| September 25, 2003 | Thursday | Rajab 27, 1424 |
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Provision of health care
Australian sheep
Why ignore Mushtaq?
An unattended complaint
Good news from South Africa
‘Edhi pays ransom’
Public hospital working
What path of unity?
Miseries plus
Mixing English with Urdu
Pre-paid mobile phone cards
Comparing the two vetoes
I STRONGLY support Mr Qutubuddin Aziz’s view in his letter “Recognizing Israel” (Sept 21).
It is really not understandable as to how some people are pleading for making a departure from our principled stand on the conflict in Palestine. Pakistan may accord recognition to Israel only when the Israeli occupying forces vacate the Arab lands and an independent and sovereign Palestinian state is established.
This recognition should be a formal acceptance that the state of Israel exists but we need not have any diplomatic and business relations with it. It would be naive to expect that a state which has been anti-Muslim and anti-Arab will ever be friendly to us.
Moreover, Israel may have made progress in technology, it has no potential to survive without foreign economic and military assistance. With an area of less than 8,000 square miles and a population of about six million, it cannot support its growing population.
The Israelis know their survival lies in keeping the conflict alive so that they can convince America that they are its only trusted friend in the region. The aim is to continue receiving aids and almost free military equipment. If the situation in the region becomes normal, US charity and military assistance will stop. This means economic the collapse of Israel.
The Indo-Israeli nexus should not unnerve Pakistan. Israel has been making frantic efforts to sell some of its arms to buttress its dwindling economy, and India, for its anti-Pakistan hysteria, was a sure buyer of these arms. In the long run it will not serve their aggressive designs.
Mr Aziz is right in asking the government not to beg India to start talks on Kashmir. India is least interested in doing so. The much-publicized gesture of Mr Vajpayee last April was not a gesture of friendship. He had said he was extending the hand of friendship to Pakistan but on the same day came up with the demand that the alleged ‘cross-border terrorism’ be first stopped by Pakistan.
It is Pakistan that has been extending the hand of friendship and making offers repeatedly to resolve the core dispute but to no avail. Pakistan should now give its own terms for initiating talks. India must stop state terrorism in the occupied state and abandon its false propaganda to hide the war crimes of its military personnel.
PROF MUKHTAR ALI NAQVI
Orlando, Fl., USA
PAKISTAN has a very high incidence of diseases. Environmental factors, infections and meagre expenditure on the health sector are some of the contributing factors. According to the Economic Survey Report 2002-2003, Pakistan spends 0.7 per cent of its GDP on health. This is woefully short of requirements. This gap is alarmingly widening between the funds made available and the cost of medical treatment involved, even in any reputable health centre of the country, because of the prevailing high cost of medicines and drugs. Efforts, therefore, must be made to restrict further widening of the gap in the best public interest.
The enlightened among the members of the public and the medical profession believe that keeping in view the concept of an Islamic social welfare state, as envisaged by our founders, provision of basic health care must be the responsibility of the state, and we are yet in search of such a role model in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan who could get this provision of national and international law enforced, so essential for defence and development of the country.
In order, therefore, to overcome this serious human problem, I would suggest that the kickback and commissions on government purchases, including defence procurements, must be divided between the health sector and the health protectors, thereby both the rulers and the ruled can be defended. It should be 70:30 per cent, respectively. This will not only help fill the resource gap but also go a long way to bring about radical changes in the perception of society towards achieving the basic right of the people like health.
Stop pitying and doing things for those who can’t afford — no charity because they are human beings like us. Instead of supporting all manner of people all over the world, it is time we declared jihad to provide this basic right of our people — the health.
HAJI HAMID ALI QURESHI
Karachi
AUSTRALIA has 50,000 sheep aboard a ship at sea having been refused import entry by Saudi Arabia because six per cent of them (3,000) are suffering from mouth infection instead of the expected five per cent. The entire lot was offered free to Pakistan but the government has refused to accept the donation, saying it is too much to handle.
No donation is too much to handle in a country whose 40 per cent population live below the poverty line. Each sheep costs Rs3,000. They provide high-class proteins, milk, wool and hides. The poor can breed them too. The monetary value amounts to 47,000x3,000 = Rs141,000,000. If a few mangoes in a crate or a few eggs in a basket become rotten, we do not throw away the entire consignment.
The veterinary doctors should advise if those sheep with benign mouth infection are edible without ill effects to humans and if the infection is likely to spread to other sheep. If the infection is likely to spread to other sheep, we should refuse to take the donation, If this is not the case there is no problem. If only the infected sheep are harmful, these infected sheep should be slaughtered and buried. The healthy ones (47,000) should be distributed in the slums of Karachi, Sindh, Gwadar and Balochistan.
DR ZARINA KHAN
Islamabad
I FAIL to understand the philosophy behind selection of players for our national cricket squad, specially when the selection committee chooses an extremely mediocre bowler like Junaid Zia and a very docile leg-spinner like Kaneria but prefers to overlook the person who is known as the reviver of leg spin in the UK, i.e. Mushtaq Ahmed.
Mushtaq Ahmed is a bowler who has made us Pakistanis proud in Europe not only because of his extraordinary performance but also due to his personal values. He is the only bowler to take more than 100 wickets in one county cricket season (it was only five years back that Courtney Walsh had crossed the 100-wicket barrier in a season).
Moreover, Mushtaq Ahmed is the one who helped Sussex win the English cricket county championship for the first time in their history although they were on the brink of relegation last year. He has rightly been named as Player of the Year by the Professional Cricketers Association. But to our surprise, the chief selector, Aamir Sohail, says Mushtaq Ahmed has yet to prove his worth. What worth did Junaid Zia prove? What worth has Danish Kaneria proved?
For heaven’s sake, if you have some personal issues, settle them on personal levels and do not keep an asset out because you won’t like people from your playing time to be still playing and performing.
SHIKKOHW MALIK
Brussels, Belgium
WORKING of the World Call Broadband offices at Karachi needs to be monitored by the director-general (licensing) and other relevant authorities in the PTCL.
In the second week of September we were given a connection for TV by technicians on their behalf. These men were in a hurry as they had to cover three other houses that evening. So, they did not check whether all channels are in working order, i. e. no channel gets repeated or goes blank. However, they promised to return and check.
Since then, repeated calls on 111-111-925 and 5823540 and 5823749 and visits to World Call offices at Do Talwar have proved fruitless. Promises made by their personnel were not kept, though we were kept waiting at the given time twice.
The persons who attended the calls or met us in the morning of Sept 17 were Mr Adrian, Mr Aamer, Mr Troy, Mr Waqas and another gentleman. The moment we mentioned that there was an unattended complaint in spite of the promise made, we were told that they were in the meeting. We were then told to repeat the story.
In the meanwhile, a World Call line at the pole on “A” Street (near 260’ Street), Phase V, DHA, was reported broken by a trailer but nobody at the World Call cared to reconnect it.
Next morning we visited their regional office, opposite Bilawal House, but no one was there. Later, we contacted 111 001 020, and a girl took the details and asked us to wait. A gentleman later came on the line and said what he could do for us and then hung up.
The World Call lately said they would charge us Rs300 for tuning. This they should have said at the outset. It is tantamount to fleecing.
Once again, we tried to contact Mr Shan Taseer at the regional office but he was not available. The director-general concerned ought to send an inquiry officer at World Call offices and take necessary action.
AHMED SAEED
Karachi
IT is good news for all cricket lovers that the South African cricket team has agreed to visit Pakistan to play a full series. It is, however, bad news for both Karachi and Peshawar fans that they won’t be able to see competitive cricket and their heroes playing in front of them.
At the same time I am disappointed that the PCB has revised the original itinerary, i.e. of three Tests and three ODIs to two Tests and five ODIs. The PCB chief executive, Ramiz Raja, in a television interview said they had both the options of playing either three Tests and three ODIs or two Tests and fives ODIs in a revised series but they chose the later option because one-day cricket is more popular in Pakistan.
I think the PCB chief executive should be reminded that real cricket is Test cricket which tells us which is the best team by testing the physical fitness and mental strength of the teams. ODIs though are popular but in no way could be substituted for Test cricket. Test cricket has its own charm and is followed closely by people around the world. Playing only two Tests also minimizes the chance of a result of the series and neither of the team can come back from early loss to clinch the series.
It is hoped that in future no itinerary should be changed because of the popularity of either form of cricket. More and more Test cricket should be encouraged to have a better cricket team.
KASHIF NAWAZ SHAIKH
Karachi
I was sad to read the news-item titled “Edhi pays ransom to get back ambulance” (Sept 20). Is that what we have come down to? And, where is the rule of law?
The Edhi Foundation almost single-handedly is responsible for helping thousands of poor, sick and injured people, and uses ambulance and medical services for the purpose, and yet its staff are not given protection for their humanitarian services against dacoits, robbers and law-breakers.
I hope the law-enforcement authorities would ensure security to the Edhi Foundation staff.
S. BABAR
Karachi
THE Punjab government was informed some time ago that specialists in public hospitals were fleecing people through private practice and it was suggested that fresh appointment of specialists on a contract basis be postponed until the enforcement date (June 30, 2004) of the revised private practice rules that will restrict the doctors to see private patients within the government hospitals after working hours and to deposit half their earnings in the fund for poor patients.
But the government did not heed this suggestion and has started issuing appointment letters to the new recruitees for the DHQ hospital, Muzaffargarh, who are happy that unshackled by any restrictions they will be able to fleece the people like the present specialists are already doing. Was this country created only for the benefit of government employees who monopolize state power?
IMRAN ALI
Muzaffargarh
THIS refers to the report about a grand ceremony, addressed by ANP provincial chief Begum Nasim Wali Khan, in your esteemed newspaper’s issue of Sept 15. The report reads that the lady lifted her hands towards the sky and thanked Allah Almighty for showing the path of unity to Pakhtoons.
Great applause for Begum Wali for making hard efforts to create hatred in the hearts of the people of one land. We, it seems, need not fear outside enemies when we have them within. May Allah save Pakistan from such people.
Begum Nasim Wali Khan said: “Though a female, I should be the first person to receive a bullet on my chest if anybody dared to lay the foundationstone of Kalabagh Dam.” It would have been praiseworthy had she said she would be the first person to receive a bullet if anybody dared to go beyond Pakistan’s national interest.
I have learnt from my grandparents that Pakhtoons are very loyal and I experienced so while my parents stayed in the Frontier province, but this lady is projecting a wrong version of Pakhtoons.
What else one can expect from a group of persons whose rivalries are on edges, and those who do not hesitate to break the unity of that land that has given them and identity and full freedom?
SHAMSA ISHFAQ
Islamabad
INFLATION is increasing day by day, and so are the miseries of old citizens. With profit margin on savings certificates slashed, the disabled government pensioners have not been paid their benevolent funds since last Oct 2.
Every time the pensioners pay visit to the DC office (Karachi) to find out when they will be paid, they are told only to find out next month. Much has been written in the press about these issues but nothing has moved and no miracle is expected.
The only boasting that comes from the outstanding finance minister is about increase in foreign exchange reserves, but what about our livelihood?
A SUFFERER
Karachi
THROUGH theses columns I would like to point out that the presenters of FM100 and FM101 invariably mix English with Urdu. While there is nothing wrong with the concept, their English grammar, as well as their pronunciation, is very poor. Unfortunately, it is doing more harm than any good.
It is ironic that their managements have failed to take any corrective measures in this regard.
AZHAR ALI
Lahore
RECENTLY I got a Jazz connection with a pre-paid card worth Rs300. I found out that the credit balance was decreasing at a rate greater than at which I made calls or used the short message service (SMS).
I always checked my balance whenever I used the mobile, but surprisingly one morning I learnt that Rs80 had been deducted from my balance without my making any calls. After great efforts I was able to speak to someone on the company’s helpline, but he he twice disconnected the line without listening to me
Disappointed, I went to the company’s office near Kashif Centre and found a rush of people. With much difficulty I was able to talk to an attendant at the counter. After hearing my complaint, he refused to believe I lost money without making any calls or using the SMS. He said I was the first such complainant, though the fact is there are many such complainants.
Now I am hesitant about buying another pre-paid mobile phone card. Will someone in authority look into my complaint?
ARSALAN SOOMRO
Karachi
JUST before the launching of an illegal and fraudulent war on Iraq, George W. Bush warned the UN that either it should legitimize his war or else it would become irrelevant like the League of Nations. When it became apparent that France, Russia and China would veto a second UN resolution authorizing the use of military force, the Bush-Blair spin called it an “unreasonable” veto, and threatened to ignore it.
Now Bush has exercised his veto power in defending its client state Israel when the overwhelming majority in the Security Council unanimously voted for the proposed UN resolution condemning Israel’s belligerency. The two vetoes are poles apart.
As the UN reflects international consensus (democracy), the coalition forces sidetracked the UN in their bid to oust Saddam.
It is fair to conclude that the veto threatened by France and other Security Council members were not unreasonable by the above democratic principle since they were clearly representing the majority of the nations.
In contrast, in the recent veto it was only the US that exercised this power. Eleven other 11 members of the UN Council voted in favour and three abstained. The will of the minority takes precedent over the will of the majority. Do the US and UK intelligentsia feel that “democracy” consists in bullying and abusing the Muslim world while upholding the racist and apartheid state of Israel as being a model of democracy in the region?
Actions are the only proof of one’s belief and integrity in upholding a certain principle. Thus the US veto was representative of the minority view with respect to the nations of the world and its population.
In addition, the current US government is far more representative of the multinationals and the powerful right-wing Likudniks (neo-cons). Let us not forget the powerful corporate-funded media manipulation that contributes towards shaping public opinion. Is it any surprise that 60 per cent of the Americans still believe Saddam was behind the 9/11 operation?
This is not the first time that the US has exercised its voice in opposing the rest of the world. If we recall the conference held in South Africa, we find that when the overwhelming majority condemned Israel as a racist apartheid state, the American delegation walked out, which was headed by Colin Powell. One would have assumed that he would have understood what those terms meant, and why they were being applied to Israel, since by his own admission he himself was subjected to racism in the past.
YAMIN ZAKARIA
London, UK
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