| September 13, 2003 | Saturday | Rajab 15, 1424 |
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Water rationing in Islamabad
Oil spill disaster, PNSC & KPT
Waiting for visa
Well done BD
Sick units and CIRC
Controlling obscenity
Karachi mass transit project
‘See rule number one’
Betel-nut and cancer
ON the eve of the second anniversary of the 9/11 disaster, Muslims in the United States continue to struggle with ever- increasing and overt discrimination in both official and unofficial settings. The recent appointment of Daniel Pipes, a known Islamophobe, by President Bush to the Peace Institute was yet another slap in their face. For now, Muslim Americans are continuing their untiring, yet unsuccessful, efforts at convincing the Bush administration of their status as peace-loving citizens.
Meanwhile the rhetoric against Islam is rising in mainstream sectors where Christian preachers, regional and national politicians, not to mention TV and radio talk show hosts, are joining the fray with uninformed, uneducated and sometimes downright biased views about Islam.
Complaints of vandalism, random beatings and on-the-job discrimination against Muslims are also on the rise. Yes, there are pockets of heartfelt support amongst various liberal groups in the US. But most of these groups are non-influential and provide at best a crying shoulder or a sanity check for Muslims who fail to understand as to why their religion, scriptures and beloved personalities are being maligned by these everyday attacks.
To add to this hopeless situation, the mindless killing of Muslims, without impunity, continues in Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq and Kashmir. Who is there to hear their cries? No monuments or memorial services will be held for them. The so-called Muslim governments are busy appeasing their western masters.
Muslim Americans and Pakistani Americans in particular are left with little choice but to take charge of their own destiny. The challenges are almost insurmountable. They have to fight the scourge of extremism within their own ranks, on the one hand, and try to break the shackles of western dependence, on the other.
This is where the limbo equation comes into play. Most expatriates find themselves in a limbo status as regards their future. They are hopelessly out of place in their adopted homelands while a look at their native homeland and its state of affairs breeds even more alarming concerns.
Despite the mindless chatter of the politicians and militarymen alike, Pakistan offers little hope for the expatriate community who are constantly looking for any semblance of an excuse to return to the motherland. I tip my hat off to the brave few who have returned in the most deplorable of conditions and adjusted to life in Pakistan. But let the truth be told; Pakistan today offers little or no hope for successful expatriates who today more than ever before are looking for an alternative to their present dilemma. Every day stories about lawlessness, execution-style killings, robberies, lack of basic utilities and complaints about rampant corruption in every sector of life dampen the spirit more quickly than water accumulates on the neglectful roads of Karachi.
To add insult to injury, we watch night after night the elected representatives in the halls of parliament banging their desks with vainglorious smirks on their faces. We have been watching the same faces doing the same exact thing for decades yet they are returned to defile the august house again by the populace. If this is not defined as punishment by one’s own hands, then I do not know what it is. For their daily shenanigans I ask if they have ever done anything constructive for Pakistan.
And for all the assurances the military government wants to give to foreign investors, I ask this simple question: if the Pakistani expatriate community, specially the ones residing in western countries, do not feel safe about returning to Pakistan themselves, how can they convince others? Mind you, they are not asking for facilities comparable to the West but simple amenities to lead decent, normal lives that should be the right of every citizen of a progressive nation — security, clean water, electricity, honest law-enforcement officials. Is that too much to ask for?
If the government is looking for a place to make the most impact, let’s start with Karachi, for through its arteries flows the economic lifeblood of Pakistan. But today those arteries are severely blocked and are in desperate and immediate need of an open heart surgery.
And to those pathetic administrators at both the state and the local level, in whose hands lie the destiny of the hapless citizens of Karachi, when they open their mouths to say that Karachi is like any other metropolitan city of the world with a high crime rate, I say shame on you. The wanton and unchecked kidnappings, murders and robberies that take place in Karachi on an everyday basis cannot be compared to any city in the world. The criminals roam the streets terrorizing innocent citizens unchecked and at will. The law-enforcement agencies are so pathetic that most victims choose not to involve them at all for fear of being hounded by the constables of law who also double as extortionists making an already miserable situation a living hell for the victims.
So, the next time President Musharraf and his men talk about priorities for his government, I would encourage him to seriously look into taking concrete steps towards ensuring that basic needs of citizens are being provided for. Once the right environment is created, not only will Pakistan attract foreign investment but also attract hundreds upon thousands of progressive and highly educated Pakistan expatriates who today, more than ever before, are looking for an excuse to come back to the motherland, to contribute towards their own society. Romanticism and patriotism aside, the price they are not willing to pay is the endangerment of their lives or the lives of their families.
OMAR KHAN
Union City, California, USA
THIS refers to a news-item (Aug 25) under the caption “Fixed charges despite water rationing”.
The report has missed many points about water charges. The charge was increased from Rs282 in March 2000 to Rs474 in January 2001 — about 168 per cent — on 40x 80ft plot, with an assurance that more water will be supplied to the consumers. Instead, water is supplied on alternate days, with enhanced water rates and that too is not potable.
At the tube-wells installed by the CDA, there is always a queue of people who collect water for the purpose of drinking. Many others procure water from their neighbours who have installed tube-wells to meet the shortage of water.
The once free-of-charge water tanker service has now been priced — the official rate being Rs100 per tanker, but generally sold in black market for up to Rs500.
My three children suffered from hepatitis in 1998, which forced me to install a tube-well. Many neighbours fetch potable water from me. It is a free service, water is a gift of nature. Air is also a gift of nature; nobody knows when the CDA will fix a price for breathing.
The proposal for introducing water meters at people’s houses would be a futile exercise. It was experimented in the 1980s and failed. It was observed then that the meters would start working as soon as supply was opened but water would reach house taps after 15 to 30 minutes. In this period, air would accumulate in the pipes and take time in being pushed out by the oncoming coming water. Thus, one had to pay charges for the air plus water. This increased the cost of water.
Moreover, the bills would be prepared in the office without reading the meters. The record may be checked with the CDA office and it would show heavy billings. The CDA had to withdraw the meter system in the face of widespread complaints against high rates.
The proposal for installing meters once again is not workable. It would be a waste of money. Instead the CDA could use this money for establishing schools, dispensaries, health-care units, etc.
S. HYDER RAZA
Islamabad
THE oil spillage from Tasman Spirit has been an unprecedented disaster for Karachi’s citizens, its marine life and general environment. Everyone is keen to know how the tanker ran aground and why it took so long for the crisis to be handled.
This week I finally got some answers. And, the credit must go to your sister publication, Herald magazine. In a superb piece of investigative journalism, Herald’s reporters have managed to penetrate the veil of official secrecy and deliberate misinformation, and got to the truth of the matter. It was, according to the report, “corruption, incompetence and sheer lack of interest” on part of the major players, i.e. the Karachi Port Trust and the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation.
Military and naval officers, it appears, have hogged all the senior positions in both these organizations. One cannot disagree with these intrepid reporters when they state that the naval men have “too little a grasp of commercial shipping practices” and the “armymen are completely at sea when it comes to maritime affairs”. It is indeed worrying.
Taking just one example, the current delayed state of dredging in the harbour means that we should prepare ourselves for further maritime disasters. Sadly, throughout the world maritime professionals man such organizations, but not so in Pakistan.
Clearly no government minister — clinging as he is to his office at the whim of the military — will have the gumption to take on the assorted bevy of admirals and brigadiers currently ensconced in the KPT and the PNSC. As always, it will have to boil down to the authority of one man, Gen Pervez Musharraf. No doubt, he has already heard the valiant excuses proffered by the PNSC and the KPT, the general would be well advised to read the Herald report as well.
SHEHRYAR MAZARI
Karachi
I WANT to draw the attention of US embassy officials in Islamabad to the issue of my non-immigrant visa application. Last year, on Sept 12, 2002, I appeared for an interview before the visa officer in Islamabad for the visit visa (B1/B2) in order to take Clinical Skill Assessment Examination (CSA) as part of the ECFMG requirement.
The visa officer tentatively approved my visa that day and told me that the visa would be printed after receipt of clearance. On Nov 6, 2002, I was informed by the embassy on telephone that clearance had been received, and I was asked to submit my passport for visa printing.
I sent my passport immediately on the very next day, i.e. on Nov 7, through American Express, Karachi, but unfortunately my visa has not been printed yet. I contacted the embassy staff many times through fax, telephone calls and emails but no one even bothered to reply. Now it has been about a year since my visa was approved. Will the embassy authorities concerned let me know why visa has not been printed yet?
My colleagues who also applied and were interviewed on the same day have received their clearance and their visas were printed accordingly. So discrimination in my case is not understood. I am unable to understand which type of clearance the American authorities are seeking, which has taken about one year and still there is no result.
I am really disappointed as my all future plans for a better educational career has been handicapped. It is very much painful for me as I have already missed last year’s residency matching process and now another year is on the brink of going to waste.
DR MUHAMMAD SHAHBAZ ALAM
Karachi
THE minnows of cricket, Bangladesh, had come very close to creating history in the final Test in Multan. Bangladesh were in Australia two months back and the Aussies selected and played their best team for their three Test-match series. They thrashed Bangladesh by big margins in all three Test matches, whereas Pakistan gave Test caps to five new players and took Bangladesh very lightly.
I believe that opposition should not be played on their reputation. Why was Shoeb Akhter allowed to go and play for Durham and Yousuf Yohana not included in the final Test? The PCB owes us an explanation.
Well done Bangladesh! I wish to congratulate Ramiz and Aamir Sohail for the excellent comments throughout this Test series on TV.
ADEEL KHAN
Karachi
THE letter under the headline “Sick units and CIRC” (Sept 4) carries very revealing but quite intriguing facts for the affected people like myself.
I booked a KIA Pride car and made an advance payment of Rs49,000 on 12-12-1994. The sale order was KP-00581, dated Dec 21, 1994. Despite repeated requests to Naya Daur Motors, they refused to respond and we were informed through the press that the company had run away with our money. There were reports that the government was in the process of auctioning the company assets to refund money to us. But nothing materialized to this day. Now comes this letter from Mr Abdul Qadir, honorary chairman of Naya Daur Motors, with these intriguing revelations about the happenings.
President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali are requested to provide justice to the affected people and get our money refunded to us. Almost nine years have gone by since our hard-earned money was gobbled up and it is about time justice was meted out through our new government.
MRS U. MALIK
Islamabad
I WOULD like to draw attention of Pemra about obscenity shown in dramas, some of which are currently running and some have ended recently. Although such dramas claim to be suitable for family viewing, they are unfortunately not so (now).
I recently watched a drama, “Thori Si Mohabat”, on a local television channel and was shocked to see the way in which it was shot and presented. I was forced to change the channel because I was surrounded by my family members.
It does not matter if dramas and other programmes like “Thori Si Mohabat” and “Umrao Jaan Ada” are telecast by Zee or Sony or by Star Plus because they are not under our control, but I strongly disagree with the people showing such programmes on Pakistani channels.
If by banning Indian channels Pemra has tried to end obscenity, vulgarity and low moral values, may I know what our channels are promoting?
HINA ALI
Karachi
IT was surprising to read a news-item in your issue of Sept 7 that seven firms pre-qualify for rail-based mass transit system in Karachi and the firms are now permitted to submit their terms and bid in a BOT basis for the specified project.
We thought the KMTP has been shelved by Karachi environmentalists for being expensive, unsuitable, non-environmental after spending millions of rupees on feasibilities and even after signing and breaking an implementation agreement with a Canadian company, followed by a ground-breaking ceremony by the prime minister after five years’ hide-and-seek.
Can we afford all this? Millions of rupees have already been spent on feasibilities, contracts, planning, all but execution of this project. On what grounds is the city government saying this? Or is this another farce, wasting more effort and money by an already bankrupt government which cannot even afford to repair roads, lift garbage or ensure clean water and electricity to the citizens of Karachi?
They could not afford to build one of the said corridors all these 25 years and how they are attempting to take up the second corridor as well is beyond a lay man’s thinking.
S. BABAR
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the letter titled “Litmus test for PCB boss” (Sept 11) by Ilyas Anwar.
I think the writer must not be astonished by the selection of Junaid Zia for the national cricket team. After all, he is the son of the boss of the Pakistan Cricket Board, and it is often said that there are two rules: one, the boss is always right and, two, if the rule number two is not right, see the rule number one.
The Pakistan team is already on verge of disaster, but the PCB chairman does not seem to have learnt any lessons from the team’s poor performance in the third Test against Bangladesh.
QAZI NAZIM NAEEM
Hyderabad
CHEWING betel-nut (areca nut/supari/pan masala) is very common in Pakistan. It is served on many occasions, specially at weddings. Betel quid consists of betel leaf (from piper betel vine), areca nut (from the areca catechu tree) and slaked lime (calcium hydroxide), to which tobacco is often added. Other ingredients and flavouring agents are added according to local tastes and preferences.
Most people in Pakistan do not know that betel-nut is the fourth most common substance of abuse in the world (chewed by 600 million people worldwide). Its use is particularly common in the subcontinent. The use of betel-nut with or without paan leaves is linked with several serious health disorders, including oral sub-mucous fibrosis, heart disease, diabetes and mouth cancer which is the most serious side-effect. Previously it was thought that increased risk of cancer was due to the intake of tobacco mixed with betel quid taken in the form of paan.
However, according to a recent report of WHO, betel quid and the chewing areca nut is carcinogenic to humans even if it is consumed without tobacco. Recent evidence also shows that betel-nut use is also very addictive. Paan shops are there at every street corner of the country. Also, in our country over 100 brands of supari are sold without any health warnings. In order to make the packet attractive to children. sugar is added along with colouring agents. The sad thing is that the colouring agents used in the packets are not edible colours and are unsafe for human consumption.
Oral cancers are more common in parts of the world where betel quid is chewed. Of the 390,000 oral and/or pharyngeal cancers estimated to occur annually, 228,000, or 58 per cent, are in South and South East Asia. According to this recent research, betel quid not only causes oral cancer, it increases the risk of cancer of the pharynx and cancer of the esophagus (food pipe) as well. In the last decades or so, doctors in Pakistan are seeing an increasing number of cases with oral cancer. Unfortunately, the government has done little to educate the public on the serious health risk associated with the use of betel quid.
Through this letter I would like to request the electronic and print media, as well as the ministry of health, to start an educational campaign warning the public that the use of pan or supari is detrimental to human health and can cause cancer, besides other health hazards.
Paan is also a major cause of several gum and dental diseases. Not only it harms the health of an individual, it also makes the streets, public places, as well as currency notes, dirty. Parents should act as role models by not eating paan/supari themselves and then try to discourage their children from taking up this bad habit which can result in a cancer.
PROF JAVAID KHAN
Karachi
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