| September 5, 2003 | Friday | Rajab 7, 1424 |
To send a letter to the Editor
Click here
Presidential system: a proposal
Access to Karachi hospitals
Gang-rape ordeal
Federal publications
Two-nation theory
Agonized existence
Barriers to knowledge
Army officials’ detention
Sanitation problems
BBA courses
AS long as farm subsidies in rich countries remain, no amount of safeguards can protect developing countries from the impoverishment of their economies. Last year the US government passed a $180 billion farm subsidy bill which ensures, among other things, that American cotton farmers keep on getting a gift of four billion dollars for a crop worth only three billion dollars at international prices.
Thanks to these subsidies, with only 25,000 cotton farmers (mostly corporate farm giants), the United States persists on producing bumper cotton harvests that continually flood the international marketplace. Latest studies indicate that world cotton prices have fallen by half since the mid-1990s. Adjusted for inflation in 2002 the prices were lower than at any time since the Great Depression of 1930s.
At the same time, quite dishonestly, the US-controlled IMF and the World Bank ensure that Third World farmers remain deprived of any form of government subsidy. So much for a fair play.
Similar games are now being played at the WTO. Both the EU and the US having committed themselves at the 2002 Doha meeting to abolish agricultural subsidies — in return for wholesale tariff reductions in developing countries — are now trying to wheedle out from their promises. Between the US, EU and Japan, $300 billion is being spent annually on agricultural subsidies. Amazingly, a European cow receives close to $2.50 per day in subsidy, which is more than a Third World peasant receives in daily wages.
Battle lines have now been drawn for the next month’s WTO meeting at Cancun, Mexico. China, Brazil and India lead a group of 16 countries which have decided to meet the US and EU head-on for a confrontation on the issue of agricultural subsidies. Surprisingly, among the list of protesting countries Pakistan’s name is significantly absent.
Agriculture, as most of us know, plays an all-embracing role in Pakistan’s economy. About 70 per cent of the country’s foreign exchange earnings come from the sale of agricultural and agriculture-related produce, mainly in the form of raw cotton and cotton textile exports. The agriculture sector also employs half the nation’s labour force, while the related textile sector employs 46 per cent of its manufacturing employment. Needless to add, cotton and other agriculture-related income, directly or indirectly, provides food and shelter to a vast majority of Pakistanis.
The harsh reality is that, unlike other countries in South Asia, the economic conditions in Pakistan have deteriorated badly. The figures speak for themselves. In 1988, 17 per cent Pakistanis were living below the poverty line. In 2001 the figure was a horrific 38 per cent and is rising. Alarmingly, in 1990 the UNDP Human Development index rated Pakistan 95th in comparison with other countries, but now in 2003 we have sunk to the rank of 144th. Part of the blame for these dismal statistics lies directly with the US and its cotton subsidies.
Seeing as these agricultural subsidies impose such unbearable economic inequities on our country, one expects our government to do something about it. But sadly that is not the case. Is Islamabad so petrified of Washington DC that it can’t even raise a voice of protest? Not even a miserable little public squeak?
SHEHRYAR MAZARI
Karachi
MR Kanwar ldris’s article, published in your daily of Aug 18, is a bold and sincere effort in which, by advocating adoption of the presidential type of government, he has found a remedy to all political ills of our country. Under this form of government, separating the executive organ of the state will rid us of the undue pressure/cajoling and blackmailing of the legislature. He deserves our admiration and needs our support.
In this regard I have the following comments/suggestions:
1. The tenure of the federal, as well as those of the provincial governments, should be of five years. In three years they can hardly implement their policies. They should be given more time.
2. The cabinets of the federal and provincial governments should not include any legislator. Any legislator found suitable for a cabinet post must be made to resign his seat in the legislature, thus disallowing the formation of any link between the two organs of the state.
3. All provinces have sizable ethnic minorities/aggrieved groups. They must be represented in the government by creating a chair of lieutenant/deputy governor, with the same powers as those of the vice-president at the provincial level.
4. The president/governors should not be empowered to dissolve the legislatures, but the legislatures should be given the right to impeach and remove them by a two-thirds majority.
5. The Senate should be given all the powers that the US Senate enjoys in accordance with the American Constitution.
6. In order to make the federation really strong and the Constitution acceptable to the provinces, the maximum but practical quantum of autonomy must be given to the provinces. This autonomy must be clearly defined under the “Provincial List” and no deviation from it and no trespassing into the parameters of this list must be tolerated constitutionally.
A body of constitutional lawyers, co-opted by genuine leaders from the provinces, should be formed to make the outline of this system. The system thus formed must be put before the people for a referendum.
The administration must ensure that the maximum number of electors take part in the referendum. The verdict of the people of Pakistan must, then, be acceptable to all.
BRIG (R) KHADIM HUSSAIN KHAN CHANGEZI
Quetta
THIS is to draw the attention of the authorities concerned to the pathetic condition of Rafique Shaheed (H. J.) Road, also known as Jinnah Hospital Road. On both sides of it are located JPMC, NICVD, NICH and the Kidney Centre. These are not only the city’s main hospitals but also act as tertiary referral centres for the whole country.
In addition to these hospitals, the Sindh Medical College, a large residential colony, the Askari apartments, PTCL offices, commercial buildings and shops are located on this road. Traffic on this narrow road is unbelievable. Thousands of vehicles, including minibuses, ambulances, heavy trucks, tankers and cars, have to make their way through the road, which was made a dual carriageway not too long ago.
Despite its importance, the condition of the road is very poor. Since it was dug up for laying some pipelines over a month ago, a major portion of the road is still lying as such, unrepaired and uncarpeted. Besides, the remainder of the road is also in a very deplorable state, causing great hardship to doctors, medical students and, above all, patients.
Vehicles carrying patients and ambulances find it very difficult to reach the hospitals. If someone has a heart attack, he may die on his way to the hospital owing to traffic jams.
The authorities must realize that this is not an ordinary road. Lives and health of millions of people depend on this road, which needs most urgent attention. The following steps should be taken immediately:
1. The road should be widened, in whatever way possible.
2. Repairs must be made on an emergency basis. For this, repair or any such activity may be done at night so as not to cause any inconvenience to patients and doctors.
3. Minibus routes should be limited so that unnecessary traffic is diverted onto other roads.
4. The road should have proper lights at night. Hundreds of patients’ attendants from outside Karachi spend their days and nights on the sidewalks.
5. The traffic police should always ensure smooth flow of traffic.
6. The Traffic Engineering Bureau should consider making it a one-way road.
I hope the authorities concerned will care to look into this crucial problem and solve it at the earliest.
PROF MOHAMMAD ISHAQ
Karachi
I HOPE the suggestions Mr Abdul Rauf has made in his letter of Aug 27 to control incidents of molestation, rape and such other crimes are meant to be a joke, albeit one in a very poor taste. Is he seriously suggesting that all girls go out only accompanied by their parents (one protector is clearly not enough in his view) and not to take taxis.
Must everyone afford a private car then or else incarcerate themselves at home? Let me inform him that such incidents have sadly happened even to women accompanied by (both) parents.
Taxis, in most developing countries, are made safe by having manned booths at central taxi stands where the taxi number, the occupants’ names and the destination are noted so that if any mishap occurs, the journey/culprit is traceable. I myself, travelling alone late at night, have benefited from this arrangement in many Indian cities. Why cannot we implement such a system here? We never will if we decide that the best way to deal with such crimes is to simply lock up our women.
This sad incident of gang-rape is actually another symptom of the lack of police accountability and the failure on the part of the government to provide to the common man cheap and accessible justice, both of which are central pillars in any functioning society.
Be it the slaughter of a mother and four daughters in Muridke, highlighted in your paper earlier, or the killing of five brothers in Karachi recently, or the gang-rape of a young girl in the presence of her protector, as happened in this case, it is really the lack of any kind of law and order that is simply so terrifying and for which our greedy governments are entirely culpable.
F. MOWJEE
Karachi
THE Pakistan Economic Survey 2002-03, one of the publications of the Economic Adviser’s Wing, Finance Division, Government of Pakistan, was released on June 6. It is available at all private outlets, but not at its official outlet, i.e. the National Book Foundation, till to date. This is not the mere case, many more publications of immense importance like the 9th five-year plan and the Pakistan National Bibliography 2001 are not available at the NBF.
After rightsizing the Federal Publication Branch, the National Book Foundation was given the task of selling federal publications with effect from Jan 1, 2001. Since then, acquisition of federal publications has become a Herculean task.
The attention of the high-ups of the NBF is drawn to this issue and its early resolve.
NIZAM NIZAMI
Lahore
I READ the ‘Letter from New Delhi’ on the two-nation theory (Aug 9), and here are my comments.
Mr Kuldip Nayar, referring to Maulana Fazlur Rehman, wrote: “which two nations was he talking about?” Two nations, Hindus and Muslims, not just to separate ideologies. To this and in times to come, these will remain two separate nations. No matter to what extent the Indians succeed in transplanting their culture in Pakistan, but this won’t do. No intellectual debates but one cricket match between India and Pakistan would say it all, the two-nation theory. Go to the Wagah border, you can see it.
Mr Nayar wrote that Jinnah was unmindful of the fact that more Muslims would be left in India and that was why Maulana Abul Kalam opposed it. I wish Maulana could see the plight of Muslims living in India. The miserable, subjugated and oppressed life they’re living is not a secret. It just hurts deeply to see the deprivation wrought on their faces. These Muslims of India, who once lived with dignity and pride, now live a life of fear and deprivation.
Yes, there are more Muslims in India than in Pakistan. But what voice, what representation and what protection do they have? We all know this slogan, ‘learn from us how to burn Muslims’. Their respect, property, business and freedom is all at stake. Do I need to mention examples? I was struck when I read Mr Nayar’s letter. On what grounds did he refute and denounce the two-nation theory when the Muslims of India are being subjected to a life replete with oppression and humility.
I have met Muslims living in India. They look at Pakistani Muslims with longing and desire. Are the Muslims of India happy and contented? I think the answer is not difficult to surmise. Pakistan is our country, our very own motherland. We have our forces, our language and our identity. We are not a secular state. But nobody marches here to temples to demolish them, nobody says here, ‘learn from us how to burn Hindus’.
In no way, India has proved to be a better place for Muslims than Pakistan. India can only denounce the ‘two-nation theory’ the day Muslims of India start to spend a life of respect, dignity, free from oppression, humility and subjugation. So, Mr Nayar you are not in a position to state “which two-nation theory he talks about.”
Pakistan is my country and all my dreams are incomplete without it. This is my recognition, a Muslim Pakistan. The land my forefathers aspired for and thus created it. We can live as good neighbours, enjoying good relationship. But never as one. Pakistan came into being the day the first non-Muslim in the subcontinent converted to Islam.
Although we lost East Pakistan, but did it join India? It did not and never would. Mr Nayar, Pakistan has come into being to stay.
JAHANZEB SALEEM
Sukkur
TORRENTIAL rains have brought into focus the agonized existence of the people displaced in many parts of lower Sindh, marooned and confined within the watery surroundings. Photographs in Dawn (Aug 3, 4 and 5) depict their reality poignantly — in conditions of extreme poverty, in habitat of thatched huts.
In over 50 years our independent existence seems to have simply ignored the rural folk, as nothing prominent seems to have been done through a planned effort for economic amelioration of this mass of humanity, having vacant and voiceless living.
Ravages of floods have brought devastation for peasants with no means to recover from it. The poor are allowed to remain poor because their state of living does not materially affect those who have the power. Such stratification of civil society can hardly strengthen the sinews of “sustainable democracy”. In the past two decades, economic conditions have forced the poor to remain poor. Thatched huts are a stark reality of primitive living that ought to prick the conscience of sensitive souls to become engines of action for social advancement of the underprivileged humanity. Doles will not do the needful.
Poverty alleviation programmes have not significantly helped reduce the aggravation of poverty. In the past, many more have gone under the poverty line, yet more are set to join them unless gigantic efforts are initiated through a “participative process” for massive transfer of resources towards rural development. Neglect is the main cause why the poor remain so poor.
FAZUL S. KAZI
Karachi
I fully endorse the thoughts expressed by you in your recent editorial “Barriers to knowledge”.
Both Indians and Pakistanis will benefit immensely by easy access to each others’ books and publications. If there is to be greater understanding between us, it must begin with an appreciation of each others’ perceptions on matters that divide us. This is of particular relevance in respect of historical events leading to the partition of the subcontinent.
Given the diametrically opposite ideological positions that Indian and Pakistan historians have taken in respect of the two- nation theory propounded by Mohammad Ali Jinnah, it would make for greater understanding if people from both sides of the Radcliffe Line could familiarize themselves with the “other” point of view in regard to the partition. This can best be done by making available books and magazines pertaining to that period to citizens of both countries.
SANJAY SAKSENA
Via email
“HATS off” to President Gen Musharraf and the top brass of the Pakistan army for finding and detaining certain pro- Al Qaeda army officers who are a threat to Pakistan’s internal security in the ongoing global war against terrorism.
The newspaper-reading public should understand that extremists are not unique to Pakistan, but in all instances must still be rooted out and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Ireland, India, the Philippines and many other nations face equally difficult internal security threats.
The awful bombing and consequent deaths and maiming of innocent Pakistanis in Karachi just last year are examples of the low levels to which such despicable traitors will stoop via their violent Al Qaeda associations.
We are all people of the Book and must live and work together for a peaceful world someday in which we can all serve God in a constructive, non-divisive manner. I am yet pleased to remember the many Pakistani friends I had during my tour of duty at the old US embassy in Karachi in the 1960s, and will continue to read and watch with interest the evolution of a better, more peaceful, and more successful modern day Pakistan.
GEORGE L. SINGLETON
Birmingham, Alabama, USA
THE city government of Karachi seems to be sleeping over the sanitation problems faced by the citizens. One sees heaps of garbage dampened with rain everywhere and ponds of stagnant water serving as breeding grounds for mosquitoes and flies.
Epidemics like gastro-enteritis are spreading but the authorities concerned have failed to ensure a much-needed spray to destroy the larva.
Will the authorities see that the garbage heaps are removed, the accumulated water is drained out and the sites are properly disinfected?
NASEER A. MALIK
Karachi
IT is heartening to note that courses leading to Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS) have been introduced in some government colleges of Karachi. Following the instance, it is proposed that courses leading to Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) may also be started in some government colleges (both for boys and girls) in Karachi, affiliated to the University of Karachi, without the loss of the next academic year, as this will not require any infrastructure.
Will the authorities concerned do the needful?
MANZOOR AHMAD
Karachi
You can also send letters to the Editor
Just send your message to the following address:
Make sure you include your full name, postal address, e-mail address, and in the case of Pakistan your day-time telephone number.