| November 30, 2003 | Sunday | Shawwal 5, 1424 |
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Consumers beware
Buy books, not bombs
Root cause of terrorism
Spinning fibs
Karachi’s problems
Karachi University affairs
Ban on wedding meals
Do you see any difference?
English made easy
Karachi
RECENTLY our legislators have voted, presumably without any desk thumping, except perhaps in glee, for a sizeable increase in their remunerations. We did not hear of any protest then or after except for some feeble noises from one or two of them.
Coming as it does in the wake of the declaration of assets which places almost all the legislators in the rich bracket except perhaps ‘poor’ Sher Afgan, one wonders what the pressing need was for an increase in their remunerations at the present time.
This is all the more surprising because recently the State Bank of Pakistan in its annual report has admitted that at least one-third of our populace live below the poverty line and that poverty level has increased instead of decreasing during the last year. This is so in spite of the much-trumpeted poverty alleviation scheme.
On the one hand, the State Bank of Pakistan has this to say, but, on the other, the government’s spin doctors do not tire of flaunting $12 billion reserves. What use are these billions of dollars in the coffers when most cities of Pakistan present a dismal picture almost that of bombed out places and the villages ensconced in the 16th century replete with Persian wheels which were invented 2,000 years ago, the literacy rate is disgracefully low, health facilities for the poor almost non-existent, employment figures soaring and middle class eroding, corruption at lower levels that effect the common man rampant and flourishing, exploitation and the abuse of women at its height, the judicial system at the verge of collapse and last but not the least the law and order situation almost despicable.
With this surfeit of problems that beset our country, one would have expected our legislators to work overtime to at least to be seen to be doing something rather than maintain the chorus of “LFO na manzoor” ad infinitum, tacitly acquiesced in by the treasury benches so that by putting the blame on the opposition they can justify their incompetence.
All this when the majority of the hapless masses of our unfortunate country do not even know what LFO stands for or how the repeal of it or the preservation of it will make their life better. Instead of dealing with the problems by at least passing laws, during the entire first parliamentary year our legislators have been able to pass only two bills, one of which happens to be the finance bill, which in any case had to be passed otherwise the state would not have had the money even to pay their increased salaries. Surely, then this increase was the most unkindest cut of all.
M. SHAIQ USMANI
Karachi
WE would like to appreciate the efforts of the ministry of science and technology and the Pakistan Standards & Quality Standards Authority (PSQCA) for the bold initiative they have taken by publishing the names of manufacturers and brands of cooking oils and bottled waters that are not registered with the authority and also do not conform to their standards.
Both these offences are punishable with imprisonment for up to one year or a fine, which shall not be less than Rs50,000. Even the prime minister had announced “severe punishment” for those indulging in such practices, but unfortunately no action has so far been taken.
The PSQCA has published the names of six cooking oils and 16 bottled water brands in Dawn’s issue of Nov 16, and other English and Urdu dailies of the same day, under the headline “Beware”. It states that: “That samples of Banaspati and Edible Oils, Bottled Drinking Water/Natural Water of the following manufacturers were found to be non-conforming to the relevant PSQCA standards.”
The advertisement advises and warns the shopkeepers not to sell/purchase these unregistered brands. This is the 6th batch of samples that has been drawn from the open markets, in the presence of the food inspectors and CPC members and sent for an analysis to government laboratories, but only the second time that the names have been released to the print media and so far no action has been taken against the manufacturers or the retailers.
We have been assured that the practice of drawing samples will now continue on a regular basis, but if the names of those not conforming to the standards are not released to the public and no action is taken against the manufacturers and retailers, the whole exercise will be in futility.
At the same time, the PSQCA must draw samples of leading and registered brands also to ensure that they too are adhering to PSQCA standards. The same exercise should also be extended to the other products of daily use like beverages.
Action must also be taken against the manufacturers and retailers who cheat and poison consumers by indulging in this criminal practice to make unlawful gains.
For further details and for the names of the brands of cooking oils, bottled water and toothpaste brands containing cortisone, the readers may ring up the consumer protection committee of The Helpline Trust on (021)5889643.
THE HELPLINE TRUST
THIS is in response to Lt-Col Syed Ahmed’s letter “Pakistan-India ‘peace race’” (Nov 26). I agree with his opinion that both India and Pakistan need to stop the hate-mongering which has been going on for five decades now.
A fresh approach to this problem is needed in order to guarantee positive results. However, I wish to point out some mistakes the writer has made. According to the World Bank website, poverty in India fell from 39 per cent in the early ‘90s to about 26-27 per cent today. This is well short of the figure quoted by Mr Ahmed.
Mr Ahmed will also be surprised to know that poverty in Pakistan is actually on the rise, and is now about 33 per cent (according to the World Bank). Development indicators, specially for women in Pakistan, are well below the regional averages (which are not too impressive either). This clearly points to the fact that both countries need to buy books and medicines rather than bombs from the West.
SURAJ SHARMA
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
THIS refers to the banning of some extremist religious parties which had earlier been banned but had resurfaced under new names.
It is important to identify the root cause of terrorism because unless and until we get to the root of this menace and then eliminate it, the exercise of banning extremist religious groups will prove futile as such organizations have a tendency to reemerge under new names.
In our society, it is poverty, illiteracy and indoctrination of minds by religious figures who have affiliation with extremist groups that breed terrorism. Most terrorists belong to the lower and lower middle classes, and have been brainwashed. They feel rejected by society and on joining such groups they feel as if they had a purpose in life. They need attention. They are treated like family members in various groups and appreciated. This is one of the major reasons why neglected people join such groups. Being illiterate, they easily fall prey to the leaders of such groups who exploit them.
The government should take steps to increase the rate of literacy. The steps taken by the government to regulate the madressahs are in the right direction. Mosque imams should try to promote harmony amongst various sects as the vast majority of people still lend an ear to their sermons.
Furthermore, the state should never patronize such extremist groups as it did during the Cold War against the Soviet Union.
ANIL KHAN LUNI
Karachi
THIS is not to queer the pitch of the present welcome movement towards an Indo-Pakistan detente but only to put the record straight. In an interview with a Pakistan private TV channel (Nov 21), the Indian foreign minister, Yashwant Sinha, yet again chanted the soi-disant fib that because Pakistan failed to pull its troops out of the princely disputed state, a plebiscite was not held.
In this regard, Zafrulla Khan, the then Pakistan foreign minister and chief Pakistan negotiator, in his memoirs, narrates verifiable facts. He writes: “It was obvious that a necessary preliminary for progress towards the holding of a plebiscite in Kashmir was the withdrawal of Pakistan’s forces and of the bulk of Indian forces from the territory of the State under a coordinated, balanced scheme of withdrawal.
“Dr Graham (the last UN mediator on Kashmir) carried on consultations with the representatives of the parties concerned in Karachi, Delhi, Geneva, New York, and presented scheme after scheme, which Pakistan, anxious to break the deadlock, accepted and India, determined to block any move forward, rejected. Dr Graham would report his failure to the Security Council; a meeting of the Council would be called, the parties would reiterate their stand, the Council would express its appreciation of Dr Graham’s efforts and would urge him to try again. He made as many as six reports but India remained cynically and bare-facedly intransigent. It would not accept any definition of the bulk of its forces in Kashmir.”
For forging any meaningful relationship the essential ingredient cannot but be truth; much more so it is required in building mutual confidence and trust, specially in so fragile a situation as that of Kashmir. Hoping this immutable truism finds favour in the corridors of power in New Delhi.
M.J. AS’AD
Karachi
KARACHI plays an important role in the country’s development but is unfortunately beset by many problems. Its citizens are using their diverse abilities for national progress but themselves lack basic facilities.
Pollution is a major problem of this city and is preventable but it seems no one has so far given any serious thought to it.
Moreover, Karachi is witnessing a sharp increase in road accidents, of which reckless driving is a main cause. Both in the morning and in the afternoon it is the schoolchildren who are at great risks. Drivers of buses and minibuses blame the token system for forcing them to drive at great and irregular speeds. Some time they do not halt at designated stops because they have to make up for the time lost at signals or in traffic jams.
I request the authorities concerned to ensure that our traffic system is streamlined and road accidents reduced considerably.
ZUBIA USMAN
Karachi
THIS refers to the letter “Tenure appointments in KU” by Dr Riaz Ahmed (Nov 14).
The university under the leadership of Prof (Dr) Zafar Saied Saify, vice chancellor, is striving very hard to get funding, grants and donations from all possible sources, including the Higher Education Commission, the ministry of science and technology, international donors and local philanthropists. Never in its history has such a major flow of funding occurred as it happened in the last two years.
In the last financial year, the university got over one billion rupees for its various developmental projects, including the establishment of Umaer Pasha Institute of Information Technology (Rs179 million), Dr Punjwani Centre for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (Rs111 million), Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (Rs25 million), strengthening of the chemistry department (Rs100 million), provision of generators for various departments of the university, networking of its computer science department (Rs39 million) and many research and development projects.
Apart from this, a substantial increase (40 per cent) in the recurring budget of the university has been obtained during this financial year. This has happened because of the planned efforts of the university, its faculty members and staff, along with the constant support and patronage from Prof Atta-ur Rahman, chairman, of the Higher Education Commission, who is also a professor at this university.
The University of Karachi is going through a major transformation in terms of strengthening of its facilities, faculty development, establishment of new laboratories, centres and strengthening of teaching courses for students. This is indeed a historic time which should always be remembered.
PROF DR FAHIM-UDDIN
Registrar, Karachi
THE ban on serving food during marriage ceremonies is un-Islamic, unrealistic, unjustified and reflects a thinking that is devoid of farsightedness.
Happy occasions are always celebrated by inviting near and dear ones and having good food with them. It is ridiculous to invite a guest to a wedding ceremony, serve him with just a cup of tea/cold drink and then make him sit for several hours late at night, without further serving him anything.
One wonders if we thus celebrate a happy occasion or punish the guests, who do not come empty-handed, but have also brought gifts or cash for the bride and the bridegroom? With this sort of hospitability, can we call ourselves a cultured society? If we cannot afford to serve even food to our guests, what else can be expected of us?
If at all a ban has to be imposed, it should be imposed on food served when a dead has been buried, on soyem, on the 10th day (daswan) and on the 40th day (chaliswan) and on the death anniversary. On these occasions, food serving should be restricted to pulses or vegetables only, just to kill one’s appetite. A ban should also be imposed on the display of dowry and show of wealth. Illumination during various ceremonies and Iftar parties with public money should also be banned.
I believe allowing the serving of food during wedding will boost economic activities and thus benefit a number of people such as cooks, caterers, transporters and chicken/meat sellers.
I request the governor and the chief minister of Punjab to lift the ban on serving marriage meals.
M. A. QURESHI
Lahore
HELICOPTERS hovering above, sounds of loud music mixed with the noise of people screaming and the tweets of whistles blowing, a man on crutches walking besides me and a woman walking with her young child, hand in hand, right behind him, police standing on the sidelines and one officer providing directions to a lady. Believe it or not this was the scene at a recent demonstration against US President George Bush’s visit to London.
Can anyone see the difference between a demonstration in London and a demonstration in Pakistan?
SHAHRYAR KHAN BASEER
London, UK
APROPOS of the letter by Mr M. Asghar Khan (Nov 2), I would say that he has tried to point out the complexities of the Urdu language, and presented a poem by Mr H. Catchpole, a native English speaker, in favour of his argument.
The poem itself is a classic example of dogmatic approach by Englishmen about languages other than English. Such prejudiced remarks were quite common in pre-independence days, but the unfortunate aspect is that our own people do not think sensibly before accepting such thoughts of English chauvinists.
Mr H. Catchpole completely forgot the complexities of English while speaking about Urdu. The questions raised by him are answered hereunder.
He complained about nine more letters of Urdu. He didn’t know that by having these excess letters Urdu became the only language in the world that could pronounce all sounds which English couldn’t.
He highlighted repetition of a similar type of letters in Urdu but didn’t look at repetition of letters in English. Here are some of the examples:
i. We have one in Urdu. Whereas English has “G” and “J”. General is written with “G” but why not jeneral?
ii. Then comes . In English “Tu”, “Ti” and “Ch” are used. Statue: but what’s wrong with stachue? Christian: why not Chrischen?
iii. For English processes two letters “S” and “Z”. Music is enjoyed by everyone but no one writes muzic.
iv. The sound of can be made with “C” and “S”. Ceiling serves the purpose but why not seiling?
v. A poor learner of English gets into a crisis-like situation just to express the sound of because English has a list of letters/combination of letters for it and he doesn’t know which one should be used where. Like:
Sure must be written as shure. Shade as sade.
Schedule. Just try shedule.
Lotion. No harm to write Loshen.
Alsatian will not bite if written as Alsashen.
Chauffeur will not mind if written as shuffer.
vi. Then comes . In English it is represented by “Ph”, “F” or “ugh”.
I don’t understand what harm is in writing phone as fone.
Moreover, why not rough is written as ruf.
vii. And then is . English has “C”, “K”, “Q”, and “Ch” to sound the same.
A coat can be worn by anyone but nobody can try a koat.
One can succeed by studying chemistry but surely will fail if read kemistry.
A king marries a girl to make her queen but why not kueen?
In the light of the above it is clear that the English language has much more complexities than Urdu. I am of the opinion that languages evolved over centuries, not in a day, a month or a year. It is a spontaneous and uncontrolled process and such complexities are integral part of a language. So, there’s no point in criticizing any language for such reasons.
MIAN MUHAMMAD NOMAN
Faisalabad
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