| February 27, 2003 | Thursday | Zul Hijjah 25, 1423 |
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Excessive use of pesticides
A tribute to Annemarie Schimmel
‘Selection for UN tribunal irks judges’
Condition of Islamabad airport
Renaming the NWFP
Rain and World Cup
Improving our water reservoirs
Pakistani passport’s credibility
WMD
Model University Ordinance
THIS is with reference to Henry Kissinger’s interview titled ‘Iraq and Korea, two huge threats’ (Feb 6).
I want to thank you for providing your readers with an opportunity to read the mind of this American establishment intellectual, who has got the blood of millions of innocent Vietnamese, Arabs and Latin Americans on his sleeves in his days as secretary of state in the Nixon administration in the 1970s. He is, of course, well-qualified to talk about a US imperialism’s impending war against Iraq, having once said, “Power is the great aphrodisiac.”
Throughout his interview, Kissinger shows his innate ability by completely avoiding the issue of why a war on Iraq is not necessary to get rid of Saddam Hussain. Engage him on the secular nature of Iraq’s Baathist state, thereby disproving its alleged connections with Al Qaeda, and you get the standard Kissingerian gem about weapons of mass destruction being compatible with secularism.
Had the interviewer quizzed him about the weapons of mass destruction which secular Israel and secular United States possess (and their very substantial threat to world peace), the former secretary of state might have been sorely tested to argue his case on Iraq. It seems Kissinger’s mind is still warped in the days of the Cold War.
His stance on North Korea is again based on vehement anti-communism, going back to his days as a fabled Cold Warrior, even at a time when socialism is no longer a dominant state ideology. Of course, it would be too much to expect of Kissinger to advocate that North Korea, being a sovereign state, has the right to defend itself by whatever means possible against two powerful client states of the US, namely Japan and South Korea, both countries housing significant numbers of US troops. And it would be even more outrageous for him to suggest what right the US government has invading other countries and toppling their regimes by force.
Kissinger’s failure to understand the real roots of Muslim rage (both secularist and fundamentalist) can again be witnessed by his refusal to acknowledge an instant solution for the Palestinians; for him it is more important for imperialism to manifest its full destructive power in Iraq and to subject innocent Iraqis to wanton terror.
But it is the issue of Israel that Kissinger will not talk freely about, despite being a fervent Zionist, except when it is reinforcing Israel’s arming by the United States. For I think the real reason for the looming war on Iraq is, indeed, to control the last army in the Middle East, which is still capable of standing up to the Zionist army, and to render it useless. Without knowing this fact, no one can hope to understand the complex politics of the Middle East. And we cannot expect of Henry Kissinger to talk about these things.
RAZA NAEEM
Lahore
THIS refers to a report which has appeared in your newspaper on Feb 15 on the excessive use of pesticides. The report has only touched the tip of the iceberg.
Because of the sensitive nature and serious repercussions of the misuse and wrong handling of pesticides on environment, human health and biodiversity globally, pesticides are considered technically-oriented sales and a regulated business.
While the laws to ensure registration and sale of appropriate pesticides are enacted by governments, the onus of responsibility for educating and creating awareness among farmers lies with the pesticides companies. To meet this requirement, the import, sale, and marketing of the pesticides were transferred from the public sector to the private sector in early 80s. Until 1990, Pakistan was a disciplined branded pesticide market where pesticide companies educated the farmers about the proper use of their branded pesticides.
In early 90s on the persuasion of some influential farmers, the government introduced the generic scheme of registration of pesticides which resulted in the availability of some cheaper pesticides from non-conventional sources and triggered mushroom growth of pesticide companies. This is creating the following highly detrimental, long-term effects on Pakistan‘s agricultural sector:
1. Consequent to generic scheme, the inflow of newer pesticides and modern insect/pest control technology has totally stopped from abroad.
2. Pakistan has become Asia’s biggest dumping ground for the old pesticide products.
3. Companies have gradually stopped their field activities of creating awareness among the farmers.
4. These factors are causing pest resistance, flare up of new insect/pests and killing of the population of beneficial insects which are essential to keep a natural control of injurious insect/pests.
5. Owing to the aforementioned reasons, the number of sprays have increased, pushing up the cost of production of crops such as cotton and rice which are important export commodities.
6. Pesticides are being sold as commodity products without corresponding technical backup and after-sale service to the farmers.
7. While the rest of the world is actively moving towards organic production of crops and is using naturals as much as possible, Pakistan is being pushed into the opposite direction of over-use of chemicals.
This is time the detrimental effects of the generic scheme were thoroughly evaluated and the branded scheme of pesticides registration and marketing was reintroduced.
S. M. SALEEM
Karachi
A GREAT scholar who understood the East and, more specifically, the world of Islam has left a vast legacy of love and learning.
I first met Dr Schimmel in the US when she was teaching at the Harvard University in 1967. Then I met her more often when she visited Lahore and Islamabad. Steeped in an aura of mysticism, she seemed to be living simultaneously in several worlds, both here and in the hereafter, during her lectures. Death claims all, even the wisest, noblest, the loveliest and, perhaps, even the irreplaceable.
Long ago I was fortunate to have spent a whole day with Dr Schimmel in Islamabad and Wah. We went to Wah to see the Mughal Gardens. She had heard that a Pakistani engineer had successfully restored the hydraulic system and was keen to see the results.
It was a marvellous experience to visit the gardens with her. I also realized how deep was Dr Schimmel’s interest in Islamic civilization holistically. She was quite ecstatic with the running luminous water channels. Her laughter and light-hearted conversation still echo in my memory. The world needs more such people for peaceful co-existence of living civilizations.
GULZAR BANO
Lahore
IN your issue of Feb 10, you carried the news item, ‘Selection for UN Tribunal irks judge’. This move has the unavoidable implication of imputing to the judges of the superior courts a keenness to jump the fence, little caring for the rules of the game and the ethics governing them.
Article 207(2) of the Constitution mandates that a judge of the Supreme Court or of a high court shall not occupy any other position carrying the right to remuneration for the rendering of services.
Article 5(2) of the Constitution demands obedience to the Constitution and the law is the inviolable obligation of every citizen wherever he may be and of every other person for the time being within Pakistan.
Article II and Article VII of the Code of Conduct to be observed by the judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Courts in Pakistan framed by the Supreme Judicial Council of Pakistan in discharge of its obligations under clause 8 of Article 209 are equally relevant.
Article II (Judicial Qualities) says: “A judge should be God-fearing, law-abiding, truthful of tongue, wise in opinion, cautious and forbearing, blameless, untouched by greed.”
Article VII says extra-judicial duties or responsibilities, official or private, should be generally avoided. He should equally avoid being a candidate for any elective office in any organization, whatsoever.
It is unfortunate that those aspiring and obtaining such a position should remain oblivious of the fundamental requirements of the governance structure of the country.
A RETIRED JUDGE
Islamabad
SINCE 1980 I have been visiting Pakistan every year. During all these times, I have been having good and bad experiences at the entry and exit points of various airports of the country.
While it is true that some officers at these airports are extremely efficient, honest, dedicated and helpful, most are, unfortunately, ill-trained, greedy and unhelpful. These negative tendencies contribute further to an already distorted image of our country abroad.
I don’t generally face any serious trouble at the airports. My latest trip to Pakistan in December 2002 was, however, an exception. Through Islamabad International Airport, I entered and departed. There is absolutely no order of any kind at the departure gates of the airport. Visitors makes the airport worse than a crowded bus stop or a railway station. The police and the airport security officials just chat with the public. Passengers find it extremely difficult to enter the departure gates.
There are long queues at the departure gates and you will find policemen asking for your tickets. At times, these policemen cannot even check passports properly. By the way, what is the fun in seeing tickets? Instead of one policeman, why can’t they depute two or three to speed up the process?
As soon as you cross this hurdle, another painful process starts; getting your entire luggage checked. Just imagine moving with your family, including children, opening your bags and re-packing them. Why carry out this unique search operation in the presence of very expensive screening machines?
At the airline’s counter, the staff are extremely courteous and helpful. At the immigration counter, the officers take at least 10 minutes to adjust their computers before they start the process. Imagine how much time is lost in this exercise.
Will somebody at the helm of affairs bring an orderly way of handling these matters at the airports?
N. M. ABBASI
Lusaka, Zambia
It is really surprising that the NWFP chief minister has himself raised the issue of renaming the province.
I would like to say that there is no special need for doing this, because we already have a lot of problems other than this one which can trigger a big controversy.
First, this issue will waste the precious time of the legislators who should concentrate on many pressing problems such as education, standard of professional colleges and universities, etc.
Secondly, it is not a good idea to name the NWFP as ”Pakhtoonkhawa”, because it would mean that the people of the Hazara division are not our brothers. Let me inform all the Pakhtoons that in the US, I usually find people other than the Pakhtoons of the NWFP hard working, intelligent and living a life of good Muslims.
So it would be unjust to deprive them of their identity. The name of the province should be such that everyone accepts it. We should develop unity, not disputes over small matters.
G. M. HASAN
USA
A TARGET of 22 runs in one ball was flashing on the screen when South Africa had been given a revised target after the rain had disrupted the semi-final match played between South Africa and England in the World Cup 1992. The rules applied to rain-affected matches have always been a matter of concern in World Cup matches.
In the current World Cup, the awarding of equal points to both the teams in the event of rain when both sides fail to play minimum 25 overs is again going to give some undue advantage or disadvantage to the teams.
The first unlucky team during the World Cup 2003 has been the West Indies when its match against Bangladesh, which have not won a limited-overs international for five years, was disrupted by rain and both the teams were awarded two points each.
At the time of rain, the West Indies were hot favourite to win the match. Certainly, the South Africans are the happiest over the decision as they are looking desperately of losing the points by the teams which are closed to them on the table of points.
The ICCI must introduce such rules which minimize chances to give undue advantage or disadvantage to the teams.
M. IDREES KABATI
Karachi
WATER resource management of a river is a serious issue. Looking at the Indus river and the storage reservoirs of the country, hydroelectricity is known to be one of the least expensive modes of power production. Combined with the use of water for irrigation, along with its storage, preventing it from flowing into the sea and flood prevention are its multiple advantages.
The Tarbela dam, built as part of the Indus Basin Water Treaty works programme, has a specific life. The estimated reservoir capacity, when the dam was built and commissioned, was to the tune of 50 million acre feet. It was also estimated that the dam reservoir would be silted up at the rate of 0.9 million acre feet every year. The reservoir’s life, therefore, is not more than 60 odd years. That means the entire reservoir will be silted up within 20 years from now.
Thus, our next option is only the northern reaches where similar water reservoirs can be created, as the region’s downstream areas are the Punjab planes whose topography does not permit large reservoirs. there, only barrages can be raised to feed the canal system.
Now if we want irrigation water to feed the growing population, if we want more hydel power to meet the growing needs of electricity, if we want to prevent floods during summer, and if we want to conserve water from going waste, we will need large reservoirs that are only possible in the northern hilly, mountainous terrain like the Kalabagh dam site which has been found to be technically feasible and economically viable. It will boost our energy requirements, besides other benefits.
We will have to have this dam within 20 years in the larger interest of the country. Of course, some elements will be affected by this project, but the majority of people will certainly benefit from it. Let us not politicize it.
ARIF QAMAR KHAN
Islamabad
PAKISTANIS are not drug smugglers, but unfortunately wherever any person possessing narcotics is apprehended, he is found holding a Pakistani passport. The arrested person is never a bona fide Pakistani national, but someone who has somehow obtained a Pakistani passport.
No Pakistani government has ever taken any real interest in controlling the issuance of passports to aliens. It is a well-known fact that Gen Ziaul Haq ordered the authorities concerned to give passports to refugees from Afghanistan, which was then engaged in the so-called jihad against the Soviet Union
On his instructions, the Pakistani embassy in Saudi Arabia issued thousands of passports to Afghans. This question was raised in parliament, but in vain. The government of Gen Pervez Musharraf was serious about this matter, but the bureaucracy did not change its habit.
There have been instances where even the name of the father of a passport holder has been changed. This is done to avoid retirement or for getting resident permits as, after 60 years, such permits are not issued. For this reason, Pakistani passports have become a joke in the eyes of foreign employers.
Our embassies are not authorized to make such changes, but they are doing so, thus allowing the Pakistani passport to lose its credibility. It is time the government gave serious attention to this problem.
A CONCERNED PAKISTANI
Bahrain
If the possession of weapons of mass destruction is a crime, what about America and other world powers which themselves have piles of weapons of mass destruction?
If the world is not safe with the weapons of mass destruction going into the hands of Saddam Hussain, how can this world be safe from the Bushies and the Tonies of the world?
MASH
Karachi
IT is one thing to see universities as centres of excellence where knowledge propagates, but it is quite another to see them as models of a corporatized organization. What is now hanging in the air as the ‘Model University Ordinance’ takes the latter view.
However, given the fundamental diversity of the aforementioned two perspectives, the Ordinance is outrightly flawed. Therefore, any new version of it (the current one is the 18th version) will not do the trick.
We are all aware of the facts and requirements of a post-industrialized era of science and technology. However, modelling everything, including public sector universities, for the fulfilment of the needs of the time means making green things in an emerald city.
Science and technology is not everything. One must be able to see the needs of a civilized human society as a whole. If science and technology were enough to solve human problems, the world should have been reformed long ago. The brute facts of wars and the increasingly sophisticated weapons of mass destruction designed to kill and destroy a whole nation point otherwise. One needs humanism more than science at this age of atrocities coming out of techno-scientific possibilities.
Thus, our universities must be seen as places that essentially originate the learning processes in all areas of knowledge, rather than taking them as production houses of technologies. The process of learning in a wider area of knowledge, touching socio-philosophical issues, is vital for the preservation and propagation of a civilized society.
However, the irony is that the people in high places do not think in these terms. They seem to be blinded by technological progress of the West and the need to incorporate it into the country. They must realize that universities should be developed on socio-philosophical foundations rather than on techno-scientific innovations. Public sector universities must not be transformed into ‘manpower export promotion zones’, where people may come to get degrees for going abroad like the private universities. This exercise clearly leads to the country’s overwhelming brain drain.
Abolishing the structures erected over decades by the commitments of men of learning is going to create ‘black holes’ into which everything goes but none comes back. May the heavens have mercy on our country which is already at the mercy of the World Bank and the IMF.
Z. H. BABER
Karachi
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