| 11 March 2004 | Thursday | 19 Muharram 1425 |
Import of cars
Poultry veterinarians
Karachi police
Car showrooms
Need for underpasses
Paper sack industry concerns
Neglected library
PTCL's reply
Election dues
Nuclear issue
Operation in Wana
Road condition
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Divided, underdeveloped and fraught with acrimonious antagonisms: that is how Sindh was in the earlier part of the last century. The divide at that time was mostly rural versus urban. Agriculture, the mainstay of the poor in the villages, depended on the moneylenders and middlemen in the towns and cities. Education and employment were as alien to them as were trade and business.
On the political front there was a strong movement for separation of Sindh from Bombay. Equally strong was the opposition to it. Many believe that the seeds for the partition of the subcontinent were sown during that movement.
Separation of Sindh from Bombay was followed by another polarization - this time between the supporters of the All India Muslim League and the Indian National Congress. On the periphery were some militant organizations dividing the people on communal lines.
Major irritants of the times were the Masjid Manzilgah incident and the assassinations of chief minister Allah Bux Soomro and Bhagat Kanwar Ram. Hur Movement was another violent upheaval the province suffered during that period.
At the time of partition, the people expected slavery to end and independence to bring them real emancipation - and happiness - ensuring a bright future for them and their children. They thought to be the arbiters of their destiny for the times to come. It pains one to think how wrong they were and how cruelly their hopes were dashed.
Today we stand divided again - hurt, underdeveloped and fraught with acrimonious antagonisms. The lines are about the same rural versus urban. The sufferings are the same albeit with one marked difference that this time the people have lost even the hope.
The years of undemocratic and unrepresentative rule by inept and corrupt despots and the incarceration and judicial and other assassinations of popular leaders, intellectuals and activists have worsened the situation.
The recent assassination of a prominent political leader in Karachi in an act of blatant terrorism may also be the continuation of the age-old conspiracy to keep the people divided - and the scars alive.
Will they ever heal? Is it our destiny to suffer and self-destruct ourselves? Will things ever change? We should clearly understand that this divide is detrimental not only to this province but to the whole country.
There is an urgent need to put a stop to the ever-widening gap between the people. We must start an honest dialogue. A dialogue with ourselves and a dialogue between the communities on the opposite sides.
Many people in the world have learned to live together. One hopes we too will be able to find ways to peacefully co-exist on a land that was once famous for magnanimity, tolerance, forbearance and fortitude.
Restoration of democracy and an end to the military's role in civil society would greatly help in achieving that goal.
AZIZ NAREJO
Corpus Christi, Texas, USA
Import of cars
The letter by Mr Hassan Akber Kazmi (February 29) advocating the case for the people of Pakistan vis-a-vis the government's recent decision to allow the import of second-hand cars and reduce the import duty on small cars surprised me. This is because all newspapers are filled with articles in support of the car manufacturers and not the public.
The fact that all articles are similar and use the same deceptive data only proves that these are being sponsored by the manufacturers whose profit-making spree is at stake for the first time.
News reports indicate that the car manufacturers are due to meet the State Bank governor and the finance minister shortly to get the cabinet decision either reversed or deferred. They are powerful and, therefore, likely to win their case.
I have a request to make to the manufacturers. Top car manufacturers have each declared profits of about Rs2 billion this year. Thus, the profit made in just one year is almost twice the value of their entire assets.
This can be verified by anyone by reading their published balance sheets. The balance sheet of Toyota shows a profit of Rs2 billion and that of Suzuki a profit of Rs1.5 billion.
In addition, they have confirmed fully paid orders with them for more than 12-18 months. This means that even if reconditioned cars are imported, they will have their plate full with confirmed sales for 12-18 months, for which they have already taken full payment.
The rich who can get bank loans will continue to book cars on which the waiting period is 12-18 months. They should have mercy on a white-collar person like me who is using a car of the 1988 model. Such old cars need to be replaced by the thousands, including the taxis which are more than 25 years old.
I visited the site ebay.com on the internet to find only two-year-old Accords, Camries with just a few thousand miles' run at such low prices as Rs300,000. One Suzuki was available for Rs60,000.
KHURSHEED AGHA KHAN
Karachi
Poultry veterinarians
Mass production techniques in the poultry sector resulting in highly intensive housing of birds have brought in their wake a host of poultry diseases that were not heard of some decades ago.
The close housing and raising of birds in confinement result in depressed immunity and spread of infections, which have necessitated a greater expertise in the prevention and control of poultry diseases.
Our veterinarians are trained mostly on the side of large and small ruminant diseases. They cannot do full justice to the emerging poultry epidemiology in the wake of the phenomenal development of the poultry industry. To cope with the situation, 15 universities in the US have initiated a one-year advanced course for DVM degree holders in the essentials of poultry veterinary science.
It would have been far better to have instituted a special diploma course for poultry veterinarians in Pakistan instead of packing one year of animal husbandry subjects in the so-called composite DVM degree course.
The recent outbreak of avian influenza in Karachi that caused extensive damage to the poultry market under the wrong impression of bird flu in the South Asian countries ought to open our eyes that our current DVM degree holders need intensive training as poultry veterinarians to understand the management systems of intensive poultry production and its nexus with the birth and spread of new diseases.
The traditional DVM curriculum is not sufficient to understand the new intricacies of poultry diseases that can spread like pandemics to inflict colossal losses.
DR. M. YAQOOB BHATTI
Lahore
Karachi police
This is with reference to the letter by Mr Adil Sidqi, headlined "Karachi police" (March 2). The Karachi police force has loyal and dutiful men who can face any challenge. Hundreds of them have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. Now everyone is committed to do so to continue the mission of their colleagues.
My elder brother, an ASI in the Karachi police force, died in a shootout while performing duties in the jurisdiction of the Korangi police station on July 13, 1995. In the shootout, five terrorists were killed. In recognition of his gallantry and devotion to duties, the then president posthumously conferred Quaid-i-Azam Police Medal on him.
My younger brother is serving in Karachi as a sub-inspector. A few years ago he was promoted to the ASI's rank for his good work. The history of the Karachi police is full of such dedicated policemen.
No one, including Mr Sidqi, can deny the fact that there are some bad people in every department. And if a situation as described by Mr Sidqi exists in the Karachi police force, I am sure the department must be taking stern action in that respect.
SOHAIL AHMAD SAQIB
Karachi
Car showrooms
Due to a sudden increase in the demand for motor vehicles, Karachi has registered a rise in the number of car showrooms. Most showrooms have been opened in residential areas and on main roads of PECHS, Haidery, Jamshed Town, Nazimabad, etc., creating traffic congestion in the city.
Showroom cars are placed on roads and footpaths and in lanes and bylanes of these areas for washing, polishing, touch-up (denting/painting) and overnight parking. They are a great hindrance to the flow of traffic and the movement of pedestrians.
Congestion on roads can be greatly reduced if a large unutilized open plot of land (within or on the outskirts of Karachi) is used as a parallel car market. Such a market will give the much-needed relief to the residential areas from congestion and pollution.
The car market can be set up on the pattern of Tuesday and Sunday bazaars. It should open every day but may also have temporary stalls and hoarding. The city government should establish such a car market at the earliest.
FAROOQ FAZAL
Karachi
Need for underpasses
This has reference to the report "City govt to construct underpasses for traffic" (March 1). It is heartening to learn that at last the need for underpasses in Karachi has been realized to ease traffic congestion which is often caused by road closures during VVIP movements on Sharea Faisal and other important busy roads.
I suggest that while planning underpasses, footpaths with safety railings on both sides of the road should also be made for pedestrians. Steel overhead bridges which were constructed on some busy roads in the past are not used by people for many reasons.
Moreover, these bridges are not suitable for elderly and sick people. People, therefore, prefer to cross the road in the midst of heavy traffic, risking their lives.
In addition to providing footpaths along these underpasses, the city government is requested to build subways for pedestrians on wide roads like Sharea Faisal and M. A. Jinnah Road. At present there is only one subway for pedestrians in Karachi on Abdullah Haroon Road (former Victoria Road) near the Saddar GPO.
SQN.LDR (retd) AUSAF HUSAIN
Karachi
Paper sack industry concerns
This has reference to the news item "Cut in customs duty sought" (February 26). Before the finance ministry considers any reduction in the duty structure of polypropylene granules, we urge the finance minister to consider disastrous impact it will have on the local paper sack industry which is employed thousands of workers directly and indirectly, besides contributing billions of rupees to the government exchequer in the form of taxes.
We are a paper sack manufacturing unit which we started in 1974, and cater to the packaging demand of the local cement industry, besides exporting our goods to neighbouring countries. Polypropylene bag manufacturers are our direct competitor because they are also supplying bags to the cement units.
Our raw material sack kraft paper (PCT code 4804.2100 & 4804.2900) is subjected to custom duty at 20 per cent ad valorem, the same as the raw material of polypropylene factories, i.e. polypropylene granules.
Any reduction in the duty of polypropylene granules will directly affect paper sack manufacturers who are already working at about 30 per cent of their installed capacity because of lack of sufficient demand in the country.
We are already facing a great competition from the imported papersacks and finished polypropylene bags which carry an import duty of 25 per cent against our raw material at 20 per cent.
Five percent differential is very insignificant and tempts foreign manufacturers to dump their excess capacity into our market at substantially low prices. Any cut in the duty of the local polypropylene industry, unless an equal amount of reduction in import duty is given to the local paper sack manufacturers on their raw material, will have a disastrous impact on the paper sack industry which is already passing through tremendous pressure.
We fear if the government decides to reduce the custom duty on polypropylene granules in isolation without considering implications for the competing industries, the pendulum will shift in favour of our competitors and result in an imbalance which may render thousands jobless and cause a substantial loss to the exchequer in the form of taxes which papersack manufacturers regularly pay.
As direct competitors, we urge our finance minister that if the government is inclined to consider a reduction in custom duty on polypropylene granules, the same reduction in custom duty must also be made on our raw material (extensible sack kraft paper) so that both the industries are provided with equal opportunities.
We hope the government will consider all aspects of the case before taking a decision.
S. K. KAZMI
Managing Director, Pakistan Papersack Corporation Ltd., Karachi
Neglected library
The Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto Memorial Library in Larkana has been facing many problems for quite some time, some of which are listed below:
- There is an acute shortage of chairs and tables. This has forced visitors to study in a lawn of the library.
- The air conditioner of the library has become too old to work properly. It often stops working. Since there is no provision of electric fans, it becomes impossible to use the library when the AC is not working.
- There is only one water-cooler placed in the middle of the library for almost 800 to 1,000 visitors. This cooler too usually remains out of order, and forces visitors to go to nearby hotels.
- The library is always provided with some old-fashioned books, contrary to the demands of students who need new books.
IT is hoped the relevant authorities will do the needful.
HIZBULLAH SOLANGI
Larkana
PTCL's reply
This refers to the letter "PTCL's working" (February 27). In this regard the PTCL would like to clarify the following:
The telephone No. 665-0987 is working in the name of Syed Muhammad Mujeeb-ul-Haq at House No. S-22/109, Akhlaque Muhammad Colony, near Rehmat Chowk, Sector 11-1/2 Orangi Town, Karachi.
Investigations show that the customer has lodged complaints frequently, and the cable pair was found with low insulation. Finally, diversion of the pair was done on February 23 but working of the phone line could not be verified owing to the non-availability of a telephone set at the customer's premises. At present the telephone No. 665-0987 is working to the satisfaction of the customer.
The director, C/S Zone-VII, met the customer in the chamber of DEP, Orangi Town, but the complainant was reluctant to give information about the alleged harassment and bribe. Still the matter is being looked into. However, the inconvenience caused to the customer is highly regretted.
ATHER JAVED SUFI
PTCL Headquarters, Karachi
Election dues
Almost one-and-a-half years have passed since the holding of the general elections, but the people belonging to Monnoo Abad and its suburbs who rendered election duties on the request of National Guard, locally known as "Janbaz", are yet to receive their salaries.
We, the affected ones, are almost 200 in number. To our great disappointment, this matter has not yet been solved although it was brought to the notice of the officer-in-charge over a year back.
According to reports, funds have been taken away by some corrupt people. We are looking for an explanation from the relevant quarters.
RANA NASIR
Sheikhupura
Nuclear issue
In the report "Speakers criticize nuclear policy" (Dawn, March 6), I have been described as an ardent advocate of unilateral dismantling of nuclear weapons by Pakistan. This is incorrect. I have never made any statement to this effect, whether in the seminar purportedly covered by the Dawn report or anywhere else.
While I believe that the nuclear policies of Pakistan and India are deeply flawed and deserve the strongest criticism, it is also my conviction that dismantling of nuclear weapons by Pakistan will have to be preceded by a period of decreased tensions with India, substantive negotiations leading to disengagement of forces, and mutual agreements to cut off fissile material production.
Given some level of trust, I believe that a series of rapidly executable measures can be agreed upon that could lead to a nuclear-free subcontinent over the next few years.
Furthermore, I have argued that agreement on nuclear matters should be made without waiting for a resolution of the Kashmir issue. I would like to stress that this position, which I have written and spoken about extensively for many years, does not amount to unilateral disarmament as claimed in the Dawn report.
PERVEZ HOODBHOY
Islamabad
Operation in Wana
"Foreign suspects among 20 held, including four women, in Wana operation" (February 25). The operation can be called a success or a futile exercise depending upon the outcome of the ongoing investigations of the suspected terrorists. It will be a success if they are really terrorists.
The exercise would be futile, apparently, and love's labour lost in case the suspects prove to be leftovers from among the young ones who came from other countries to fight against the then USSR, and after the war was over they became so familiar with the landscape of Afghanistan that they obtained any kind of employment and got married in Afghan families and settled there as part ofcivil society.
Z. A. KAZMI
Karachi
Road condition
It was during the first week of December last when water disappeared from the pipes in our locality along Hali Road in Lahore's Gulberg. We were told that at midnight bulldozers of a road contractor had damaged the water and sewerage pipes while digging for the reconstruction of a carpeted road. We have since been undergoing much inconvenience in the hope that the dilapidated road will be reconstructed and improved.
One is amazed at the condition of this road which is situated in the heart of Gulberg and in the vicinity of men in power. Their motorcade passes near it daily. Yet nothing is being done to rebuild it.
GHULAM SHABBIR
Lahore
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