| April 18, 2003 | Friday | Safar 15, 1424 |
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IMF and our economy
What stops foreign investment
Blind passengers
Is Pakistan next?
Tax relief for salaried class
A new name for NWFP
Medium of instruction
Boycott calls unwise
Promoting education in Pakistan
‘Wildlife in Sindh threatened’
THE situation in Iraq, among other things, has also given rise to the discussion about the ethnic/religious conflict in the country. Most of the analysts have identified this problem as three-fold, i.e. Kurds, Shias and Sunnis. However, they have simply misrepresented the nature of the problem by intermingling the one identity of the population with the other.
The first of these groups is ethnically different from the other two but not in the religious sense, because the same division of Sunnis and Shias is also present among the Kurds. Therefore, this triangle does not seem proper. The Shia identity has been derived by dividing the Arab population of Iraq on a religious basis. To understand the issue, one should be clear about the contradiction in Iraqi society.
The Kurd problem is well-known, involving also Turkey and Iran. It is about political autonomy/independence on the basis of ethnic identity. The major difference with the rest of the Iraqi population is the Kurds’ non-Arab origin, whereas this does not apply to the Shias, the perception of whose separate identity was derived from the differences of Saddam, who belonged to the Sunni sect, with the Shia regime of Iran.
The Iran-Iraq conflict was not religious, and had other political and historical reasons, but was not only given a religious shape but also imposed similarly on Iraqi society. However, the majority of the Iraqi Shias and their religious leaders did not take it as such.
It is important to see what identity the Shias of Iraq have preferred for themselves, i.e. Arab or Shia. Various events have shown that they chose the former, for a number of reasons. First, the regime in Iraq remained secular and did not put any curbs on some sect and religious community or claimed to represent any of them. The nature of differences was mostly confined to the political, ethnic and tribal issues.
Second, the Arab-Ajam difference is more important for an Arab than the religious differences. Specially for Iran this difference has a historical background. The Shias form more than half of the population of the country. If they had any designs against the integrity of the country and to form a Shia state on a religious basis, opportunities for them were ample in the events of last two decades.
A long war with Iran was enough for them to side with Iran against the invading army of Saddam. A large part of Iraq’s army consisted of Shias. But they remained throughout on the side of Iraq and no story of major desertion of Iraqi t troops on the religious basis was heard.
Similarly during the first Gulf War, only a small portion of Shias in the south rose against the regime whereas the rest of the country, including Baghdad, and Ayatollah, the religious leader, did not support that movement.
In the present war also, there was no Shia uprising in support of the US and its allies or against Saddam. Thus the Arab bond among the Iraqis is stronger than other social identities. Any division now on this basis seems to be a far-fetched thing.
RAUF NIZAMANI
Karachi
THE International Monetary Fund has recently demanded that Pakistan impose general sales tax on more items to be operational from the next financial year. These new items include bricks, cement blocks, computer hardware and software.
The purpose of GST, which is now widely charged in most developing nations, is to provide the government with an additional source of revenue, which will primarily be used to repay interest on the IMF loans that Pakistan has borrowed. So, it is the people of Pakistan who will bear the costly mistakes made by the government by having to pay 15 per cent more for goods previously untouched by GST.
Indeed, the IMF has little concern for the population of Pakistan as the loans we receive are rarely used constructively. No wonder that we see little or no improvement in the infrastructure of our country.
In Jordan, the IMF demanded of the Jordanian government not to subsidize bread, thereby causing a huge rise in bread prices. One day the people of Jordan could afford bread, but the next day they could not afford it and riots erupted.
There are many other examples such as Rwanda where coffee farmers suffered due to a sharp reduction in coffee prices (pushed by Washington). The IMF and the World Bank came to the ‘rescue’ of Rwanda with loans — loans attached with the most outrageous conditions such as no portion of the loans was to go to coffee farmers, an industry which was in dire need of funding at that time.
Before Rwanda could do anything to better things, the IMF was advising the Rwandan government to privatize gas and electricity, once again to raise funds for the repayment of loans.
This is nothing but the economic colonization of developing countries. It is about time we woke up and saved our country from the clutches of the IMF and the World Bank, otherwise, what belongs to us may well be owned by the multinational companies of the United States of America.
MOHAMMED FARUQUI
London, UK
AS Pakistan indulges in rampant image-building to increase the volume of foreign investment, actions of its key players come under intense scrutiny. It is sad that not all the actions of these representatives of the people are geared towards the country’s development.
One such example is that of Dr Sher Afghan Niazi, PPP(P) MNA from Mianwali, who recently filed an FIR and got issued arrest warrants against the chairman of a leading Japanese automobile manufacturing company and its subsidiary in Pakistan for the death of his son in a car accident.
While nothing can compensate for his irreparable loss, the issuance of arrest warrants against the car manufacturers and their principals in Japan (specially a company which invests billions in Pakistan and creates employment opportunities for thousands of Pakistanis), before full investigation, can hardly be justified as the actions of an educated parliamentarian, who is expected to be a role model.
Recently, however, the Lahore High Court, realizing the injustice of the situation, declared the FIR null and void.
In spite of the High Court’s sound decision, the damage has already been done. The government has been greatly embarrassed in front of one of its long-standing allies due to the actions of one self-serving politician.
Additionally, such actions not only serve to promote a negative image of the country and its law-enforcement agencies but also hamper the growth of foreign investment. Perhaps the powers-that-be made the right decision not to include the said parliamentarian in the cabinet, during its recent expansion, for the sole purpose of safeguarding the government against any future embarrassment.
In light of the above, Dr Afghan’s lack of vision and utter disregard for the country is inexcusable. The interior ministry should take serious notice of such impediments to foreign investment on the domestic level in order to successfully implement its plan for economic development.
TALHA BIN HISAAM
Karachi
SOME TIME ago a young blind man was riding in a bus. He was on his way to the office of the National Federation for the Welfare of the Blind to buy a white cane and a Braille writing slate. As you know, the National Federation supplies Braille textbooks, white sticks, Braille equipment and games for the blind, to the visually impaired, at a highly subsidized price.
Realizing that his stop was coming — Soldier Bazaar No. 1 — the young blind man rose from his seat, moving towards the gate. When the bus slowed down and the sightless passenger was ready to get off, a big fat man boarded the bus. In his hurry, he bumped against the blind man. The blind man’s upper lip was cut between his teeth and started bleeding. “Oh, I’m sorry. Please forgive me,” said the big fat man, pushing his way inside the bus.
The National Federation firmly believes that the young blind passenger would never have been bumped if there had been two doors on the bus — one to enter and the other to exit.
Usually there are two doors on the buses — one for men and the other for women. However, in practice both the doors are used by men, specially in rush hours. Women passengers find it very difficult to board a bus, when male passengers are getting off through the same door.
Considering blind passengers’ problems, the National Federation, which has been helping the blind for many years throughout Pakistan, suggests that there should be three doors on each bus — one for women and two for men, one to enter and one to exit. Since there aren’t many women passengers, one door for them will serve the purpose.
The National Federation also suggests that the bus drivers and conductors, during their training, should be instructed to take special care of special passengers. The federation appeals to the authorities to ensure that the drivers stop their buses at proper stops and not in the middle of the road.
MEHROZ IQBAL
Karachi
I hAVE been closely following the discussions in your paper on the question: will Pakistan be the next target of the US? The latest is the article headlined “How real is the scenario of Pakistan next?” by Aileen Qaiser (April 15).
The US will target a country if it is either rich in natural resources/wealth like Iraq, or is a direct threat to or harbours enemies of the US or its close allies, i.e. Israel.
Since Pakistan does not have any attractive natural resources such as oil, or much wealth at present, it will not fit into that criterion. As regards being a threat to the US, President Musharraf’s very pragmatic approach of turning Pakistan’s Taliban / Al Qaeda policy on its head after 9/11 has provided the necessary insurance against being targeted.
Next comes Pakistan’s nuclear weapon assets. As long as they are not a threat to the US and Israel, even that will not cause Pakistan to be targeted. To carry conviction, it will be a good idea for Pakistan to be friendly with the US under all circumstances.
Equally important will be recognizing Israel and maintaining cordial relations with that country.
As regards terrorism directed against India, Pakistan need not bother much as it will only invite cosmetic rebuke from the US, unless and until it provokes India into waging a war and, in desperation, Pakistan threatens to use or uses nuclear weapons, thus destabilizing itself. In those circumstances, the US will fear that these weapons may fall into the hands of religious extremists who may use them against Israel. Targeting Pakistan will, then, be certain.
P.V. IYER
Chennai, India
THIS refers to a news item (April 11) which states that tax experts have demanded tax relief for the salaried class in the budget this year and lowering of the maximum tax rates from 35 per cent to 25 per cent.
This is a just demand because in the previous three years, the salaried class has been subjected to the worst form of discrimination in taxation and has been unduly burdened with taxes on all allowances and perquisites.
The current maximum tax rate slabs for the salaried class are among the highest in the world, but there are no privileges or benefits as compared to those countries with high tax rates.
The objective of expanding the tax net and bringing in new taxpayers has so far been an illusion for the government and the taxpayers, of whom the salaried class is captive and is subjected to additional taxes every year.
It is hoped that the government would sympathetically consider providing tax relief in the next budget to all salaried people.
AAMIR MALIK
Karachi
THIS is with reference to Mr Abdal Khan Khalil’s letter (April 14) regarding the article titled “Pakhtunkhwa not acceptable” (April 5).
The figures quoted by Mr Khalil do not seem to be correct. In particular, the number of Hindko speakers seems to have been understated. The proportion of Pushto speakers in the NWFP (excluding Fata) is stated to be 70 per cent, and the proportion of the non-Pushto-speaking population, i.e. 30 per cent, is thus by no means insignificant.
Giving an ethnic name to the province, without the consent of non-Pushto speakers, would be unwise. This would give them the impression that they have been made second-class citizens in their own province, and would cause unrest among them.
People from other provinces also have a locus standi in the matter because a serious rift among sections of the the NWFP also affects the peace and stability of Pakistan. Once, however, consensus on a new name is reached in the province, people from other provinces should cordially support the change.
ASAF ALI SHAH
Lahore
IN his letter, Mr Jamal Khan (March 27) said that English should be the medium of instruction, but I totally disagree.
How is it possible to teach 60 per cent of the uneducated population in English? It is easy to say that sitting in the US but think of those who even cannot speak their national language properly, let alone English.
SONIA
Multan
REPEATED calls for boycotting US and British goods in the backdrop of US-led coalition forces’ war on Iraq are unnecessary and illogical.
The rhetoric is sure to have negative effects in the near future. A common man may not be aware that almost all major and reliable producers of products, goods, and services have direct or indirect links with the US economy. These links may be through stock exchanges, trade, mergers, etc.
It looks like those calling for boycott have no rational understanding of the world trade scenario and the fact that the world economy is inter-linked. And if they do, they must be denounced for playing with the sentiments of the people.
The US, Britain and Australia are among top economies of the world. And all these top economies are interdependent. Ignoring one or some of them would mean ignoring all of them, making the product boycott calls almost unworkable.
Have the boycott campaigners told the people that the clothes we wear, the medicines we use to save lives, computers and Internet technology we are benefiting from, and what not, are somehow or the other linked to these countries? This unwise boycott call presents us as an unwise nation. Are we ready to live in isolation?
TAHMINA NOOR
Karachi
PAKISTAN’s lack of progress is attributable to its poor education system. This system is class-based — one for the well-off people who send their children to high-level English-medium schools and one for the toiling masses whose children go to poorly-organized and poorly-equipped desi schools, where they get no idea how much science has progressed. Most teachers in desi schools do nothing but kill their and their students’ time.
At the moment the government spends just two per cent of the budget on education, which is a poor allocation. And because of this, only 22 per cent of our students are able to pass their examinations. It is a matter of much regret that the government has no organized education system for remote areas.
Poor students who somehow manage to pass their school/ college examinations find it difficult to get admission to colleges or universities whose high fees stand in their way of getting further education.
I have cleared my Inter Commerce examinations and want to study BBA but high fees come in my way.
I hope the authorities will rise to the occasion and remove all bottlenecks to make education, rather good education, available to all in the country.
SIRAJ DEEN
Karachi
THIS refers to the report, “Wildlife in Sindh threatened” (April 16). The heading and all that has been said in the report are very true. Wildlife and forests in Sindh have been wiped out and the main culprits in this are the corrupt and incompetent employees.
The question is, what is to be done? In a situation where human life is not safe from murderers who have graduated from attacking villages, towns and even police stations to the hallowed premises of the Sindh High Court, it may be said who cares about wildlife and forests? Still, we must not lower our guard in the face of such difficulties. Here are some suggestions:
— All corrupt and incompetent people in the wildlife and forest departments be dismissed and prosecuted forthwith. And honorary wardens, from the district level upwards, be appointed to preserve our ecological system. For this such wardens be given power to punish the guilty and hire and fire them, and be accountable for their actions also.
— To carry out development plans, the portions of forests which are already devoid of trees and those under illegal occupation should be earmarked for crops to provide an income. The wardens must maintain accounts, which should be audited in the usual manner, and not more than one-fourth of any forest be put under agricultural products.
This proposal, which I have made to the relevant authorities frequently, is not a shot in the dark. During my tenure as Sindh chief minister in 1972-73, even though the bureaucracy was under control, I set up the Sindh Wild Life Management Board and personally supervised its functions. I appointed most prominent hunters as district wardens who kept a close watch and prosecuted even VIPs who violated the rules.
Very few understand that it is the hunter and not the bureaucrat or political appointee who appreciates the ecological system and knows how to protect it. The efforts made in those days produced immediate and praiseworthy results but subsequently, like all other institutions, even the wildlife and forest departments have collapsed.
As an example, I refer to an incident during the chief ministership of Jam Sadiq Ali when a Sindh cabinet minister, who is now again a minister, narrated to me with pride how in two days he and his party had shot seven hundred partridges in the Nara Canal areas. As a result of such deplorable ravages, all wildlife stands destroyed in the Nara.
However, all this can be put right in a short time, but who is to do it? It seems we all are doomed, and not just the wildlife and forests.
(SARDAR) MUMTAZ ALI BHUTTO
Karachi
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