In the EBR (17-23, March) there appeared two articles on electricity with
emphasis on Vision: 2025. One was by, S. Tanzeem Hussain Naqvi and the other
by Imtiaz Ali Qizilbash, both of whom retired after holding key posts in
Wapda. Strangely enough, while Mr. Qizilbash extols Vision:2025 and gloats
upon it because his sustained advocacy of water projects is going to be taken
up, Mr Naqvi, on the other hand, pooh-poohs the Vision-2025 as a rehash of
old, unfeasible and rejected ideas. For an ordinary Pakistani, such
diametrically opposite views are highly confusing, to say the least. What
will happen to us after billions have been spent on previously rejected
proposals?
We appear to be incapable of selecting right technologies. If the technology
is right, the timing is wrong. We cannot control our exuberance and buy in
excessive quantities. Our market surveys and future projections are
starry-eyed. When payable loans mount, we raise protest against corruption.
Motorway was an excellent project after the Russians lost the ECO. Later it
became bad as loans mounted to billions because of it. Perhaps taking up
Peshawar-Rawalpindi section first would have been more in keeping with the
spirit of reaching beyond Afghanistan and much less of a drain.
The IPP was a correct solution to the problem of loads shedding. But
investment did not pick up (it is still stagnant) and the multiple power
houses became an albatross around Wapda’s neck. Had these projects been
spread out over time, they would proved far more efficient as power
generation plants.
I am not defending Wapda. It has become one of our parking sites for useless
and incompetent favourites who exist in lakhs. After Ghulam Farooque, (PIDC,
Wapda, POF) and Zafarul-Ahsan (Thal), there has been a drought of leadership
in the development field. It is not so much corruption as poor management of
resources which is the root of Pakistan’s indebtedness. Syed T.H. Naqvi is absolutely right
on this point.
THIS is with reference to Mr William Worsley’s letter, ‘US: love and hate’
(March 22).
He expressed himself against the Pakistanis rather adversely in the context
of the Sept 11 tragedy. His statement that the American people expect
immigrants to love America and not to come “here to slaughter our citizens” is
an affront to the Pakistanis.
The alleged hatred for the United States among the Pakistanis is not at all directed against America or the American people but against the hawks in Washington. They are following their own agendas and
deliberately ignoring the services rendered by Pakistan and the Pakistanis living in the US.
Mr Worsley’s tone in asking the Pakistanis to do the Americans a favour and
not come to America sounds as if his forefathers were native Americans. Well, if they, like
those of the vast majority of Americans, came to America from elsewhere, he has no right to stop more
immigrants coming to America today.
JALAL AHMED
Karachi
(2)
MR William Worsley expressed puzzlement in his letter on how the Pakistani
people want to emigrate to the US and at the same time express their hatred for that
country.
Many Pakistanis respect and envy the US for its democratic traditions, freedom of thought,
and opportunities it offers to the immigrants. But they dislike and despise,
like millions of people in the rest of the world and the US, the arrogant, misguided, and self-centred foreign
policy of this great country.
After living in my adopted country for so many years I have come to realize
why our government acts like a “rogue state” when it comes to foreign policy.
For internal policies, the American people hold their politicians responsible
for their actions. But when it comes to foreign policy they turn a blind eye
to what our government does.
This gives our leaders a chance to act like outlaws. The invasion of Iraq is a prefect example of this attitude.
JAMIL AHMED
Houston, USA
(3)
MR Worsley confuses the hatred for America’s foreign policy and hypocrisy in its dealing with
other countries with the liking of American cultural products.
The Pakistanis he has mentioned about, with millions of people in many other
countries, have no hatred for Americans and their values of freedom. What
they hate — and not just they but many in the US itself — are the double standards in American foreign
policy.
TRUTH is certainly the first casualty of war. As the US army marches through Iraq, there are no signs of weapons of mass destruction
(WMDs), the supposed justification for this unprovoked and illegal war.
The American media, in collusion with the US state apparatus, is trying its utmost to establish
the credibility of this ‘primary justification’. Reports by the Fox TV
station of the discovery of chemical weapons factory near Najaf is a
coincidence, to say the least, as many around the world are asking that if
the WMDs exist, where are they? Why are the Iraqis not using them?
Even if these agents exist in the form of weapons, they hardly constitute any
threat to the United States and UK, who have huge stockpile of much more lethal WMDs. A
diet of Jerry Springer and Hollywood may produce the likes of George Dubya and Fox TV, with
its superficial claims, but the rest of the world will not be that gullible.
It is time for the independent world media to ask the obvious question that
have been avoided. If Iraq is prohibited even to posses WMDs, how is it that the
allies (read all lies) are justified in using WMDs against it?
A single cruise missile is not classified as a WMD but when used
simultaneously in thousands, they have the same desired effect in terms of
causing the mass devastation and destruction.
This mass destruction is then flashed on their media and beamed across the
world to teach the Arab/Islamic world a lesson, while providing entertainment
for their own audiences. One can certainly notice the contrast in the
appearance and the moods of the presenters on the CNN, Sky, CNBC, and the FOX
TV as compared to their reporting of the destruction caused by the 9/11
incidents.
THIS refers to the advertisement for the vacant post of director-general in
Sindh Coal Authority (Sept 17, 2002, page 22). The last date for the submission of
detailed resume was Oct 30, 2002. It is reliably learnt that the post has not yet been filled and the
organization is without any helmsman.
It is further understood that applications have not yet been received by the
Sindh Coal Authority because of the requirement of improper qualifications,
as under:
— Master’s degree in business administration or master’s degree in
engineering.
— Combination of both description will be a definite plus.
— Experience in mining industry will get due weightage /preference.
It makes little sense to me. Does it mean that a candidate having a master’s
degree in business administration is eligible for the post of
director-general of the Sindh Coal Authority? How can he run the organization
of a technical nature which the advertised academic qualifications do not
prescribe.
Further, a person with a master’s in engineering is also eligible. But it
does not specify the branch of the disciplined need for the job, whether it
is electrical, mechanical, electronics, civil, biomedical, environmental, textile
or computer engineering.
Certainly, a person having a master’s degree in mining geology or in mining
engineering is relevant for the post, and if he has a PhD degree he should
get the preference.
Again, it is interesting that no age-limit is prescribed. It means it is
anybody’s game. These are virtual flaws and need to be corrected and
re-advertised for selecting a suitable candidate for the post instead of
making a hash of things.
Casualties related to open manholes are quite common in Karachi and other major cities. It is extremely disappointing
that nothing serious is being done in this regard.
The problem is twofold. There are manholes which do not have covers on them
altogether. These are most dangerous for children who normally fall into them
while playing or walking on the side of the road not noticing them.
Then there are manholes which have covers but act as death-traps. The size of
the covers is small as compared to the frame. This results in making the
covers to rotate from the centre axis and give opening on two sides once some
body steps on them.
Not only that, these can come back to their close position by themselves
after releasing of load. For small children this is the most dangerous
situation. For the elders it is enough to fracture their leg bones. A
fortnight ago an old lady went through this experience and got her knee
damaged in the process.
Why have our attitudes gone so cold towards human life and sufferings? Why
can’t the government solve this problem? A simple weekly check on these
covers can narrow down the problem. The size of the cover should be true
fitting to avoid its rotational movement. The people responsible for
inspection should be taken to task in case of negligence.
THIS refers to the letter captioned “Education reforms in NWFP” by Prof
Roedar Ahmad Khan (March 27). I would like to add another point which the
learned professor has not mentioned and which, in my opinion, is also
important.
This is about coaching classes which almost all science teachers working in
colleges, both public and private, conduct in their drawingrooms in the
evening.
I believe that mental energy should be spent in the scheduled classes or else
be kept reserved for private evening coaching. One science teacher, working
in a very prestigious college at Peshawar, attends to three groups every day, each comprising
10 to 15 students. He charges Rs1,500 per student per month, thus earning at
least Rs45,000 a month through private coaching.
Obviously, he is not capable of giving sufficiently organized and coherent
lectures in his regular classes. My grandson, who is studying in the US, told me the other day that if a teacher is found
tutoring his own student privately, he loses the job right away. No wonder US scientists are able to walk on the moon, and are now
planning to fly to the Mars. I think the same is the case in most European
countries.
PLEASE refer to the letter of Mr Nehal Alvi (March 9) regarding late-night
weddings. Everybody knows that Karachi is called the “City of Lights. Although offices are closed at 6pm, shops and other general stores are normally closed
between 9 and 10pm. For example, Agha
Supermarket closes at 9.30pm.
Naturally, it is after finishing their job that people go to attend weddings
at 10.30pm or so. For some of them the wedding hall is located
far off from their homes. Thus the hosts have to keep many things in their
minds. So, naturally, dinners are served at 11pm and there is no need to switch off the light at 11pm because Mr Alvi does not take into consideration the
problems of the people mentioned.
When in Clifton food shops and restaurants are open till 2am where hundreds of people go after 11pm, there is thus no sense in switching off the lights
at wedding halls at 11pm.
THE untimely death of Maisoon Hussein comes as a blow to all those who
believe in human rights and justice.
She was a sincere friend and supporter of the Women’s Action Forum. She was
to be seen at every rally and seminar held for the cause, and the Women’s
Page she edited provided a hospitable space for views that were not otherwise
welcome at the time. She was a sensitive, committed and courageous journalist
and we shall miss her.
DOTS has been very much publicized and adopted by all practitioners because
of its effectiveness. This does not place emphasis on prevention of the
rampant disease. Prevention is better than just treatment. WHO, as a general
policy, also stresses the need for preventing the disease because of
cost-effectiveness and long-lasting result.
SIR is the preventive aspect of tuberculosis. These letters stand for: S —
sensitize the public and politicians about the severity of the disease, and
its curability and economical ill-effects. Politicians must take the task on
the national level, with support of budgetary allocations;
I — induce immunity against tuberculosis by good nutrition and by improving
general health, besides BCG vaccination;
R — reduce the reservoir of tuberculosis bacilli, the causative organisms.
This could be achieved by proper disposal of sputum and good hygienic living.
I suggest that whenever we talk of management of tuberculosis, it should
always be DOTS plus SIR.
THE President of Pakistan vide Ministry of Finance memorandum No. F-1(5)
Imp/2001 dated March 1, 2001, directed all the ministries and divisions to revise
the pay scales and pensions to give relief to the government servants and
retired employees and widows from the burden of taxes levied in the budget estimates
of 2002-03.
It is a matter of deep concern that the KPT administration has ignored the
retired employees and widow pensioners but enhanced the pensions of its
retired officers in view of the said memorandum with effect from 1.12.2001.
All other government, semi-government departments, including the PQA, have
enhanced the pensions of their retired employees and officers. The KPT’s
denial of the same to its retired employees and widow pensioners is
discriminatory and in breach of the said government order.
We appeal to the press to convey our grievances to the KPT authorities.
THIS is regarding my article, “Can Pakistan meet WSSD deadlines?” (March 26).
My original draft did mention Leadership for Environment and Development
(LEAD) Pakistan for organizing the stakeholder dialogue on WEHAB (water,
energy, health, agriculture, biodiversity) themes, which was the main focus
of the article.
Unfortunately, LEAD’s name was deleted, thus creating a negative impact on
the organizers’ minds. I hope this letter would dispel any impression of
“partiality” on my part, and straighten the facts.
THE date-sheet for the BA/BSc examinations has been published in Lahore. On Sunday, April 13, examinations for the papers of
a course of mathematics, mathematics general, zoology (old and new syllabi)
and social work will the held in the morning, and that of Islamic Studies in
the afternoon.
On the next Sunday on April 20, examinations for home economics paper will be
held on the next Sunday on April 20 in the morning. The papers of geography
(physical) and Urdu are scheduled to be held the same day in the afternoon.
I appeal to the authorities concerned to postpone the examinations for the
following reasons:
1. Sunday is the weekly holiday.
2. Both these Sundays are very important for the Christians. On these
particular days, i.e. April 13 and 20, we will be celebrating Palm Sunday and
Easter Sunday, respectively. Both Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday are very
important for us, specially Easter Sunday, as it is the greatest feast of the
Christian world.
How can you expect Christians candidates to take the examinations on these
festival days? Have ever examinations been held on any of the days of Eidul
Fitr or Eidul Azha?
The vice-chancellor and the controller of examinations of the University of Punjab are requested to look into this matter and reschedule the papers.
AS we hear much about whether student politics is right or wrong, I would
only say if we take politics in the right way, it is not wrong. But if we
misuse it, politics will change into violence.
These days we see many political groups working in our educational
institutions and disturbing the academic atmosphere there. I understand that
student politics is about the rights of the students but most groups doing
campus politics are creating disharmony.
Recently a walk against war was held in KarachiUniversity but later in the day the groups were found fighting among themselves.
Moreover, some of the students involved in such groups misuse their influence
to seek unjustified advantages for themselves or for their sympathizers
during examinations and on other occasions.
As a student of KarachiUniversity, I will go for a clean and competitive student
politics to defend and secure our rights so that we are able to create a
better educational environment in future.
“I AM strongly in favour of using poison gas against the uncivilised tribes
(Kurds and Afghanistan).” — Winston Churchill
So, the West knows when not to give importance to terrorism.
Z. A. KAZMI
Karachi
Bangladesh’s Test status
BANGLADESH was awarded Test status in the 2000/2001 season for
its team’s miraculous win over Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup. Ever since Bangladesh’s entry into cricket world, the team has lost all
but a few of its matches. The wins have come against the minnows with just
the one win over Pakistan.
The ICC may put it that Bangladesh deserved to get Test status, but neither did the
Bangladeshi team prove its worth before the award of Test status and nor did
it do so after that. Some critics even question the ability of the Zimbabwean
team, so the award of Test status to the Bangladeshi team raised quite a few
eyebrows.
Even if a team had to be awarded Test status, it should have been Kenya, based on their performances against stronger
opposition. Kenya has defeated India twice, West Indies once in the
1996 World Cup and Sri Lanka once in the ongoing 2003 World Cup.
Bangladesh has played in 65 ODIs, winning three, losing a
massive 60, and two of their matches have ended in a draw. Among their three
wins, they have defeated Kenya, Pakistan and Scotland once. On the contrary, Kenya has played 55 ODIs, won
10, lost 43, and two of these matches have ended as no result. They have
defeated India twice, the West Indies and Sri Lanka once, and Bangladesh on no less than five occasions. The head-to-head
record is 5-1 in favour of Kenya.
Numbers hardly lie and the above-mentioned information states that the award
of Test status was not based on merit but on some other basis. I would base
the award on the following:
— Bangladesh have a wide cricket following. Test status was
awarded to Bangladesh keeping in view the public interest in cricket in Bangladesh, which is far more than that in Kenya. The authorities made a decision in aid to make the
game popular regardless of the main parameter, i.e. merit.
— Cricket decisions are also at times political in nature. There are a few
blocs in cricket such as the Asian bloc which comprises Pakistan, India, Sri
Lanka and now Bangladesh and the other bloc comprises teams like New Zealand,
Australia, England, South Africa, Zimbabwe and the West Indies. Keeping in
view the power element, the Asian blocs voted in favour of awarding Test
status to Bangladesh, in order to somewhat even out the spread of ultimate
voting power.
The records of both the nations have been presented above along with my
personal opinion. Make up your own mind and decide that whether the decision
to grant Test status to Bangladesh was merit-based, or even for that matter justified.
