| 15 March 2004 | Monday | 23 Muharram 1425 |
Powell on proliferation
Fighting extremism
Administering tribal areas
Haripur road plan: facts
BJP and Muslim voters
Sports sanity
A request to Nadra
Implementing court verdicts
To send a letter to the Editor
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After reading Mr Shahid Javed Burki's articles "A leapfrog strategy" (February 17) and "A 'niche- based' strategy", I have reasons to believe he is presenting ideas that have already been tested in Pakistan.
His leapfrog strategy is two-pronged: one, to train young people in technologies and vocations which have a demand in western job markets and, two, to spend extensively on the communication network to utilize Pakistan's unique geographical position.
He calls it a novel strategy, but the fact is not so. Dr Atta-ur-Rehman tried his first approach and spent a good amount to train the youth in IT; most of it has gone to waste. After 9/11, the US and Europe have stopped giving visas, and our youths who acquired the much-trumpeted IT are either jobless or compelled to join low-paid sectors.
Mr Burki now wants other types of training to fill job gaps in Europe. He wants more clothing designers and food product marketers in Pakistan. If we accept this proposal, how many could be trained by us? A few hundred or a few thousand a year. Is it going to help us leapfrog? Mr Burki should rethink his approach.
The idea of utilizing our unique geographical location and spending money to improve the communication network is not novel either. Mr Nawaz Sharif adopted this approach in the early '90 and successive governments continued this.
The present regime is in the process of completing the communication network schemes of Mr Sharif. More airports and ports are being built, better highways are already available, or will come up within a couple of years. Further, people have been talking about our agricultural potentials since the Ayub era.
Mr Burki knows the problem is in the approach of our former World Bank-employed fund managers. We imported these people in the hope that they would bring change. Mr Shoaib could not do it in the Ayub era, Mr Mahbubul Haq failed in the Zia regime, Mr V. A. Jafri also failed, Mr Sartaj Aziz could not do it and now Mr Shaukat Aziz and Dr Ishrat Hussain are also embarrassing themselves, their importers and the whole nation because of their approach which is not visionary.
Their biggest mistake has been to stick to less than four per cent deficit-financing during the last few years. Mr Burki cites the examples of India and China, but omits the fact that both had a fiscal deficit of 7-8 per cent during the last 4-5 years.
They spent extensively on improving their social sectors, education infrastructure, communication network, water resources, whereas our fund managers did not open their fist and made every effort to keep our fiscal deficit at less than four per cent a year.
In the process we have lost about Rs400 billion, which could be invested in the badly-needed social sectors had we allowed our annual fiscal deficit to go up to six per cent during the last three years.
In the current year's development spending, out of projected Rs165 billion, we have so far spent Rs50 billion and, by the end of June 2004, it may go up to Rs110 billion. With this low development expenditure, we shall achieve a growth rate of 5.3 per cent. Had this been projected at Rs265 billion, we could have spent Rs200 billion and our growth rate for the current year could have been around seven per cent.
Dr Ishrat Hussain, who always criticized this approach, is advocating more and more spending on the development of social sectors. He has accepted the failure of his close-fisted policies.
Will Mr Burki impress upon his juniors in the World Bank, who now hold important offices in Pakistan, to spend more on development sectors and give more small and easy loans to our villagers and slum-dwellers? Let the fiscal deficit go to 6-7 per cent for 3/4 years, and witness the growth of our talented society.
SOULAT PASHA
Hyderabad
Powell on proliferation
US Secretary of State Colin Powell has urged the international community to criminalize nuclear proliferation and close loopholes that allow "countries like Iran" to produce weapon-grade nuclear material.
Presumably, "countries like Israel" are exempt and may do exactly that while "countries like America" are free to sit on stockpiles of nuclear bombs that can destroy the world many times over and to continue development of a whole new series of nuclear weapons which can destroy life without destroying property.
Let us examine America's bona fides on its right to pronounce judgments of this kind. The United States has repeatedly refused to destroy its huge nuclear stockpiles. It continues to develop a whole new series of nuclear weapons which can be used in small wars. Iraq has twice been used as a laboratory for trying out these weapons.
In the entire world, the US is the only country that has refused to sign a treaty that will ban the production and use of land mines and require destruction of existing stockpiles.
America's stance on chemical weapons is exactly the same. It is trying to hold up progress in banning them. Again, it is the only country that is refusing to stop the use by its industry of gases (CFC) which are fast depleting the ozone layer and exposing the world's population to the deadly carcinogenous effects of ultraviolet radiation, as well as of global warming. Neither is it willing to match European standards of automobile emissions control.
Remember "Agent Orange", the deadly poisonous substance that was sprayed on the forests of Vietnam during America's infamous aggression against that hapless country to denude the forests of trees that could presumably provide cover to the defending forces? The effects of that fateful action did not end with the end of the war and were not confined to trees.
Today, decades after the war with an ignominious withdrawal by America, the disastrous effects continue to manifest themselves in babies being born deaf, blind, mute, lame, armless or with any combination of these.
The work of agencies in Vietnam, which care for these beings, is hampered by lack of funds. A pittance (by American standards) could go a long way in alleviating the pain of these unfortunate children. This is denied by the US for political reasons; It feels that if it offers any help, this will be seen as admission of having been the cause of all the misery in the first place, which it is loath to do.
One could go on citing examples of the widespread misery caused by America in Somalia, Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq and several countries of Latin America whose hapless people have been subjected to carnage in the name of high moral principles and often without even any fig-leaf. One is aghast at the brazenness with which the US sees it fit to lecture other nations on moral principles.
WAJID NAEEMUDDIN
Karachi
Fighting extremism
Extremism is the most spoken word nowadays. Those who collectively call for fighting extremism should not be discouraged, but, for a better understanding of its root causes and to find a solution this menace, they need to be reminded of what they ignore. Consider the following:
- There are many Christians who are modern. But no one suggests that Christianity made them that way. Why, then, does the West link Muslim extremism to Islam? Were not all the 9/11 pilots US-trained and didn't they belong to well-to-do families?
- George Soros, in his book The bubble of American supremacy, writes: "The US is presently in the hands of extremists."
- What to say about How the four black churches which were burnt down in Western Tennesse, USA, in 1996?
- Once an American priest made some highly objectionable remarks against the holy Prophet (peace be upon him). How should one interpret the Pentagon's invitation to him, within four days of what he said, to deliver a lecture to their high officials?
- A few days after the US had bombarded and destroyed every third house in Afghanistan, US Defence Secretary Donald Ramsfeld said: "It would be a wonderful thing if Iraq were similar to Afghanistan." In October last year, he said: "Are we capturing and killing more terrorists every day than the Islamic madressahs are training?"
- Two Danish university girls, Dorte Magnussen and Lene Iwerse, while out on Copenhagen roads the whole day in March, 2000, dressed as Iranian Muslims as a part of their university studies, told the press in the evening: "We were shocked at numerous disgraceful comments and huge wall of hostility ... hatred and unbearable remarks."
- Are or are not the western media and leaders confusing the concept of an extremist? It may be reprehensive but not necessarily criminal.
- Has not Israel given many facilities to its extremists, who preferred to live in isolation in settlements built on far-flung areas of occupied Palestinian lands?
- To fight the extremists or to do more to reform them, what should be our priorities?
- Whether any country's army has been directed to fight its own citizens (whom it is supposed to protect) in the name of fighting extremism? Why not take their cases to the courts of law? Does the sense of extremism differ from man to man and society to society as per their level of education, economic standards and political awakening?
- For years the Americans have called Nelson Mandela a terrorist. How and why to agree with them?
- Don't we need to remind ourselves that extremism and the sort is perpetual and worldwide? I simply mean that the world leaders should realize that in the world there are different people, different ambitions, different fears, different needs and the task should be to design a way forward for peaceful co-existence.
Z. A. KAZMI
Karachi
Administering tribal areas
Pakistan is perhaps the only country in the world where two parallel administrations run simultaneously: (a) the administered areas where the laws of the land are supposed to be fully applicable; (b) and the tribal areas, the nomenclature of which itself takes us back to many centuries. It is the legacy of British colonialism and is known to every law-abiding Pakistani that the unlawfulness and disorder in the country is caused by this duality of laws in administration.
While people in the administered/settled areas are forced to abide by the law of the land, those belonging to the tribal areas are free to do anything they deem fit for themselves. Once I visited the tribal areas and saw people going about with arms everywhere.
To the question whether they had any licences for the arms they carried, the reply was: "This is our ornament and does not require any licence from any authority." On the contrary, in the administered areas one cannot have an arm without a licence and the citizen not abiding this law is subjected to fine and imprisonment.
The government is trying to bring the tribal areas under the laws of the land - an attempt being resisted on the pretext that Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah had withdrawn all armed forces, both military and civilian, from the tribal areas, which were there during the British rule. Does that mean that the situation prevailing in the early years of Pakistan must continue for all times to come?
It is common knowledge that the present law and order situation is being created mostly by the people not directly under the normal administration, who take shelter there after committing crimes such as robbery, murder, rape and lifting automobiles. We know that on average 15 cars and 35 motorcycles are stolen or hijacked every day in Karachi and then taken to the tribal areas.
It is time the government established its normal lawful writ in these areas, bringing them at par with the rest of the country. Check posts need to be set up along the Durand Line. Any delay in implementing the writ of the government in these areas would be disastrous for future of our country.
ENGR. S. M. ZAKERYA KAZMI
Karachi
Haripur road plan: facts
This refers to the news item "Petty politics delays Haripur road plan" (March 4). In this respect I would like to set the record straight for the information of your readers.
An impression is being given that I have tried to deprive the people of Barkot Union Council, Haripur district, of 16-kilometre-long Neelan Bhotho Road.
The prime minister, through a directive [No. 2(1)NA-19/M-III/2003, dated August 30, 2003], sanctioned Rs32.297 million for the road from Sangra Gali to Roper Road in Haripur district.
The approval by the prime minister for the full length of the 16-km-long road at a cost of Rs32. 297 million was granted through a letter [No.F.1(13) /2003-AEA (Pt.VIII), dated 3.11.2003]. Work was taken in hand by the Pak PWD after fulfilling all formalities. The tender for the road project was awarded by Pak PWD on January, 11, 2003, and the road was inaugurated by me on January 16, 2003, in the presence of members of the press and the Pakistan Television crew.
The assertion by the report that I inaugurated the road before the winning contractor of the NWFP government could initiate the project has no basis whatsoever.
The provincial government or the district government of Haripur has to date not released any money for the road, nor has it awarded the tender to anyone. The money for the road project was approved, sanctioned and released by the prime minister as is evident from the above-mentioned facts, and I did not sanction any funds out of the money allocated to me as MNA for the project.
The district coordination officer, Haripur, on the instructions of the district nazim, Raja Amer Zaman, issued a letter (No. A-V/Audit/824-26/DCO, dated February 14, 2004) instructing the executive engineer, Pak PWD, to stop work on the road project.
The matter was brought to the attention of the prime minister who, through the prime minister's directive [No. 2(1) NA-19/M3/03, dated 28.2.2004], took serious notice of the DCO's attempt to interfere in the working of the federal government's development projects and directed the NWFP government and the Haripur district government to stop interfering in the project being executed by federal agencies in the province.
The present status of the road is that the base work, including bulldozer-cutting, has been completed up to the five-kilometre mark and the work is progressing smoothly despite the interference of the district government.
I have not in any way deprived the people of Barkot Union Council of the 16-km road. In fact, the district government tried to delay and create hindrances in the construction of the road that will benefit about 100,000 people.
With regard to the Sui gas project - approved, funded and sanctioned by the prime minister - it is meant for the Khanpur area (for 18 villages) and Ghazi (including 18 villages) of Haripur district.
It was sanctioned by the prime minister [through directive No. 2(1)NA-19/M-III/2003, dated November 11, 2003] with a total amount of Rs291.03 million. Provision of Sui gas to the 18 villages of the Khanpur area of Haripur district will cost Rs60 million, and work in this regard has already started. The project was inaugurated by me on January 29, 2004, and will be completed within five months.
OMAR AYUB KHAN
Islamabad
BJP and Muslim voters
Reading Mr Saifuddin E. Contractor's letter on March 12, I was amazed by the ironies that he glossed over.
First, the very fact that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is chasing Muslim votes in India is the ultimate expression of a working democracy. He should note that the Republicans in the US chase after minority votes in their elections even though their core followers are anybody but minorities; the Democrats do the same.
Second, he talks about communal violence against Muslims in India under the BJP. He should note that communal riots have happened in India under the avowedly secular rule of the Congress party as well. He should also note that most Indians, including BJP followers, are not particularly proud of what happened in Gujarat despite grave provocation (the burning a train carrying BJP sympathizers). L.K. Advani himself is on the record as saying that it was a blot on the BJP rule.
Third, as regards his comment about preserving the Indian constitution's secular ethos, it should be noted that this constitution did not come down from heaven; it was created by the majority of Indians who believe in secularism.
The BJP, as a political party, knows that any attempts by it to change it fundamentally will result in them losing power in a very short time. This is the essence of democracy. Even if some people want to change the fundamental character of a nation, they simply can't - and that limitation is what separates it from a military dictatorship.
Finally, does the writer realize that the BJP is only a coalition partner in an alliance? Without the alliance's support, they'll be out of power before you can say "elections".
India is a bit too big, too complex and too tolerant to veer into any extreme direction anytime soon even if some elements of the BJP want it to.
RAVI MADHAV
Hyderabad, India
Sports sanity
"The battle on the borders between India and Pakistan has come to the cricket field," the BBC quoted a commentator as saying during the friendly match played between India and Pakistan A in Lahore last week.
We must appreciate the goodwill gesture shown by the Indian cricket team in their decision to go ahead with the current tour, and should avoid comments like this for the sake of cricket and the importance of this event in the changing regional situation.
DR RAFAY IQBAL
Karachi
A request to Nadra
I applied for three computerized national identity cards for family members on March 28, 2002. After about three months, two were delivered at home.
When I went to find out about the third from one office to another, I was told that my application was "misplaced" and I would have to apply again. I did, at SMHS office on September 25,2003 (token No. 54, Form No. 00112674).
A notification from the interior ministry has appeared in the press regarding no further extension of the date.
May I hope someone in the department will help me? I am out of the country and likely to be away for some time but hopefully my card will be delivered at my Karachi address.
ASHFAQ A. QURESHI
Muscat
Implementing court verdicts
The news item "Judgments fully implemented: CJ" (March 5) has reported the chief justice as saying that judgments are fully implemented by persons and agencies concerned. The reality is, however, not quite so.
More than 10 years back, the Supreme Court ordered elimination of noise and smoke pollution from rickshaws. Sadly, the order has not yet been implemented despite repeated attempts by the police.
There is no dearth of salutary rules and regulations; what is utterly lacking is their honest implementation. If this were done, life would be that much easier for all citizens. It would perhaps be in order to have an implementation ministry.
YUSUF ALI
Karachi
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