| 15 May 2004 | Saturday | 24 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425 |
Alternative energy sources
Two sets of budget proposals
Old pensioners' case
Why send troops to Iraq?
'Carnage in Karachi'
Punjab's mother tongue
Defence cuts
Faulty phone
Credit cards
Torture of Iraqis
Much ado...
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Now that the Indian polls are over and a new government will take over shortly in Delhi, it may be timely to review the progress of the peace process. What is particularly painful is the simultaneity of friendly declarations and exchanges with the daily killing of Kashmiris by the Indian forces. According to claims by Indian sources, nearly 300 members of the Kashmiri resistance have been martyred during the past six weeks alone.
A State Department spokesman said on May 12 that India needed to rein in its troops responsible for widespread human rights violations in Kashmir after Congressman Dan Burton estimated that over 90,000 people had been killed in Kashmir since the early 1990s when the Kashmiris had launched their freedom struggle.
Either the mutual professions of Indo-Pakistan friendship are premature in the absence of any meaningful progress on Kashmir or else reports of the "perceived breakthrough" have not filtered to the freedom-fighters in Kashmir.
While the dates for a composite dialogue have been announced, there is no indication that any meaningful shift has occurred in the attitude of the Indian leadership on the issue of Kashmir's future. The very latest is the statement by the Indian high commissioner at a meeting with political figures, retired generals and others in Lahore.
He is reported to have said in reply to a question on Kashmir that "some disputes have to be frozen, to be taken up at a later time when relations between the two countries have been normalized." If relations are expected to achieve normalization without a resolution of Kashmir, then surely nothing has been learnt from the history of the past half a century.
A week or so earlier, prime minister Vajpayee had said in response to a question on Kashmir being the main issue that "the issue was not Kashmir but the establishment of trust," once again inverting the sequence of cause and effect. Even the Congress spokesman on foreign affairs has been quoted as stating that the Indian National Congress had a clearer stand on Kashmir than the BJP and in any case there was no question of a change in the territorial status quo, except for minor adjustments along the LoC.
The public support in India for the peace process is based on the assumption that Pakistan has called it a day on the Kashmiri right of self-determination and that negotiations under the composite process could be dragged on indefinitely as a sop to Pakistani susceptibilities.
In the BBC programme "India Question Hour" during the third week of March, featuring Arun Jaitley, the law minister, and Vinod Mehta of the Outlook Magazine, the latter stated that they had been told by their (unnamed) Pakistani friends that there was no real expectation of any change in the status of occupied Kashmir and all that was needed was to keep the negotiating process going.
Amongst segments of public opinion in Pakistan, the fear is growing that with the rapid-fire exchanges in all conceivable fields, the situation may become irreversible, irrespective of what happens on the negotiating track on Kashmir and that the desired linkage between the CBMs and the dialogue process, as rightly demanded by President Musharraf, may be overtaken by the current march of events.
Nothing in the above is meant to detract from the importance of the peace process. Nothing is more important for the people of Pakistan and India than economic and social development for which durable peace is indispensable. However, in relations with India and on the issue of Kashmir, there is only one way that Pakistan can reconcile the dictates of realism with the demands of popular will and historic obligations.
This is by treating, on the one hand, the maintenance of peace with India (and focus on economic development) as indispensable and, on the other hand, linking forthrightly and without reservation full normalization and fraternization with clear progress on the issue of Kashmir.
MAHDI MASUD
Karachi
Alternative energy sources
The government is trying to meet the country's energy needs. Recently it announced construction of another nuclear power plant in Chashma and a deal for buying electricity from neighbouring countries. Although nuclear power plants are a good source of energy, they also produce nuclear waste, and the government has never mentioned how it is dealing with the nuclear waste produced from nuclear power plants in Pakistan. Also, there is the issue of safety and environmental risk from nuclear power plants.
There are other sources to make power available, but they have not yet been considered. The government should consider the following alternatives for dealing with the energy crisis facing the country.
1. Commercial biogas plant: Animal waste, wet plant matter, etc., are decomposed by bacteria to produce biogas which is burnt to produce electricity. This method is largely used in China and northern Italy. One such plant in the UK produces 12.5MW from poultry manure.
2. Geothermal energy: The easiest source of energy are places having "hot spots" - places with earth's magma pushing close to surface. Such hot spots are found in the Northern Areas, where many hot springs exist. These hot springs give out steam or can be used to produce steam which is used to produce electricity.
3. Wind power: This is nowadays the most commercialized alternative energy source. It is extensively used in the UK, Holland, the US, etc.. We can easily utilize this in Balochistan and in the Sindh coastal areas, as well as in the Northern Areas between valleys or on mountaintops.
4. Micro hydro: It is used extensively in China where some 100,000 units have been installed. It produces less than 5KW electricity and is mainly used for supplying power to local areas and to avoid the cost of long-distance transmission. It consists of small dams or turbines on rivers. This technology can be brought from China and utilized in Pakistan.
5. Improved efficiency: Pakistan's current energy production facilities are not operating at optimum efficiency. Some like the Warsak Dam have turbines missing and some dams require desilting. We are also incurring losses on transmission. Also, many gas-powered IPPs are not using the best furnaces and technology to produce maximum energy; most are working at 30-40 per cent efficiency.
The government should constitute a separate organization to check on efficiency of all power plants, twice a year, and submit a report which should be printed in the media for everyone to see. This would help in keeping a check on the working of the organization as well.
6. Research institutes: An institute should be established to conduct research in other sources of energy production and their implementation in Pakistan. Scholarships should be granted to young scientists to join and help carry out this research.
SHAHRYAR KHAN BASEER
London, UK
Two sets of budget proposals
It has been reported (Dawn, May 11) that the federal government is preparing two sets of the budget proposals in view of the two options on sharing of the divisible pool. If the provinces accept 47 per cent from the net proceeds, as offered by the government, the budget will be based on that set of accords. However, if the offer is rejected in favour of 37.5 per cent with subventions and other grants, the budget will be based on this proposition.
Another eventuality is that the president could also issue an ordinance to continue with the existing resource distribution arrangement among the centre and the provinces on an ad hoc basis in case a consensus is not reached by the end of next week.
The finance ministry deserves full credit for having prepared itself to meet all situations in the shape of multiple budgets. This recalls to memory the following anecdote:
Shortly after the UK and French governments signed the Euro Tunnel Treaty in 1986, international prequalification tenders were called for undertaking various different works involved in the tunnel's construction. It is said that a pipe fitter-cum-construction company also submitted its bid for prequalification to dig and construct the tunnel system.
When asked, during the prospective bidders' meeting, as to how the company proposed to undertake the work, the company representative explained that they would start digging the tunnel at the two exit locations in Folkestone in the UK and Calais in France and meet at the middle from the starting points. The treaty officials were surprised at the simple answer and wanted to know what would happen if the digging parties failed to meet at the central point. The company representative promptly replied: "Sir, you will then have two tunnel systems."
S. ABRAR HUSSAIN
Lahore
Old pensioners' case
This is with reference to the report in Dawn (May 5) that the Pakistan Federation of Civil & Military Associations has decided to file a review petition in the Supreme Court against the dismissal of appeal for removal of disparity between the pension of old and new pensioners and appealed to the president to consider the demand on humanitarian grounds. It has been suggested in the report that keeping in view its financial limitations, the government could provide relief to pensioners in phases, starting from those above 70.
This is a very good proposal based on justice. I can say on the basis of my personal knowledge that the majority of government servants (in their early 60s) who retired on attaining the age of superannuation either find some job in government departments on contract or start some business with the dues they get at the time of their retirement.
There is not much of a financial problem for them even after retirement but the situation is entirely different for those who have reached the age of 70. They cannot do any job or business. At this old age they suffer on two counts. Firstly, their pension is calculated on the basis of pay actually drawn by them, which was obviously very low as compared to the pay now being drawn by their counterparts. Secondly, the need for medicines increases with time and a person of 70 is much more deserving than one in his 60s.
The finance minister is therefore requested to please keep this reality in view while formulating policy for the grant of benefit to the pensioners in the next budget.
MUHAMMAD TANWEER KHAN
Lahore
Why send troops to Iraq?
I fully support the views of Mr Roedad Khan (May 7).
There was no moral or legal justification for President Bush to invade and occupy Iraq. By disregarding world opinion and bypassing the United Nations, the Anglo-American axis has committed naked aggression in Iraq. The Iraqis are now waging a war of liberation against the occupation troops. Their casualties are mounting every day.
The inhuman and barbaric treatment meted out to Iraqi prisoners by the American captors has shocked and enraged the Muslim world. It has added fuel to the fire and the Iraqis have intensified the guerrilla war against the allied troops. In these circumstances, it is unfortunate that our government should reportedly be considering sending troops to Iraq.
During World War I, Muslim soldiers from this part of the world were made to fight the Turks by their British masters. But now as an independent nation, why should we act as mercenaries for the Anglo Americans? Why should our soldiers die to protect the Americans and prolong their occupation of Iraq? Why should we become scapegoats and face the wrath of the Iraqis? Why should we be made to endorse the American plan to continue its presence in Iraq?
I appeal to the president not to entertain any US request to send Pakistani troops to Iraq even if it is routed through the United Nations Security Council. Let them fight their war themselves.
BRIG (retd) ZAFAR IQBAL CHAUDHRY
Lahore
'Carnage in Karachi'
It is a matter of semantics whether the bomb blast in the Sindh Madressatul Islam's mosque on May 7 in Karachi was sectarianism or terrorism. If specific sects are targeted, it is obviously a case of sectarian terrorism. As rightly pointed out in Dawn's two editorials on this subject, people are waiting to see the realization of the intent expressed strongly in President Musharraf's famous address on January 12, 2002, when he resolved to root out terrorism.
Unless the government walks the talk it keeps repeating on the subject, the domestic links of terror networks will continue to gain strength. And this will point towards a government failure in an area which is its prime responsibility - to provide security to the lives and property of the citizens.
With all its paraphernalia, the government should appear less helpless on this front as compared to the people who are targeted.
DR MAHNAZ FATIMA
Karachi
(2)
One's heart bleeds to see the carnage in Karachi. The alma mater of the Quaid-i-Azam has been closed till further notice.
One of two mosques - majestically standing side by side, a symbol of unity amongst the faithfuls, existing there for more than hundred years - has been attacked, killing 16 innocent people and leaving about 100 worshippers injured.
In the editorial "Carnage in Karachi" (May 8), the pathetic attitude of the administration has been boldly pointed out in the following words:
"Every time a bombing takes place and innocent lives are lost, every senior government functionary expresses his resolve to track down the killers and bring them to justice and promises that elements behind such acts will be rooted out. And then all is forgotten about promised preventive and punitive action until another bomb blast occurs or another spree of religious or sectarian violence takes place."
One shudders to think of the scene if it had not been Friday when schools close much earlier. During normal days, students go to the madressah mosques for Zuhar players. On their request the Zuhar time has been extended from 1.30pm to 1.45pm to enable them to attend the afternoon daily prayer congregation.
GHEEWALA A.G.M.
Karachi
Punjab's mother tongue
This is with reference to Mushir Anwar's column "Urdu as Punjab's mother tongue" (May 7). If Urdu is the mother tongue of Punjabis, may I know in which language the late Ahmad Rahi wrote his collection of poetry, Tarinjan?
In which language was the film Chanvay produced and what is the name of the language of the super-hit song:
Vay mundia Sialkotia?
Sufi Tabassum wrote a national song Aeh puttar hattan tey naheen vikdey toon labhdi phirein bazaar kurray
- Was this in Urdu or in some other language?
A popular kafi of Bulleh Shah sung by Abida Parveen is:
Teray ishq nachaiaa kar kay thhya thhya
Is the language of this kafi an underdeveloped version of Urdu?
SUKHAN WAZIRABADI
Wazirabad
Defence cuts
In 656 AH, Mutasim Billah, the ruler of Baghdad, acted upon the advice of his prime minister, Maweeduddin Alqami, to downsize his army to 10,000 in order to save money for satisfying his unquenchable greed for wealth. Within months the retrenched jobless soldiers were found asking for alms at the gates of mosques and mazars.
We should not forget the fate of those rulers and their wealth at the hands of Halaku Khan and his army of 200,000 Tartars.
In battlefield, there is no substitute for soldiers and their faith. Heaps of arsenal cannot help without a fighting force. Our government should reconsider the decision of retrenching our armed forces in view of the fact that thousands of our soldiers are already deployed abroad on non-military UN duty.
MUHAMMAD NAZIR CHAHAL
Gujranwala
Faulty phone
My phone (6971428) went out of order last September, and since then I have made numerous complaints on 18 and 106, as well as to the divisional engineer, customer services, North Karachi Telephone Exchange, but in vain.
Finally, I called a complaint centre in Islamabad on PTCL's toll free number 0800-44544 on May 4, and I was given a complaint number 204879. The operator who registered the complaint assured me that I did not have to call her again and that my telephone would be fixed within the shortest possible time, but so far no one at the PTCL has rectified the fault.
MEHRUN NISA
Karachi
Credit cards
Many banks offer various deals such as no annual renewal fee for credit cards and free supplementary cards but when the bills are issued, they debit the card account with annual review fee and all other charges that they can apply. Whenever a complaint is filed against these charges, the banks do not respond and, instead, keep on charging late payment charges, etc.
Eventually the client becomes helpless because he is threatened that his credit history will be spoilt and he will no longer be in a position to obtain loans from any other institutions. So, the poor client has to pay all the charges which are not applicable and are unjustifiable.
I advise all those who are planning to get credit cards issued from foreign or local banks to think twice before they fall for it.
AFFECTED
Karachi
Torture of Iraqis
While watching Fox News I came across a news report about an American, Nick Berg, reportedly beheaded by "Islamic radicals" and the video posted on a website. Comments started pouring in from other "like-minded" Americans and all were of the view that it was in retaliation to the Abu Ghraib prison atrocities committed against Iraqi prisoners.
They termed the beheading as "gruesome" and "highly disturbing", oblivious of the fact that the images of the naked Iraqis tortured with live wires were equally disturbing. The Americans are hurt so easily when one of their men is tortured or killed but remain silent as hundreds or maybe thousands of people are tortured all over the world by their so-called liberation forces.
A few days back while watching a report on BBC World, I saw an Iraqi father narrating his sorry ordeal after his four-year-old son was crippled by a shell from US forces. He couldn't hold back his tears as he told the BBC how his child was hit while taking a stroll with his grandfather, who was killed in the attack.
How much longer will the Iraqis have to suffer at the hands of the US? A time will come when the US will be bought to its knees; if not by human forces, nature will take its own course.
HASNAIN SHABAN
Karachi
Much ado...
The medical commission's report leaked to the press suggests that injury to Shoaib Akhtar was not faked but was a genuine injury. If that is so, then who should be held responsible for making so much ado about nothing - the Pakistan Cricket Board or our media? I think it is the PCB.
RAFAT MAHMOOD ANSARI
Islamabad
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