| 16 March 2004 | Tuesday | 24 Muharram 1425 |
DHA working
Thal Canal water problem
Operation in Waziristan
Vice-Admiral Choudri
Indians - all praise for Karachi cities, PCB
Deaths in police custody
Who is killing Iraqis?
Group insurance policy
Roaming charges
Traffic hazard
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Education is the basis of nation-building. The government has time and again made clear its intent to transform Pakistan into a moderate, tolerant and forward-looking state, following the wishes of its founder. As a matter of common sense, if the young are taught what they are still being taught, there can be no change in their mindsets.
Those in charge of education have done nothing to improve matters. They are good at issuing statements, attending seminars and promising improvement. But from what we see on the ground, they are either unable or unwilling to revise the national educational curricula.
It is the need of the hour that efforts are made on a war footing to check religious intolerance. It is the educational system in place that fosters this ill and prevents Pakistan from becoming a progressive, moderate and democratic state.
The educational system will have to be revamped to enable our children to learn and understand that honesty pays and equality and justice are universal attributes.
It deplorable that schoolchildren are purposefully kept ignorant of over 1,000-year history of their region. They have no idea of any political, social or economic interplay at any point of time, nor do they have any idea why a constitution is made, why there are elections and whey there have been repeated military take overs. They are kept ignorant of the reasons for the loss of half the century.
Things on the educational front have to change. We are on a fast-forward mode, with events on the move, and seemingly in the right direction. But without true education of the masses, neither this government nor any like-minded successor regime will be able to help the country progress on all necessary fronts.
Truly educated citizens will not think in terms of violence; they will not forever wish to live at daggers drawn. Where we fail as a nation is our system of education.
It is sharply divided into the elite and non-elite schools. The students of the minuscule elite group are fine. Their curriculum, textbooks and teaching methods conform to modern standards and prepare them for examinations set by the University of Cambridge.
Most of them do well and can have internationally recognized qualifications. They have no problems. It is those who are educated in our non-elite schools, the majority of the educated few who have problems, and with whom the nation has problems.
Technology is an unavoidable means of development of a society, but we have to consider the contribution of social sciences to giving human society a direction.
In the present global perspective, we see that overemphasis on technology leads to "technocratization" of human society. This means that human values are transformed into "instrumental values" in all aspects.
This indirectly leads to a drastic process of de-humanization of a society. It also de-emphasizes the essential status of man as an individual with basic human rights and choices for his self-development.
On the other hand social sciences work for the development of a social consciousness that promotes tolerance, adaptability, collective workability, humanization, expansion of mental horizons and creativity that encompass societal interaction.
Technology can also become a means of making weapons of mass destruction and a threat to human civilization as a whole. This shows that a balance is vital between the technology and social sciences. Imbalance between them leads to a chaos out of control of any one nation.
S.A.KHOKHAR
Lahore
DHA working
There is a lot that I admire the DHA Lahore for as a resident and a customer, such as their insistence on enforcing regulations and maintaining a tolerable level of general services. However, they have their share of failings as well, which I briefly mention below:
1. Existing security arrangements are clearly ineffective, going by the number and frequency of break-ins and robberies and by the fact that residents have to make their own security arrangements at considerable cost. The Defence Housing Authority needs to revamp its ineffective security apparatus.
2. Launching of a new phase is done in a strange, non-transparent manner. The public learnt about the launch of phases VI and VIII through estate agents, rather than through the DHA officially. For some unexplained reasons, Phase VII does not seem to be in their plans. No explanations considered necessary. Today again, an estate agent, instead of the DHA, announced sale of plot files in phases IX and X in a newspaper. However, transactions against these plot files are willingly recognized/registered at the DHA because the authority happily recovers a neat fee on it.
3. The DHA should be compelled not to start a new phase before developing an existing one. Buyers in Phase V have not yet been able to begin construction, while Phase VI is still a barren lunar surface, although the DHA made allotments in them a long time back against full price payment from the civilians.
The DHA has not yet bothered to officially inform the allottees about plans/timeline for the development of Phase VI. Thus, estate agents are almost deliberately made free to spreading whatever rumour clicks, to bring more frenzied buying or selling activity and gains for them and the DHA.
4. When I bought a plot in Phase VI, I was advised in writing that development charges would be Rs180,000. Then, to allottees' disbelief, the charges were raised, in one go, to Rs450,000.
Why? No reasons were offered. If they had started development work and development cost had exceeded their budget due to normal inflationary factors, a reasonable escalation would have been acceptable, but not by 150 per cent and not without any hope of development work starting anytime soon.
And to top it all, if you didn't pay any of your development charges' instalments on time, they charge you additional interest/penalty, while there is no sight of or official information about any development work. Is all this fair, Lahore DHA?
CONCERNED ALLOTTEE
Lahore
Thal Canal water problem
We, the zamindars of tail 2 R Distry of the Mianwali lift irrigation scheme of Thal Canal circle, want to draw the attention of Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to the fact that there is no canal water beyond reduced distance 60,000, while the tail of the canal circle is at 88,000. This is in spite of the fact that old pumps were replaced with new ones in November 1999.
In response to our complaints, the chief engineer of the Sargodha zone deputed an SDO with two sub-engineers to investigate the causes of the shortage. The officials submitted a report after making a survey, which revealed that all the outlets up to RD 60,000 had been tampered with and enlarged and as such supply did not go beyond RD 60,000.
Although the channel was run with 90 cusecs, instead of its authorized discharge of 80 cusecs, the chief engineer of Sargodha, vide his letter No 284/100/77-19 dated 3-2-2003, ordered the SE Thal Canal and the XEN of Khushab to repair the outlets to their design parameters, excavate the choked up portion of the channel from RD 80000-88,000 and complete the work involved in the canal closure of the last year. Both the officials did not carry out the orders.
The non-compliance with the orders by the Thal SE and the Khushab XEN was brought to the notice of the irrigation minister on March 17, 2002, who ordered that an application be submitted for holding an inquiry against the officers concerned. But so far no inquiry has been held.
Disappointed by the canal officer, we submitted petitions to the chief minister's secretariat which asked for a summary from the irrigation secretary, vide CM Secretariat No D 5-11/CMS/03/OT-4/16821 dated 30-10-2002. We also sent reminders on December 16, 2003, and January 14, 2004, but the secretary did not care to reply to the CM secretariat.
On account of this injustice, we, the zimindars from RD 60,000-88,000, have been suffering since November 1999. The chief minister is requested to get this matter investigated through the Chief Minister's Complaint Cell and redress our grievances.
MOHAMMAD FATEH SHER
Sargodha
Operation in Waziristan
The operation in Waziristan is a good move if its purpose is to purge the area of ignorance, poverty and extremism. Somehow, we stumble along as events unfold themselves.
Menaces such as fundamentalism, separatism and extremism spring from poverty and lack of education and health care. Waziristan is Pakistan's worst area from this point of view. No wonder, it has become a fertile ground for fundamentalists, separatists and extremists.
The operation may serve as a short-term remedy for the malaise, but what Waziristan needs is long-term planning.
For years Waziristan had served as a guardian of Pakistan's western frontiers, its people were peace-loving, and crimes such as dacoity, kidnapping for ransom and drug addition were foreign to them before the war in Afghanistan that introduced these crimes to the area, besides, of course, the ubiquitous Kalashnikovs.
Waziristan is one of the most underdeveloped and deprived areas of Pakistan. There may be schools, hospitals and roads there, but only on paper. People usually die on the hump of a camel on the way to a hospital.
The youth having no pen in their hands often carry Kalashnikovs. One should then not expect people living in such conditions to appreciate the compulsions and limitations of the state. They love their country but wonder what the state is doing for them.
The government, as well as the international community which is interested in the tribal belt, must realize that trying to rid the area of terrorists without improving the quality of life will be a waste of effort.
Operations like that, if they persist without the economic uplift of the area, may alienate the people. People living in an environment where there are economic opportunities, rule of law, and the right to speak and write what hey please usually do not resort to violence.
TAHIR ZAMAN
Karachi
Vice-Admiral Choudri
This refers to Mr Khalid Wasay's letter on vice-admiral (retired) Choudri (March 9). The Pakistan Navy had a cruiser, PNS Babur, which was a bone of contention between General Ayub Khan and vice-admiral Choudri. General Ayub considered Babur a white elephant and wanted this flagship to be decommissioned. Vice-admiral Choudri did not agree.
In 1958 when General Ayub became president and chief martial law administrator, he again raised the issue of Babur at a meeting held at the President's House in Karachi.
Since by then General Ayub had become chief executive of Pakistan, Choudri Sahib could not argue further and resigned. He was succeeded by rear admiral A. R. Khan.
PNS Babur was not decommissioned, but vice-admiral Choudri was gone as C-in-C of the Pakistan Navy. He continued to attract loyalty and regard of his former officers and men as long as he lived.
F. U. AHMAD
Karachi
Indians - all praise for Karachi cities, PCB
As an Indian from the United Kingdom I would like to echo Inzamamul Haq and Saurav Ganguly in saying that cricket indeed was the real winner.
But, above all, I would like to congratulate the people of Pakistan, especially the residents of the great city of Karachi who have been starved of international cricket for so long. Karachi deserves full restoration as a venue of international cricket.
Well done, Karachiites, for your generosity and fair support to the game of cricket played by Pakistan and India.
MADHU THAKRAR
Leicester, UK
(2)
Pakistanis at the National Stadium Karachi have won Indian hearts by showing their magnificent behaviour and sportsmanship during the first Pakistan-India one-day match. Some of them were seen waving the Indian tricolour and all of them applauded the good performance of all players (Pakistanis and Indians). Their wonderful behaviour is an example for all to emulate.
I say three cheers for the great Pakistani public.
SURESH PAREKH
Mumbai, India
(3)
Congratulations to the PCB for making excellent arrangements for the cricket series. Pakistani spectators have won my heart by complimenting good cricket played by both Pakistan and India.
Most of all, congratulations must go the Pakistani players for providing such an engrossing game. It was indeed a sight to watch Shoaib Akhtar bowl. I have played and watched cricket for the last 50 years, but the Karachi one-dayer particularly was the most engrossing andvery keenly fought.
Wishing the best for the Pakistan cricket team, I hope the two nations play more often for the good of cricket in both the countries and the world. Thank you, Pakistan.
BARINDER SINGH
AHLUWALIA
San Jose, CA., USA
(4)
Surely, it was a thriller to watch the Pakistan-India one-dayer in Karachi to the last ball after being awake the whole night. Inzamamul Haq has once again proved he is a world class batsman who comes in a crisis and does his job very well.
I could have swallowed all the no balls, wides, dropping of catches, misfields, etc., but I could not understand why Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan was sent instead of Shoaib Akhtar. I still remember a World Cup match in South Africa and how Shoaib Akhtar batted against India in the last overs of the match.
T. ASAD HASNI
Toronto Canada
Deaths in police custody
This refers to your editorial (March 14) about recent deaths in police custody. Acts of highhandedness by police have become part of our national consciousness, leading to fear in the hearts and minds of ordinary people. One expression of this fear - as well as its dislike - is the jokes in our everyday parlance about police excess.
Policing is a very delicate matter. It can be regarded as the primary reference and symbol of state power. It involves legitimate use of power by the state to curb illegitimate use of power by citizens upon one another.
This legitimacy itself is based on the underlying principle of the rule of law. But in our context, not law but law enforcers rule. This situation is very akin to not having the law at all.
The legislature and the judiciary as pillars of the state can become paralyzed and ineffective in the absence of a dependable police force. It is, thus, necessary that the police force should be reformed as a top priority.
Many suggestions have been put forward in this regard, including removal of all torture instruments from police stations, recruitment of locals in any given policing area, depoliticizing recruitment and transfers, information and database sharing, restructuring of remuneration, publicity of good practices, etc.
Recently, the UNDP has started to support police reforms in many developing countries as internal security is now considered a vital part of overall development strategy.
There is, thus, no dearth of experience and suggestions to improve policing. What is required is political will to carry out the reforms. As we are making several good national efforts at the behest of the US - improving ties with India, countering terrorism and exposing nuclear proliferation - let us try and make a reform on the plea of our own people as well.
FARID PANJWANI
London, UK
Who is killing Iraqis?
I commend Mr Siddique Malik on his letter "Who is killing Iraqis?" (March 14) in response to two previous letters on the same subject.
I want to add to his letter the ground situation in Iraq as to why it was easy for the terrorists to target holy sites. The US forces, being non-Muslims, are purposely keeping a low profile around the holy sites owing to the religious sensitivity of Muslims towards their sacred sites. This is what terrorists are trying to exploit to plunge Iraq into sectarian violence which could later become a civil war.
Terrorists know that a successful, democratic Iraq will be their severe failure or, as Mr Malik put it, "a burial ground of Al Qaeda cult".
KHURRAM HANEEF
New Jersey, USA
Group insurance policy
This has reference to the Sindh government's revised policy on its employees' group insurance. There is no sense in this policy as it says that insurance premiums deposited by government employees will be given only to the heirs after the employees' death.
The point is why the policymakers should lay emphasis on government employees' death to get back their own money. Usually, group insurance money is given either after maturity to the insured person himself or to his heirs after his death.
I urge the government to revise this policy and entitle the employees to receive their money on maturity of the policy. The money may also be given to his heirs after his death, but in no case should this money be retained or allowed to lapse by the insurance company.
H. SIBGHATULLAH
Sehwan
Roaming charges
The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority's (PTA) unfinished agenda of the "calling party pays" regime seems to be once again in focus, and announcement of free roaming from one of the cell phone operators is a step in this direction.
The announcement is of great significance to those who have to travel a lot and face immense hardship when bills with roam charges are to be paid or when a prepaid card expires like anything.
It has been a practice in our country that regulators have not been able to protect consumers' interest. But such is not the case with the PTA; whether it is its landline phones or the wireless apparatus, at least there is an authority which checks and provide relief to customers.
One hopes that the PTA will force other operators to follow suit and allow a free roaming facility to the users.
MUHAMMAD AQIL
Karachi
Traffic hazard
A big threat both to the lives of motorists and commuters and to Lahore's roads are the tractor-trolleys carrying iron bars jutting out of these vehicles.
Unfortunately, there is no warning to traffic around with a light or a red piece of cloth. A number of accidents have occurred lately owing to unscrupulous drivers of these carriers, causing loss of life and injury. The traffic police should take strict note of such violations of traffic rules.
A similar check is also necessary on bullock- carts and hand-carts, which are sometimes used for carrying iron bars.
HAKEEM PIR S.A. SHAH WALIULLAH
Lahore
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