| August 17, 2003 | Sunday | Jumadi-us-Sani 18, 1424 |
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The Swiss verdict
Special dollar bonds
New dawn in Pakistan-India ties
Private school fees
Why did Noor Fatima have to go to India?
Pakistan missions
Rain-affected people
A lady in distress
Maintaining foreign exchange reserves
THE environmental catastrophe unfolding on the Clifton beach is a disaster of unprecedented scale. I won’t try to claim that the Clifton beach is a pristine stretch of sea front — not by any measure. Until now, most of the pollution on and around the beach was being produced on the shore by the residents of the adjacent communities. The recreation-starved people of Karachi that descend on Clifton every weekend just choose to ignore the sewage and trash in the water. The current disaster, if it reaches the scale that the ‘authorities’ are predicting, will surpass all previous inconveniences at the beach.
Today, the Clifton beach is a black oily mess, a few minutes at the seawall will cause one’s eye to sting, and the smell of the oil is noticeable as far up as Khayaban-i-Shaheen. Unfortunately, this is not a problem that will go away in a few weeks or months. The prevailing monsoon tides and winds will drive the oil onto our beaches for the next few weeks. The oil will soak into the sand and the only way to clean it will be to remove the sand and wash it with de-emulsifying agents, and to mobilize a large workforce to physically and manually clean the coastline. The clean-up following the Exxon Valdez disaster and the recent oil-spill in Spain are illustrative examples.
Sites of major oil spills still show significant traces of oil many years after the accident and clean-up. Frankly, the cavalier attitude normally demonstrated toward environmental issues by the ‘responsible authorities’ suggests that immediate recourse to prayer will be sought and that will basically absolve everyone of their responsibilities — this is already being reported in your paper today.
The performance of the KPT in the unfolding saga of the crippled tanker leaves much to be desired. First of all, correct me but isn’t a KPT pilot supposed to be at the helm of the ship? Shouldn’t he be familiar with the conditions in the Keamari channel?
Secondly, the tanker has been stuck for over two weeks and we have just been sending out for this or that equipment. Millions of gallons of crude oil leave the Persian Gulf and sail right past our coastline. For four or five months of the year the prevailing winds are driving the currents towards our shoreline. Shouldn’t the KPT be expecting and preparing for just such an eventuality. And to top it all, the KPT chairman, Vice Admiral Ahmad Hayat, is quoted in Dawn as saying that the crack in the hull of the ship was “widening very slowly”. I suggest that the admiral grab a shovel and go down to beach to assess the damage for himself.
The admiral also claims that “by the time the situation turns critical, the KPT will be in a position to fight a fire, and combat pollution”. I would like to ask the respected admiral two questions: first of all, why will the situation be allowed to “turn critical” and what great miraculous transformation will take place at that juncture that will allow the KPT to tackle the situation whose scale they have not even been able to comprehend? To the casual observer it would seem the KPT has been so busy reclaiming the mangroves around Mai Kolachi Bypass for real estate development that they haven’t had time for much else.
It is time the federal government called into question the performance of the KPT, particularly in the light of this disaster and also in their general preparedness for such eventualities. Incidentally, where is our elected leadership in all this? Precious little has been heard from them.
If I sound irate, I am. I have lived in Karachi most of my life and in spite of its dirt and pollution the city has a resilience that never fails to surprise and delight me. We dump most of our untreated waste and industrial effluents into the sea and yet we find flamingos and other aquatic birds wading in the mangroves around Mai Kolachi.
It is astonishing that for a city that derives it purpose and existence from its proximity to the sea, there is little in the urban fabric that reminds us of our maritime connection. Various city agencies through their action and inaction have devastated the ecological balance of the coastline. This most recent accident is the last straw. It is time the Karachi Port Trust learnt the meaning of the word trust.
ARIF BELGAUMI
Karachi
I HAD not come out of the shock of two eminent Pakistani politicians being convicted in an independent jurisdiction beyond the influence of the much-maligned (and often with justification) Pakistani regime, when I saw the photo of one of them, the leader of the PPP, standing in the Minhaj-ul-Quran premises in London with her avowed adversary, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri. Neither had any remorse on the face. Neither seemed embarrassed, she on account of the conviction and he for being in her company. Both seemed to be gloating over the success with which they have consistently been making fools of the people of Pakistan. Her spokesman dismissed the Swiss sentence as a minor sentence. That was not minor and this latest episode in her life is not minor at all.
For a Piplya that I am, being sentenced by a Swiss judge was shameful enough and it has embarrassed me greatly as a follower of Benazir. But how can I accept her joining, as a member for life, a fundamentalist organization? And Qadri, of all people! For the last six years Qadri has consistently been saying that she is corrupt. She has been denying the charge. Then, Qadri vigorously supports the LFO. She denounces it. Qadri favours Musharraf staying in uniform for an indefinite period while Ms Bhutto denounces it. Qadri condemns Nawaz Sharif. She is now in alliance with Nawaz. Qadri has a religious seminary while she would like the Americans to believe that she is against all such madrassahs. Qadri is an avowed fundamentalist while she condemns, at least by word of mouth, all fundamentalists and proclaims herself as a liberal progressive leader.
What then has happened? Perhaps, Ms Bhutto has become too unnerved by the Swiss judgment. But are there no principles in politics? Anyway this is goodbye from me.
GHAFOOR AHMED BUTT
Gujranwala
THIS is with reference to the letter published in your esteemed daily on Aug 7, under the caption “Special dollar bonds”.
The contentions of Mr Abdul Saeed Khan Ghori are not based on facts. It is clarified that the scheme of Special US Dollar Bonds (SUSDBs) was introduced by the finance division through SUSDB Rules 1998 vide its notification No SRO (1) 98 dated the July 21, 1998, and according to Rule 3 of ibid Rules, these bonds were available for sale for a period of 60 days only from the date of issue of cited notification. He has misquoted the Rule 3 by stating that these bonds were to be issued within 60 days of promulgation of SUSDB rules.
It may be pointed out here that in order to accommodate all foreign currency account holders, in times to come, the finance division, vide its notification No.SRO (1) 98 dated Aug 3, 1998, omitted this rule (Rule 3).
As far as the issue of bonds is concerned, it has nothing to do with its printing exercise as all banks were instructed to issue temporary receipts in lieu of bonds which were exchanged with the bonds after their availability. Hence, for all profit payments and redemption purpose, the date of issue has always remained the same as and when any foreign currency account holder purchased the bonds after the introduction of the scheme of SUSDBs on July 21, 1998.
It may be further clarified that accrual of profit on bonds from the date of freezing of FCA, i.e. May 28, 1998, could not be allowed as purchase of bonds was the sole discretion of FCA holders. Moreover, the foreign currency account holders were already getting profit from the banks on their deposits.
SYED WASIMUDDIN
Chief Spokesman, SBP,
Karachi
THE current rapprochement in Pakistan-India relations is a very positive development which the people and governments of both countries should strive to improve even further. The resumption of the bus service and diplomatic ties, the heart operation on two-year-old Noor in India and most recently the Pakistan-Indian parliamentarians and journalists’ moot in Islamabad have brought relations between India and Pakistan to a new level of warmth since the unprecedented high tension at our borders last year.
More of such healthy interactions between the people of India and Pakistan will no doubt help build a more pragmatic and sustained relationship that can withstand any unexpected new strains. Developing greater communication, academic, commercial, trade and industrial ties at the people-to-people level will help remove suspicion and enmity and promote understanding and peace between the two countries.
Occasional spats between neighbouring countries are normal and routine. This has happened between neighbours like Malaysia and Singapore, China and Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines, Australia and Indonesia. But these spats remain verbal and do not entail the downgrade of diplomatic relations, breaking off commercial and communication ties and, least of all, the massing of troops at their borders.
It is very much hoped that the new dawn in relations between Pakistan and India will now develop to a pragmatic level where occasional strains in relations, if any, will only be confined to verbal bickering and nothing more. Only through sustained cooperation can the two countries hope to surmount their deep-rooted economic and development problems.
ASAD IJAZ
Islamabad
MANY private schools in Islamabad are increasing their fees practically every year, particularly so within the past few years. Four years ago, when my younger son was first placed in the nursery class in a notable private school, the fee was about Rs1,500 a month. By last year, the fee was increased to about Rs2,500 a month. This year his school fee has again increased to Rs3,000 a month. This is double the amount that we paid when he first started school four years ago.
Another private school in the capital, which was already charging students over Rs7,000 a month, has also increased its fee to about Rs8,000 a month this academic year.
When parents like us decide to send our children to private instead of government schools, many of us do have to consider carefully the fee costs and hence the affordability. While we do expect the fees to increase over the years, little were we prepared for a doubling of the fees in just a few years’ time.
Judging by the above rate of increase in the fee structure — doubling every four years — our son’s school fee might just be over Rs20,000 a month when he will be in class 13 (A’level)! And we have another child in the same school. The government has been saying that it would establish a regulatory authority for private schools to monitor their syllabi, fee structure, etc. It seems obvious that nothing in this respect has been done so far.
A SALARIED PARENT
Islamabad
NEWS columns and letters are full of appreciation for the goodwill gestures showed to Noor Fatima in India. Has anyone ever thought why she had to go to India for a small procedure like that? I may dwell a little on the subject.
The government and parliamentarians were very proud to show off the elegance and grandeur of our parliament house to Laloo Parsad. I bet they could not take him to PIMS in Islamabad. When the health budget of a country is less than that of the Presidency and Prime Minister House, how could they?
When the other departments like finance and banking sectors are importing expats at very high salaries, the previous NWFP government was pushing the seniormost doctors out of service to the extent that now there are no neurosurgery, paediatric surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, anaesthesia, plastic surgery and many more departments recognized for higher training in the small province of the NWFP. Reason? Only one man at the helm of affairs wanted to turn the public hospitals into earning factories for the exchequer.
When quackery was proliferating in the province, health officials were busy in destroying the signboards of seniormost professors in their clinics. The irony continues: all the provincial dailies are publishing huge ads from quacks claiming eradication of diabetes, hepatitis and azoospermia with one dose of their concoction. The honour given to this profession could well be judged when medals are given today to a dozen singers and dancers against only one medical doctor in the whole country!
DR OBAIDULLAH
Peshawar
I QUITE agree with Mr Ghayoor Ahmad’s views (Aug 9) regarding the selection of Pakistan high commissioners and ambassadors. He knows very well that in Pakistan the foreign ministry’s selection does not meet the standard that he wishes for.
As Mr Ahmad knows, nepotism is well-entrenched in our system of governance. The selectors ensure that their selection is not challenged afterwards. As such, there is a need for creating a system in the country that could ensure that the selection process is longer, vigorous and accountable.
An independent commission must check both the credentials of candidates and their ability to deal with multifarious problems abroad.
S. A. CHOUDHRY
London, UK
THE victims of the recent rains in Badin and Thatta districts are languishing in misery but all the government can do is to make empty promises and have their pictures taken for printing in newspapers. The homeless people of Thatta and Badin are dying of hunger and disease in the relief camps and have been pushed to such a point of despair that they are forced to demonstrate against the inaction of the government.
At a time of such serious human suffering, the government is preoccupied with the question of the president’s uniform. The ministers in the Sindh cabinet are already eying the meagre funds allocated for relief efforts, which is why they are desperate to get the chairmanship of their district relief committees. All sense of self-respect has disappeared from the corridors of power in this country, otherwise such government functionaries would resign and go home.
But all sense of accountability has also vanished from the minds of the voters because the same people who are now suffering and raising a hue and cry will invariably elect the same corrupt and greedy people to represent them at the next general election, as they have repeatedly done in the past.
AMEER BUKHSH BHUTTO
Larkana
I WAS really shaken to read about the sad condition of an old Jewish lady in the letter by Mr Kunwar Khalid Yunus (Aug 12). His sympathetic write-up is really commendable.
The miserable condition of the old lady is a clear reflection of our society and the crippled rule of law of our country. This is a sad tale not only of one but of millions of unfortunate people living in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, who are deprived of their rights and justice.
Basically, they are simple, honest and hardworking and thus are the backbone of the nation. The only thing they got in return is false promises and a discriminately unjust system of governance. I really dream and pray for a better and less hypocritical society portraying the true spirit of Islam.
As for this old lady, I second the appeal by Mr Yunus made to the NGOs and the people who matter to take up this issue urgently and let the world see at least one good example on part of our nation and country by helping out the poor old lady.
MANSOOR KHALID
Karachi
MR A. B. Shahid in his article, ‘Maintaining foreign exchange reserves’, has found the rationale given by the State Bank governor on accumulation of foreign exchange reserves to be flawed. I have read the governor’s article carefully and feel that his arguments appear quite logical and are in conformity with the economic strategy that has been pursued by the government during the last three years.
According to my understanding, the basic thrust of this strategy is to achieve debt sustainability, i.e. that indebtedness be kept in line with the country’s capacity to repay without depending on financing from international financial institutions or other donor countries. It is quite apparent that high debt itself has been an obstacle to growth in Pakistan as growth rates have come down in the 1990s and debt burden has become excessively high.
While the temptation to meet all the development financing requirements at the cost of exposing the country to high indebtedness in future is quite strong, I feel we should learn from our mistakes and curb this temptation.
It is time we began to live within our means and not beyond them. This is the only feasible way in which we can overcome the debt problem and achieve sustainable growth for Pakistan.
Pakistan’s external debt to gross national income is still quite high — 54 per cent — and total debt exceeds the country’s national income. So, if the SBP transfers its foreign reserves to the government of Pakistan (GoP) to finance all its infrastructure requirements so ably spelled out in the article, this can happen only by extending loans to the GOP. Assuming that the SBP advances $3 billion out of reserves to the GoP during the next two years to finance additional development expenditure, this will be equivalent to Rs85 billion annually and will raise, the domestic debt from Rs1,850 billion to Rs1,935 billion or from 46 per cent of GDP to 48.1 per cent.
In subsequent years, debt servicing as percentage of revenues will jump once again crowding out development expenditure. It can thus be seen that those who are arguing for short-term gratification are laying the foundation once again for getting the country back into the debt trap. All the efforts which have been made during the last three and a half years will be nullified and we would be back to square one.
In contrast to this approach of utilizing foreign reserves for financing development expenditure, a more prudent and feasible way out is to increase tax revenues and reduce debt-servicing expenditure. This is a gradual approach and not a headline catcher, but we should remembers that it is slow and steady that wins the race. Following this strategy, the GoP has already increased development spending by 60 per cent from Rs100 billion Rs160 billion in two ears and we hope that this will rise to Rs200 billion the next year.
Even assuming that the SBP lend $3 billion to the GoP, it is not clear that the ministries and departments have adequate implementation capacity to make effective utilization of these resources. Do we want to increase our debt and spend them on unproductive and wasteful projects? I think we have already suffered a lot from such adventures and it is time we desisted from these indulgences for the sake of posterity.
KAZI AZHAR MOHAYYADDIN FAROOQUI
Karachi
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