| September 17, 2003 | Wednesday | Rajab 19, 1424 |
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WTO & developing countries
Foreign faculty hiring programme
Savings scheme for widows
PPP’s tirade against Musharraf
PIMS’s falling standards
Property tax assessment
CIA’s new map of J&K
An unfriendly blow
We and Indian Muslims
THE majority will agree with Dr Ijaz Ahsan that in order to have stability in Pakistan two things are necessary. One, a military government and there should be no Big Brother province. But I do not agree that Punjab should be divided haphazardly, and I strongly feel that there should be delineation of provinces on some strong and national basis that cannot be any other than the following:
(a) language,
(b) tradition and culture,
(c) historical background,
(d) natural boundaries (maximum possible such as rivers, canals, mountain ranges and water streams),
(e) control and effective working of irrigation system, communication and access to the area and
(f) contiguous area.
In view of some constraints and circumstances, besides the creation of provinces on the above basis, some area has to be created as federal area which is strategically important or bone of contention between linguistic groups. This be done for a certain number of years (maybe 25 years) after which they may be given an opportunity either to make their area a province or to join another province. Thus, Islamabad, Wah and Taxila (because of defence-related industries), Quetta (because claimed by both Pushto and Baloch factions, Karachi, tribal areas can be controlled by the centre through a minister designated by it as currently done for tribal areas. The probable provinces could be:
1. Sindh: present Sindh minus Karachi and parts of northern Sindh which speaks Saraiki,
2. Saraiki: Bahawalpur, Multan, D. G. Khan division, parts of northern Sindh and D. I. Khan which speak Saraiki,
3. Punjab: Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad divisions, Sargodha Div. minus Khushab, Mianwali districts,
4. Potohar: Rawalpindi Div., Hazara Div. minus Kohistan Dist., parts of Sargodha Div. which lie left of the River Jhelum,
5. Pakhtoonwah: all Pushto-speaking area of present the NWFP and Balochistan minus Chitral Dist, Hazara Div. and may be parts of D. I. Khan where Saraiki is spoken,
6. Balochistan: all non-Pushto speaking area of Balochistan minus Quetta, plus parts of D. G. Khan or Rajanpur Dist., which has similar dialect as of Balochistan,
7. Northern province: Chitral, Gilgit, Hunza, Skardu, Kohistan Dist. of Hazara and
8. Federal Area; Karachi, Quetta, Islamabad, Taxila, Wah and tribal areas.
It is also suggested that each province is divided into equal number of districts having 8.5 per cent of population of the province, which means that each province will have 12 districts irrespective of the area (with little variation whenever necessary in view of adjustment of communication, irrigation system, accessibility and administrative requirements).
Second, in order to eliminate the chances of occupation by army every five to 10 years, I would second the proposal, put forward by Mr Kunwar Idrees, of having presidential form of government which shall not only eliminate the rift between the president and the prime minister but also save money as we will only have one white elephant and not two. Also shall have direct election for every position and not indirect election, i.e. president, assembly, senators, governors, mayors, etc.
IKRAM UL HAQUE
Lahore
THE World Trade Organization, not reaching agreement on new trade rules, represents a real breakdown in the negotiating process. The talks fell apart because of objections by developing countries to the Singapore issues and the direction of the agriculture negotiations as the US and EU attempted to push an aggressive agenda. The collapse of the talks shows the fragility of the current global trading system.
The world cannot continue with a system that primarily benefits the interests of multinational corporations and doesn’t address the serious concerns of farmers, workers and people around the world. Developing countries made clear they did not want to expand the jurisdiction of the WTO into the Singapore issues and they wanted something done to address agricultural dumping which is hurting their farmers.
The EU and the US tried to override these serious concerns and now the WTO is paying the price. There is the potential for a real positive outcome following this collapse at Cancun. Now the world may get real negotiations on the difficult issues confronting the global trading system. It is clear that we are seeing a shift in the power dynamic at the WTO. No longer are developing countries going to roll over for the US and the EU, particularly on issues of vital importance to them.
How the WTO responds as an institution to this breakdown over the next few months will be critical. Will it transform the negotiating process to better reflect the positions of all WTO members or will it continue down a blind path where it is very difficult to gain the support and consensus of all WTO members? Sadly, this breakdown was entirely predictable. It has been apparent in Geneva throughout the negotiations that frustration was building among developing countries over a series of exclusive greenrooms and mini-ministerials. Draft texts routinely excluded their positions. It is not surprising that at Cancun the developing countries finally said enough is enough. Hopefully, this will result in the establishment of clear negotiating procedures and a more transparent system.
RAHIM PANJWANI
Karachi
THE current debate on the issue of hiring foreign teachers is very pertinent and hopefully the authorities concerned are paying attention to these valuable opinions. First, I want to congratulate the authorities for recognizing the importance of high quality education and I assume they are taking other measures to accomplish these objectives. I believe the following measures be in place before embarking on the expensive foreign hiring programme:
1. Visit the current teacher hiring mechanism. The selection body should be of highest scientific calibre and immaculate integrity to attract and recruit individuals of great potentials.
2. Academic institutions should be freed from the interference of politicians and bureaucrats in the selection of teaching staff.
3. The leader ship in academia should nurture meritocracy, and be exemplary in keeping highest learning and ethical standards.
4. Create institutional mechanism to seek foreign volunteers in scientific fields and match them to the needs of local educational institutions. I assure you Pakistan will not find lack of such volunteers if seriousness is shown in these efforts.
5. Tap all available resources of high scientific information on Internet and provide them to students.
6. Periodic visits from highly specific scientific experts should be utilized.
7. Continued upgrading of current academic staff should be facilitated and mandated.
8. Salaries and benefits of the academic staff should be reasonably competitive to attract qualified individuals.
These and other such measures are paramount to promote quality education, otherwise getting foreign experts is like importing luxury cars on our dilapidated streets.
MOHAMMAD ALI KHAN
Potomac, Maryland, USA
ON behalf of the widow members of the family, I welcome introduction, though belated, of Bahbood Savings Certificates. The scheme, however, has some rules and conditions attached to it, the most significant being deduction of a certain percentage of the principal amount in case the amount invested is withdrawn voluntarily, in part or full, within four years from the date of purchase of certificates.
The rule, however, is silent as to what would happen if the certificate holder dies within the first four years. The NSS authorities in Karachi say that as there is no specific instruction or rule covering the issue, service charge will be deducted as per rule.
The situation becomes worse if the certificate owner dies within a month of buying the certificates in which case, say on an investment of Rs500,000, the deceased or her heir, without receiving a single instalment of the profit, will have to part with Rs10,000 being two per cent deduction as per rule.
The rule seems a bit harsh and may not be applied in case the certificate holder dies prematurely, i.e. within four years of the purchase of certificate(s). It is, therefore, suggested that, in all such cases, the heir(s) of the deceased be paid back the actual face value of the certificate(s) without deduction of any service charge whatsoever.
Will the authorities in the ministry of finance look into the problem and come up with an official notification to this effect, suspending service charge deduction on the death of the certificate holder within four years from the date of purchase?
The same rule of deductions, perhaps, applies to pensioners, and their heirs, in case of death, may also be extended the same relief.
R. BAIG
Karachi
ON Sept 11, 2003, the BBC’s website displayed a comment from PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar. Referring to the recent statement purportedly issued by Osama bin Laden’s partner in crime, AL-Zwahiri, in which he has urged Pakistanis to oust President Musharraf, the senator stated that such calls were a result of the general’s policies and his subversion of the Constitution and democracy.
In their zeal to constantly portray their “leader for life” (what an undemocratic, autocratic and fascist title) and themselves as victims, the PPP leaders often seem to have taken leave of their common sense. How can Mr Babar justify his assertion that Al-Zwahiri, whose only achievement in life is that he became an accomplice in a ghastly act of mass murder and is proud of it, is really agitated over the state of Constitution and democracy in Pakistan?
It is shocking that the senator failed to condemn an act of naked interference by a terrorist, in a matter that is simply the personal matter of the people of Pakistan.
Pakistanis are fully aware of the unprincipled, extraconstitutional and unconstitutional behaviour of their corrupt politicians, which has eventually brought Pakistan to its current state of constitutional anxiety.
Meanwhile, their president is trying to keep the demons from the past, at bay. What can be wrong with such a reasonable objective?
SIDDIQUE MALIK
Louisville, KY, USA
I AM writing this letter with reference to the present condition of PIMS (the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences). Established in 1986, it was supposed to be a model and state-of-the-art institution in the country, but over the years its standards have gone down greatly because of political/bureaucratic interference and nepotism
People with appropriate qualifications/credentials are discouraged to stay or are not hired at all. As a result, the hospital is losing experts. The doctors without appropriate qualifications and training, because of their sheer influence with government high-ups, are placed in departments where they do not belong. It is obvious that they are unable to deliver what they are supposed to. This issue was raised even in the National Assembly by a member of the assembly but to no avail.
I request the health minister and other relevant authorities to look into the matter. PIMS should have qualified people in all departments. The public expects better than what is being practised and delivered at the hospital.
MUBASHER GILL
Islamabad
I LIVE in Gulistan-i-Jauher in a house built on a plot measuring 400 square yards. My property tax for 1999-2000 was assessed at Rs3,873; for 2000-2001 at Rs4,649; for 2001-2002 at Rs5,000; for 2002-2003 at Rs7,412; and for 2003-2004 I have just received a bill for Rs19,182, which was issued by an excise inspector.
How long will this harassment continue? Now I will keep on running to the office of Excise and Taxation Department. Everyone knows what happens next in that office. Why doesn’t the government fix a rate as to how much to pay and when to pay as it has done in the case of motor vehicle taxation?
Every government says that justice will be done at the doorstep. The public knows who comes to the doorstep. If the government has to correct society and the country, it has to take corrective and bold steps in the right direction, not just giving promises.
I shall be highly grateful if the property tax is fixed on the size of the plot and not left at the mercy of an inspector. I also urge the higher authorities to investigate and correct my case. Unless investigation is done and things are not controlled, the public will keep on suffering.
SHAHABUDDIN A. SIDDIQUI
Karachi
IN late April or early May, 2003, the CIA came up with a new map of Jammu and Kashmir, showing Indian-occupied Kashmir as “Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir” and the rest as “Pakistan-controlled areas of Kashmir”.
Seeing that the action of the CIA indicates that Washington will stand by India on the issue of Kashmir, Indian’s Foreign Office spokesman said at a press briefing that Indian parliament had passed a unanimous resolution claiming that the State of Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India and that the next talks on J&K with Pakistan would be about the territory which is on the west of the Line of Control.
Four months have gone by, but our Foreign Office, media, columnists, political leaders, lawyers or the think-tanks have raised no voice of protest, nor have they requested the UN to take suo motu cognizance of the actions of the CIA and the Indian parliament and proceed against them for contempt of the UN for the reason that they have flouted the UNSC resolutions on J&K.
Has the cause of the Kashmiris become redundant to the people who matter in Pakistan? Have they forgotten the great sacrifices of the Kashmiris? The media has reported that journalists of Lahore and other cities have demonstrated against the arrest by America of a cameraman of Al Jazeerah TV. Is the Kashmiri cause less important than the arrest of a foreign media journalist? Have the issues of the LFO and the COAS’s uniform of the president deadened the souls of the politicians, the mediamen and the lawyers vis-a-vis the Kashmiri cause for which Pakistan’s masses have been experiencing economic stagnation for the past 56 years?
JALAL AHMED
Karachi
ON Sept 5 your paper wrote that Sept 2 was a date worth remembering in history when the jointly-developed JF-17 fighter of Pakistan and China successfully made its first flight in China. It marked a great achievement accomplished by the two countries in technological collaboration in the field of aviation.
On Sept 7 a news-item appeared in your paper under the caption “F16 on agenda of talks with US”. It reminds us that our friend and ally, the US, had struck us a most unfriendly blow by withholding delivery of F16s against cash payment despite their earlier unequivocal commitment. To make the relations worse, America even refused to refund our money.
It is time we asked our friend the question: how do they expect a lay Pakistani should behave and react?
K. MURAD BEY
Karachi
I FREQUENTLY read your web-based paper. I am an Indian and for the most part find your articles, editorials and opinions fairly balanced. I consider myself to be a well- wisher for both nations and pray for peace and harmony in our part of the world.
Lately I have been quite surprised by a spate of articles in your paper regarding the state of Indian Muslims. One in particular “We and Indian Muslims” by Anwar Syed (Sept 9) left me shocked and horrified by its half-truths and misrepresentation of facts.
It seems that the general perception people in Pakistan have is that Indian Muslims are suppressed, without the free will to practise their religion, and disconnected from the mainstream. Such blatant lies, as suggested by Mr Syed, could not be further from the truth.
He talks about the plunder and torture of Muslims at the hands of Hindus during partition. He makes it sound as if the Hindus fleeing Pakistan were hugged and garlanded being seen off by their Muslim brethren. The last time I checked history books (and not just those written by Hindu historians), the atrocities committed by the Muslims were no less in magnitude or severity.
My father’s family escaped from West Pakistan during partition and I have heard about some of the shocking and horrifying incidents, perpetrated by, and please note, both parties. Unlike Mr Syed, people like my uncles and aunts, who suffered first-hand the pangs of partition, have a lot more moral courage and dignity in acknowledging that the crimes were committed by both sides. I do not see the point of constantly trying to shore up the cause of the poor Muslim brothers in India. We have many Muslim friends and I can assure you that most of them do not feel as marginalized and helpless as Mr Syed makes them out to be.
The very fact that there is a national debate going on in India on the Ayodhya issue with the direct involvement of the Supreme Court shows that the judiciary plays an important role in upholding the rights of minorities.
I also take exception to Mr Syed’s notion that he feels that Pakistanis and only Indian Muslims share a common culture and heritage. Once again if he were to change his myopic faith-centred lenses, he would see that the similarities exist because of a shared linguistic and cultural heritage not plainly because of religion. A Punjabi Muslim from Lahore has a lot more in common with a Hindu Punjabi from Delhi than say with a Tamil Muslim from Madras.
The point is that the likes of Mr Syed should concern themselves with the plight of their own people and stop worrying about ours.
So, until you have solved the sectarian conflict between Shias and Sunnis (who both happened to be Muslims, the last time I checked), until you have established rule of law in your cities and villages, until you have ensured the rights of minorities, until you have stopped honour killings and rapes of women, until you have created world class institutions like the IITs and IIMs (The Indian Institute of Technology and Indian Institute of Management), until you have even contemplated nominating a minority to a cabinet post or the presidency, until that time it is better not to rant lies and half-baked truths. The holy Quran calls for Jihad-al-Akbar, the greater Jihad — to cleanse from within. So let’s start with that.
DR C. S. THUKRAL
Boston, USA
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