CPSP fee structure

This refers to Dr Abdullah's letter "Fee increase by CPSP" (June 4), regarding the allegation of charging exorbitant fees from the FCPS trainees CPSP under different heads.

It may be noted that the CPSP (College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan) fellowship is a four-year training programme. The total cost incurred for acquiring the fellowship in medicine and allied discipline comes to Rs55,500 and in surgical and allied discipline to Rs64,000. These include examination, registration, workshops and assessment of dissertation fees.

The fee structure of examination has remained unchanged for the last four years in spite of inflation and other high costs involved. Moreover, Qarz-i-Hasna is also provided by the CPSP Trust to the deserving FCPS candidates.

Many newly-established medical colleges in Punjab and Sindh, only tuition fees amounting to Rs300,000 yearly, which comes to Rs1.5 million over a five-year MBBS degree course.

Similarly, for the postgraduate programme (MD/MS) offered by Karachi University, the total cost comes to Rs118,950, whereas MD/MS at Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro/Hyderabad, costs Rs75,200. MD/MS programmes of these two universities do not include any workshops in their programmes.

The CPSP generates its own resources and has established 13 centres of excellence nationwide. The mandatory workshops for CPSP fellowship programme is the only one of its kind in Asia and Middle East.

A certain number of workshops in different area of medical education and professional skills are mandatory and considered essential part of the training programme not only by renowed medical institutions in the developed world.

The fees being charged for primary surgical skill workshops by the Royal Colleges of UK is Rs48,000, whereas for the same workshop having the identical standing and recognition CPSP charges only Rs8,500.

The problem being faced by the FCPS-II trainees in Sindh is not of fees, but they are being deprived of their due right of being paid the mandatory stipend equivalent to BPS- 17.

The governments of Punjab, NWFP and Balochistan have already implemented mandatory payment of stipend to every FCPS-II trainee in their respective provinces.

Unfortunately, despite approval from the Sindh governor, in consultation with the departments of health and finance, the decision has not yet been implemented in Sindh, which is creating perturbing situation among the FCPS-II trainees working in public sector hospitals.

It is reiterated that these FCPS-II trainees are service providers and backbone of tertiary care hospitals. They are qualified MBBS doctors, having completed house-job training and FCPS Part-I, they are undergoing 4-5 years specialist training and working on a full-time basis.

All over the world postgraduate trainees are paid reasonable stipends to cater to their needs, so that they can concentrate on their studies and training, besides rendering valuable health-care services to the patients.

MUHAMMAD IMTIAZ ALI

Senior Executive Officer, CPSP, Karachi

'Enlightened moderation'

General Pervez Musharraf's call for "enlightened moderation" (Dawn, June 2) unfortunately has few takers in the country, as there is a contradiction between his call and the ground realities.

Consider the following ground realities: In October 2000 he promised to change those repressive laws that were made during the dictatorship of General Zia and which militated against the minorities and women.

Procedural modifications were announced in the blasphemy law. But when he realized that he needed the clergy's political support, the general reneged on his promise.

President Musharraf also called for changes in the Hudood laws that lay down stoning to death a woman who fails to produce "four pious Muslims" as witnesses to prove that she was actually raped. But when the parliamentary opposition moved a bill seeking to amend the law, it was opposed by his own hand-picked adviser on women affairs.

General Musharraf has been wooing those very parties and groups whom he has been accusing of extremism. Election laws were carefully re-written to squeeze out the democratic parties and bring in clerical parties in elections which were denounced by the Commonwealth as "seriously flawed".

A political deal was negotiated with these parties to allow him to wear two hats of the army chief and that of the president and also give parliamentary approval to constitutional written in the GHQ.

Two years ago, promises were made to change amendments syllabi of the seminaries some of which are accused of teaching hate material. The promise was never kept.

About a month back, a new religious affairs minister was appointed, who last week announced that he had assigned to the dustbin the report of an international organization on religious seminaries.

True, the general warned jihadi outfits on January 12, 2002 against exporting militancy across the Line of Control in Kashmir. But prior to 9/11, General Pervez Musharraf was an ardent supporter of the so-called "jihad", even formally declaring on February 5, 2000, in Muzaffarabad the shifting of the Afghan jihad to Kashmir.

The people need to know if the glaring contradiction in the promises and the ground realities will be addressed.

SENATOR FARHATULLAH BABAR

Islamabad

Moderation and modernism

Mr Ayaz Amir has rightly pointed out in his article "Moderation and modernism" (May 28) that Pakistan needs modernism rather than moderation. Moderation is avoidance of extremes in action and thought, while modernity or modernism is a political and cultural process set in motion by integrating new ideas, an economic system and education into society.

It is a way of thinking, of living in the contemporary world and of accepting change. It is a way of ijtihad rather than taqleed.

Modernity begins when society assumes an attitude of inquiry into how people make choices, be they moral, personal, economic, or political. Choice implies weighing alternatives, freedom to doubt the efficacy of solutions and making a rational choice.

Choice and doubt imply rationality, debate and discussion, which lead to conclusions over which rational men and women may disagree. Modernism believes in the capacity of man to control and change social phenomena, while its opponents claim that there is no need for these new ways to enter into people's hearts and minds.

Reformists' or modernists' ideas are based on belief in progress. They see all knowledge as developing over time, through observation, experiment and reason. The advancement of science, universal education, gender equality and establishment of democratic government would give full expression to the Islamic virtues of humanity, tolerance and compassion.

FAQIR AHMED PARACHA

Peshawar

Immigrant visa for US

Through your esteemed newspaper I would like to draw the attention of Ms Nancy Powell, ambassador of the United States to Pakistan, towards the painstaking procedure for obtaining an immigrant visa for the USA on eligible applications.

This is in reference to cases of children of those who have lived in the United States as 'legal resident aliens' (green card holders) since 1990 or before. As per rules, they (parents) can sponsor their children and have been doing so. But application are now being citing so-called security or other reasons, for months, even years.

I would like to refer a case to which I am privy. An applicant was cleared in an interview conducted by immigration officials at the US embassy, Islamabad, in 2003 and was granted a visa but his passport is being held back for 'administrative security clearance'.

After waiting for more than a decade, he was given an opportunity to appear for an interview. He was informed by the visa officer that he had been cleared for a visa but since he had a common name, he had to go through an 'administrative security clearance,' which would take anywhere between a couple of weeks to 45 days and his passport was held for administrative security clearance.

Six months later, he is still inquiring about the status of his visa clearance. A recent call to the US embassy in Islamabad added to his worries after the person at the other end informed him that clearance might take a "couple of years or even more".

This warrants that Ms Powell should look into the matter, as after declaring an applicant eligible to obtain a visa, his documents are being withheld. It is vital to sort out the matter as on the one hand it tarnishes the image of the United States and on the other it adds to the frustration of applicants.

APPLICANT

Karachi

Massacre of pine trees

I have been walking on the Margalla Hills for many decades and have seen pines on various hills growing in the fresh and unpolluted environment. Until the early 1990s, the trees had lived in isolation and grown fabulously. But for the past 10 years, something dramatic has been happening to them - they are burnt every year and it is said this is due to the heat sweltering hot.

Some skeletons are still standing and gazing at passersby in contempt. Why is it that areas where there are other small trees never see a fire? Someone is committing this ugly crimewhich anyone can understand. These are acts of arson but the authorities have never bothered.

Bush fires in Australia and in California are a regular feature. Whenever there is someone who ignites a fire, he is located and punished by the authorities. I hope the CDA chairman will take note of this before the sun 'gets hotter' and miscreants again go on the rampage.

MAHREEN SOHAIL

Islamabad

Dr Aafia Siddiqui's case

This refers to the two reports (May 28 and June 3) regarding Dr Aafia Siddiqui. Some of the facts emerging from these are:

a. She was an award-winning student of the prestigious American university MIT, where she had studied for 10 years, got her PhD and was carrying out research in cognitive behavioural science to help children with learning disabilities.

b. Pakistani intelligence agencies had interrogated her but failed to find any link with Al Qaeda.

c. In the US she was accused of making anti-US speeches and "preaching jihad" and was declared a "dangerous terrorist" by the FBI.

d. According to her family, Dr Siddiqui was kidnapped in Karachi along with her three young children only three months ago. However, Pakistan officials kept denying any knowledge of her whereabouts until a few days back, much to her family's consternation, only to state now that she was handed over to the US last year after being arrested in Karachi.

Finally, Dr Siddiqui, according to her American lawyer Sharp, had received job offers from a couple of prominent American universities and, being a divorcee, had travelled to the US again in late 2002 for interviews, in a bid to sustain her family. Ms Sharp further thinks that her client may be already dead by now, or else be in detention in Pakistan or the US.

While considering Dr Siddiqui's case, her brilliant academic achievements, apparent concern for children with disabilities and having her own kids as young as a few months old to seven years need to be weighted in.

Also, the acknowledgement by high US officials, intelligence agencies and even the media of massive intelligence failures and administrative bungling as well as the widespread discrimination and hate crimes against Muslims since 9/11 is crucial.

Hence, it is highly likely that she may have been arrested under mistaken or exaggerated charges. Members of far-right American groups such as the Michigan Militia (which carried out the Oklahoma City bombings in 1995) make worse incitements but don't get penalized.

If the lady in question or any other Pakistani can be conclusively linked to terrorism, then appropriate punishment is what they deserve. But, the due process of law must always be followed and the families of such persons should not be subjected to emotional trauma.

Besides, Pakistan must treat all its sons and daughters with love and respect - only a Pakistani would willingly sacrifice his/her life for the rest of us, if need be - especially when they are the cream of the cream. It is only people with rare abilities who get to study at places like MIT, after spending a fortune.

The government ought to follow up on Dr Siddiqui's case to make sure she is still alive, that her children are being well looked after under Islamic guardianship and she isn't the casualty of any FBI lapse or over-reaction.

Some American lawmakers have even taken up the cases of some Pakistani- Americans being wrongfully held after 9/11. Doing this will console her that the motherland didn't desert her and she may even decide to return and serve.

KHALID CHAUDHRY

Karachi

Procedure for Indian visa

In support of Mr Salahuddin Mirza's letter (May 22), I would appeal to the Indian high commission to make visa forms available freely with all travel agencies and/ or designated courier services.

After completion of the forms, these could be submitted once again through designated courier services as is being done by other countries of the world. In case of India, the quantum of applications would be so large that the service charges for submitting applications to the Indian high commission at Islamabad should not be more than Rs100 per passport.

In the event a personal interview is desired, the high commission may direct the applicant to appear at Islamabad.

MAHER H. ALAVI

Karachi

'An Arab non-event'

The outcome of the Arab League summit held at Tunis has been realistically and succinctly analyzed in your editorial "An Arab non-event" (May 25) in the opening words: "As was only to be expected....".

Exactly - the same or similar outcome had been advanced by Cairo's Al-Ahram (Dawn - World in Focus, May 21) in the following words: "The problem of the Arabs is that they meet to discuss what others want from them - but they have never met to discuss what they want themselves".

GHEEWALA A.G.M.

Karachi

Currency notes

Reference the letter of Air Cdre (retd) A. Wajid Salim on the above subject (May 19). Soiled or new currency notes of Rs5 denomination received by the State Bank are apparently exchanged only with coins as the central bank has stopped issuing five-rupee currency notes which would cease to be legal tender from July 1, 2005.

The correspondent should also know that 10-rupee coins have been in circulation for the last couple of months. One can get five-rupee and 10-rupee coins in abundance from the State Bank. The are also available with money changers.

SULTAN ALI

Karachi

Traffic Plan

Much has been written about the chaos caused by the sealing of a number of major Karachi roads owing to terrorist threats and security. One should ask the DIG traffic what traffic plan his department has come up with to deal with the situation.

It seems there is none and this is the reason why there is chaos on a number of city roads as traffic is diverted without taking into account the resulting chaos that this would cause.

INAM ALI

Karachi

TV licence

One can only wonder why PTV posts millions in losses when there is so much advertising on its channels. There should be an inquiry into where the money is going. In the forthcoming budget, the finance minister should also do away with TV licence fees as this is both unfair and illogical.

Many viewers watch TV through cable and they pay their operator a fees on which there is a government levy. Then, if TV licences are to be paid, we should be given the privilege of advertisement-free viewing, which is not the case here. The TV licence is only a nuisance and is used by many TV inspectors to harass the common man.

IMRAN RAO

Sahiwal

'Enlightened leaders'

Your editorial "A matter of outlook and orientation" (June 3) clearly explains the present predicament of Muslim society. It is time our society followed the simple old saying "Practise what you preach."

Not only Pakistan but the entire Muslim world is inundated with preachers, coming from mosques and recently from the military, who have a big vocabulary of "enlightened words" to befuddle ordinary citizens. We never feel shy of claiming Islam to be the most modern and socially conscious religion. But do we let all members of our society - old and young, men and women, rich and poor - express their views?

Preachers have made us believe all our ills are a result of acts of the western world, but they themselves never stop benefiting from its achievements. We will never be a modern society unless we get rid of these 'enlightened leaders' and transfer power to the poor masses.

P.RASTOGI

Via email

Which version?

Mr Ayaz Amir in his column "Triumph of pragmatism" (May 21) states that "after the attack on the Indian parliament in December 2001 - India blamed Pakistan without a shred of evidence - ..."

Lt-Gen (retd) Senator Javed Ashraf Qazi is quoted as saying in the Senate: "We must not be afraid to say that Jaish-i-Muhammad was involved in the death of thousands of innocent Kashmiris, bombing of the Indian parliament, Daniel Pearl's murder and attempts on President Musharraf's life."

Senator Javed Ashraf Qazi as ISI chief had fathered Jaish-i-Muhammad and other such groups to fight in Afghanistan and Kashmir. Whom should we believe?

A. REHMAN

Hyderabad

Gulbai Chowk

I would like to draw the attention of the relevant authorities to the traffic congestion at Gulbai Chowk on Karachi's Mauripur Road. The congestion is caused by heavy traffic such as trucks and trailers and old truck stands. Public transport also adds to the problem.

Crossing the road has become dangerous for the residents of Gulbai, PAF Base Masroor and adjoining areas. Moreover, roads around the chowk are broken. The relevant authorities are requested to repair the roads around Gulbai Chowk and regulate traffic until the Northern Bypass flyover is completed.

MOHAMMED NAEEM

Karachi