Migrating to Canada?

I AM writing this letter as a warning to those who are contemplating immigrating to Canada. A campaign is under way in the media and on the internet job-sites by well-known immigration lawyers and agencies canvassing immigration to Canada.

It is the world‘s second largest country, they say. What they do not say is that the hapless immigrant is compelled to live in the immigration black-holes of Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal because of the sheer remoteness and lack of opportunities elsewhere. Internal migration from the sparsely populated and under-developed provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, NWT, Yukon and the Atlantic provinces is commonplace.

It is highly industrialized with low unemployment, they say. Of course you can get a job if you are willing to work as a clerk, cab driver, door-to-door salesman, manual labourer or restaurant help. Your qualifications be damned.

Canada welcomes immigrants, they say. Yes, it does, because it is a money-spinner for the government. Consider each immigrant spending thousands of dollars in application fees and bringing an average of 15,000 dollars in initial settling money. When you finally do land in Canada, be prepared to face subtle racism.

Canada is a group of islands of various ethnic communities. You can expect little or no interaction with the other ethnic communities or with the white majority outside of the work place.

The social welfare programmes are the best in the world, they say. That is true in theory. In practice, be prepared to live with a medical system that is inadequate. And that’s in the big cities. Medical care in the rural areas is virtually non-existent. Waiting lists for routine medical procedures that extend into months and years are commonplace. Doctors with foreign qualifications are allowed to practise in the remote province of Newfoundland, but not in Ontario where foreign doctors are forced to be cab drivers to eke out a living .

If after reading all this, you are still considering immigrating to Canada, my advice is: visit the country first as a tourist. Before spending a fortune in fees and expenses and making the decision of a lifetime, is it not wise to at least see the place? Do you buy a car without test-driving it first?

PETER D’SOUZA

Toronto, Canada

Pakistan vs Australia

WE cannot say that the skipper’s decision in asking Australia to bat first went wrong as at one stage Australia’s top four batsmen were sent back for 82 runs. Then the skipper lost the grip owing to limited choice of the bowlers.

Basically, the team selection went wrong. The thunders of Shoaib Akhtar did not work. It would have been far better to include a specialist spinner like Saqlain in his place as you already had pace battery of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Abdul Razak. Further, you could have Azhar Mahmood in for Shahid Afridi who has been very inconsistent so far; in that case, Salim Elahi and Taufiq Umar would have opened the Pakistan’s innings.

The way some of Pakistani batsmen threw their wickets is quite strange. However, 310 was a big task and this time it is our bowling squad selection which let us down.

KHALIL-UR-REHMAN

Karachi

YES, it was a perfect Eid gift, not to the Pakistani nation, but in fact to the Australians. A match about which so much speculation, analysis and, above all, expectations were attached, had its fate decided even before the first ball was bowled.

No sane person in the cricketing world will deny the fact that the Pakistani team is a poor chaser. Unfortunately, our dear captain, intentionally or unintentionally, decided to field first in front of undoubtedly the best cricketing nation of the world. God knows what he had in mind, and what mathematics led him to take this decision. But that was not all. He should have at least considered listening to the ground staff.

Excluding Saqlain Mushtaq from the line-up was another crucial decision, specially knowing the fact that the Australians had a relatively inexperienced middle order and he could have given tremendous variety to the attack.

Everything said and done, the result was painful. This was only our first game of the World Cup, so better gear up, boys, and start thinking with your brains. There was no really bad individual show but the thing that really counts is to take a right decision at the right time.

SYED DAWER

Lahore

Indian propaganda

IN its relentless campaign to get Pakistan declared a terrorist state, first capitalizing on the 9/11 incidents, and then the Iraq situation on WMDs, India is leaving no stone unturned.

Now after US Secretary of State Powell’s statement linking Iraq with Al Qaeda, India has again seized the opportunity to use this sentiment with a tirade of statements, which include all kinds of phraseology such as:

“We knew all along that the Jihadi terrorism had its centre in our region and the epicentre has shifted from Afghanistan to Pakistan”, and “there are numerous well-documented reports on the involvement of Pakistani scientists in the transfer of nuclear technology to third countries such as North Korea. Similarly, there is also evidence of the transfer of nuclear missile technology by North Korea to countries in our region.” (statement from India’s Deputy Prime Minister Advani in Singapore on Feb 5).

“It is asserted that Osama bin Laden’s associates are freedom fighters when they act in one country and terrorists when they act elsewhere. Jihadi groups have been given shelter using this dubious logic. This is how our neighbour has been trying to justify its policy on cross-border terrorism in J & K.” (Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Feb 9).

“The international community must ensure that countries which covertly or overtly encourage terrorist activities do not become beneficiaries of international aid and assistance which could get diverted to further promote nefarious activities.” (BJP Party President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Feb 9)

“The novel version of democracy, which Pakistan recently unveiled, has brought in more religious extremist forces into the polity, particularly on the Afghanistan border. Safe havens for Al Qaeda and Taliban elements may expand in consequence”, and “Pakistan is suspected of hiding its nuclear assets in tunnels and caves in the Chagai Hills of Balochistan”. (India’s National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra, Feb 9).

This is developing into a cheap and baseless publicity. For example, why would Pakistan which has declared its nuclear arsenals hide them in tunnels and caves, unless the spokesman is trying to draw a parallel with the hunt for Osama bin Laden in the tunnels and caves of Afghanistan?

RAFI AHMED

Karachi

Cancer registry

THIS refers to Dr Yasmin Bhurgri letter, ‘Cancer registry’ (Feb 12). I think she is doing a great job in collecting this registry.

The World Health Organization sponsored a national cancer registry programme in 1996 and undertook the project single-handedly. The programme required collection of cancer data from all over Pakistan and compiling it.

A dial up network was devised and computer hardware was supplied to 10 centres all over the country. A database and communication software was developed that automated the whole process and each of the centre was required to fill in the database and transmit it to the central office in Islamabad daily.

In those days, internet facilities were very basic in Pakistan and were not available in distant areas like Jamshoro, Larkana, Multan, Quetta or Peshawar.

At the completion of the network installation, a conference was held in Islamabad, which was presided over by the regional director of Who. The model was appreciated very much — so much so that it was recommended to be applied in other developing countries of Africa and South America. Dr Yasmin’s institute was also invited to participate in the programme, but we did not receive any positive reply from them.

It was all well till the implementation stage. None of the centres were keen on transmitting data, and the data that they did transmit was incomplete and often useless. It pains me a lot to see such a nice and practical model going to the dogs owing to infighting, politics and greed on part of the respective centres.

The lesson learned from the project was that the principal investigator has to take personal pains and be very persistent and resourceful. Cancer registry is the vital and basic step in the management and planning of a killer disease like cancer.

I wish we had more people like Dr Yasmin who could take pains in implementing certain projects, not just for fame and monetary gains.

DR AAMER AZIZ

Singapore

Change in route of ‘green bus’

THE ‘green bus’ which recently started from PIDC to Safoorah Goth was very beneficial for the people of Gulistan Jauhar and its surrounding areas. It is the only direct transport available to Tower-bound commuters, but last week its route was changed.

From Johar Chowrangi, it earlier went to Samama Shopping Centre and then to University Road. Now from Johar Chowrangi, it directly goes to Safoora Goth, thus depriving a large area people of this facility.

The area this change of route has affected is between Johar Chowrangi and University Road, having a number of apartments such as Sadiq Amin Towers, Abdullah Heights, Dolmen Court, Safari Heights in which thousands of people live. These people now have to use two different buses/coaches for going to Tower and PIDC.

The metro bus service on this route is less effective, as Keamari route buses are fewer than those which run on the Clifton route.

I, therefore, request the authorities concerned to restore the previous route of the Green bus and to increase the number this bus.

Dr ZIA

Karachi

Ban on student unions

THE letter by Sajid Namoos (Feb 9) is full of contradictions. On the one hand, he states that “without education we cannot make any progress”, but on the other, he complains about the students being “depoliticized by successive governments”.

The only way we can make Pakistan stronger is through hard work. Everyone has a role to play. As students, our focus should be on education rather than on making speeches in the streets.

Illiterate politicians are like empty vessels. They complain about a lot of things but are incapable of coming up with any solutions to the problems of society. Today we should focus on education; only then can we become thinkers and nation-builders of tomorrow.

As Mr Sajid says that “many students later became prominent politicians of the country”. Very true, our time, too, will come, but first we have to lay a solid academic foundation for ourselves. Don’t hurry to get there, or you, too, will be like the bunch of politicians we have today.

As for the answers to his questions, I think the ban on student unions definitely helped end violence in educational institutes. I went to school during a time when students (belonging to various student wings of the political parties) of a neighbouring college took pride in brandishing automatic weapons.

The standard of education is bound to improve in an environment where teachers are not threatened by student unions and have control over their students.

While there may be some benefits accruing from student unions, the harm is greater. It is common sense that a thing is desirable only if its benefits are more than the harm it may bring about. Students should try to excel in studies, and when they do so, their voices will definitely be heard.

ZUBAIR NASEER

Karachi

Policymakers’ priorities

IT seems that those who are responsible for making policy decisions in our country have no vision or farsightedness. They make only those policies which are aimed at benefiting them and their parties.

The policymakers reverse their policies if their decisions do not yield desired results. They cannot come to a correct conclusion even after a process of trial and error.

The development grants allocated to each of the legislators to the tune of Rs50 millions and the recruitment made for posts from BPS-11 to BPS-16 (which were politically motivated in the past) are two policy decisions in question which were found to be inconsistent with the political environment of our country, and resulted in corruption and inefficiency. But these decisions have found favour with our political government yet once again.

The restoration of these grants and the withdrawal of powers of the Federal Public Service Commission to recruit people for above BPS posts are not meant to be good governance but are measures to enhance the powers of politicians to improve their own strength in their respective constituencies. These steps will certainly enhance corruption.

We have elected these representatives not for their own vested interests and for the enhancement of their own powers but to serve the country and its inhabitants. We are a developing country because our thoughts, perceptions and visions are developing and are not mature enough. Please grow up and strengthen the system rather than yourself.

PROF DR ASLAM PIRACHA

Islamabad

Dr Salam’s advice to countrymen

‘DR Salam‘s call‘ (Jan 30) stresses the need for using science to serve the supreme interest of mankind. The fact is that Dr Abdus Salam was not only a theoretical physicist with a vision for the 21st century and beyond, but also a dedicated organizational practitioner and a born teacher with an unsatiable urge to teach science, specially to young talented students of the Third World.

For this noble cause, he established the International Centre for Theoretical Physics at Trieste, Italy, from where during the last 35 years more than 80,000 young scientists from poor countries have gained the latest scientific know-how to benefit their nations.

Dr Salam also established in many countries the Trieste-type science transfer centres of excellence which are still yielding positive results. Recently, an African state, Republic of Benin, issued a special coloured postal stamp with a photo of Dr Salam to honour him for his services to promote science in Africa.

It is really a great tribute to the Pakistani Nobel winning physicist that he is a source of honour for his motherland even after his passing away seven years ago. Once I heard a science forum discussion on a foreign channel in which a young scientist was full of praise for Dr Salam, and said he had greatly benefited from reading science books and research papers written by the Pakistani scientist.

All this shows that we must learn lessons from our past lack of planning and systematic research in the field of science and technology.

One must acknowledge that during the past three years, extraordinary achievements have been made in the field of science and technology under the guidance of former federal minister Prof Dr Ata-ur-Rahman and one hopes that this progress will continue under the newly-formed democratic government.

SHOAIB SHEIKH

Sargodha

‘Crossing the bar’

I WISH to question Kuldip Nayar’s statement which he has made in his article, ‘Crossing the bar’ (Feb 8), that there are 150 million Muslims in India.

According to the authoritative The World Factbook 2002 of CIA, Muslims constitute 125.5 million (12 per cent of India’s total population of 1,045.8 million), and the number of Muslims in Pakistan is 142.6 million (97 per cent of the total 147.7 million). The World Factbook data are derived from official statistical systems of national governments and are, therefore, the most widely used resource of its kind.

Mr Nayar is a highly respected writer and probably this was an inadvertent mistake. However, the matter is sensitive as some people may construe such reports as a deliberate attempt to belittle Pakistan.

ZIAUDDIN AHMED

Germantown, USA

Plight of eunuchs

RECENTLY, the Peshawar city police directed the eunuch community to wind up its entertainment business of dancing and singing and start looking for some other means of income. Their Balakhanas have been closed, and they are not allowed to mix with the common man.

The way they are treated by the police indicates that they have committed some felony. Are they really criminals? If they are then they should be tried and put in jails, where they will be able to get at least free meals, clothes and shelters. Now, when they have no means of income, their condition is worse than prisoners’. What is their crime? They are eunuchs, agreed, but have they become eunuchs by choice? No.

The Egyptians as far back as 400BC classified the human population into three distinct categories: the male sex, the female sex and the middle sex. The eunuchs, the middle gender, had a respectable place in that society.

There are two major types of eunuchs. The first kind is the one known as born eunuchs. They can be taught in special schools to behave like either a normal female or a normal male, but this unfortunately is not done.

Since their sex lives are not normal, pretty soon they develop a kind of abhorrence against the opposite sex, thereby transforming themselves into what is generally known as gays or lesbians. In our country, middle-sex children can be identified in their early ages for having great interest in dancing or beating drums. If, however, forced to get married, they soon snap marital ties and feel happy in the company of other eunuchs.

The other category is that of forced eunuchs who have been castrated by the eunuch community by crushing their vital glands that connect the testes to other parts of the body. They obviously become incapacitated for reproduction, but are abnormally strong in muscles. A eunuch dancer is capable of dancing continuously for hours and hours without feeling fatigued.

No matter whether they are born eunuchs or castrated ones, they can easily be absorbed into society to earn Rizq-i-Halaal. A eunuch can be trained in running beauty parlours. They can become chowkidars, peons, clerks, lab assistants and cooks in women’s educational institutions. They can also be trained to become masons, carpenters, etc. In fact, this is the society that makes them outcasts and untouchable.

An Indian journalist, Zia Jaffary, carried out an extensive research on hijras in India. She has compiled her findings in a book entitled The Invisible. Obviously, in order to understand the inherent problems of this wretched class of society, the high-ups must read this book.

I appeal to the government of the MMA in the NWFP to show some clemency towards the eunuchs and give them an alternative means of income before they either starve to death or are forced to commit mass suicide.

PROF ROEDAR AHMAD KHAN

Peshawar