| April 4, 2003 | Friday | Safar 1, 1424 |
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Cricket squad for Sharjah
United Nations’ relevance
Green buses: good service
Dirty currency notes
Muslim countries’ responsibility
Social uplift in Pakistan
Reinstatement appeal to PM
Scholarship award
CLI applicant’s complaint
Bank borrowings
Internet blues
More money for PCSIR?
Lahore
YOUR excellent editorial captioned ‘Cost of flawed assumptions’ (April 1) realistically presents the basic rule of cause and effect. The conduct of President Bush provides its latest illustration. Between the lines, however, it is an indirect, but painful, reminder of similar mistakes on our part.
In the past, ugly consequences flowed from the flawed assumptions of the then ruling establishments. Still more disturbing is the apprehension that this presumptuous trend continues even today.
Before the 1965 war we had assumed that India would not violate the international boundary even if we made a deep thrust into Kashmir. The 1971 debacle was based on two assumptions that (a) by killing a few thousand people we could stabilize East Pakistan; and (b) India would either not exploit our follies, or would be dissuaded by the world.
Our intervention in the Afghan war was based on many assumptions flowing from the myth of “strategic depth”. Our adventure in Kargil was based on the assumption (a) that it would be a walk over in the same fashion as was the capture of Siachen by India; (b) and India would not react to it.
In the present-day scenario, our foreign policy is similarly based on two flawed assumptions: (a) India does not wish, or cannot, undo Pakistan and thereby increase its own problems; and (b) Pakistan cannot be the future target of United States or its associates. That is why there is no priority for setting our house in a constitutional order.
On the home front, there is the loud and clear assumption that our public will never violently react even if official policies continue to be elitist and anti-people; President Pervez Musharraf announced in 1999 and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali corroborated in 2003 that there was no need for land reforms in Pakistan because there was no feudalism in the country.
All these assumptions arose out of closed door and the secretive process of decision making by the vested interests to the complete exclusion of the public in the affairs of the state. This situation persists even today.
It ironically suggests another flawed assumption that the ruling establishment can, for once, learn a lesson either from your excellent editorial, or from the unforgiving history.
MASUD MUFTI
Islamabad
IN his explanation with reference to Imran Khan’s statement, PCB Chairman Gen Tauqir Zia has not succeeded in making any valid point. In fact, he has failed to even defend his selection committee. Earlier, he had accepted that the omission of Imran Nazir from the World Cup squad had not been a right decision.
The appointment of the new captain and the chief selector are equally bad. The aging Rashid Latif and the angry Aamir Sohail had been responsible for grouping in the team. I think Moin Khan as captain would have been a good choice, for he has recently proved his worth both as batsman and as wicketkeeper.
Once again, Imran Nazir has not been included in the squad declared for the Sharjah tournament for the reason best known to the selection committee and the PCB chairman.
Kamran Akmal, Yasir Hameed and Yasir Araafat have also been left out. I agree that we are trying to restructure the team format but if right choices are not made now, all the efforts being made to improve the Pakistan cricket team might go down the drain.
I emphasize the need for taking notice of the bad appointments and wrong selection.
NAZAR KIYANI
Rawalpindi
IS the UN relevant? Indeed, it is, even for a sole superpower. This is so because the world is a huge open system with a constellation of interdependent sub-systems stemming from a variety of socio-religious cultures, now having evolved into nation states.
Imperceptibly, but unmistakably, social evolution reflects a desire to move forward toward Wendel Wilkie’s concept of ‘One World’ postulated 70 years ago. Also, our now shrunken globe inhabited by mankind of diverse characteristics and hues demands, as never before, a clearing house to manifest people’s concerns, apprehensions and aspirations. This is necessary to coordinate the building and reinforcing of some workable structure of a collaborative problem-solving to save society from the scourge of war.
Right or wrong, the lack of unanimity in the Security Council, notably among the ‘P5’ on the Iraq issue, has done irreparable damage to the UN as the body set up as successor to the League of Nations to keep peace in the world. One doesn’t have to go far to realize what it is writ large on the usually equanimous face of its distinguished secretary general.
Recognizing this development as no less a crisis than the conflict in Iraq, a strategy must be put on the planning board here and now, and proactively deliberated upon by the 191 member states of this august body, for the UN is only what they will it to be. It is for the member states to bring it to back to life again, learning from its experience of the past 60 years, but in a shape and form that is ready to cope with the challenges and complexities of the 21st century.
This would naturally call for a critique of the UN Charter and the diagnostic evaluation of the performance of its six organs. Of course, the forum for these discussions will have to be the General Assembly. It should be called in a ‘conclave of the cardinals’ kind of continuous session, which remains engaged with the problem until its objectives have been accomplished.
M.J. AS’AD
Karachi
IT is an achievement of the city government that has introduced the green busses for the redress, to some extent, of public transportation problem. These busses are comfortable, airconditioned, time-saving and well-maintained.
Routes such as 4B, 2B and 4C have been introduced on important places that cover almost the whole city areas. The bus staff, the ticket checkers, drivers and conductors are very polite and cooperative.
The main good feature is that these busses stop at designated points and not everywhere and anywhere as is usual with other mini-busses and coaches.
It means pick and drop is maintained properly. It would be appreciated if the city government brings in more such buses and ensures that these keep running all over the city. This is the only way to get rid of the transport mafia.
MOHAMMAED ATEEQUR
REHMAN
Karachi
THIS refers to the letter by Mr A. Wajid Salim of Lahore (March 25). While supporting whatever he has written, I would also like to state that I too had written several times about the dirty currency notes but no positive action has been taken by the State Bank of Pakistan.
An editorial on the subject was also written by Dawn, but it is pitiable that the government took no notice of this. Millions worth new currency is available with the brokers all around the State Bank and is being sold daily at a huge premium. Not only the local banks, but even foreign banks are supplying dirty, soiled and torn notes of Rs100, Rs50 and Rs10.
The five-rupee coin is not to be seen anywhere and it is surprising that the old five-rupee currency notes of pink colour, which had been demonetized, are now circulating in the market. Only Rs1,000 and Rs500 notes are in good conditions and are available but now gradually the Rs500 notes are also becoming dirtier by the day.
The State Bank and the finance minister are seeking the IMF’s advice on every matter. It is time they asked their bosses to provide a solution for eliminating dirty currency notes, too.
S. M. A. RIZVI
Karachi
A POWER far away from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Iran, Turkey and Palestine has invaded their neighbour (Iraq) against the UN mandate. Because of geographic reasons, the people of these countries have to live with the Iraqi people forever.
When Bosnia was in trouble and some of the Muslim countries wanted to help, their ships were turned back from Adriatic Sea, because Europeans did not like outsiders to interfere in their backyard. They feared that the war could spread into their countries.
There is no doubt that Saddam Hussein has erred in the past but the stooge government that may replace Saddam’s regime will have more animosity with its neighbours than Saddam’s government.
What is happening in Afghanistan? Past animosities can only be forgiven by helping someone when they need you the most. It is time these Middle Eastern countries forgot the past and came to the aid of Iraqi people.
The following is needed to be done;
(i) It should be demanded of the US and Britain to immediately declare a ceasefire.
(ii) After this ceasefire, inspections of Iraq for disarmament under the auspices of Russia, China, France, Germany, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Palestine, Turkey and Syria should restart.
(iii) A resolution in the UN General Assembly should be moved, seeking suspension of the US and UK membership from the UN.
(iv) Another resolution should be tabled in the General Assembly, for moving the Headquarters of the UN from New York to Moscow or Paris or Berlin or Beijing.
(v) No country should be given the veto power, otherwise, the UN should be disbanded.
(vi) The UN membership of America and Britain should be restored after their forces withdraw from Iraq.
(vii) Muslims countries should have friendly neighbours for the sake of the prosperity of their people. I expect Iran to take the lead. Others will follow.
S. A. M. KASHIR
Karachi
WHETHER it is an organization or a country, social development is an essential feature for its growth. Hence, developed countries have focused much attention on their human resource development, and experienced significant progress in all socio-economic areas. But such progress has not been witnessed in developing countries, including Pakistan.
It is time we worked for social development through huge investment in human resources which have a primary role in all kinds of developments.
As long as we do not have skilled and knowledge-based human resources, there will be no sustainable socio-economic development.
It is essential to keep our human resources abreast of the latest market-oriented theories and skills to compete in the world.
NISAR A. BROHI
Nawabshah
WE were declared government servants on Dec 30, 1976 on the recommendations of the inter-provincial conference held on Dec 29-30, 1976.
Consequent to the abolition of the provincial population planning boards, and also the abolition of the Population Planning Council of Pakistan on April, 1977, the bona fide employees were issued fresh appointment letters under the Population Division in accordance with the posts and grades sanctioned by the Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan.
In July, 1981, all the population planning employees were unlawfully asked by the appointing authority to appear in the competitive examination conducted by the Federal Public Service Commission, whereas no such condition was mentioned in our appointment/absorption order.
On refusal, the services of these employees were terminated, without considering that we had rendered 18 years of unblemished service; this was very unjust and had no locus standi.
For the last 22 years our case for reinstatement has been considered at various levels with different options being explored, and because of the procedural constraints the reinstatement could not materialize.
With the passage of time, a very few cases — 123 gazetted and 67 non-gazetted employees — remained unsettled. The affected employees are approaching old age and their families are facing tremendous hardship owing to this delay.
The prime minister is requested to kindly accord approval for our reinstatement in our respective scales. We, the affected employees, have been unnecessarily victimized.
MUHAMMAD ISHAQ MIAN
President of Reinstatement
Committee of Population Employees,
Lahore
I HAVE passed my intermediate examinations from the Sukkur Board and was among the top 10 position-holders. At that time the president, Gen Pervez Musharraf, announced a scholarship worth Rs200,000 for each of the top 10 position holders of all the boards of Pakistan.
We were given a form to fill about our future study plans. We filled those forms and submitted to our board office. But we are still waiting for the scholarship. Nobody in the board office nor in our college knows about this.
I am studying in an engineering university and am in need of that scholarship. I request the president and all the people concerned to help us get those scholarships so that the deserving students should not worry about the high fees of universities.
A NEEDY STUDENT
Sukkur
THIS refers to the letter headlined ‘CLI applicant’s complaint’ (April 1) by a PTCL subscriber.
An inquiry into the matter was carried out and it was found that the complainant’s telephone number was registered for CLI on March 18 (registration number 667), and the CLI service was activated on March 21.
It was also found that the customer was having parallel phones that caused technical limitation in the appearance of calling numbers. After the removal of one of the parallel phones, the CLI started working perfectly, as confirmed by the customer on the telephone.
ATHER JAVED SUFI
Media Coordinator,
PTCL Headquarters,
Karachi
PAKISTAN is expected to seek IMF approval for bank borrowings to retire expensive foreign debts (March 27). Our financial managers and the State Bank governor have been giving a good news for continuous rise in the dollar reserves, which have now surpassed the $10 billion mark.
Any student of finance and banking knows that the US dollar accounts are maintainable only in America. Simply holding dollar currency notes in Pakistan is neither remunerative nor advisable. Investment in the US government securities is also least remunerative because of nominal returns on these.
On the contrary, if we retire our costly foreign debts using these reserves, and save the amount payable for debt servicing for productive use and development activities within the country, it would be highly rewarding.
If our credibility improves with the enhanced foreign exchange reserves, it is likely to do much better with the reduced foreign debts. Will our financial managers enlighten us on this premise?
RAFIUDDIN AHMAD
Karachi
THOUGH we have the facility of internet, we still face many problems daily. First, there are only 32 phone lines in Makran, whereas in Turbat there are over 500 users, not to mention Panjgur and Gawadar.
If these 32 lines are engaged, there are slim chances of one getting connected — sheer frustration for the users. As the speed is very slow, it is very difficult for us to work and make full use of the Internet. Will the authorities concerned improve the internet service in Makran?
MAQBOOL MOMEN RIND
Turbat
THE editorial on PCSIR (March 29) is an indicator of the high expectations that the nation places on its premier R&D organization. Inherent in the criticism are many positive lessons to be learnt.
The narrative, indeed, diagnoses well the limitations under which the PCSIR scientists perform. Representatives from the same body of scientists have earned respect from their counterparts for the quality of their research output, whenever they worked in a conducive environment in international workplaces. Fortunately, prescription of remedy for the ills diagnosed is inherent in the very title of the editorial, minus the question mark.
It hurts to write that the PCSIR has suffered through perpetual neglect of successive governments. Pakistan spends less than 0.2 per cent of its GDP on science and technology, most of which is allocated to meet the establishment costs. It needs no genius to predict that the best of automobiles will not move without fuel and the best of architects will not have a building made without brick and mortar. Ironically, the PCSIR scientists are expected to invent state-of-the-art industrial technologies with a mere less than a rupee per head per day as the financial resource for research.
As such, the recommendation of the chairman, HEC, of Rs1.3 billion for revamping the PCSIR is appropriately realistic, which must be further punctuated with 10 per cent of this amount as the additional annual recurrent research grant. This, in fact, is a follow up of the award of Rs0.6 million to two dozen technology-driven projects to the scientists of PCSIR during the period when Dr Atta-ur-Rehman was the minister of science. These will go a long way in enhancing the national technological potential and image building of PCSIR.
Then there is the question of political will and national priorities. The chairman of the Indian CSIR is also the secretary of their ministry of science, the ministerial portfolio of which was held by Nehru and Indra Ghandhi themselves. This is a measure of the status and importance that the counterpart of the PCSIR enjoys in the neighbouring country. Ironically again, no minister of any stature to date has willingly desired to head this ministry in Pakistan. The PCSIR has also not received the needed government patronage for the extension of technical services. The print media should educate the masses on the role the PCSIR can play to broaden the technology base in the country.
The most evident regret is that the PCSIR scientists have been poor drum-beaters. Another cause limiting its image building has been the diffused nature of its objectives and the benign melting away of achievements into the industrial sector dominated by SMEs. The common notion also needs to be dispelled that the PCSIR is “an outfit for the manufacture of products”, which definitely it is not. The PCSIR is the national repository of applied research for extending technical assistance to the commerce and industries sectors.
Under WTO in 2005 each export/import item will be required to be certified for the declared quality. The PCSIR is the only national outfit that can do this job with competence and international acceptance. The alternative of getting the same done from abroad will be too costly and logistically cumbersome.
DR SAEED IQBAL ZAFAR
Member (Science) (Retd),
PCSIR,
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