| October 24, 2003 | Friday | Sha’aban 27, 1424 |
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Woes of Lakki Marwat
Prepaid mobile phone cards
Qazi’s advice to students
Restructuring the UN
Reply from Nadra
Jogging track fee
Junior doctors’ salary
CDA housing development in limbo
Hepatitis C and use of alcohol
Squatters in Karachi DHA
Need for more education boards
‘Study abroad scheme’
ONE could not agree more with Mr Ayaz Amir’s analysis in his article “Sending troops to Iraq: revised thoughts” (Oct 17).
We in our present state of political and economic destitution need not puff up like a sparrow to lead the Ummah. We are past masters in making a mess of anything we touch. For a change think for Pakistan only.
This time around it is a golden opportunity for the Army to redeem past mistakes. All it has to do is to announce that whatever is earned by them in Iraq, 60 per cent will be given to the provinces to improve, education, health and infrastructure in the country. This would enhance the image of the Army which all along has been accused of pocketing 70 per cent of the national budget in the name of supreme national interest.
The only thing to watch is not to sell cheap. The people of Pakistan will support sending of over 50,000 troops if they know that each province will get four to six billion dollars as development funds, each year of such a deployment. Besides, people expect that the Unites States will write off our debts and ensure security of their country’s borders in the event Pakistan sends its soldiers to Iraq.
We should try and exploit the situation to our best advantage. But I fear like all other Pakistanis that we may not be able to strike a good deal.
M. S. JAVED
Karachi
PAKISTAN has done its best to fight international terrorism by joining the US-led coalition. In return, the United States has been just praising its role without giving it any significant compensation.
On the other hand, India has attained a win-win situation as America has offered it F-16s which were denied to Pakistan.
Moreover, India is procuring sophisticated military hardware from Israel with the tacit approval of America, thus seriously disturbing military balance in South Asia. Pakistan is only rewarded with lip-service and an artificial promise for solving the Kashmir issue.
Now as the US is bogged down in Afghanistan and its invasion of Iraq is hurting it, it is contemplating forcing Pakistan to send troops to Iraq to provide relief to the American soldiers. But the Iraqis have rejected the idea of any foreign troops, including those from Muslim countries, entering their country.
It is hoped that our government will seriously study the emerging situation and will desist from sending troops to Iraq. The US-Israel-India axis seems to have been formed against Muslim countries. It is America’s vested interest that at present Pakistan is not being tackled and pressure is being put on Syria and Iran.
In the long run Pakistan stands no chance of being spared for the two simple reasons that it possesses nuclear capability and maintains a close friendship with China, which is a major military power in this region against India.
The American-Jewish lobby is all out to see India as a major military power to counter China’s military might and thus create a strategic imbalance in this region. As usual Pakistan has been betrayed by the US which is much inclined towards India.
SUNAWAR CHAUDHARY
Rawalpindi
LAKKI Marwat was granted the status of a district in the early ‘90s, but it is still one of the most backward towns of the NWFP. Although the Indus Highway has changed the fate of this district, the roads leading to and from it are in a shambles. The road from Gandi Chowk up till Pezu is in a terrible condition with potholes throughout.
Similarly, the road from Lakki Marwat to Daratung, which was repaired three years back, has been washed away by torrential rains. The deteriorating condition of the road is mainly because there is no proper drainage system along its two sides, exposing negligence on the part of the C&W department.
Moreover, the only hospital in Lakki Marwat cannot fulfil the requirements of the local population because it lacks medical facilities. A new hospital, which is almost complete, is yet to start working. Poor sanitation is another major problem that warrants urgent attention of the municipal authorities. Besides, potable water is not available in the district and womenfolk have to go to far off areas to fetch water.
In addition to this, the standard of education has fallen to the lowest ebb owing to lack of colleges. There is only one college for boys while a higher secondary school cater for girls. Both institutes have poor facilities.
With all this, the people of Lakki Marwat feel deprived. The only hope for them were the local governments whose performance too is deplorable. The setting up of these institutions was aimed at solving the civic problems, but they have failed miserably to achieve this aim.
How long will the people of Lakki Marwat suffer to be able to merit the attention of the authorities concerned?
GULMINA MARWAT
Peshawar
AFTER reading a letter earlier and then the one published on Sept 25, I came to know that I was not the only one whose Jazz card balance is deducted mysteriously without the mobile phone being used.
On getting my mobile phone, it had a prepaid card worth Rs325, but the amount was deducted within a week. Thinking that I have sent too many messages in the excitement of getting a mobile phone, I got another card worth Rs625 on Sept 7. I sent on average five messages a day and did not make any calls. I received only one call which was for the duration of 2.04 minutes. However, by Sept 15 my balance had been reduced to Rs328, on Sept 18 it was Rs222 and on Sept 19 the balance was further deducted to Rs192. After checking the balance on the Sept 19, I did not touch my mobile phone till Sept 21 (48 hours) and then when I checked the balance, the amount was zero.
Will someone at the Mobilink explain as to what is happening to Jazz cards?
DR M. AHMED
Karachi
I HAVE read in newspapers about what Jamaat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussein Ahmad had to say to the students at the final session of the three-day annual convention of the Islami Jamiat-i-Talba a few days back in Lahore.
I honestly am not very impressed because as a frontline leader of the country he should have advised the students to solely concentrate on their studies and sports. However, he wants the students to be involved in the power politics of the country. Is it fair? At least, religious parties should show some character and for once think about the future of these students who, as long as they are students, should be encouraged to pursue their studies. Once educated, they too can take part in politics to improve governance of their country.
It is a sincere appeal to Qazi Sahib and all other political gurus to leave the students alone. Youths are the future of the nation and deserve honest guidance from the leaders.
YOUSUF AHMAD
Lahore
I AGREE with the views of Mr Ghayoor Ahmed expressed in his article “Restructuring the UN” (Oct 20) regarding the dismal performance of the Security Council, which is the most important organ of the United Nations.
Most of the principal international institutions are shaped according to Western interests. The most obvious, and most important is the permanent membership in the Security Council which consists of victorious major powers of World War II and bears no relationship with reality.
The permanent members represent only 30 per cent of the world population. Major civilizations like 1.3 billion Muslims, Latin America, Africa, Japan and India have no permanent seats, whereas the Western powers like the US, France and the UK (both from the European Union) have three permanent seats out of the five.
After World War II many Asian and African countries got independence and became members of the UN. The membership of the UN, which was 52 in 1945, rose to 191, but none of them could get a seat on the Security Council. It is now time the world body considered increasing the number of permanent members so that each major civilization should have at least one permanent seat on the Security Council.
It would also be pertinent to mention that the right of veto given to the permanent members of the Security Council recognizes that none of them would be out-voted on what they consider to be their vital interest. In the bipolar world of the Cold War era it was probably necessary to make such a provision, but the reconstituted multi-civilizational Security Council would not need to exercise the veto power.
FAQIR AHMED PARACHA
Peshawar
THIS refers to the letter “Seeking a reply from Nadra” (Oct 17) by Ms Shahnaz.
We would like to inform all applicants that photographs with a blue background are not mandatory for the Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC). However, the blue background is preferred as the application form is scanned and the scanned photograph is digitally printed on the card.
A photograph with a blue background gives better results. As far as Nadra is concerned, any photograph which can be scanned and does not compromise scanning quality is acceptable.
As for Ms Shahnaz’s complaint, Nadra has twice replied Ms Shahnaz through email but probably her email account is dormant.
Applicants can email any query or suggestion to this address: info@nadra.gov.pk. Nadra has established state-of-the-art call centres with a UAN number 111-786-100 to help its valuable customers seek any relevant information.
SOHAIL ASIF
Director Media, Nadra,
Islamabad
NEAR my house in Sialkot is a jogging track named Chaminda Ground. About three years back the cantonment board started charging a three-monthly fee of Rs50 from every visitor. Then they continued raising the amount to Rs75, Rs100, Rs150 and, finally, to Rs200. Now they have started charging Rs200 for a month. The three-month scheme has been dropped.
I think the fee is rather high for quite a number of people, specially those who go for a walk occasionally. Moreover, a heavy membership fee is not only discouraging people from a healthy activity but also depriving them of their basic right to breathe in the fresh air.
At least the charges should be reasonable enough so that everyone can benefit from the facility. I also suggest that either the fee should be reduced to the minimum or it should be received on a daily basis. Like in Race Course Park, Lahore, where you can enter the park by buying a two-rupee ticket. It will benefit both — the management who need money to maintain the track and the people who will find it easy to pay a nominal amount for a day.
G. TOHEED
Sialkot
I SUPPORT the demand of the Punjab Assembly members for a raise in their allowances. I expect that they will now better discern discrimination against medical officers working at autonomous teaching hospitals of the province.
Since 1996 when a ban on government jobs was imposed, doctors have been forced to work against contract seats at teaching hospitals to fulfil their FCPS Part II requirement. The health bureaucracy has exploited this situation, with the result that these medical officers-cum-postgraduate trainees get a meagre salary of Rs6,000. No additional allowances and benefits like health care, house rent and leave are given to them.
The degree of apathy and hostility towards these junior doctors is so much that if a pregnant lady doctor applies for a three-month pregnancy leave, she will get it only if she surrenders her pay. On average they have to work for 70 hours per week. Besides, private practice is forbidden.
The doctors have to work on these conditions for at least four to five years. Only then can they take FCPS Part II examinations. Their hardship does not end here; these specialists are welcome to work in these teaching hospitals on an honorary basis, whereas an army captain doctor starts his house job at Rs15,000, in addition to job security and fringe benefits.
I demand of the chief minister of Punjab and the parliamentary health secretary to take serious note of the situation and present a bill in the assembly seeking a raise in the pays of the doctors.
DR HASSAN ARSLAN NAJEEB
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
MUCH has been written in the press about the development of Sector D-12 of CDA, Islamabad. Of late it was reported that the scheme had been approved by ECNEC and provision made in the annual budget for 2003-2004.
Unfortunately, so far no development work has been started at the site and the CDA is still foot-dragging and, to cover its inefficiency, making usual excuses that the locals (original owners) are not handing over possession of the land. How is it that the CDA is unable to resolve the question of possession in this sector only? Some say the CDA officials are in league with the owners and guide them to raise demands one after another.
Mr Faisal Salah Hayat, minister-in-charge, has directed the CDA a number of times to start development work without any delay but all in vain.
The CDA chairman says the owners demand double benefit in this sector and the issue is, therefore, to be placed before the board for decision. This he said some four months before. Why the board’s meeting could not be convened in these four months is a question that requires to be answered by the CDA.
We, the allottees, paid the price of the plot in 1986-87. Even after the lapse of 16 years the waiting period lingers on.
May I request the minister-in-charge and the CDA chairman to inform — if not individually, at least though a press statement — the allottees about the latest position of the development stage and as to how long one has to wait further to get the possession of the plot?
QAZI BASHIR AHMED
Lahore
I WAS amazed to read your Bureau report “Excessive use of alcohol can cause hepatitis C”, quoting Professor Jan Muhammad Memon (Oct 20).
If Prof Memon really thinks that hepatitis C is caused by excessive alcohol, I need re-education in that matter.
I have been working as a consultant physician for 13 years in the West and do know that excessive alcohol can cause a severe form of hepatitis but not hepatitis C or B for which you need to be exposed to the particular virus particle. Alcohol may predispose you to get it but is not the cause of it.
G. M. BALUCHI
Tullamore, Ireland
FOR quite some time the DHA inspection team has failed to take notice of a number labourers trying to settle in open areas in Khayaban-i-Muslim, Phase VI, near Seaview from streets 38 to streets 31.
This unauthorized settlement has been going on for quite some time and has become a problem for the residents. The poor sanitation created by these people has already become a health hazard. This must be checked immediately and all such settlers be told to move out.
M. M. KHAN
Karachi
I WANT to draw your attention to the working of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Karachi. There is only one education board for the entire city of Karachi whose population is over 10 million. Thus, the board office is invariably overcrowded. One has to stand in queues for hours just to take a form, deposit money or to seek any information from the board office.
In the other provinces there are many such boards. For example, the population of the NWFP is about 15 million, but there are education boards in Peshawar, Mardan, Mingora, Kohat, Bannu, D. I. Khan and Hazara.
In the light of the above, the Sindh education minister is requested to set up at least four boards or as many sub-offices of the same board at different places in Karachi so that students and their parents could get their work done without any hassles.
ABDULLAH
Karachi
I PARTIALLY agree with your editorial under the above headline (Oct 21).
Education has become one of the largest sources of foreign exchange for the UK, and now Australia and some other countries have come into this competition. When the government of Pakistan approaches these countries, required departments are created overnight on the campuses in these countries to fleece Pakistani students. PhD degrees and diplomas are doled out after charging the government of Pakistan heavily. Most of these qualifications are based on only a small aspect of an unimportant issue and theses are churned out by the scholars.
Meanwhile, to top up their meagre scholarships, our scholars try to find some part-time job and one job leads to another until he/she is completely convinced that going back to Pakistan would mean poverty again. Secondly, the selection criterion is so corrupted in this country that only those with connections can grab the scholarship. The resulting facade is easily understandable; a university abroad is least interested in the quality of student they get from here as long as an exorbitant tuition fee is paid. The pseudo-scholar is not bothered at all in learning and tries to settle in the host country.
The best approach would be to find out slots for our scholars in the host country where they can actually work. Thesis on a minute issue or no thesis but the student would get a hands on experience in the field. Once he/she gets full command of the field, there should be appropriate opportunities available at home. That is the single most important piece of planning to attract such scholars back home.
My feeling is that four years should be the maximum to stay abroad for learning purposes as living beyond this period completely changes the attitude of the individual. Most of our renowned scientists have just done this. There are very few of them who actually availed themselves of a scholarship and then returned home for public service.
DR OBAIDULLAH
Peshawar
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