| 12 April 2004 | Monday | 21 Safar 1425 |
Pakistan-India Test series
Indian visa seekers' ordeal
An electricity consumer's plaint
Memorial hospital for Dr Zuberi
Pakistan Steel affairs
Misleading UN
Coach service operators
Advani's signals
The Wana operation
Thank you, ADB
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This is with reference to the report "Naguib overruled" (Dawn fifty years ago today, March 29). Egypt is one of the oldest civilizations of the world. During 639-41, it came within the fold of the Muslim Arab world.
It remained an African outpost throughout Umayyad and Abbasid periods but later became the centre of the Fatimid caliphate (969-1171). After the fall of the Fatimids - but for the short period of Ayubi interlude - the Circassian Mamluks acquired ascendancy (1250-1517). These were the same Mamluks who broke the Mongolian myth of invincibility by defeating their forces at Ayn Jalut.
In 1517 Ottoman Sultan Salim conquered Egypt and thereafter it continued to be part of the Ottoman empire until 1805 when Napoleon Bonaparte changed the equilibrium. Although, the French incursion lasted a few years, it brought Egypt into the European political arena.
In 1801 Muhammad Ali Pasha, an Albanian army officer, attached with a Turkish expeditionary force fighting the French, successfully got rid of the alien forces and established himself de facto sovereign of Egypt.
Although he ruled in the name of the Ottomans as Khedive, he practically detached Egypt from Turkey. During this period Istanbul was itself undergoing a political crisis that even helped Muhammad Ali to consolidate his power and set up an independent dynasty in Egypt. He was the builder of modern Egypt.
He set up a framework of modern government, revolutionized education and established institutions in modern sciences. He transformed Egyptian society from the mediaeval into the modern; something that Istanbul later emulated.
The successors of Khedive Muhammad Ali Pasha were Ibrahim Pasha (ruled six weeks), Abbas Hilmi I (1848-54), Muhammad Said (1854-63) and Ismail (1863-79). They adopted a pro-European position when in power and left Egypt in a debt trap to Britain.
Arabic was introduced as an official language of the country during this period. In 1854 Said Pasha granted a concession to French Ferdinand de Lesseps to dig the Suez Canal. Work on the canal was started in 1859 and completed within 10 years in the days of Ismail Pasha in 1869, reducing substantially the distance between Europe and Asia.
In 1875, taking advantage of Egypt's pecuniary position, Disraeli on behalf of the British government purchased Khedive's Suez Canal Company shares by paying four million pounds in cash.
This transaction eased the then cash-starved government's financial position for a while but brought the country under the British influence still further. In Ismail Pasha's days, the Europeans were directly involved in the struggle between Muhammad Ali House and Ottomans Porte. He was eventually dethroned in 1879. By 1882, following a period of civil unrest, the British occupied Egypt.
In 1914, Egypt was detached, de jure, from the Ottomans and declared a protectorate. It received nominal independence in 1922 when constitutional monarchy was established installing Faud as king.
The western-educated Egyptian elite which emerged on Ismail Pasha's encouragement rebelled against him. Ultimately in 1952, it incited a coup led by Gen Mujib and Col Gamal Abdul Nasser that overthrew the monarchy. King Farouq was forced to abdicate and sent in exile.
MANZOOR H. KURESHI
Karachi
Pakistan-India Test series
I see that crowds at the Test matches have been extremely small. Since the series is now evenly poised, spectator participation and an 'electric' atmosphere could play a crucial role in Pakistan winning the last Test. However, it is clear that people are not much interested in watching Test matches. I would like to make the following suggestions in this respect:
1. Give people two tickets for the price of one (buy one, get one free).
2. Allow free access to students in the cheaper enclosures (who can present their ID cards).
If, like in the last two Test matches, people choose to ignore the Rawalpindi Test, you would lose out on gate revenue and ground atmosphere. But if you lost out on just one of these, it wouldn't be so bad and some of crowd will be more willing to pay next time.
M. QURESHI
Via email
(2)
Much has been said about the performance of Inzamamul Haq, Imran Farhat and Umar Gul in the second Test match in Lahore, but Asim Kamal's contribution towards winning the match seems to have been almost ignored.
On the morning of the third day, Pakistan's batting once again failed when Inzamam got himself out in the first over and four more batsmen followed immediately. It was certainly Asim Kamal's batting that helped Pakistan gain a lead of 202 runs.
I request that the Pakistan Cricket Board should play him at number six in the third Test to be played in Rawalpindi.
ASAD RIZVI
Karachi
(3)
I was watching the first India-Pakistan Test on the evening of March 30. In the last over after five balls had been bowled, Tendulkar played a psychological trick.
On the field he sent the fielders close to the ropes and on the last ball I saw the TV flashing 01; it was the last ball. He took a little time and called the out fielders to move in.
I witnessed a dramatic effect on Moin's face, a sign of nervousness. He either expected a leg break or a googly. Moin had his right leg covering the right stump and the left leg the left stump. Anticipating a googly, he tried to play the ball on the leg-side.
The ball moved between the bat and the legs, and Moin was clean bowled. Full marks to Tendulkar. It was the most amazing sight to see the last ball (01) doing magic trick.
DR Q. AHMED
Karachi
Indian visa seekers' ordeal
Time and again demands have been made in national newspapers for the issuance of Indian visas in Karachi but no heed has been paid to this demand so far by the authorities concerned.
The present procedure to issue visas through the Indian high commission in Islamabad is not only tiresome but also expensive. People belonging to Sindh and the coastal areas of Balochistan have to travel to Islamabad three times - first, to apply for a visa; then for the submission of passport and then again to collect the visa. This process takes six to seven months.
It is a fact that more than 75 per cent of visitors seeking Indian visas belong to Karachi, the coastal areas of Balochistan and the interior of Sindh. It is, therefore, in the fitness of things that visa facilities should be provided in Karachi.
T.A. WASTI
Karachi
(2)
This is to highlight the plight of travellers seeking Indian visas. The Indian high commission in Islamabad issues a token, with a date. At present, tokens are being issued for November 2004. Once documents are submitted in November, the applicant will be further advised to report back at the high commission office (hopefully) by the end of December.
Most probably, the high commission is unable to handle the avalanche of applications of visa seekers from Karachi. If this is true, then a more pragmatic approach should be adopted. The strategy should be cost-effective.
Moreover, the Indian Airlines should restore its normal flight schedule to Karachi and the processing of visa applications by the Indian high commission at Islamabad be undertaken expeditiously and without inordinate delays.
23 SIGNATORIES
Karachi
An electricity consumer's plaint
It is the right of every consumer to get the monthly electricity bill according to the energy consumed according to the reading on the meter. It is also a settled matter of law that no supply can be disconnected whenever there is a bona fide dispute on payment between the parties concerned.
But the Hyderabad Electricity Supply Company (Hesco) is working to the contrary. To cover up line losses, it has taken a fancy to bogus billing as a matter of routine, with no one to check the malpractice, as is evident from my case.
I have lodged a complaint against an inflated bill that I received against my closed premises (1887/B, Larkana), bearing the domestic connection account # 06521-0023570, as per receipt 298, dated 29.4.2002, issued by the counter-in-charge of the Hesco customer service operation, Jinnah Bagh, Larkana-II, and requested the authorities to correct the bill.
Also, on the orders of the superintending engineer (operation), Larkana circle, issued on my application, dated 6.5.2002, a parallel meter was installed and ground checking was carried out by the technical staff of Hesco, Larkana, but nothing was found wrong as all the meter seals were intact and okay.
Despite all this, no revised bill as per dial reading was issued to me. Instead a bill for Rs19,477 (February 2004) in respect of account # 06521-0023570 of this closed premises of mine has been repeated.
I am a white-collar person and cannot do the running around for nothing. I, therefore, draw the attention of the Wapda chairman, Lahore, and other high-ups of Hesco to provide me succour through appropriate action against officials responsible for causing unnecessary trouble to a bona fide Hesco consumer
M. ANWAR CHANNA
Larkana
Memorial hospital for Dr Zuberi
As founder member of the Pakistan Medical Association, Naukot, Tharparkar, and other PMA branches in rural Sindh, I express deep shock on the death of Professor (Dr) Sarwar Jehan Zuberi, a legend in the medical profession and a distinguished associate of the PMA.
As she died of malaria and unsafe blood transfusion, the PMA should honour her by creating a foundation in her name for research and better management of the above-mentioned health issues.
A chair should be created in the JPMC or the DUMHS, Karachi, to consolidate and further the work of Professor Zuberi. The letter by Dr Syed Abdul Mujeeb (March 25) about technical problems of blood screening for malaria will be addressed at the WHO technical committee level. I, therefore, request WHO Director-General Dr Bruntland to convene a meeting of experts of hematology and communicable diseases.
I would also request the vice-chancellors of LUMHS (Jamshoro), DUMS (Karachi), ZMU (Karachi), AKU (Karachi) and NIH (Islamabad) to constitute a task force for national guidelines for blood screening, particularly for malaria.
DR HUSSAIN BUX KOLACHI Associate Professor,
LUMHS, and Central Counsellor, PMA, Naukot and Tharparkar, Jamshoro
Pakistan Steel affairs
This refers to Engr. Arshad Mehmood's letter "Pakistan Steel affairs" (April 9). His concern about the steel sector is appreciable. However, his letter is an outcome of flawed information and ignores the benefits that continue to accrue from this strategic national asset, which is now a role model for other public sector enterprises. The facts are as under:
- The remarkable turnaround achieved by PS over the last three years, due to which it has been in net profit since 2000-01, is not the result of any inhibiting tariff on import of steel products. The position is that duty/taxes on steel import have come down progressively and are now at their lowest, specially on billets (10 per cent) and pig iron (5 per cent). Even then Pakistan Steel enjoys a competitive edge in terms of quality, as well as prices, which is the main reason its products are in high demand. Ever since its commissioning, there is no restriction on import of steel in any form.
- PS fulfils barely 25 per cent of the domestic requirement of steel. In the presence of other players such as steel melters, shipbreakers and importers, etc., PS is not in a position to cause a price-hike. The recent increase in domestic steel prices since January 2003 is 65 per cent and not 300 per cent, as quoted by the writer.
This increase was the result of an international upheaval in the prices of steel products emanating from an upsurge in cost of raw materials such as iron ore by 25 per cent, coal by 100 per cent and freight charges by 150 per cent - the factors which are beyond the control of PS.
As regards the import of billet, it was only as an effort to instil stability in the price of steel bar and also to regulate the supplies of long products in the market that PS was asked by the government to import billets/blooms. It obviously does not suit Pakistan Steel to import steel billets as their landed cost is higher by Rs3,000 per ton than the selling price of Pakistan Steel, which is Rs28,500 a ton.
- The PS establishment has so far led to import substitution of more than $4 billion. As on 29.02.2004, PS has also contributed Rs50.15 billion to the national exchequer in terms of duties/taxes. The amount far exceeds the initial cost of the project. Again, plant/machinery supplied by the former USSR is very robust and its performance is highly satisfactory. As for the Russian technology, suffice it to say that although the plant is more than 20 years old, it is still operating at around 96 per cent capacity. Moreover, contrary to the claim of the writer, no additional cost was incurred by PS on account of technology or otherwise.
- PS extensively uses all locally available raw materials of reasonable quality per annum, which includes about 300,000 tons of lime stone, 250,000 tons of dolomite and 1,000 tons of manganese. In addition, about 100,000 tons of fire and plastic clay and dolomite are also being received from Mianwali. Similarly, out of a total contract of 100,000 tons of iron ore from Dilband area of Balochistan, 26,000 tons have already been received during the last four months. Also, close coordination is being kept with the Punjab government regarding availability of iron ores, as Pakistan Steel would be happy to use even greater quantities of iron ores of adequate quality wherever available in Pakistan.
Pakistan Steel is a project of the Pakistan government. Its turnaround from an ailing unit to an economically viable entity should be a matter of pride for everyone.
NADEEM ASGHAR
In charge (Public Relations), Pakistan Steel, Karachi
Misleading UN
This refers to US Secretary of State Colin Powell's belated admission that 'data given to the UN was not solid' (Dawn, April 4). Mr Hans Blix, the UN chief weapons inspector is on record as having said time and again that there was no evidence of WMDs in Iraq.
Yet, the Bush administration ignored it and attacked Iraq, killed Saddam's two sons, destroyed the entire nation and arrested the Iraqi president for not bowing before American whims.
America should make amends for destroying Iraq by the early transfer of power to the local Iraqi people. I wonder if the saner elements in America will ever demand that Mr Colin Powell should resign for being so gullible as to believe in the intelligence data supplied and for misleading the world.
The United Nations is requested to intervene and stop the bloodshed that is taking place in various parts of Iraq.
M. SHAFIQUE AHMED
Karachi
Coach service operators
A number of coach services operate from Karachi to different parts of the country. Their stops and booking offices are situated near the Cantonment Railway Station. They are fleecing the public.
First, they attract passengers in the name of luxury service but never observe punctuality and roam through the city roads for hours together. Because of this passengers cannot reach their destinations in time.
Second, they have no approved fares and overcharge. Moreover, at different times, they charge different fares from different passengers for the same destination. They have no fear of law. I have had a bitter experience of their so-called luxury service as I have of late travelled by road many times between Karachi and Ghotki.
I request the Sindh government and the railway authorities to take notice of the irregularities being committed by these coach services.
AGHA ALI GOHAR KHAN
Ghotki
Advani's signals
While reading the headline "Signals from Pakistan not good: Advani" (April 7), the following couplet by Ahmad Faraz came to my mind:
Apna yeh khail, key ji har chukey, lut bhi chukey
Aur mohabbat wohi andaaz puraney mangey.
HAFEEZ AKHTAR
Lahore
The Wana operation
Punjab MMA President Hafiz M. Idrees says in his letter (April 10) that "it is wrong to say that there are terrorists...hiding in the Wana tribal area." This certainly is news. The question is: were those killed or captured in the Wana operation while fighting the Pakistan Army not terrorists? What does the writer have to say about those harbouring Al Qaeda and Taliban fugitives?
One is sure the family members of eight army jawans who were first taken hostage and then murdered in cold blood by terrorists in Wana will not agree with the MMA leader when he claims: "These people never committed any crime against Pakistani laws."
May I ask him if attempting to kill the president of Pakistan and murdering many Pakistanis in the process is not a crime? What about other murders and acts of terrorism allegedly committed in our country by these foreign agents?
DR K.T.KAMAL
Al-Dharan, Saudi Arabia
Thank you, ADB
I am very happy to learn from a press report that the Asian Development Bank has refused to fund two Rawalpindi dam projects to meet the city's water shortage (Dawn, March 30).
Instead of foreign loans, why cannot our rulers drop non-essential projects like the monument in Islamabad worth Rs430 million, a second army museum (one grand museum already constructed near the GHQ) in Ayub Park worth over Rs500 million and the interchange at Zero Point in Islamabad worth Rs280 million, and spend the taxpayers' money on projects essential for their survival?
Will our parliamentarians care to ensure proper utilization of taxpayers' money?
NASRULLAH KHAN SHINWARI
Peshawar
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