no issue in the world is more crucial than their own hold on power and, therefore, they do not settle down quickly to address problems which are a question of survival for us.
To the majority of our people, libraries are the lifeline to a better future, outside the wretchedness of poverty and ignorance. They extend self-help and a happier alternative compared to what the public-sector schools have to offer at present.
“Most of the 200,000 schools in the public sector have no libraries,” says Ms Mustafa in her article. Translated into the actual educational environment of those children who go to the schools without libraries, this means: teachers are poorly educated, frustrated in their own lives and irregular in attendance; textbooks prescribed by the textbook board are the only books that are available to students; since no assignments requiring research are possible, children never learn how to find out more about a given subject on their own. The result is that rote learning becomes a requirement for passing examinations.
As for the textbooks that are available to these unfortunate students, the less said the better. These textbooks are dominated by dogmatic religion, an induced sentimental patriotism and a definite, menacing discouragement to independent thought and curiosity darkening every page. The curriculum seems to have been set for all times. Change is grudged so much that it is like an interdiction.
Under such conditions, libraries will be a beam of light leading to independence of thought and real education. We cannot deny this opportunity and ray of hope to the majority of Pakistanis while the children of the elite benefit from an unrestricted supply of ideas and information from books.
AMEENA SAIYID
Karachi
SEVERAL letters have appeared in these columns about the difficulties in obtaining Umra visas here and also about problems that one has to face after landing in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia imposed similar visa restrictions and inconvenient procedures on Egyptian citizens, too. But the Egyptian authorities refused to accept them and advised their nationals not to travel for Umra. The Saudi government had no choice but to withdraw the harsh regulations.
Egypt was able to exert pressure because they send a large number of Umra pilgrims every year. Pakistan, too, sends a large number of Umra pilgrims throughout the year, but the difference is that the Egyptian government took a firm stand on behalf of their nationals, whereas our government is the least bothered about the plight of its people.
I am sure that, in view of the large number of Pakistani pilgrims, it should not be difficult for the government to persuade the Saudis to revise their Umra visa policy and withdraw the restrictions imposed recently.
SAEED DADABHOY
Karachi
THE public transport problem in Karachi will not be solved by the introduction of large buses; rather development of other means of public transport is needed.
I have been living in London for quite some time and use public transport for traveling inside the city. I am sure that roads in Karachi are much wider than those in London. Yet double-deckers are run on very congested roads here without causing any traffic jams, simply because drivers and commuters follow rules and also care for all users of the roads.
To solve the traffic problems of Karachi, I would like to make the following suggestions:
(I) a modern railway network should be set up within the city.
(ii) A code of conduct for bus drivers should be formulated and strictly enforced.
(iii) All major roads should have bus lanes marked on them.
(iv) Educated drivers should be inducted after full training.
(v) Buses should be allowed to stop at bus stops only.
The only way we can reduce pollution, traffic congestion and the number of cars on roads is to modernize our transport system so that people prefer public transport.
J. ZIA
London, UK
I WOULD like to share with Dawn’s readers the editorial in the current issue of a quarterly journal, Middle East Reports, that deals with the reasons for Bush’s barely restrainable desire to attack Iraq (www.merip.org) for which its alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction is an excuse.
The editorial, while referring to the documents of the Pentagon, the NSC and the White House, says the documents which can be accessed online “reveal that regime change in Iraq is part of a long-term strategy for military dominance of not only the Persian Gulf but the entire arc of crisis, stretching from South Asia across Iran and the Arab East to the Horn of Africa.... There is little secrecy or subtlety to the American quest for ‘forward deployment’ centered around the world’s major petroleum deposits.
“Since the creation of Centcom in the 1970s, acquisition of a regional base from which to police oil fields and key transport lanes has been a major strategic (US) goal. But it is not only ‘our oil’ that concerns Washington as it stumps for Desert Storm II..... Looking into the future strategists see a potential challenge over US hegemony over world oil.... The positioning of forces in the oil heartland and along critical sea routes is a no-brainer. According to the report (entitled Joint Vision 2020. America’s Military Preparing for Tomorrow), the over-arching focus of this vision is full-spectrum dominance, meaning ‘overseas presence (of US) forces and the ability to rapidly project power world-wide’. Full spectrum dominance is especially needed in the CENTCOM zone.”
HAMZA ALAVI
Karachi
THIS refers to an article by M. H. Askari asking President Bush to take some advice and wisdom from former US president Jimmy Carter. Mr Askari has not informed his readers fully about Carter’s past.
Jimmy Carter, a peanut farmer from Plains, Georgia, was the worst US president in the last 60 years, maybe, the worst president ever, and one of the biggest failures in the American political history.
He brought the American economy to a ruin with an inflation rate of 21 per cent, highest since the American civil war, and a high unemployment rate. One cannot forget the gasoline lines, the OPEC problems, the ‘misery index’ and the Iranian hostage crisis.
President Carter and his administration were the symbol of a failed foreign policy, weakness, timidity, remoteness from reality and, above all, stupidity.
So, excuse me for not getting misty-eyed if President Bush chooses to ignore the so-called wisdom of and advice from President Carter.
YAZDI D. KHARAS
Richardson, USA
THIS refers to the letter, ‘Money for research’ (Dec 15). I was shocked to learn that the Quaid-i-Azam University gets only one million rupees for research work.
I spend almost one million rupees on the education of my six-year-old daughter here in the United States and I send her to a private school. Why? Because I want her to get the best education possibly parents can provide. Of course, her education creates financial hardships for us.
No wonder the education standard in Pakistan is low. How can one expect students in Pakistan to compete in the region or at the global level? Won’t the Pirs, Mirs, Chaudhrys, Maliks like to donate a part of their wealth to ‘safeguard’ the future of Pakistan? After all, they have been elected on that promise by the masses.
M. PATHAN
New York, USA
THIS refers to a recent PAF plane crash into which an inquiry has been ordered.
Every now and then we hear high officials equate the Pakistan Air Force with the best air forces around the globe. We believe them but there must be some correspondence between their claim and the rate and nature of accidents in the air force. We must compare statistics vis-a-vis plane crash or loss with the top air warriors of the world.
We all know that PAF has been suffering from a lack of equipment, mainly aircraft, for about 12 years. The supply-demand ratio is oddly heavy against the supply factor and these accidents cause a straight cut in squadron strength.
The question arises, do the US Air Force, RAF and the Israeli Air Force, with absolutely no problem with the reserves or standby aircraft, lose the same number of aircraft and for the same reasons?
Loss of F-7s is also shocking because F-6s which have a high rate of malfunctions and crashes have already been rolled out of the air corps and there is no hope of acquiring state-of-the-art aircraft from any nation, not even from Russia.
This fact alone outclasses our foreign policy in comparison with our ever-threatening eastern neighbour which is continuously being offered and equipped with its military wish list by our so-called “allies”.
Accidents may be part of operations but only to a certain extent. And there must be some follow-up. No one expects classified detailed inquiry reports to be made public but there are cases when the nation should be taken into confidence.
The navy has lost two of its anti-submarine aircraft, with around 70 servicemen. One of the lost P-3C Orion was nearly confirmed to have been shot down by India but there is no official report, right or wrong, citing the cause of these accidents. Two C-130s were also rendered completely useless when they collided at Chaklala airbase.
M. JAHANZEB RAHIM
Karachi
FOLLOWING in the footsteps of the American consulate, Karachi, the French consulate staff have had girders placed in front of the premises of the consulate in Bath Island. Due to a lack of proper lights, anyone with weak eyesight or even otherwise can have an accident because of these girders.
Will the authorities concerned have the girders removed or at least have proper lights installed to save Karachiites from possible fatal injuries?
SARAH SHEIKH-ALLAWALA
Karachi
AS a Pakistani who has visited China on many occasions, as a representative of our National Shipping Corporation, the managing-director of Singapore’s Neptune Orient Lines and as one who knows the Mandarin (Chinese) language in a modest manner, I suggest to fellow citizens and policymakers that we will do well if we closely study China’s phenomenal progress in all fields, specially in education.
There are in China more than 6,000 research and development centres which have helped usher in an era of progress and prosperity for millions of citizens in the country.
It will be a good idea to introduce the Mandarin language in our educational institutions to learn more about China.
M. J. SAYEED
Karachi
IT is heartening to learn that a decision has been taken to fix a uniform stipend structure for trainee doctors serving both federal and provincial hospitals.
This measure of fairness and sympathy towards young trainee doctors serving 36 hours at a stretch obviously needs to be rationalized as a whole, not just in terms of their stipends.
The sequel to working such long hours under pressure is sleeplessness and fatigue affecting the doctors in their capabilities.
AKBAR KHAN
Karachi
SOME blocks of flats were constructed in G-6/1, Islamabad, off Shahrah-i Suhrawardy, at a cost of millions of rupees some six years back.
These flats which can accommodate more than 100 families have remained unoccupied owing to a dispute about the ownership of the land between PIA and the government. PIA claims that the government has constructed the flats on the land that was allotted to it.
The issue has not been resolved yet and national resources are locked up in the enterprise. Besides, it is creating other problems. Wild grass, shrubs and weeds have sprung up in this area. The windowpanes of the flats have been broken and the premises wear a deserted look, thus attracting the attention of ruffians and anti-social elements.
The place has also become a breeding ground for insects and rodents which may cause epidemics of various diseases.
Maintenance and upkeep of the flats is the responsibility of the authorities in possession of the area. The Capital Development Authority must ask them to ensure proper cleanliness and environment-friendly conditions on the premises of their project.
The government is urged to take action to put the national resources to proper use, instead of letting them lie unused due to neglect on the part of the authorities concerned.
SYED QASIM SHAH
Islamabad
DECEMBER 14, 2002, when the European Union expanded itself by including 10 countries, was the most significant day in the history of Europe since the World War II.
On this landmark day, the Europeans laid aside years of rivalries, acrimony and grievous wrongs which they perpetrated against one another. The inclusion of new states into the EU has led to the emergence of a bloc of 400 million people, with a higher level of development. The Europeans are now in a better position to play an important role in world affairs.
The question arises, why are South Asian states lagging behind in ridding themselves of the baggage of hatred and rivalries and in forging unity among themselves? Rivalries in the South Asian region have not been as long and acrimonious as in the European heartland. Why should the new generation which has little, if any, emotional link with these wrongs, be held hostage to them?
The only problem that stops South Asia from following the path of Europe is the constant stand-off between two major countries in this region over the issue of Kashmir. But what have Pakistan and India given to their respective parts of Kashmir in the last 55 years, except poverty and deprivation?
The bitter fact is both countries have denied their own people a good life that they deserve because of their advanced civilization and rich human and natural resources. It is time they buried their differences.
One would have expected India, being the bigger power, to take an initiative by making minor concessions, but Indian society being “an arrested civilization”, to use Arnold Toyanbee’s phrase, and stuck in a time warp due to rising Hindu fundamentalism, lacks the dynamism to do so.
So, Pakistan should show magnanimity. A start can be made by ceasing criticism of India. Thereafter, we should hold a plebiscite in Azad Kashmir as per UN resolution and if the result is in favour of Pakistan, which in all probability it will be, incorporate the whole of Kashmir as a province of Pakistan leaving the occupied part to become a part of our country after liberation at some later date. By this simple measure the Line of Control will become a quasi de jure international border and yet our claim to the rest of Kashmir on the basis of plebiscite will remain alive.
If, in this way, South Asia, too, takes the path of Europe, over a billion people of South Asia Economic Union will become a power to be reckoned with in the world, and the accruing benefits to the people of the region will relegate the historical wrongs and the hurt arising from it to the background.
JUSTICE (R) M. SHAIQ USMANI
Karachi
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