| January 17, 2003 | Friday | Ziqa'ad 13, 1423 |
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Jamali’s advice to MMA
Electronic media literacy
Pakistanis’ plight: at home & abroad
Pakistan’s squad for Cricket World Cup
Fernandes’ warning
CSS exam subjects
Use of loudspeakers
US clearance policy
PR booking agencies
A noble example
What austerity measures are meant for
AS a first generation American of Indian origin (via Australia), I have lately started reading papers from the subcontinent on the net. Atiq Rehman Malik’s letter (Jan 10) about the relative performance of the Pakistani and Indian economies fascinated me.
Pakistan’s level of development compares quite favourably with India, but Mr Malik unfortunately uses certain indices that are not reflective of growth. While commercial energy usage per capita and personal computers per 1,000 people are relevant for development, the use of indices like value-added in agriculture and/or industry or export of goods and services as percentage of the GDP can be quite misleading.
The US, Canada and Australia are the largest and most efficient producers and exporters of agricultural products. Guess what is the value-added in agriculture (as percentage of the GDP) of these countries — 3, 2.5 and 3.1, respectively, as against 26.7 for Pakistan. Similarly, even their value-added in industry compares unfavourably with that prevalent in Pakistan and India.
If you look at the exports of goods and services as a percentage of the GDP, then Pakistan’s figure of 15.6 is far ahead of the US’s 11.1. According to the logic of Mr Malik, Pakistan and India are much better-off economically than the US, Canada and Australia.
What people look at is income and social indicators — quality of life, and in this sector, both India and Pakistan score pathetically. Which is why it is worth looking at — something Mr Malik ignores.
According to the World Development Indicators database (World Bank, August 2002), India’s GNI per capita (Atlas method, or simple conversion at prevalent exchange rates) was $460 (rank 161). Comparative figures for Pakistan are $420 (rank 163). A better method uses purchasing power parity where per capita income is calculated on the basis of the local cost of a basket of commodities to discount differential inflation rates, distorted exchange rates and use instead of local prices. India’s GNI per capita is placed at $2,450 (rank 149) and that of Pakistan at $1,920 (rank 159).
South Asians should not kid themselves. The world has moved like my family and like the INS ‘blacklisted’ countries’ scores of citizens who are even now willing to suffer indignities so that they can reach America, by hook or by crook.
KEN BARNES
Washington, USA
“MMA should choose either Islam or politics. If MMA wants to do politics, it should be well aware of its (politics) style, principles and manners. If they (components of MMA) have established parties in the name of Islam, they should abandon politics and preach religion only,” quoting Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali’s address at Rawalpindi, the local press reported on Monday.
I think the prime minister is unaware of the basic principles of the Constitution of Pakistan, or he has deliberately ignored them.
The introductory part of the Constitution says:
“Islam shall be the State religion of Pakistan.
“The principles and provisions set out in the Objectives Resolution reproduced in the Annex are hereby made substantive part of the Constitution and shall have effect accordingly.”
The Objectives Resolution (which was passed by the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan in March 1949, and was made a substantive part of the Constitution of Pakistan) says:
“Whereas sovereignty over the entire universe belongs to Allah Almighty alone, and the authority to be exercised by the people of Pakistan within the limits prescribed by Him is a sacred trust;
“Wherein the principles of democracy, freedom, equality, tolerance and social justice as enunciated by Islam shall be fully observed.”
The Islamic provisions of the Constitution say:
“All existing laws shall be brought in conformity with the Injunctions of Islam as laid down in the Holy Quran and Sunnah and no law shall be enacted which is repugnant to such Injunctions.”
Now Prime Minister Jamali should make it clear to the nation that whether he took the oath under the Constitution of Pakistan or under the charter of the GHQ.
The nation should step forward and frustrate all the steps taken towards secularization of the country.
NASIR KHAN
Islamabad
IT is time for our schools to better their performance. Today’s entertainment technologies communicate with us through a powerful combination of words, images and sounds, and empowers people to be both critical thinkers and creative producers of an increasingly wide range of messages.
We are entering the era of image-based media that has replaced print sources exclusively as our most common form of communication. The electronic media is more than a clever tool to demystify the media’s tricky messages. Beyond the classroom, media literacy plays an important role in promoting better health, combating violence, helping young people in the juvenile justice system, developing important life skills, sparking important community discussions and giving a voice to creative expression.
Interdisciplinary by nature, media literacy represents a necessary, inevitable and realistic response to the complex, ever-changing electronic environment and communication cornucopia that surrounds us. Children are among the world’s largest users of the electronic media. Adding the hours spent watching movies, listening to music and radio and surfing the Internet, they devote one-third to one-half of (their) waking lives to electronic media.
Our young people need to be educated to the highest standard in this new information age, and surely this includes a clear awareness of how the media influences, shapes and defines their lives. And let us also recognize this important fact: these young people are the future media leaders of our nation.
Media literacy consists of a series of communication competencies, including the ability to access, analyse, evaluate and communicate information in a variety of forms such as print and non-print messages.
As participants on the front lines of this revolution, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) brings incredible energy and creativity to the field, and provides to the supportive national infrastructure/talent with a strong foundation.
It is time our schools caught up with advanced nations by teaching media literacy skills to our children.
JUMANI ASHFAK
GM (Sindh region), Pemra,
Karachi
Pakistanis abroad are facing some of the most trying times of their lives, specially those in the US under the controversial INS registration scheme. The situation back home is also no different.
Those selected in assemblies to serve the unfortunate people of this country are doing everything else but serve them. They have already started plundering national wealth adding to the miseries of an already miserable nation.
According to news reports, the ministers in Punjab are set to buy new cars, which will cost Rs72 million. The reasons given are that, by using the new cars, they can improve their performance. In fact, they should be given motorbikes so that they can visit the slums where no car can go. Where are their private cars in which they arrived to attend the first assembly session?
The government has approved a 100 per cent increase in the salaries of the cabinet members along with hefty allowances. Is it justified to increase their perks when they come from affluent classes and already have millions?
The women members of the assembly are no better than their male counterparts. We see them visiting art exhibitions. Have we ever seen or heard of any of these ladies doing some real constructive work? A woman MNA created a scene in a restaurant when her soup was served slightly late! The restaurant owners had to call the police who did not react when they realized that she was a VIP. One of the women ministers said the evils like Karo-kari and Wani being just one per cent of the crimes were unimportant to be solved!
These elected members of the assemblies should not forget that they have to be humble, polite and honest and should not indulge in anything contrary to the pledge they made under the oath when they were elected.
S. A. NAQVI
Islamabad
THE PCB’s squad for the Cricket World Cup 2003 in South Africa has been named. Knowing the psyche of the Pakistanis, I think they will have very high expectations. I would like my fellow cricket-lovers to consider the following factors before setting any high hopes.
First of all, this squad includes 12 such players who participated in the World Cup 1999. No doubt they have valuable experience, but we should not forget the fact that they have advanced by four years in age and any outstanding performance from them will be unrealistic.
The other factors which need to be kept in mind is that seven of them — Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Saeed Anwar, Rashid Latif, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Azhar Mahmood and Abdul Razzaq — are injury-prone, and five of them, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Saeed Anwar, Rashid Latif and Inzamam-ul-Haq, have past their prime.
Moreover, Mohammad Sami, Saleem Elahi and Taufiq Umar will be playing their first World Cup. How they will face the pressure of this mega event is uncertain. Keeping the above facts in mind, I leave it to all cricket-lovers to form their own opinion.
BRIG (RETD) SALAHUDDIN
Karachi
I WAS astonished to read in your newspaper on Jan 8 a statement by India’s Defence Minister George Fernandes that Pakistan would be completely wiped out if it ever launched a nuclear attack against India. Nothing could be as sinister as this reprehensible rhetoric.
However, Fernandes is horribly ignorant about the impact of a nuclear strike. Such a strike vaporizes all things living. In Hiroshima and Nagasaki nobody suffered ‘only a little’, as contemplated by the Indian minister. If ever Pakistan’s sovereignty is threatened, Pakistan will naturally bring its nuclear power into use.
SAFIR SIDDIQQUI
Karachi
WITH reference to Nabeel Khan Kakar’s letter, ‘CSS exam subjects’ (Dec 31), it is clarified that:
(1) The Federal Public Service Commission does not discourage or encourage any subject. Rather, it has taken steps to curb distortions, caused by some soft optional subjects, in examinations’ results.
(2) It has been laid down in the guidelines of the syllabus provided to every intending candidates with the application form that topics of the CSS syllabus are indicative and not exhaustive. Therefore, candidates should study the whole subject with the help of relevant books.
(3) The complainant has also pointed out that, in the competitive examinations of 2000, the paper of constitutional law contained an objective question in the form of multiple-choice questions but in the examinations of 2001, the same question was in the form of blanks.
In this connection it is clarified that the examiner is the best judge to analyse the ability of a candidate. Moreover, the subject of constitutional law is not an exemption. Even History of Pakistan & India, Paper-II, also carried the compulsory objective question in the form of blanks.
(4) As regards the “out-of-course” question paper of constitutional law, it is submitted that, in competitive examinations, syllabus is not prescribed strictly and only broad parameters are provided for the guidance of candidates. Therefore, it cannot be claimed that any question was out of course.
SARWAR HASSAN KHAN
Director-General, FPSC,
Islamabad
I BELIEVE there is a law about the use of loudspeakers in mosques that loudspeakers can be used for azans only. But who can implement this law?
The police are not interested in registering complaints against lawbreakers. Newspapers and television channels, too, are scared of taking note of this violation of the law.
In our area, Thathai Compound, near Lighthouse in Karachi, loudspeakers are used frequently for every purpose. The mullas shout at the top of their voices, even late in the night as well as on Sunday afternoons.
The mosque committee has set up the loudest speakers available in the market. The speakers have been placed at many points without taking into consideration the plight of the sick, the infants and the elderly.
I request the mosque committee to be considerate and use the speakers only whenever necessary.
They should use the loudspeakers for the purposes of azans and not for every occasion in the mosque. Friday Khutba is an exception.
Islam teaches us to respect fellow Muslims as well as non-Muslims.
AN AFFECTED RESIDENT
Karachi
I APPEARED for an interview for F1 (study) Visa on July 5, 2002. My visa was approved and I was told that I would get my passport with visa stamp on Aug 5. On Aug 1, however, I received a letter from the US embassy, along with my passport, which stated that my visa had been approved but the visa stamp would not be affixed until they got my clearance.
According to them, the clearance policy entails a process extending over an indefinite period. More than 180 days have already passed since then but I have not received my visa.
During this period I kept calling the US embassy in Islamabad but every time I got the same stock answer that the clearance had not been received. I have missed my fall semester and I fear I am going to lose this spring semester as well.
Most of the students who applied after September 2002 have already got their visas. I have been waiting for the past six months. I have already spent a large amount of money to get another I-20 and visa processing.
I would request the authorities concerned to resolve the matter as soon as possible so that I may join this semester. Or at least let me know the exact timeframe so that I stop spending my time and money in calling the US embassy in Islamabad.
ARIF MUSHARRAF
Karachi
AFTER partition the Pakistan Railways started out with private booking agencies for the convenience of people in all major cities of the country. Passengers used to book seats at these agencies.
I used to book seats for my family at a private agency in Karachi, which was just a minute’s walk from my home. The staff at the agency were always courteous and the facility was satisfactory.
However, the former Railways minister ordered the closure of these booking agencies to facilitate Railways own agencies. Now we have to go all the way to the city station to book seats and buy tickets.
I hope the new Railways minister will look into this matter and reopen all the private agencies.
SAFDAR ABBAS
Karachi
IT was a pleasure and a privilege to attend the convocation of the class of 2002 at LUMS. The arrangements, including the choice of one of the very first alumni of the university to conduct the proceedings, were picture-perfect.
The function started and ended on time, despite a number of speeches and the award of degrees to MBA, MS, PhD and BSc graduates. What really made my day was how the whole class of BSc (Honours) stood up on their feet when the top student received her gold medal. Here’s a good example for others to emulate.
KHURSHID ANWER
Lahore
THIS refers to an excellent article titled “Who pays for health and education?” by Zubeida Mustafa (Jan 8).
She is absolutely right when she says that the Third World governments are increasingly turning away from providing low-cost or free education and health services to their people. That the World Bank’s Structural Adjustment Programmes are responsible for this is to state the obvious. The reality is now no longer lost on policymakers and intellectuals of the Third World that acceding to the so-called “austerity programmes” prescribed by World Bank experts means reducing social expenditures and increasing allocations for debt repayment.
Interestingly, while the World Bank does advocate reducing expenditures on health and education, it has never advised militaristic governments to stop allocating giant chunks of their budgets to accumulating sophisticated weapons and building huge standing armies, the type of which we see in India, Pakistan, Turkey, Nigeria, Israel and Egypt today. The money which most governments realize from the sale of state-owned enterprises is not spent on building schools and hospitals, but repayment of debt.
I am not too sure what Ms Mustafa means by “left-wing ideology becoming unfashionable”. I think no discussion on governments providing health and education can be complete without a mention of the achievements of Fidel Castro’s government in Cuba. The Cuban government has a record of providing 100 per cent literacy to its people. Also, Cuban doctors are among the best in the world. Cuba’s record in education and health shames the records of every nation in the southern hemisphere, including the United States. Cuba’s amazing record is a direct result of its socialist system.
More relevant to Pakistan is its plight of the dual systems of “O” Levels and Matric. This system is creating social apartheid in Pakistani society today, because the children of the rich elite go to private, mostly English -speaking schools, while the children of the poor go to badly-funded government schools and then join the army of the teeming unemployed. The best jobs are thus farmed out to the people who have the ability to comprehend English, not on the basis of knowledge and understanding. Such a discriminatory system needs to be reformed if not abolished altogether. And no amount of World Bank “reforms” will cure our educational malaise.
I welcome the decision of the Punjab government to provide free primary education in government schools. I hope the action is replicated as soon as possible by the national government.
RAZA NAEEM
Lahore
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