| January 9, 2003 | Thursday | Ziqa’ad 5, 1423 |
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PIA: Appeal to PM
‘Unjustified anti-Americanism’
Musharraf’s economic policies
Free education in Punjab
Meaning of jihad
Advice to Umra pilgrims
Reckless driving
Plea for help
EPZ working hours & investors
‘Where are our libraries?’
IN recent weeks Pakistani officials have created an impression that they are working desperately to woo the Iranians and the Indians to build the Iran-India gas pipeline onshore across Pakistan.
Indeed, the pipeline will be good for Iranian and Indian economies. In trying to have the pipeline laid onshore, the Pakistani officials are doing the right thing as it will generate revenue for their country. But to what extent the Pakistanis need to sell the idea is debatable.
Both the Iranians and the Indians know very well the comparative cost differential between the offshore and onshore pipeline options. A study of similar undertaking for Canada’s McKenzie Valley gas-field showed the cost of building a pipeline to be 1:4 in favour of an onshore pipeline versus a part-onshore/part-offshore option.
The operating costs which included offshore booster and compression stations, corrosion, external impacts and other damage control had a ratio of 13:1 in favour of the onshore route.
The US department of transportation report for 1999 showed considerably higher ratio of damage incidents and operator fatalities in the case of offshore pipelines.
Pakistani officials have promised that they will not disrupt the gas flow to India even if there is a war between Pakistan and India. That is incomprehensible. In a war, both Pakistan and India will destroy each other’s energy resources. India has done so in the past.
If indeed Iran and India decide to install the gas pipeline under the sea, in a war Pakistan will definitely send its submarines to destroy the under-water pipeline. By committing to safeguard the onshore pipeline in all situations, Pakistan will be making a major strategic mistake: the same gas pipeline may be fuelling the very infrastructure that may be in use to destroy Pakistan’s energy installations.
Clearly, it is in the Iranian and Indian interest more than it is in Pakistan’s to have the pipeline onshore. As a matter of good business, Pakistan should demand adequate compensation for an onshore pipeline rather than offering freebies. This should include the cost of safeguarding the environment from natural and other disasters.
If the two parties do not pay a reasonable royalty for safe passage, they should be advised to build the pipeline outside of the 200 nautical miles of Pakistan’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Within this zone, Pakistan’s jurisdiction extends to the establishment of artificial islands, installations and structures, etc.
In fact, since 1999, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas Article 76 allows the coastal nations to claim additional miles of continental shelf even beyond this 200nm limit, a claim that the Pakistan government has not yet made.
SHAMS NAQVI
California, USA
DURING the tenure of caretaker prime minister Moin Qureshi, the Karachi Electric Supply Company started charging its consumers an additional surcharge, which is 300 per cent more than the electricity charges.
It is said that the KESC makes up for its losses which it incurs owing to electricity theft in a certain area by overbilling the area people. For example, if the electricity bill of a house is Rs500, the power utility adds to the bill Rs200 fuel adjustment charges and Rs1,500 additional surcharge, thus making its consumers pay a highly inflated bill.
Moreover, by imposing unjustified taxes on the consumers, the KESC compels them to steal electricity. It is time the company stopped power pilferage by not issuing inflated bills to the consumers.
DR ZIA
Karachi
PIA is our national airline and its survival as a reliable airline is in our national interest. The primary function of PIA is to provide a safe, reliable and affordable mode of air travel to all citizens and foreigners who pay for these services.
This purpose can only be achieved if PIA sustains itself as a viable commercial enterprise, with routes to all major destinations. The recent report that a PIA officer was involved in free unauthorized transport of eight large cartons from the US in violation of strict security rules prevalent there is a serious matter.
I urge Zafarullah Khan Jamali to rid PIA of such irresponsible officers who for their petty interests are willing to put at stake PIA’s operation to the US.
Those who are at helm of affairs in PIA have obviously failed to take stern punitive measures against those who exercise influence in the airline’s corridors of power.
A. ALVI
Karachi
THIS is with reference to Shamim Mirza’s letter appearing in your issue of Jan 1 under the caption “Unjustified anti-Americanism”.
Would Mr Mirza highlight any instances when the United States government refuted any malicious story about Pakistan appearing in its reputed newspapers?
Besides, we should not accord too much authenticity to the impartiality and neutrality of the news media based in the US. Most of its news channels act as official mouthpiece of the US government. l have yet to see CNN, Fox New Channel or MSNBC inviting distinguished academicians like Edward Said or Noam Chomsky to solicit their views on the current Iraqi situation.
Perhaps, Mr Mirza may like to bring to the readers’ attention the reaction of the US government to the malicious statements of the ultra-right religious groups spearheaded by Jerry Falwell against Islam and our Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).
Or in his opinion such views/statements are covered by the Freedom of Speech clause of the Constitution of the United States whereby that clause can be invoked when it involves castigating Islam thereby hurting the religious sentiments of over 1.2 billion Muslims. The same clause is brushed aside when it involves David Koresh of (Branch Darvadians) Waco Texas whose ranch was raided by federal agents in 1993 and several people were killed including children.
We should not offer our blind support to every move of the US government. Our relationship should be based on mutual respect keeping our national interest supreme.
IRFAN KHALID
New Jersy, USA
THIS has reference to Shamim Mirza’s call for the US to invade Iraq.
Mr Shamim needs to study history and draw some conclusions before taking up the responsibility of acting in the best interest of the Muslims. Should he do so, he will realize that the US has never acted out of sympathy for others; it has always acted to serve its own interests.
It is the same US that supports the non-democratic government of Egypt and supported Iraq all through its conflict with Iran.
The US is perfectly justified in acting for its own interests — not that it needs any justification. There is nothing immoral about it. It is for us to realize this and stop asking for help from it.
AHMED QAZI
Colorado, USA
THIS is with reference to Dr Ashfaq Khan’s article, ‘Economic turnaround and 9/11’, in which he has defended the economic reforms of the military government, specially with regard to external debt, good governance, corruption and merit. I agree with his views.
Three years ago when Gen Pervez Musharraf took over, Pakistan’s economic condition was deplorable, almost all institutions were politicized and appointments were made on the basis of nepotism and favouritism. That was why the people welcomed the military coup.
During his three-year period, the general improved Pakistan’s economic condition. He brought about efficiency in the institutions. At higher levels, he eradicated corruption and introduced merit in all departments. Thousands of unemployed youth got jobs through the public service commission. Previous civilian governments had appointed inefficient, unskilled and corrupt people in important positions.
As we know external debt is the biggest problem of Pakistan’s economy. I agree with the writer that the Musharraf regime reduced our external debt from $38 billion in 1998-99 to $36 billion in 2000-01. It was for the first time in the economic history of Pakistan that the external debt was reduced.
Our external debt had risen sharply from $3.1 billion in 1970 to almost $10 billion in 1980 to $30 billion in 1995-6. It further increased to $38 billion in 1998-99. No previous civilian government paid serious attention to this problem.
Almost 50 per cent of the total annual budget of Pakistan goes to meet the external debts and liabilities. The Musharraf government not only stopped any further increase in the debt but also reduced it. The present government must follow the economic reforms of Gen Musharraf. Pakistan can pull out of its economic crisis only if continuity in the economic reforms is allowed by the Jamali government.
MANSOOR ALI SHAHANI
Karachi
THIS refers to the Punjab government’s decision to make education free in all government schools up to matriculation. Similar steps should be taken in other provinces, too. Attention will have to be paid to the deteriorating standard of education in government schools and colleges.
It is common knowledge that buildings are constructed for schools in Sindh but influential persons and feudal lords do not want to promote education.
The Sindh government must take steps to carefully audit the accounts and funds of the schools and punish corrupt officials of the education department.
Our literacy rate is lower than that of Bangladesh. It is necessary to make sensible decisions for promoting education in Pakistan.
GHULAM SHABIR BABAR
Karachi
IT is shocking to learn that the secretary-general of the MMA, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, has declared jihad against the United States. This is the second time that he has declared jihad — the first one was to fight for Afghanistan.
Who will be held responsible for the loss of young, Muslim, Pakistani men, who may be the only bread-winners of their families? Why didn’t the Maulana intervene and intercede with the Afghans to have these men released as prisoners of war from Afghanistan? Moreover, why didn’t the Maulana himself go for jihad?
It seems the word jihad only signifies ‘war, turmoil or chaos’ for some Muslims. In reality jihad means ‘struggle’ — struggle for improvement and betterment. How about laying to rest the turmoils of others and focus on the country itself? Why ruin the lives of young men by sending them to war?
Please Maulana Fazlur Rehman, in your next rally let’s see you raising your voice against illiteracy, corruption, hatred and inequality.
YASER SIDDIQUI
London, England
A NUMBER of letters have appeared in these columns about the plight of Pakistani Umra pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. It is very sad to learn about their plight and sufferings which must be brought to the attention of the authorities concerned both in Pakistan and in Saudi Arabia.
I, with my wife, children and some other family members also performed Umra during Ramazan. Our 15-day stay in Saudi Arabia was organized by a group in Lahore, in collaboration with a licensed agent.
The organizers made excellent arrangements for visa, necessary vaccination in Pakistan, accommodation in hotels in Makkah and Madina just yards away from the Haram, Sehri/Iftar, travelling from Makkah to Madinah and back to Lahore by air, etc.
Our 100-person group, including three doctors, did not have to face any problems or difficulties during our stay in Saudi Arabia.
As we landed at Jeddah airport, the organizers were at the airport with hired coaches to receive and guide us to the hotel in Makkah. Our return tickets were taken by the agent at Jeddah airport (under the new regulations imposed by the Saudi government, it is the responsibility of the agent to ensure that the visiting person has left Saudi Arabia) but returned to us in Madinah a night before our departure, with boarding cards.
The organizers of the group who stayed in the same hotels were with us at all times to ensure our comfortable stay during the pilgrimage.
It shows that one has to be very careful in selecting a licensed agent or a group for going to Saudi Arabia to perform Umra and Haj.
I am sure that those who can afford will not hesitate in paying slightly more money for the comfort with which they want to perform their religious duties in Makkah and Madina.
ANWAR KHALIL SHEIKH
Lahore
THE cases of ‘reckless driving’ continue to claim innocent lives. It is a sad commentary on the working of our traffic police.
It is not understood why the suggestions given in your columns for installing a device to control the speed limits of public buses have not yet been given any favourable attention by the authorities concerned.
The heartless drivers are tired because of long hours of duties and are also addicted to different kinds of dopes. Their duty hours should be fixed and strictly adhered to and any violations be severely dealt with.
There is also an urgent need to train the road-users. The police should launch frequent campaigns on important roads of the city. Licences of the public transport drivers need also be checked for their authenticity.
M. SHAFIQUE AHMED
Karachi
I AM a Pakistani student studying for an undergraduate degree in California. I want to make a plea to the rulers of my country to assist me and other Pakistani students in these hard times when we need them most.
Each of us is doing whatever is possible to promote the image of Pakistan here in the United States. Why haven’t our leaders done anything to help us in matters vis-a-vis the special registration of Pakistani students despite that fact that Pakistan is one of the closest allies of the West?
HASAN ADIL
California, USA
MY letter, ‘EPZ working hours and investors’ (June 11, 2002), contained EPZ investors’ contention regarding working hours, specially holiday on Saturday, in the Karachi Export Processing Zone (KEPZ).
It is a matter of real gratification that KEPZ investors have been heard by the people at the helm of the affairs through Dawn and the unjustified holiday on Saturday has been discontinued.
I must acknowledge here the support given to the issue by the FPCCI Committee on Export Processing & Free Zones and the proper consideration by the federal secretary of the Ministry of Industries & Production.
The business sector in general and the EPZ investors in particular are hopeful that the additional 52 working Saturdays will bring about a visible change and increase the KEPZ’s exports graph which is still not worth mentioning even after the passage of 22 years of its establishment.
I would like to remind the authorities of my earlier demands pertaining to (i) incorporation of cash counters at banks in the EPZ, (ii) withdrawal of 0.50 per cent infrastructure cess and (iii) withdrawal of 18 per cent GST on services hired by the KEPZ investors. It is hoped that the new federal minister for industries & production will pay due attention to the problems of the EPZ investors.
ASIF SHEIKH JAVAID
Karachi
A NUMBER of letters have recently appeared in these columns with reference to Zubeida Mustafa’s article, ‘Where are our libraries?’ (Nov 27), lamenting the deplorable conditions of libraries in Pakistan.
Libraries in our universities, colleges and schools (if they have any) are nothing but ‘graveyards of books’. Most books once catalogued and placed on the shelves remain untouched for decades. This is so because teachers once they are made permanent feel no urge and compulsion to broaden their horizons.
Isn’t it an irony that there is no mechanism, except the notorious ACRs, in the country to evaluate teachers’ performance? Annual increments and promotions by seniority come their way as a routine, regardless of their performance. So teachers have nothing to worry about; hence their indifference towards libraries.
Let me cite an example here. After the sanction of a library grant, I, being head of a number of prestigious institutions, always invited well-known local booksellers to display books on all subjects in the library for selection by the teaching staff.
I also subscribed to a number of international journals so that the teaching staff and students of my institutions could benefit themselves from the current literature on various disciplines, but nothing worked. Few teachers cared to draw the titles of their choice or read the journals, for they had other ‘pressing’ matters to take care of.
Ameena Saiyid laments in her letter (Dec 22) the prevailing practice of rote learning due to lack of “assignments requiring research” and emphasizes the need for children to learn to find out more about a given subject on their own.
Here is what a principal told me about her experience when she taught her students to “find out more about a given subject on their own”.
“We had been labouring hard to teach our students to read books other than textbooks, to think and write original answers in their languages and social studies’ papers in the board examinations. We told them to be different from the students of other schools who were forced to cram answers from test papers and guides. Yet, much to our disappointment, grades ‘A’ and above remained beyond our reach for many years.
“Then one of our experienced colleagues advised us not to waste our energies in making the students creative and original thinkers. She explained to us that in the central marking system, followed by all the boards of education, each subject-examiner was allotted 25 or so answerbooks at a time. Since most of them were familiar with the crammed answers only, they had no difficulty in marking them within the prescribed time. No one cared or had time to go through the so-called ‘original’ answers. In fact, such students were penalized for being ‘different’ from others.”
We tried the method this year and had a bumper harvest of As and A pluses. So much for hard work and creativity. Do we really need libraries?
M. H. HAMDANI
Talagang
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