| 05 April 2004 | Monday | 14 Safar 1425 |
The high cost of banking
PTCL: unattended complaints
Non-Nato ally status
Hazards of asbestos
Pakistan Resolution
Academic year
Mehdi Hassan
The Wana operation
Waqar Younis
Hossam Mohammad Abdo
Blood screening
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My wife while being given pregnancy medical care in the US was given certain tests which included HIV antibody ELISA. She came positive for this test. But it turned out to be a "false positive".
She had tested false positive in a previous pregnancy also a couple of years ago, but the confirmatory test, Western Blot, had come out negative. When she tested positive a second time after several years for ELISA, her doctor told her that such false results were uncommon.
I surfed several resources on the internet and found similar information. I also called the AIDS hotline in the US which corroborated this opinion about false positive results in pregnant women.
Before the confirmatory Western Blot test could be carried out in the case of the second pregnancy, she had to leave the US for Pakistan and was advised by her doctor to get the test done in Pakistan as she would not communicate her Western Blot result in any manner other than in person.
After landing in Karachi, we visited the Aga Khan laboratory and explained the whole situation to the doctor. She said her laboratory only performed ELISA and not Western Blot and advised us to see the Sindh Aids Prevention Centre clinic/hospital located next to the Sindh Services Hospital.
I visited this facility and saw one doctor on duty there who said there was no existence of false positive ELISA and that we both must be infected. He called his lab assistant and asked if he performed Western Blot. His assistant replied in the affirmative and the doctor advised me to bring my wife any time for the test. However, we didn't go because we felt the doctor was bent upon proving us HIV positive.
Mr wife disclosed this to her gynaecologist in Karachi. The latter also reacted in the same manner, saying that my wife must have got this infection from me. She prescribed many tests, almost all those tests including ELISA for HIV antibody, which my wife had already undergone before Pakistan. She also suggested ELISA HIV for me.
We both again visited the Aga Khan laboratory and both deposited specimens for HIV ELISA. We both tested negative on ELISA. Happily, my wife immediately called the gynaecologist to convey the results, but to her utter astonishment the doctor refused to believe the result and asserted that once positive on ELISA, she could not have come out negative. My wife had no answer to this. Her gynaecologist ultimately regretted to handling her case.
In the meantime, my wife's visit was over in Karachi. She returned to the US and immediately went to her doctor. She again had her Western Blot test, which as expected proved negative.
I wonder how doctors in Pakistan would behave with those who are actually HIV positive when this is their behaviour with persons with false positive results.
SUFFERING COUPLE
Via email
The high cost of banking
Well done Mr Asad Siddiqi, for your article on the above subject published in the Dawn on March 29 (Business pages). The banks, especially the foreign banks, are doing cut-throat business. Their concept of banking is based on bank charges. In the past they were deposit oriented.
The whole problem is that they have been deprived of millions of rupees they had been earning in commission on the sale of government securities. Since they have no choice in building up profits for their fat salaries, they decided to milk their clients as much as possible.
The banks can now be compared with the utilities companies of this city. The consumers receive inflated bills and are compelled to pay them. Here is some good news, be it known to all that if any person requires a pay order, customer or non-customer, I would advise him to visit any branch of the Prime Commercial Bank. They charge only Re.1 for stamp duty.
In days gone by there used to be an interbank agreement in Pakistan, whereby all banks were governed by a standard schedule of bank charges and this agreement was approved by the State Bank of Pakistan.
I do hope the State Bank's banking control department will look into this matter and save the common man from this misery of bank charges. One foreign bank charges Rs500 to close your account. That's the farewell gift they give you when you decide to close your account.
JAVED QURESHI
Karachi
(2)
Commercial banks, of late, have embarked upon fleecing depositors in the garb of 'service charges' in varying degrees, particularly the minimum balance gimmick - an easy way of making money without doing anything - against the backdrop of privatization, deregulation and a liquidity flood.
The SBP must re-examine the need for a uniform policy providing some kind of ceiling for service charges, particularly for the minimum balance for various kinds of accounts, namely individual/corporate, current/PLS.
The banks can then offer competitive service charges below that ceiling in order to benefit from deregulation if they see appropriate. The depositors must be provided some kind of protection from arbitrary rates slapped by the commercial banks.
SHOAIB FARID
Karachi
PTCL: unattended complaints
My telephone 6660497 has not been working for the last six months. I have lodged several complaints on phone numbers 080044544, 18, 6651000 and also submitted an application at the office of the general manager, STR-III, on February 9 and another addressed to divisional engineer, Orangi Exchange Office, on March 17, but in vain.
I request the higher authorities of the PTCL to restore my telephone.
ALI AKBAR
Karachi
(2)
I am an arthritic patient and cannot walk much or stand longer due to a constant pain in my knees. After my husband's death, I am left with no male member to look after my outdoor errands. My telephone 664047 has developed some fault - there's a constant noise in the line - as a result of which both the incoming and outgoing calls cannot be heard clearly.
I have so far got several complaints made on 6641000 and at Karachi's Awami Centre, but the fault has not been removed yet. Each time I am told that it is a 'cable fault' and would be rectified soon. As a last resort, I making this complaint through these columns.
The PTCL authorities are requested to look into the matter and remove the fault, whatever it is. I want my telephone to give a fault-free service as it is my only source to contact my doctors, chemists and the few relations I am left with.
A SUBSCRIBER
Karachi
Non-Nato ally status
Pakistan has been granted major non-Nato ally status (MNNA) by the United States. According to political analysts, it is just a symbolic gesture and little else. In past crises, we were asked to read the Seato and Cento fine print. A ram cannot share a dinner with an elephant. The announcement without any prior intimation made India miss a beat or two.
Pakistan felt the same way back in 1962 when Kennedy after promising Pakistan that it would be consulted (provided Ayub kept off Kashmir) gave India military help against China. keeping Pakistan in the dark though Ayub had faithfully kept his promise by not taking advantage of the situation.
The biggest disadvantage of being a US ally for a Third World country is that you can be ditched any time and turned against. Henry Kissinger used to tell diplomats during the Cold War that being a US adversary would be an advantage; being neutral, a country would be safe; but being a US ally would be outright dangerous. Wittingly or unwittingly, Third World leaders playing to the US tune have usually ended up turning against their own countrymen.
A few examples from current history come to mind. Indonesia, Suharto against communists (killed by the millions), imaginary or real; Mideast, Hosni Mubarak against Akhwanul Muslameen, Saddam Hussein against Kurds and Shias; in Pakistan, Yahya against East Pakistanis; prior to that our rulers had taken military action in Balochistan. Maybe the situation is different today.
ASLAM MINHAS
Karachi
Hazards of asbestos
This is with reference to your correspondent's report about hazards of asbestos (March 13). I would like to complement your correspondent for repeatedly pointing out the hazards of asbestos for the last three years.
Asbestos causes fibrosis of the lungs, cancer of the lung and affects the covering of abdominal visera, peritoneum and even pericardium (covering of the heart).
It should, however, be noted that hazards of asbestos are not restricted to the Peshawar region. There are many factories and ship-breaking and ship-building sites in Karachi where this element continues to affect the population.
Health of the worker and the community at large is the responsibility of department of health, environmental protection agencies and ministries of industries and labour.
Perhaps more effective and efficient coordination is required between them. One of our respected and senior physicians, Prof S.M. Rab, has recently commented (Dawn, March 14) that enough importance has not been attached to occupational medicine in the country.
It is time we took notice of this advice and adopted remedial measures.
DR K. H. MAHMOOD
Karachi
Pakistan Resolution
This refers to the letter "Pakistan Resolution" by Mr Gheewala A.G.M. (April 1). The resolution passed on March 23, 1940, in Lahore demanded that "geographically contiguous units are demarcated into regions which should be so constituted, with such territorial readjustment as may be necessary, that areas in which the Muslims are numerically in a majority as in the North-Western and Eastern zones of India, should be grouped to constitute independent states in which the constituent units shall be autonomous and sovereign".
The constituting provinces were called units and contiguous units of Muslim majority as zones or regions or states. On attaining independence, two nations - India and Pakistan - came into being.
Eventually eastern and western zones separated and Bangladesh became an independent country in 1971. The word "nation" is used for a community of people having different nationalities with its own territory and this is how it is understood the world over.
The concept of nation state emerged with the formation of the State of Madina. According to the Covenant of Madina, "the believers and Muslims of Quresh and Yathrib and those who follow them and are attached to them and fight alongside them form a single community (ummah), to the exclusion of other men" (paragraph 1).
As the Jews fight on the side of believers, they form a single community with the believers (paragraph 25). The ummah or community was therefore the people of Madina as a whole presenting a united front to the outside world.
The provinces in the British Raj were administrative units and not "nations". Sindh was part of Bombay and the NWFP of Punjab. Subsequently, they attained provincial status for administrative reasons. India had probably eight provinces in 1947. Today, there are 28. But Pakistan's four provinces remain four although its population has quadrupled since independence.
The Pakistan Resolution assigns autonomous status to the provinces. Due to expansion of population, creating more provinces is necessary for better and more effective administration.
Creation of more provinces with autonomous status is imperative for the unity of the country, as it would eliminate sense of inequality and promote cohesion and better understanding among different peoples by culturally bringing them closer to one another.
FAQIR AHMED PARACHA
Peshawar
Academic year
In Sindh, until a few years back, the academic year used to begin in August, right after the completion of the summer vacation. During 1993 the authorities concerned decided to advance our academic year by four months. Hence the academic year began to set in from April 1 and end on March 31.
But this change did not prove fruitful on the whole because examinations are conducted in March. After that, the admission process continues, mostly for the whole month of April.
Thus, the teaching process can barely start in May and then comes the two months of summer vacation falls before long. Schools and colleges cannot even get into full swing and they are closed.
When they reopen in August, it takes them some time to restart the education process as August happens to be the month of our freedom. In this way, about five months of an academic year are wasted plus the scheduled and unscheduled holidays. The students hardly get about 180 working days out of 365.
To minimize this loss, we need to bring our schools and colleges in full swing and cover at least 60 per cent of the course before the summer vacation. To achieve this goal, I suggest that the next academic year should start in January and end in December.
AGHA ALI GOHAR KHAN
Ghotki
Mehdi Hassan
This refers to the report about Mehdi Hassan (March 28). I wonder when and how this nation will learn to respect its legends. We take pride in remembering the dead but pay little or no attention to the living. We must be ashamed of our attitude towards Mehdi Hassan, who has been forced to consider going to India for treatment.
Why has the government failed to arrange for his treatment abroad? Why is no royalty paid to him by recording companies operating in Pakistan? Why didn't the government take any action to provide him with financial assistance for his treatment? Why did PTV, PIA and the Sindh government fail to pay him his promised dues? I hope that the relevant quarters will look into these questions.
May I request the federal and all provincial governments, philanthropists, NGOs and hospitals in Pakistan to forthwith arrange for the treatment of Mehdi Hassan to save him from further physical and emotional trauma?
SAEED SIDDIQUI
Islamabad
The Wana operation
Your editorial "The Wana operation" (March 28) is very much appreciated. While respecting your keen observation and concern, I beg to differ insofar as involvement of political parties is concerned.
I do not think that discussion in parliament, where the intention is to score a point, will lead to any understanding or a common approach. It will most likely add to the existing confusion and chaos created by self-interest. This happens when emotions, instead of pragmatism and logic, are allowed to rule supreme.
It is unfortunate that some of our custodians of Islam display more sympathy and concern for foreign criminals and their local accomplices and abettors who have been involved in killing our soldiers and pose a serious threat to our security.
It is time the tribal areas were integrated and the government writ extended there. We cannot anymore afford to have a state within a state.
KHAN A. SHAMSHAD
Karachi
Waqar Younis
After the ODI series, we were hopeful that we would dominate the Test series because our bowlers were good enough to bowl the Indians out twice. But things have gone totally in the opposite direction. The bad pitch in Multan may have affected the performance of our bowlers, but, then, Irfan Pathan and Kumble also bowled on the same track. Is Pathan a better bowler than Shoaib Akhtar?
Now that the potential of our bowling attack has been exposed, the PCB should call Waqar Younis for the next Test match because he has got the tendency to pick up wickets with the new ball as well as with the old.
MUHAMMAD ZAKIUDDIN HAIDER
Karachi
Hossam Mohammad Abdo
This refers to the detention of 14-year-old Palestinian boy Hossam Mohammad Abdo by Israel for allegedly planning to carry out a suicide attack.
Al Jazeera has mentioned Israeli newspaper Yedeot Ahranot as reporting that "Abdo told Shin Beth interrogators that an anonymous person had promised him 100 shekels if he blew himself up in the midst of Israeli soldiers."
Al Jazeera quoted the ministry of information director-general of the Palestinian Authority as saying: "We know for sure this is a fabricated story from A to Z. Would you believe that a 13- or 14-year-old would agree to blow himself up in return for a hundred shekels which he would receive after his death?"
The boy was shown on TV screens around the world, with an explosive belt strapped to his waist. The Israeli army said the boy had told interrogators that his dispatchers had promised that he would have 72 virgins in heaven soon after his death.
But this was the second such instance. A few weeks ago, the Israeli army presented another boy from the same locality, Nablus, Muhammad Kuraan, to the media as a child who had been dispatched to blow himself up at an Israeli roadblock. However, when the boy returned home, he reportedly told his family and relatives: "Jews told me to do this or else they would kill me."
S. G. JILANEE
Karachi
Blood screening
Some people have underscored in these columns the need for blood screening, but difficulties and lack of specificity in the routine use of these tests never make them cost-effective.
Besides transmission of communicable diseases, immunological reactions are other dangers of blood transfusion. The dangers can be minimized by the following approach:
- By eliminating communicable diseases from the community (the government should join the "roll back malaria programme" initiated by WHO's D. G. Gro Harlem Bruntland).
- Health education for all (not only legislation) about the hazards of blood transfusion. This must be from the very basic level for medics and the public.
- Auto-transfusion: in all elective cases of surgeries the patient shall donate his/her own blood a week or two before the operation.
All stakeholders and policymakers should remember that nobody is safe until everybody is safe.
Dr GHULAM ASGHAR CHANNA
Head of the Department, General Surgery Ward-26 (Unit-III) & Clinical Coordinator of SMC/JPMC & Member, Faculty of Surgery, CPSI, JPMC, Karachi
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