| February 17, 2003 | Monday | Zul Hijjah 15, 1423 |
To send a letter to the Editor
Click here
Ways to prevent AIDS
Pakistani community in UK
‘Gas crisis questions’
IT as a subject: an Indian view
Senior citizens and NSS
US & ‘MBA mentality’
Story of INS detention
Governor in politics
Call to shift airport
Quaid’s birthplace
This refers to Dr A. K. Niazi’s article (Feb 10) in Dawn EBR “SBP’s monetary policy - a critique”
The writer did not highlight a single “wrong” in the SBP’s monetary policy that merited such a lengthy article.
At quite a few places, starting from the explanation of his objection number 2, Dr Niazi gave an impression that he is unaware of the difference between the SBP’s own statement of affairs, and those of the banking system. Hence, his explanation for point number 2 is substantially disconnected from point number 2 itself.
The fact of the matter is that the SBP’s monetary policy paper is a worthwhile documentation of what steps the SBP took during the period. People may differ with the SBP’s official views contained in the paper, on what can possibly happen in the near future, but only few would disagree with what actually happened in the past few months. The SBP’s working paper outlined how huge forex inflows into the banks’ balance sheets were replaced with low yielding T-Bills by the SBP.
People can disagree with the SBP’s target growth in M1 and M2, as disagreeing is what arm-chair economists can do best, but to go overboard with criticism is uncalled for. In my opinion the high target growth in M2 has both an upside in high economic growth in the country (that the SBP is looking forward to) and a downside that I am sure the SBP’s economists are well aware of, and that is ruining banks’ profits and fuelling inflation. Only when the future will unfold, would we come to know whether it was the upside or the downside.
For the record, targeting high growth in M2 to fuel economic growth is a hot favourite monetary policy measure being adopted by most countries’ central banks these days.
FUZAIL ZUBAID AHMAD
Karachi
THE press is providing us with information about the spread of various kinds of infectious diseases in Pakistan. Already the government has announced that it will spend two billion rupees on various programmes to control HIV or AIDS.
One also reads about various reasons for the spread of this infectious disease. Some of the reasons have to do with the bigger issues of human behaviour and training on hygiene while other reasons, including use of spurious instruments and syringes, are more controllable in a shorter time.
It is common knowledge in the medical field that one of the big reasons for the spread of infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B and C is the reuse of syringes as well as the first-time use of spurious syringes. If health care authorities can solve just this problem of spurious syringes and the reuse of conventional syringes, some serious progress will be made in controlling the spread of HIV, hepatitis B and C, etc.
It is suggested that authorities and the health care profession work together in an integrated manner on more fronts than one.
Some legislation and policy work can be helpful like implementing directives from the World Health Organization for the use of only those syringes that automatically become non-workable after the first use.
Moreover, the authorities will have to make it very unattractive to make and sell spurious syringes. Although the cost of using syringes that automatically become disable after their first-time use will be from 30 to 60 per cent higher, this option will still be cheaper when one calculates the cost to our health care system and society in terms of the billions of rupees spent on treating people with infectious diseases, caused by the reuse of conventional syringes.
It is worrisome to see that many trading houses import inadequate equipment and fixed them in small rooms to make spurious syringes. These low quality and spurious syringes are pushed in government hospitals on dust cheap prices by influencing, many times financially, purchasers and administration officials. The sufferers are poor patients, society and the country.
The government should mandate that all new syringe-manufacturing equipment should be for the production of autodisable syringes alone. The government should also give between six months and one year to local syringe-making facilities to upgrade to making autodisable syringes.
Since the press has been highlighting this issue for quite some time, let’s hope our health care authorities will think that the time has come for action and move fast in making some tough but right decisions that will safeguard the interests and rights of all patients, and not of a small group of the makers of conventional syringes that can be reused, spreading infectious diseases.
FAQEER-A-DANISH
Lahore
THERE has been a sudden outcry within the Muslims, particularly the Pakistani community, in Britain over the recent anti-terrorism police raid on Finsbury Park Mosque in North London. Several Muslims whom I met recently expressed anger over the raid and considered it an act against Islam.
For a long time the mosque has been a centre of controversy owing to the inflammatory and highly politically-motivated speeches delivered at prayer times by the cleric, Abu Hamza. Besides, several of the high profile suspects of the 9/11 terror attacks and also the post-Sept 11 events related to terrorism somehow have a link to the mosque. The recent discovery of poison ‘Ricin’ and plans for a biological terror attack on Britain at a nearby flat led to the raid on the mosque.
I would like to ask my fellow Muslim brothers and sisters who have expressed anger over the raid if they are justified in disapproving the swoop, and also whether this raid is any different from a raid conducted on any other building, whether residential or commercial. According to the police, they raided only those parts of the mosque which were not used for prayers, i.e. offices and other rooms. How does such a raid be considered an act against Islam?
By conducting their anti-terror operations, the security services and the police here in Britain are protecting not only the non-Muslims but also the vast majority of the Muslims who reside in the larger cities of the country.
Cities like London Birmingham and Manchester which are potential terrorist attack targets have a high density of the Muslims living and working there. Any attack on the London underground rail network or on some other public place would result in a high number of causalities, both Muslim and non-Muslim.
We should remember the number of Muslim casualties that occurred during the Sept 11 attacks in the US. Would the Muslim community in Britain still oppose police raids and arrests if such an incident in London or Manchester claimed the lives of hundreds of our Muslim brothers and sisters along with others?
DR SHAAZ MAHBOOB
Uxbridge, UK
THIS is with reference to Aileen Qaiser’s article entitled ‘Gas crisis questions’ (Jan 29).
The issues raised are very pertinent and most thought- provoking. My understanding is that power houses, fertilizer plants, export-based industries and CNG stations would continue to be deprived of gas for weeks even after the availability of additional gas, following the completion of the much-trumpeted mega project.
I, therefore, raise the following concerns through your daily so that facts are brought to surface.
1. Availability of gas to the SNGPL during the winter months from current sources with whom gas supply contracts have been finalized for the years 2004-2010.
2. The demand for the winter months of gas for the power houses, fertilizer plants, industrial units, CNG stations, commercial and domestic consumers for the years 2004-2010.
It is generally believed that our refineries are producing motor gasoline far in excess of the country’s requirement and the surplus is being exported at a throw-away price. The burden of subsidy on this account is being borne by the taxpayer.
The managing director of the SNGPL has estimated a sale of 40 MMCFD per day to CNG stations. Hundreds of more CNG stations are being planned to come into operation during the next couple of years. One has to ponder whether it is in the national interest to deprive the export-based industry of natural gas and divert it for the use of motor vehicles. Similarly, power stations would continue to use imported furnace oil during the winter months due to the shortage of gas.
One more important aspect which needs to be highlighted is the safety of gas pipelines. There are statutory requirements regarding design, construction, operation and maintenance of pipelines. The industry is required to follow the American standards in this regard. The US has a department of line pipe safety in the federal government.
It is understood that the chief inspector of explosive of the government of Pakistan has also been vested with authority as that of the department of safety. It would be interesting to find out whether anybody is actually performing the regulatory role for ensuring the safety of public life and property.
M. ARIF AKHTAR
Islamabad
THIS is with reference to Zahid Abbasi’s letter, ‘IT as a subject’. Let me say at the onset that I am an Indian (an IT professional), so my view of what happens and should happen in Pakistan is of no consequence. However, the letter by Mr Abbasi borders on hilarity.
If all there is to IT is sending emails and chatting on the internet, well, then I may have totally missed the point all my life as may have all big companies in the world.
To really understand what makes India a software giant, you need to go into the 80s when IT training companies started teaching software programming to school and college children. One could be studying sociology in a college and still learning computer programming in an IT training class during the weekends and doing a three-year course.
Over a 10-year period, India suddenly seems to have a generation of smart IT literate children who know their subjects and can programme if they need to. Today, children from small, unheard of towns and as young as 11 set the records at being the youngest to get the MSCD certification by getting training in such a training course!
I am not sure about Pakistan, but most of the bachelor courses in India do not give you enough skills and the pedigree to get a job (except engineering and medicines). After three years of BA, the three years spent in the evening at an IT training course suddenly become more important than the three years spent doing BA.
To think that governments can suddenly make IT compulsory and wave a magic wand and thus produce an IT literate population is wishful thinking. A government, be that of India or Pakistan or even of the US, is totally incompetent to do any good commercial or development effort. The “business” of human development should provide profit to local businessmen to start such a revolution. Many Pakistanis have such businesses in my city in the US.
DESH KAPOOR
Houston, USA
THIS refers to a press briefing recently held by the chief of the national savings schemes through which he explained the government decision to give a better profit rate to retired ‘government servants’, excluding the other senior citizens of the country.
I have two serious objections: One, public servants are still referred as government servants. This terminology reminds me of the colonial era. It is unfortunate that these people who are paid from the public exchequer still think themselves to be of a very special breed and above the law. It is often observed that if they happen to travel in government vehicles, both civil and military, traffic rules and laws are violated and they go scot-free.
I request the government that in order to enforce the rule of law, the government employees should always be referred as public servants, i.e. ‘khuddam-i-awam’ and they should wear the national dress in offices.
Two, why this discrimination among senior citizens? Be they public servants or otherwise, all senior citizens above 60 are given special status worldwide, except in this country. Why are senior non-public servants/citizens deprived of their rights of having a better rate on their savings?
I travelled to India in 1999; from New Delhi to Allahabad by train and concession of 40 per cent was allowed for me and my wife. The reason that the government still follows the rules and laws of the Raj era is that our Constitution is mainly based on 1935 Act of British India which had a colonial tinge.
The prime minister and his finance advisers may take steps to remove this anomaly.
S. M. ZAKERYA KAZMI
Karachi
THERE has been much criticism of the American foreign policy, but a few attempts have been made to understand the rationale behind it.
I often speak to the Americans who support the conservative pro-Bush agenda, and at times, it is left to me to begin to explain the outrageous actions of the US administration in the eyes of the progressive American.
I was one of the youngest persons to manage a Republican campaign for US Congress. It has become clear to me that the power vacuum in the West is filled with men who are indoctrinated with what I would like to call the ‘MBA mentality’.
These people start out as normal business men and end up serving their own interests. This happens simply because they are taught in business schools that creating a business with a modest profit that benefits its employees is not enough. Their personal image becomes interconnected with margins, the fact that there are employees also depending on the performance of a company is not as important to them as is how the image of the company reflects on them.
When you put a man like this in power, as has happened with George W. Bush, you are left with a very dangerous situation where one man’s aggression begins to be reflected in national policy.
Let us hope that more voices from within the US political system will be raised against such abuse of power.
SCOTT BENNIS
California, USA
AFTER spending about a month in Pakistan, I was eager to go back home on Jan 24. My Malaysian Airlines flight was 36-hour long. As I was still recovering from a bout of flu, I was relieved to have finally arrived at LAX, just a short hop away from San Francisco, my final destination.
I was happy to see that the queue for US passport holders had just a couple of people. My turn came and I approached an immigration officer at the counter. On looking at my passport, she asked me if I had a second form of photo identification such as a driver’s licence. I told her that I never carried my driver’s licence outside the country. She insisted that I show her another photo ID. I told her I had some credit cards with me which she could check.
She then told me to stand aside and wait. Then another person holding a walkie-talkie asked similar questions. My reply was, “no”. Then at another counter behind which sat an Asian woman and a white man, I was asked the same question.
Then the man began asking me a series of questions. I was told to take a seat, again. And finally he began making light conversation, handing me back my passport.
Does the mere fact that I am Muslim and have a common Arabic name give the government authorities the right to revoke my citizenship privileges and hold me without a just cause?
KHALID AFSAR
California, USA
THIS refers to the article headlined ‘Governor in politics’ (Feb 9) by Kunwar Idris.
The writer has raised an objection against making Gen (Retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch governor of Balochistan. He has forgotten that many army officers have enjoyed this high position so far.
It cannot be claimed that the 1973 Constitution today is the same as it was in 1973, for it has undergone hundreds of ‘surgeries’. Mr Idris has mentioned that no permanent resident of a province is to hold this apex administrative position in that province, but soon submitted that article was amended later on.
It seems strange that he has no objection to the appointment of a Sindhi as governor of Sindh, a Punjabi as governor of Punjab and a Frontier man holding the highest office in the NWFP. Similarly, Mr Idris has not taken any exception to the holding of the office of president of Pakistan by the chief of army staff.
In the post-9/11 scenario, Balochistan which has a border of 1,400 miles with Afghanistan and a 700-mile sea coast stands in need of special attention. At this critical juncture, the appointment of Gen (Retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch as governor of Balochistan is justified, for he is a person who hails from this province and is well-versed with the problems and sufferings of the people.
GULZAR KHAN MARRI
Karachi
THE Peshawar airport has sprouted from what was once an air force base because of the non-availability of anything better and the paucity of funds when Pakistan came into being. Now the airport is at the most inappropriate place.
The constantly expanding city has brought the airport right into its centre. Further expansion and improvement in the airport will not be possible as the approach to the airport is through a very congested and thickly-populated area. The airport has disrupted communications with the city.
The city and the cantonment area have been cut off from University Town, Hayatabad, and the university area. Communication between these areas is restricted to two roads on either end of the airfield.
The noise of jet planes is a tremendous strain on the nerves and is, therefore, a real health hazard which is likely to cause serious mental diseases.
I would like to make the following suggestions to better the situation.
A) The airport be shifted to Risalpore in place of the Air Force College.
B) The Air Force College be shifted to Kohat which was an air force base at one time and still has an air strip that can easily be expanded.
C) The training centre in Kohat be shifted to other localities in Kohat which is a sparsely-populated area.
These changes can immediately be made at a minimum expense and in the best interest of the people.
LT-COL (RETD) AMANULLAH KHAN
Peshawar
THE recent controversy about the birthplace of the Father of the Nation started on Dec 25 last year with an article by M. Shafiq Ahmed in Dawn. He held Karachi as his birthplace and rejected the contention that Jhirk in the Thatta district was his place of birth. Since then your daily has published a number of articles on this subject.
Someone has asserted that Wazir Mansion was a ‘musafirkhana’ at the time of the birth of the Quaid-i-Azam. This was a big assertion.
My historical perspective is that Mr Jinnah’s forefathers were Ismaili Khojas, who settled at the Paneli village in the Gondal state of Khatiawar in India. His father, Jinnahbai, was a forward-looking man who wanted to progress with the time.
At that time Karachi with a population of around 50,000 had emerged as the British India’s closest port to Europe. Karachi offered tremendous opportunities for hardworking and ambitious persons like Jinnahbai Poonjabai. Finally, he decided to shift to Karachi. But, before coming to Karachi, Mr Jinnah’s family had perhaps stopped over for some years at Jhirk, a most beautiful town in the present district Thatta, about 80 miles from Karachi.
His Highness Prince Agha Khan IV also used to live there. The palace of Agha Khan and ruins of Jinnahbai are still there. The school where the Quaid-i-Azam was enrolled is still functioning there. Some quarters suggest that Mr Jinnah was born over there and received his primary education in that school.
It is a fact that the Quaid-i-Azam himself never quoted neither Jhirk nor Wazir Mansion as his birth place. He quoted only Karachi as his birth place. On Aug 9, 1947, Sir Ghulam Hussain HIdayatullah, the first chief minister of Sindh (1937) and the first governor of Sindh, after Pakistan’s creation, hosted a party in which the Quaid-i-Azam said, “I am Karachi born, and it was on the sands of Karachi that I played marbles, in my boyhood. I was schooled at Karachi.”
The important thing is that letters writers have overlooked the fact that Thatta was administratively a part of Karachi in those days.
In any case, it does not make much difference whether he was born in Karachi or in Jhirk. For resolving the issue, known historians of Pakistan like Dr Riaz Ahmed of the Quaid-i-Azam University, Dr Sharif Al Mujahid and Dr Mubarak Ali should come up with their expert opinions on this issue.
MANSOOR ALI SHAHANI
Karachi
You can also send letters to the Editor
Just send your message to the following address:
Make sure you include your full name, postal address, e-mail address, and in the case of Pakistan your day-time telephone number.