| February 2, 2003 | Sunday | Ziqa’ad 29, 1423 |
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Gas crisis: a security concern
Report on rural poverty
Cut in profit rates on NSS
Pakistan’s space programme
Nancy Powell’s statement
Terrorism: an American’s view
Friday as holiday
PPP, MMA and Musharraf
Pakistan’s prospects in World Cup
Islamabad
A FEW days ago my two-month-old son received his first dose of polio vaccine in the form of oral drops. Immediately after he received the vaccine, he became drowsy and fainted. Within minutes, he became cold and pale. On our way to the hospital, I tried in vain to keep my baby awake, hitting and pinching him all the way. Finally, he gained consciousness and began crying.
In the days to follow we visited a few doctors, trying to find out what had happened, but no one had any idea. My son was not as strong as he had been and remained irritable for some days.
I then searched the internet and found on the World Health Organization’s website that the “oral polio vaccine” has shown adverse side-effects including “an acute flaccid paralysis 4-30 days following receipt of oral polio vaccine (OPV), or within 4- 75 days after contact with a recipient of OPV, with neurological deficits remaining 60 days after onset, or death”. The ratio is one in 1.4 million. Further, “on rare occasions, particularly in immuno-deficient infants, aseptic meningitis and encephalitis have been reported after OPV”.
Another form of vaccine is the “inactivated polio vaccine” (IPV) which is administered through an injection. This has no known side effects except allergies and that, too, is inconclusive. On another site I found that in some parts of the US, it is not allowed to use OPV for the first two doses.
I realize that the risk of contracting polio is higher than the risk of any side effect from OPV, but there is a safer way of vaccination and many parents like myself would prefer to use IPV.
I would like to request the authorities concerned to at least inform the masses of the side effects of this vaccine before administering it on such a large scale.
MRS ALIYA SHAHID
Lahore
IT is disturbing to hear of the disruption of the gas supply for several days to key industrial units and other sectors in our country.
At the root of the problem is the feuding between Bugti and Mazari tribes who have no respect for the rule of law. They have kidnapped policemen, destroyed public property and indulged in all acts of violence.
The Balochistan chief secretary has been made OSD and newspapers are buzzing with stories related to this situation. What those at the helm of affairs have to think about is not how we are dealing with an anachronistic system of tribal feuding, but rather what effect this incident is going to have on our economic well-being.
It is not enough that our hard-earned national revenues are being drained out by keeping alive our quarrel with India over Kashmir. It is not enough that people in general are growing poorer while the government is spending precious millions on making nuclear bombs. But now we have to realize that for many years we have been tolerating the absurdity of tribal control over our national energy reserves.
What signal does it send to investors when we cannot even protect our own gas pipelines? Which country would want to build an international gas pipeline via Pakistan, when Pakistan cannot even keep its own domestic supply lines safe from tribesman?
Without setting matters right once and for all on the domestic front, we cannot hope for a bright future. Why are the provincial governments concerned so impotent in checking this menace. Why is Islamabad not taking any measures to keep things under control?
Those responsible for the disruption in the energy/gas supply should be dealt with sternly. A clear signal needs to be sent to the tribal leadership that their murderous acts against the nation will not be tolerated.
A modern Pakistan needs to move into the future without the debilitating baggage of the whims of tribal chiefs.
MOHAMMAD ALI SYED
Washington, USA
THE gas pipeline and related installations were targeted twice last month, resulting in the suspension of the supply of gas to the NWFP and Punjab. These incidents are said to have occurred owing to a rivalry between the Mazaris and the Bugtis. Moreover, the electric supply to Dera Bugti was disconnected during a clash on Jan 14.
Apart from causing great hardship to consumers, the disconnection of the gas supply has caused great losses to industries in both the provinces. The crisis also poses a threat to the safety of our strategic installations.
One of the negative impacts of these incidents is that it has undermined Pakistan’s desire to benefit from the Iran-India gas pipeline project. On the other hand, an exigency has arisen to revitalize security measures so as to ensure the safety of our strategic installations. Amid the tensions that exist between New Delhi and Islamabad, such activities can harm the security of our strategic assets such as air bases and airports, rails and stations, bridges and dams and ordnance depots.
In the wake of the event of Jan 21, when the pipeline was hit for the first time, it was thought that the government would take the necessary measures to tighten security in the affected areas, but after a lull of four days the same Sui-Guddu pipeline was hit again, thus badly eroding the confidence of the people in the government’s ability to take on the culprits.
The government has now decided to have a regular patrolling system along the 66-kilometre pipeline in the area with the cooperation of the Rangers of Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh to prevent any future mishaps. In this regard it is imperative to have a rational, practical and political solution through the intervention of tribal chiefs.
As far as the security of other assets is concerned, a policy based on proactive management is highly needed. If we remain unable to meet this challenge of security posed to us from within, how can we face any external challenge.
S. Q. AFZAL RIZVI
Karachi
THIS has reference to Khadija Haq’s letter (Jan 30) commenting on my article published in the EBR on her Centre’s report.
I praised the report in most parts of the article and fully acknowledged its contribution in the promotion of knowledge about human development. I am a great admirer of the dedication of the Mahbub ul Haq Human Development Centre to a noble cause.
Khadija Haq herself admitted that they used the data from international sources and these sources primarily include the World Bank and the UNDP. These sources admittedly rely on the PIHS data. Hence, indirectly the HDC depend on PIHS.
If one goes through the report, the impact of the PIHS will be visible. For example the report shows that social indicators in Pakistan are far poorer than India. The idea is equally shared by international agencies like the World Bank and the UNDP. This notion
is hard to digest and it
could not be termed as based on quality data. Even a layman can contradict the Centre’s position on the condition of social indicators in Pakistan and India.
In spite of this lacuna I praised the report and devoted 75 per cent of the article to the achievements of the Centre. My intention was to point out the extent of the damage inflicted by the PIHS data regarding the image of Pakistan. All international agencies are supposed to use this data and the HDC is no exception. It is not their fault but ours (government agency’s). Any misunderstanding in this regard is regretted.
ZAFAR-UL-HASSAN ALMAS
THIS with reference to Mohammad Salman’s letter on the reduction in profit rates on the national savings schemes by the government.
The writer asks as to why the income of small savers has been reduced by reducing profit rates on these savings schemes. He then goes on to say that the profit paid on government savings schemes should not be linked to the rates offered by commercial banks.
First of all, we need to be very clear on what the national savings schemes are all about. Special or defence savings certificates or other such schemes are forms of financial instruments whereby the government borrows funds from small depositors. The issuance of such certificates depends on the borrowing needs of the government. The national savings schemes are not meant to provide income or assistance to small savers and retirees, but are meant to fund fiscal deficits.
The rate of profit or the interest rate on these certificates is determined by inflation and the market. Since governments are perceived to be safer than private institutions and thereby have lower risk, usually the interest rates on such instruments are kept slightly above inflation, but below the interest rates offered by private institutions.
If as stated in Mr Salman’s letter, the inflation rate has come down to four per cent, then it should be taken for granted that the interest rates on all kinds of savings instruments will also come down. Lower interest rates on savings instruments should in turn lead to lower costs of borrowing by investors leading to an increase in the economic growth of the country as a whole.
SHAHZAD KAZI
Florida, USA
THIS is with reference to an article which appeared on the front page of your daily on Jan 26 about the launching of PAKSAT-I.
Though it is commendable on the part of the government for successfully launching Pakistan’s first satellite, the statement by President Pervez Musharraf that “Pakistan’s space programme is now ahead of India’s” is factually incorrect.
India’s space programme was formally launched way back in 1972, with the setting up of the Space Commission and Department of Space. After three years India’s first satellite ‘Rohini’ was launched. Then the country’s space programme saw a tremendous growth and took major leaps in terms of knowledge base as well as development of indigenous technology.
With the experience of almost three decades, ISRO, India’s space agency, is one of the few organizations which can deliver private payload into space — from a payload of 40kg in 1980 to as much as 1,000kg from 1994 onwards. This is no mean achievement by any standards.
SUBHASH CHAND KASSE
Hyderabad, India
FOR the umpteenth time Pakistan has been reprimanded by the US, and this time through its envoy in Pakistan. The remarks by Nancy Powell smack of an unfortunate disregard for Pakistan’s position on Kashmir.
The Foreign Office has finally reiterated its willingness to have independent UN observers on both sides of the LoC. If the US-led international community is so concerned about Pakistan’s alleged infiltration across the LoC into Indian-held Kashmir, it should take up Pakistan’s offer in right earnest, instead of keeping on lecturing Pakistan.
World powers should force India to accept Pakistan’s offer of allowing the UN presence in the disputed area. If they cannot force India to accept this offer, they should stop pestering Pakistan with sermons. It is India that is not accepting this proposal and is instead putting forward useless alternatives such as joint patrols by Pakistani and Indian armed forces.
Our foreign friends must realize that the ball is in India’s court. It is India’s persistent bellicosity that has to be countered. It is India’s amassing of armaments and missile tests as well as new deals for arms from foreign sources, including France and Russia, that need be questioned. After all, it is India that takes pride in initiating pointless diplomatic rows. The fact remains that India is not interested in a resolution of its issues with Pakistan.
ASIF MAHMUD
Lahore
SECURITY comes about by doing the right thing. Whether in a personal, national or an international sense, security is a thing which we ourselves create through correct values and correct actions.
The American nation is confronted with a decision as to whether or not to wage a war against Iraq. Some Americans ask, will attacking Iraq enhance the nation’s security and that of the entire world?
I believe that we should be asking another question: what else in the world, in addition to dealing with the Iraqi problem, should we be doing to demonstrate to the international community our sincerity about bringing about peace, justice and security in the world?
The Islamic world has three major burning issues that need to be addressed: Israel-Palestine, Kashmir and Iraq. If the issues of Kashmir and Israel-Palestine are settled fairly, the majority of terrorists in the Islamic world will lose their raison d’etre, and there will be no need to commit billions of dollars and national and international energies to a vortex of terrorism prevention. And we can thus address the Iraqi problem with the full support of the international community, including Israel and the Islamic world. We will then have the confidence that we in America did the right thing in two-thirds of the disputes which keep 90 per cent of international terrorism going.
To get there, we should diligently insist on implementing the relevant United Nations resolutions in all three international disputes. The world then will indeed be raising the bridge and not trying to lower the river to allow the good ship of doing the right thing to pass through.
PAUL A. PETERS
New York City, USA
THE controversy about reverting to Friday as weekly holiday seems frivolous and misplaced. Look at it from any angle, Sunday seems our best bet.
The slogan “Pakistan comes first” demands continuation of the present system from an economic point of view as our 90 per cent export and 82 per cent import are from countries which are closed on Saturdays/ Sundays.
As our economy is not dependent on oil exports for generation of funds, we must be more realistic. Religion should not be misrepresented, specially by religious politicians who have much to prove as this is their first chance. They better not disappoint us all who have placed confidence in them for the good of the country.
MRS S. KAZIM
Karachi
I FAIL to understand what our respected leaders of the MMA and the PPP are up to when they parrot that Musharraf should discard the uniform (resign as COAS) and that the Legal Framework Order should not be part of the Constitution.
Let us tell them that the poor are less concerned as to who should occupy the President House, or whether Pakistan should have the Westminster type of parliamentary Constitution.
In fact, the people are fed up with such demands from our politicians. They are justified in asking the question: are elections and governmental power objectives themselves or means for attaining the real objective, i.e. making Pakistan a welfare state? By observing the conduct of politicians, one would not be wrong in assuming that their objective is the former and not the latter.
Does China have a Westminster type or a presidential type of government? Is China not going to be a superpower in the next 10 years? Why is the present lone superpower now sending its top emissaries to Beijing to help soften North Korea’s attitude towards its
(N. Korean) stand on the NPT?
It is better for the opposition to allow the government to work single-mindedly for five years for the betterment of the country. Is it not a fact that the first four caliphs were simultaneously heads of state, heads of government and army chiefs, and took part in person in Ghazwat?
Gen Musharraf’s act of being the president and the army chief at the same time is in line with Islamic traditions. In fact, it would be better and according to Islamic traditions if Musharraf chose not to have any parliament and prime minister till such time when people are fairly educated and have “shaoor” to elect worthy, steadfast and upright persons as their true representatives. Until then he (the president) should have his “advisory council”, comprising persons with known credibility (Sahibbur-Raa’ay), humility and piety.
ZAKERYA KAZMI
Karachi
THE whole nation expects Pakistan to do well in the Cricket World Cup 2003, and there is no dearth of optimism on this count. But even a cursory look at the current performance of the teams tells another tale.
The recent thrashing that Pakistan received at the hands of South Africa points to serious weaknesses in various departments. Playing on fast and bouncy pitches has always been a problem for the subcontinent teams and Pakistan is no exception.
Pakistan plays on flat tracks laid out at home, where the ball does not show any extravagant movement. But on pitches like those in South Africa, Pakistani batsmen find themselves in hot waters. They unnecessarily chase the ball moving away from the off stump or are caught unawares by the uncertain bounce.
Sending in Abdul Razzaq at number three is a fundamental error. This position is very important and should be immediately transferred to Yousuf Youhana. Shahid Afridi is another player whose team position has been chopped and changed once too often. He can be a great asset for Pakistan at the top of the order but needs to be coached on basic techniques. Sending him low down the order would smother the sting of his blade.
Pakistan’s team also seems to crack when it comes to the crunch. They have consistently failed to chase even modest totals and leaving their fate on the toss would be uncharacteristic of a team of such stupendous potential.
There are visible signs that the team is not playing as a unit. Reports of infighting and lack of coordination among team members are being bandied about in the print media. This is a time to show accommodation and any ego problems or personality clashes should not be allowed to overgrow.
The fielding standard also needs to be raised. It has been noticed that the fielders avoid throwing themselves on the ground and do not attack the ball. This can cost extra runs which might as well prove to be decisive in the end.
The team management and the team itself is asking the public to back them and hold back criticism. But in my opinion burying our heads in the sand and not making honest critical statements would be a disservice to the nation and the team as well.
Our team is potentially capable of repeating the miracle of 1992. If the team can overcame its weaknesses and rediscover their confidence, every team would find it difficult to halt their victory march. The nation’s prayers will undoubtedly continue to reinforce their sprints and God never turns down a supplication which is laced with hard work and dedication to the cause.
SHAHZAD AHMAD
Lahore
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