| 26 June 2004 | Saturday | 07 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425 |
Medical universities
Enlightened moderation?
Pensioners ignored
'The essential link'
Healthcare: public-private partnership
Demolition of canal bridges
Secretariat timings
Dividing the Ummah
Opposition leader
Killing of a Pakistani
Parking hazards
1,500 PhDs
Accountability
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Mr Azhar Abidi's response (June 23) regarding Mr Ayaz Amir's column "The undeclared war" of June 18 is a thoughtful rebuttal.
The wasteland that was, and is, Afghanistan was not initially created by those of Middle Eastern origin but it resulted from a conflict between two competing superpowers which chose to fight their battles in an innocent country - far, far from their own borders.
Who knows what could have happened had the West chosen to ignore the perceived aggression and, instead, opted to pursue diplomatic negotiations to remove the troops invited into the country by a seemingly legitimate Afghan-selected government.
Had diplomacy prevailed (or even been attempted), Afghanistan would surely not be the rubble that it is today. Insane times created intolerable conditions; many withdrew, awaiting the expected return of normalcy, others grasped the moment to commit further insanities.
There does seem to be no paucity of funds available to bomb countries back into the Dark Ages. What is in short supply is funding to meaningfully try to rebuild the extinguished light. Afghanistan, and perhaps to a lesser extent Iraq, lost 20 centuries of history in the blink of an eye.
Power corrupts and the perception of absolute military power corrupts absolutely. We in the West are very fortunate; we have the best and the brightest of the Afghans, Iranis and Iraqis who fled their countries over the last two decades. Call upon us to finance the rebuilding, but use those with cultural, religious and family ties to the areas and, above all else, the desire and will to rebuild and better the region.
GORDON ROBERTSON
Vancouver, Canada
(2)
This is apropos of the article "The undeclared war" (June 18) by Mr Ayaz Amir. The speedy defeat of the Taliban at the hands of the Americans should have been a matter of relief for Pakistanis, considering the nature of that regime and the great danger of the spread of similar fanaticism it posed for Pakistan. However, this was followed by the American attack on Iraq, which too caused the removal of a ruthless and vile tyrant but evoked universal disapproval and anger at the United States because of the trumped up premise of the possession of WMDs by Iraq and the unproven allegations of an Iraqi link to Al Qaeda.
However, nowhere in the world has the anti-Americanism translated into almost an endorsement of terrorism as it has in Pakistan where according to a PEW poll, more than 70 per cent of the public views Osama Bin Laden in a favourable light. The opinion piece "Terrorism: Origin and Spread" which appeared recently in Dawn is more an exception than a representative of general public feeling on this issue.
The column by Mr Ayaz Amir is more symptomatic of the rage that people feel at the United States but which has turned into a totally irrational channel of condoning terrorism. Mr Amir writes: "Terror is a tool to achieve the larger aim."
The "larger aim" is not the liberation of Palestine, Kashmir or Iraq but the imposition of a fanatical and rigid form of Islam, far more to the right than the Saudi system. That such a prospect does not bother people like Mr Amir is indicative of how difficult a job governments fighting this menace face.
M.HAIDER
New Jersey, USA
Medical universities
This has reference to the letters appearing in these columns in recent days regarding the establishment of medical universities in Pakistan and the appointment of vice-chancellors.
I would like to say that it is our responsibility to ensure that instead of wasting our energies on such questions as whether medical universities should be set up or not, we should focus our attention on education and research through these institutions. We must realize our shortcomings and should rectify wrongs in the health education system.
People belonging to the medical profession need to understand why private institutions have been given charters to create medical institutions and why medical universities are awarding degrees in IT and business, etc.
The establishment of medical universities is expect to improve both research facilities and quality, and teachers will perform their duties in a relatively free environment. A better relationship between employees and employers is also expected.
We can check corruption by appointing persons of good repute on merit and identifying loopholes or lacunae in the system. Budgets can also be enhanced for improving healthcare facilities.
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) should create a medical wing to address the needs of medical universities in a better way. Medical universities are directly linked with healthcare, hence teaching and learning at undergraduate and postgraduate levels are also quite different. Undergraduate teaching is monitored by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) and postgraduate teaching is under the supervision of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP).
The HEC should actively involve these main partners - the PMDC and the CPSP - in the smooth running of the affairs of the newly-created universities.
PROFESSOR SHOAIB TAUHEED
Head of Physiology Department, Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi
Enlightened moderation?
I read with interest the article by General Pervez Musharraf ("Enlightened moderation", June 2), your editorial "A matter of outlook and orientation" (June 3) and Ayaz Amir's column "Republic terrorized by fools," followed by a number of letters.
May I be permitted to point out that the prefix 'enlightened' by way of an adjective seems to be an attempt to qualify and emphasize the meaning of 'moderation'? According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary, the meaning of the word 'moderation' is the quality of being moderate, in a moderate manner or degree, and the word 'moderate' means avoiding extremes, temperate in conduct or expression. Therefore, the word 'moderation' itself postulates a self-sufficient and wider meaning of reasonableness in thinking, speaking and acting according to the dictates of reason/rationality. The word, obviously, does not need any further light.
Be that as it may, the general has not pointed out the source from where the so-called enlightenment to moderate Islam can be acquired. Apparently, the need for 'enlightened moderation' being preached by him day in and day out was felt in the wake of pressure generated after the 9/11 events and after the allocation of three billion US dollars by US President George Bush for re-writing the seminary syllabuses and educating the students according to the guidelines prescribed by him. Consequently, it can be safely said that the philosophy of 'enlightened moderation' in Islam has been imported from Washington.
Even otherwise 'enlightened moderation' has to begin at home, as you say in your editorial - indeed from the author of the article himself.
It is time the general set an example for the nation before it is too late.
SYED IQBAL AHMAD
Karachi
Pensioners ignored
Successive governments have given short shrift to pensioners and this year also there has been only an eight per cent increase in pensions for the majority of them as against the 15 per cent pay raise for serving employees. Does the government believe that the weak and the poor deserve to be punished? The discrepancy between the allowances of old pensioners (before 1994) and the new ones also arose because the pension scales were never revised upwards in consonance with the new pay scales periodically announced.
The Pay and Pension Committee is requested to adopt a humanistic approach towards pensioners and recommend an increase in pensions in such a way that all pensioners who had retired in grade 18 should start receiving the same amount as a grade 18 person retiring today. All future pay revisions should keep this formula in view.
MUHAMMAD KALEEMULLAH
Muzaffargarh
(2)
Kuja danaand hale ma subak saran sahil ha
(How can they who live in safety on the shore line know our plight?)
Hafiz Shirazi would surely have penned these lines for the forgotten and cheated old pensioners at the hands of the finance minister of Pakistan. Glib talk does not fill empty stomachs, nor will the niggardly increase permitted to pre-1994 pensioners in the budget for 2004-5.
The Pay and Pension Commission should address the disparities in pensions of various categories of retired government servants. But will it not have been just and appropriate to include remedial measures in the budget speech?
Apparently, the problem has been swept under the carpet till at least June next year by which time many of the old-timers would have passed away. Equity and justice demand equal pension for equivalent rank, which is not too difficult to understand or implement. But regrettably the will is lacking.
NASIR ALI KHAN
Lahore
'The essential link'
Mr Haider Zaman ("The essential link", June 4) says that religion is inseparable from the state. He has quoted in support of his statement verse 22:41 which says: "(They are) those who when given power in the land establish regular prayers and give regular charity and enjoin what is right and prohibit what is wrong."
It is the responsibility of the state to establish peaceful conditions and ensure freedom of worship for all its citizens according to their faith. It is the duty of the state to allocate appropriate amounts for poverty alleviation, healthcare and education.
It is also the state's function to legislate and enforce laws that protect the rights of its citizens, irrespective of their colour, creed and faith and the rights of the weaker elements of society. The state should also make and enforce laws that discourage crime, discrimination, nepotism, favouritism, etc.
The Holy Quran gives the concept of a just society rather than that of a state. It emphasizes adl and ihsan (justice and benevolence) and strongly opposes zulm and udwan (oppression and injustice). The earliest Islamic state of Madinah guaranteed full autonomy to all tribes and religious groups through the Covenant of Madinah. All religious groups were free to follow their own laws and traditions and there was no coercion.
The Holy Quran does not specify any form of government but greatly emphasizes the nature of society which should be based on values of justice, equality, compassion and human dignity. The Quran accepts the rights of other religious communities to follow their own religion and it also accords equal status to men and women (33:35 and 2:228). It accepts plurality as the will of God (5:48).
FAQIR AHMED PARACHA
Peshawar
Healthcare: public-private partnership
With the popularity of the slogan health for all, people now demand free care at government hospitals. In the absence of satisfactory treatment, the onus is generally put on doctors, who are the most convenient scapegoats.
The question is: what kind of a health system can be planned keeping in mind the available 10-paisa per person per day allocation in the health budget? A demand for increase is certainly justifiable, but what would one be able to achieve if the figure were to be increased by 100 per cent?
Many groups of concerned citizens and philanthropists have donated funds, new buildings, equipment and drugs to help the underprivileged in public sector hospitals. Unfortunately, their donations are not institution-based and are usually given to people in whose integrity they have confidence.
For example, nearly one-half of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre has either been rebuilt or refurbished by contributions from philanthropists. The contributions have exceeded Rs100 million. Many more are eager to contribute.
I feel that we are extremely fortunate that there is no dearth of donors for a good cause. However, donors' dilemma is whether their contributions will be used judiciously and for the specified targets. Donations are given to individuals who are trusted by the donors. Thus, the entire responsibility of utilization of donations lies with that individual. How many will give even Rs1,000 as a blank cheque to a public sector facility? If donations in cash or kind were to be made to the existing system without any monitoring body, people would be apprehensive that these would be pilfered or misused.
President General Musharraf has called for greater 'public-private partnership'. Think-tanks and intellectuals should chalk out a mechanism for this partnership. It may take a long time to work out the details but, for the moment, to safeguard the interest of philanthropists, the least that can be done is to have 'memoranda of understanding' which build a working relationship between non-governmental organizations and public sector facilities.
PROFESSOR HASAN AZIZ
Karachi
Demolition of canal bridges
A correspondent has already pointed out (June 24) the problems created for pedestrians by the demolition of three bridges on the Lahore canal, namely Lal Pul, Jora Pul and Hanjarwaal Pul.
There are many colleges and private universities situated near Lal Pul, and now students find it difficult to get to their classes in time. They have to either walk a long way to cross the canal from another bridge or ask their parents or other family members to pick or drop them.
Similarly, residents of Johar Town, including students and pedestrians, are also facing great hardship. People have taken to a dangerous practice; they have started crossing the canal by walking along a pipeline. Already, there have been three incidents of people falling into the canal in an attempt to cross it near the demolished Hanjarwal bridge.
It is requested that pedestrian bridges should be constructed on Lal Pul near Muslim Town and Jora Pul and Hanjarwaal Pul near Johar Town.
SHAZIA SAEED
Lahore
Secretariat timings
The chief secretary of Punjab issued a few days ago a warning to provincial secretaries that office begins not at 10am or 11am, but the timings are from 8am to 3pm.
A few days ago this correspondent in a letter had advised the chief minister of Punjab to sit in the civil secretariat and observe its working himself so that everybody arrived on time. If the CM follows office hours and sits at the civil secretariat, it will have a trickle down effect on all staff.
PROF (DR) M. A. SOOFI
Lahore
Dividing the Ummah
The Drigh Road police in Karachi have directed all residents within their jurisdiction to furnish their particulars. The pro forma asks for the name of the head of the family, with father's name, age, profession, whether owner or tenant. But the most tantalizing column is about maslak (Shia, Sunni, Deobandi, Brelvi, etc).
This is a highly objectionable attempt to brand Muslims and divide them.
S. G. JILANEE
Karachi
Opposition leader
The whole nation is disappointed at the refusal of the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, and that of NWFP Chief Minister Akram Durrani to attend the inaugural meeting of the National Security Council. Their actions, or rather lack thereof, remind one of the saying: Gur khaen gulgulon say parhez .
KHALID R. QURAISHI
Karachi
Killing of a Pakistani
A Pakistani, Sahibzada Ali, aged 26, was shod dead in the US the other day. He worked at a gas station in Preston, Connecticut, and was the sole bread winner for his mother.
It is strange that the mainstream western media did not give coverage to the incident. If an American were killed, the entire media would highlight the event. Even the head of state would appear on TV to offer condolences to the family of the deceased.
The government of Pakistan should take up this matter with the US administration and ensure that the victim's family gets suitable compensation.
ALI ASHRAF KHAN
Karachi
Parking hazards
There is a growing problem of parked buses on both sides of Lahore's Bund Road since some bus stands were shifted there some time back. One can see a long queue of parked vehicles along the roadsides, causing traffic jams. On many occasions, drivers block the entrance to houses, causing hardship to the residents. The situation is likely to get worse when the Iskandarabad bus stand, which is under construction, starts functioning.
I request the Lahore traffic police to properly man this area and ensure that the buses remain within their stands.
MUHAMMAD SALEEM
Lahore
1,500 PhDs
Federal Minister and Higher Education Commission Chairman Dr Atta-ur-Rahman has announced in an interview with Dawn (June 20) that Pakistan will produce 1,500 PhDs every year. This ambitious scheme looks very encouraging. However, a note of caution needs to be struck here so as to ensure quality and truthfulness of research leading to a PhD degree. It has been reported at times that plagiarized research has crept into our universities.
It is, therefore, proposed that the HEC should install a foolproof system of monitoring of higher research.
DR M. YAQOOB BHATTI
Lahore
Accountability
This is with reference to the news item "India sacks Siachen commander" (June 22).
The sacking of an army commander amid charges of wrongdoing is something never heard of in our country. Over the years there have been reports like the Hamoodur Rehman Commission report which chronicled numerous abuses allegedly by the army. But no army personnel was ever tried, let alone punished, on account of such charges.
No wonder that we are unable to ensure good governance in our country.
MISBAH NOMANI
Karachi
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