| 18 January 2004 | Sunday | 25 Ziqa'ad 1424 |
US double standards
Rising prices of edibles
National savings schemes
Preparing for India tour
Controlling the dog population
Poultry disease
BD ban on Ahmadiya publications
Vaccination for pilgrims
Medical education
No dividend
Performance of Wapda employees
By-election to Senate
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Mr Ayaz Amir deserves applause from readers like me for writing in his weekly column so admirably about the hero of our youthful days ("K. L. Saigol: 1904-1946", January 16).
No doubt prem ka hai is jag mein of 'President' is the most outstanding classic and the note at which he ends it leaves one aghast. For his song piya bin nahi aye chain in Devdas, Ustad Abdul Kareem Khan sent him a money order of Rs100 (in 1934/35 and it was certainly a huge amount then) in recognition of Saigol's ability to match him so admirably.
When Saigol was invited by All India Radio, Calcutta Station, for a personal appearance, he was requested to sing his favourite song and he selected Dukh kay din beetain nahi of Devdas.
As Mr Ayaz Amir says, no one had quite sung Ghalib like Saigol did, and his rendering of Humnay bhi ladakpan mein majnu pey Asad, sang uthaya tha keh sir yaad aya is so engrossing.
Thank you, Mr Ayaz Amir, for taking me back to my youthful days.
A.F. SHAIKH
Karachi
(2)
Mr Ayaz Amir's column on Kundan Lal Saigol is most welcome because this indeed is the 100th birth anniversary year of the maestro. It is being celebrated in India by several organizations; in Pakistan I fear it will go unmarked.
I would like to point out a number of errors in Mr Amir's piece. Saigol was not born in Jullandhar but in Jammu and the year of his death is not 1946 but 1947.
Another error relates to Mr Amir ascribing just two recorded songs to the child prodigy Master Madan who died on June 5, 1942, at Shimla at the age of 14. In a column I wrote for Dawn on December 31, 2001, (which also triggered a number of letters)
I established that Master Madan had sung not two but eight songs, all of which I have on tape, courtesy my friend M. Rafiq in England who is a musicologist and filmographer.
The five songs Mr Amir is unaware of are: Baagan vich peengaan payiaan, Ravi de parle kandey mitra (both in Punjabi), Chaitna hai to chait lai, Man ke man hi mahi rahi and Mori binti mano kanhe.
KHALID HASAN
Washington, USA
US double standards
Winston Churchill, in his memoirs of World War II, writes: "Those who are by temperament and character to seek sharp and clear-cut solution of difficult and obscure problems... have not always been right."
George Kennan, a former US diplomat, is quoted in Arthur Schlesinger's A Thousand Daysas saying: "We both know how tenuous a relation there is between man's intentions and the consequences of his acts. There is no presumption more terrifying than that of those who would blow up the world on the basis of their personal judgment of a transient situation. I do not propose to let the future of mankind be settled or ended by a group of men operating on the basis of limited perspectives and short run of calculations."
The post-9/11 world has undergone many metamorphoses: everywhere new and disturbing elements are fast emerging and inviting most serious reflections; and the problems of world politics in terms of the US policy of unilateralism in the Middle East and its war against terrorism are so complex, the cross-currents so puzzling, and the developments so bewildering that the American slogans of democracy, freedom and liberation all seem vague and obsolete.
The preamble of the Constitution of the United States says: "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish the constitution for the United States of America."
Terrorism is yet subject to an arbitrary interpretation, albeit a large-scale war is being waged against it by the US administration. And yet humanity can't consider not taking serious note of the 'dual standard' of US democracy and freedom as deviously reflected in its war against terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The strategy behind the US war against terror seems to have been designed to secure American primacy and dominance over the affairs of the international system.
The erstwhile British policy of imperialism and colonialism has been re-replicated and revivified in "America's neo-imperialism".
S.Q.AFZAL RIZVI
Karachi
Rising prices of edibles
This is with reference to your editorial (January 12) regarding the rising onion prices. Actually there is a need to arrest the causes for unchecked and unusual increases in prices of essential food items and to take remedial measures.
Some time back the president had advised the nation that those who could not afford to buy "tomatoes" because of soaring prices should not use them. According to the same formula, the people should not eat onion if they can't afford it. But this is not a desirable solution to the problem.
The fact is that there is no check on the prices, which are fixed by industrialists and businessmen while the government keeps mum. There is no check on the price control system how the products are being sold in the market. There does not seem any relationship between the cost of the goods and the selling price.
Moreover, the growers have no storage facilities to keep the produce with them for a long period. They hurriedly sell their produce in order to meet their domestic requirements and to pay off their liabilities.
The hoarders and profiteers take full advantage of the situation and purchase the produce at throwaway prices and keep them in storage. Here is an example of wheat: when it is with the growers, its price is hardly seven rupees a kilo, but now the flour is being sold at the rate of Rs16-17kg. Thus, both the growers and consumers suffer while hoarders and profiteers benefit a lot.
Price-wise there is no option for edible items. Everybody has to pay the same prices, irrespective of earnings. I suggest either the government should introduce strict control over the frequent price increases or the local government representatives should be empowered to keep a strict vigil to keep the prices within the reach of the common man.
TAJ MUHAMMAD
Karachi
National savings schemes
This is in response to Syed Khalil Ahmed's letter "National savings schemes" published in your esteemed newspaper on January 12.
It is clarified that the CDC charges an annual fee of Rs1,500 from all investor account holders, and asks them to maintain a minimum balance of Rs100. Moreover, we have reduced the annual fee from Rs3,000 to Rs1,500 just to facilitate and make our services affordable to the small investors.
The CDC started investor account services on investors' recurring demand to have greater control over their beneficially-owned securities as they feel more comfortable and secure keeping their accounts directly with the CDC.
Investor account services offer numerous free of cost services, including transaction order book, monthly account statements. Pledge facility (against which account holders can avail themselves of loans from banks) and interactive voice response through which the account-holders can fetch account balance either by phone or by fax.
In future, we are also planning to introduce online account balance verification through the web. The nominal annual fee is just to meet our cost for all these services.
Above all, the system is totally transparent and gives the account holders direct access to his investment portfolio at all times without the involvement of a third party.
EJAZ ALI SHAH
Head of Marketing & Consumer Support Services, Central Depository Company Pakistan Limited, Karachi
Preparing for India tour
The Pakistan cricket team indeed gave a drubbing to the Kiwis when the latter were visiting Pakistan on a short tour. I am, however, disappointed like millions of fans back home who anticipated a much interesting one-day series in New Zealand after the Test matches. What happened? Did Pakistan one-day side have only 12 players?
Whatever it may be it was the true test of their talents, and certainly their flaws were exploited very well by the Kiwis. This was certainly a wake-up call for the Pakistanis. The much awaited clash between India and Pakistan is knocking at our doors, so is the ICC Champion Trophy in England.
Aamir Sohail once boasted of having a decent blend and pool of players who, he claimed, could and would definitely rise to the occasion. I am far from convinced.
India, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are prime examples of mixing youth with experience and producing players like Youvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif (India), M. Clark and A. Symonds (Australia), and J. Oram (New Zealand).
Pakistan certainly need a good spinner and a batsman who can fill in for a few overs, but should have the ability to stay on the crease for a long time. It's time we prepared ourselves.
MUHAMMAD ZAFFAR NAZIR
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Controlling the dog population
I was appalled to read the suggestions (December 29) made by Dr Omer Kiani from Toronto, Canada, that the way to control the overpopulation of stray dogs is to poison them, shoot them or to export them to dog-eating countries.
Considering the fact that Dr Kiani is living in one of the most developed parts of the world, it is hard to imagine how his thinking could be so archaic representing the practices of the mediaeval times.
Many cities in the western hemisphere and other developed countries are adopting to humane methods of controlling dog population, such as spaying and neutering the animals and finding them loving homes. Animals who cannot be adopted are euthanized by injection where animals suffer no pain. There are also spay/neuter and release programmes where the animal (after the surgery) is put back to where it was picked up from, and where the neighbourhood is willing to feed and take care of the animal.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is of the opinion that "in the long term, control of reproduction is by far the most effective way of dog population management". WHO publications further state: "In none of the practices, other than spay and neuter programmes, there have been any significant long-term success in controlling dog population."
Studies by a Turkish animal protection organization have shown that animals who were killed or somehow removed from an area were quickly replaced with dogs from neighbouring communities. WHO explains the phenomenon in this way: "Any reduction in population density through mortality is rapidly compensated by better reproduction and survival." In other words, when dogs are removed, the survivors' life expectancy increases because they have better access to the resources, and there is less competition for resources.
In India, each year at least 20,000 people die of rabies. Statistically, there should be about 50 human deaths from rabies in the city of Jaipur each year. However, official statistics show that there has not been a single human death from rabies since 1996, thanks to spay, neuter and release done by a group called "Help in Suffering". Also as a result of Help in Suffering's work, the number of dog bites (usually non-rabid) fell from 1,151 in 1996 to 219 in 1997 and 220 in 1998.
I recommend that the Humane and Animal Protection Organization in Pakistan adopt an animal birth control programme. Thanks to Maneka Gandhi who through a letter in Dawn (January 3) has offered services to educate Pakistani individuals or organizations in this area.
SYED RIZVI
President, Engineers and Scientists for Animal Rights (ESAR), Silicon Valley, CA., USA
Poultry disease
This is with reference to the news item "Poultry disease detected" (January 14).
The Poultry Board Research Directorate has belatedly notified the rampant Avian influenza and the presence of E. Coli etc. in chicken being sold in Karachi.
However, an important aspect of the advice to consumers is missing whether these birds should be consumed by the public or not.
It is imperative that such institutions, run with public money, give timely and correct advice for the benefit of all.
FOUZIA IRSHAD
Karachi
BD ban on Ahmadiya publications
This refers to a news report in Dawn (January 10) concerning the newly-imposed ban on the "sale, distribution and retention of all kinds of publications of the Ahmadiya community" in Bangladesh.
In 1974, in a closed session of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, a man who was known for his secular nature and who enjoyed his drinks, along with other such members of parliament, had the Ahmadis declared non-Muslims. At a time of waning popularity he took this action to appease the religious parties. However, it did not work where his political purpose was concerned.
What it did do as a result, though, was that Dr Abdus Salam (Nobel Prize winner) who till his death wished to serve his country was not allowed to do so. We are to blame as a nation for this act. Other implications of this and the related blasphemy laws are clear and hundreds of examples can be quoted.
Such 'popular actions' which appeal to the majority at the expense of a minority group are easy to implement and impossible to undo.
DR MUBASHIR KHAN
Indianapolis, IN., USA
Vaccination for pilgrims
This refers to the letter "Vaccination for pilgrims" (January 11).
In my letter (January 6) I objected that the staff in the female section of Karachi's Haji Camp Dispensary had not washed their hands, nor had they applied any antiseptic before administrating injections, in violation of the WHO rules in this respect.
However, Dr Amjad Pervez's letter of January 11 is self-contradictory. Only staff in the men's section use antiseptics which, according to him, are likely to impair the immunogenicity.
On December 28 I and nine members of my family and some other pilgrims did not see in the vaccination room the six receptacles Dr Pervez has mentioned. One can imagine the danger lurking in the room where some used syringes and broken needles were thrown around while 1,192 pilgrims - among them women and elderly persons - had to walk in for vaccination.
A. A. GHANI
Karachi
Medical education
The decline in medical education in Sindh seems just as a starting point for the authorities running the health show in the province to transform the medical colleges into medical universities.
Honest and decent people in this profession wonder if autonomous medical universities, either in Hyderabad or in Karachi, will put faith in merit only. No doubt, the Dow Medical University is a good step taken in this direction. The "discretionary and non-meritorious" appointment of the vice-chancellor is, however, a wrong step. Does it not mean yet another exercise in futility?
DR MUHAMMAD SHAHMD
Karachi
No dividend
Pakistan Tobacco Company Ltd. has ample money for sponsorships, advertisements, social work, plantation of trees and for other charity works, but it has no money to pay to its shareholders as profit.
For 15 years the company has been showing loss, and has not paid a single penny as dividend to its shareholders. I hope the high-ups in the stock exchange and other government officials will take notice of it.
MUHAMMAD YAQOOB ISMAIL
Karachi
Performance of Wapda employees
My agricultural land is located near Pher Mori, off Thatta and Peer Patho Road in the Thatta district. During the torrential rains three to four months ago, high-tension cables passing over my lands snapped and fell on the ground, killing a buffalo (worth Rs25,000) and resulting in the loss of a hand of a farmer.
To get the cables repaired I have taken the following measures, without any results:
- My farm manager twice visited the Wapda office at Thatta where the staff noted the complaint, but refused to acknowledge the application and took no action.
- My nephew, a CSS officer, twice spoke to the Wapda SDO and the line superintendent, but in vain.
- My nephew again talked to the EDO (revenue) who then talked to the SDO, but still the Wapda authorities remained unmoved.
The portion of the land where the cables are lying broken cannot be cultivated. Wapda officials want money from local landowners for the repair of the high-tension cables.
I request the authorities concerned to take the following measures:
- Order an inquiry into the inefficiency, corruption and apathy of the SDO (Wapda) and the line superintendent.
- Conduct another inquiry as to why these high-tension cables were erected over my private lands, without my approval and without the payment of any compensation to me.
- Order payment of compensation to the victim of electrocution.
DR MUZAFFER ALI UQAILI
Karachi
By-election to Senate
This is with reference to the coverage by your newspaper of the bye-election to the Senate held on January 10.
In none of the several reports before or after the bye-election, have your readers been informed about the background and qualifications of the competing candidates, nor even about the winning candidate. The only information provided was that such and such a candidate belonged to a particular political party.
Even when seats in the upper house of parliament are filled on the basis of whoever gets the party ticket or nod from the wielders of real power, your newspaper has a duty to inform readers about the professional and political qualifications of the leading candidates.
After all, your newspaper informs readers of the professional experience or background of various sports figures, young or old. But when it comes to the qualification of elected representatives, not one word.
This omission is shared by Dawn with virtually all other papers.
SULTAN AHMAD
Karachi
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