| 04 July 2004 | Sunday | 15 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425 |
Vicious cycle of poverty
With freedom comes responsibility
ATM working
Need for citizen involvement
TV show on India-Pakistan rivalry
Keeping AIDS patients in isolation
PIA purchase of planes
State Life lift system
Naming roads and streets
Iron gates on service roads
Bank holidays
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In his press conference a few days back General Musharraf said that shuffling was good for stability; whose stability he did not clarify. Here was a prime minister, for crying out loud, who called the general his boss and avowed that he loved him too. And while Jamali did no Junejo to Musharraf, the latter did what Zia had done to Junejo. Apparently these things had made Musharraf uneasy.
First, Jamali had started saying that Musharraf would take off his uniform by December 31 this year.
Second, Jamali could not patch up differences among the provinces on the NFC award, but that is as much failure of Musharraf as of Jamali. If the general were to go back a little, he would realize that the smaller provinces had hesitated in approving him as president. His votes were: Senate 56/100, NA 191/348, Punjab 254/371, Sindh 99-168, the NWFP 30/124, Balochistan 28/65. So Jamali who was nothing but his messenger could not be faulted on that.
Third, Jamali had managed to generate sympathy for himself in the NA, so much so that the entire opposition - PPP, PML-N and MMA - had decided to stand behind him in case of a face off with the general. It was the inherent weakness in Jamali (Maulana Fazlur Rehman's words) that took him down. There was no fire in his belly.
In a way, Jamali instead of establishing the supremacy of the house, weakened it. He would go as he came, unheralded and unsung. But the general has further eroded his reservoir of good will. Even before entering the presidential palace, Jamali had been saying that no one had asked him to resign and, after coming out, he simply signed on the dotted line.
So now a Chaudhry will keep the seat warm till the next man is ready. Though there is many a slip between cup and the lip, not much dynamism is expected. Thank heaven for small mercies, though; the general has given us an abundance of prime ministers, an ex-, a current and one in the pipeline. It is democracy at its best.
ASLAM MINHAS
Karachi
(2)
This is in response to the continued stand of President Musharraf and members of the Pakistan Muslim League that Mr Jamali's resignation as prime minister is an internal matter of that party.
If any internal matter of the Pakistan Muslim League directly or indirectly affects the people of Pakistan and the governance of this country, it cannot be called an "internal matter" of a political party.
Mr Jamali was not the prime minister of the PML. As prime minister entrusted to rule and govern 140 million people of Pakistan, his resignation is a national issue and the people of Pakistan have the right to know what immediate threat this country faced that a prime minister had to resign in such haste, citing 'national interest' as a cause.
Democracy is not mere election of a prime minister; it also entails freedom of information and with that the right to information for the citizens of a country.
TARIQ J. ALAM
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Vicious cycle of poverty
Poverty is the main obstacle to economic development. Ranger Nurkse in Problem of capital formation in underdeveloped countries describes the vicious cycle of poverty as a basic cause of underdevelopment in poor countries. According to the writer, a country is poor because it is poor. Being a poor a country has little ability to save. The low level of saving leads to a low level of investment and deficiency of capital. This low level of investment leads to a low level of productivity. When the productivity per worker is low, the real income will obviously be low. Hence, there is poverty and the vicious cycle of poverty is complete.
On the side of demand when people have a low income, the demand for goods is bound to be small. In the small size of the market, there is no incentive to invest in real or human capital. When the rate of investment is low, productivity is bound to be low. Low productivity leads to a low per capita income, which is rapidly absorbed by the rising population. The country, therefore, remains poor.
How to break this vicious cycle of poverty? It can be broken by making serious efforts in increasing the volume of real savings at both the level of the government and the individual. The government can mobilize savings for capital formation in the country. Less developed countries can break the vicious cycle of poverty by applying advanced technologies available to them and if wealthy people are motivated to make their savings available for investment in productive activities rather than using their wealth for the purchase of urban real estate, precious metals, etc. Most less developed countries are facing a serious unemployment situation where the quality of labour force is poor. The low level of literacy, malnutrition, improper medical care, etc., are all barriers to economic development.
The per capita growth rate should be higher than the rate of population growth. It can be achieved by increasing the level of employment and reducing the rate of population growth. If the rate of increase in real per capita income is the same as the rate of growth of population, the real income per person will remain unchanged.
We should remember that being poor is no crime, but accepting poverty and allowing it to continue is certainly a crime.
M. FAISAL HADI
Karachi
With freedom comes responsibility
To say that the print and electronic media today enjoys a greater freedom than ever before in the history of Pakistan would be an understatement. Everything from political power games to religious and ethnic strife is being delved into from every conceivable angle, with the public no longer kept hostage to discovering what is happening in their own backyards from the news and views of the BBC and CNN.
Much of this transformation can be credited to the government's decision to allow private channels to broadcast news, an activity that prior to this policy shift was the exclusive domain of the government. Private channel operators have an edge in that they can bring live to the public what the newspapers can only report the next morning. This is good for a city like Karachi where violence can erupt without notice and timely warning and news can help save many lives.
However, in the private electronic media's reporting of the violence and mayhem that hit the city of Karachi in the last couple of months, a disturbing downside was observed. Extremely gory and disturbing scenes of the wounded, bleeding and crying in hospitals were telecast repeatedly for long durations. This does not constitute proper and ethical journalism.
Who would like to be witnessed in such a state by the whole world? This was a serious invasion into the privacy of the individual. Similarly, at a different level, while most responsible foreign media desisted from showing the scenes of the beheading of the American captive telecast by their captors on their website, some of our private channels faced no ethical qualms or need for self-censorship while airing the same.
While freedom of the press is a must for a free and democratic society, with freedom comes responsibility. This should never be forgotten by all those who espouse this cause.
SAIMA FARHAN
Karachi
ATM working
This refers to the report "ATMs more a hassle than a facility" (June 30).
It was indeed sad to know of the dilemma of ATM card holders. But the report throws light on only one (negative) aspect of ATMs; it completely ignores the (gradual but steady) growth of technology in this respect.
Moving from 'one ATM for one branch of a bank (meaning: transaction only takes place at the ATM of the branch if you are an account holder at that branch)' towards 'any ATM of one bank (regardless of the branch)', two main groups of banks (Mnet & 1-link) and the merging of these two groups is a (slightly unstable but) continuous move towards progress.
While it brings misery to 20, it brings joy to 40. Twenty must 'not' be ignored but 40 should also be kept in mind as a motivator to further progress. Not just ATMs, problems are always encountered initially with every new technology. What is required is consistency and determination of personnel (both banks and their solution providers) to minimize these issues, if not bring them to zero.
From what the report says, many of these problems arise when a 1-link customer tries to make a transaction on Mnet. The route for the transaction is so long that it usually gets a 'time-out'. One possible solution would be to have the server on Mnet; holding the database of all its member banks and branches so that transactions directly land on its destination ATM after being recognized at Mnet server and time-outs are minimized.
Networks must be improved throughout Pakistan. This will require cooperation and support from both Wapda and the PTCL. Furthermore, banks should improve their internal networks for increased efficiency and customer satisfaction.
In short, people must get rid of the perception of ATMs being a hassle rather than a relief. They need quality banking services.
AAMNA SAQUIB
Karachi
Need for citizen involvement
After 9/11 our world has veered towards a situation where religious and racist tendencies seem to have taken hold. Incidents of hate crimes and terrorism are taking place all over the world. And the US, the sole superpower of the world, has started playing God.
Civilizations - eastern and western - have seen their values erode for the past 600 years and have apparently no longer the strength to respond to the challenges confronting them.
The greatest threat to our world lies in the way we have turned our heads from what is going on around us, pretending we do not know what is happening. We need a climate of citizen involvement to combat extremism with which our world is being beleaguered and darkened these days.
AKHTAR TAUFIQ & MANZOOR AHMAD
Lahore
TV show on India-Pakistan rivalry
The AXN channel has announced in New Delhi its plans for a 'reality show' to be broadcast across Asia, that will pit teams from India and Pakistan against each other (June 25).
It will have a four-member team from each country, the search for which will begin in August and which will battle both indoors and outdoors in an undisclosed East Asian country. The contest "will test the body, mind, spirit, and most of all, the desire to win" of the participants.
Although the idea is very interesting, it needs to be considered carefully. It is a strange coincidence that this comes at a time when Pakistan and India have embarked on the crucial path of negotiations that will, among others, consider the question of nuclear weapons, troops reduction and, above all, Kashmir.
This must also be viewed in conjunction with the tremendous importance Mr Vajpayee and his party were giving to an Indian victory in the recent cricket series with Pakistan because of its expected positive impact on results of the previous general election. The other factors to be considered are India's efforts to be acknowledged as a world power and its attempts to expand its influence in the region from the Middle East to Southeast Asia.
Therefore, if this competition manages to somehow prove that Pakistanis are no match for Indians, it will have far-reaching consequences.
Imagine what would happen if our team got trounced every time - with all of Asia watching - or, even if we won the odd contest or so.
It is quite possible that the forthcoming show may genuinely be the brainchild of the AXN. Nevertheless, it is a fact that in high stake international negotiations, negotiators utilize all means at their disposal to make themselves appear as strong as possible and to undermine their adversary's confidence. So, one must not overlook the possibility that some Indian government strategist may have hit upon this idea and decided to use the cable TV setup as a front.
The secretive manner being adopted to conduct this unique contest, including the statement by a senior company official that "participants... would learn the challenges they face only on the day of the event to retain the element of surprise" creates many doubts and leaves much room for manipulation in any party's favour. If a Pakistani company were to hold such a cagey event by selecting the Indian team as well, the Indians would surely cry foul. The other significant thing is that it's Asia-wide and not just subcontinental coverage.
Furthermore, Pakistan would already be handicapped: given the seven times bigger population of India and assuming an equal level of abilities, for the four topmost Pakistanis there would be 28 Indians with similar prowess. Thus, the Indians could form seven teams, keep them at peak performance by continual practice and field the best one in the match. On the contrary, the Pakistani team would lack the benefits of practice and, if one or more member happens to be unable to take part, their performance would go down.
Thus, the stakes for Pakistan are very high. We cannot allow our image to suffer needlessly or let the Indians win a psychological war without getting a level playing field. The whole exercise must be done in a transparent manner under international supervision, particularly in the formulating and assignment of team tasks. The show must also include squads from other countries such as China, Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines, which would generate far more interest and money and facilitate ranking. Otherwise, Pakistanis should not participate.
KHALID CHAUDHRY
Karachi
Keeping AIDS patients in isolation
Please refer to the news item (June 22) in which it is said that the AIDS control programme of the NWFP has requested hospital authorities in Peshawar to allocate separate rooms for the treatment of HIV/AIDS patients.
Research studies conducted around the globe have proved that HIV/AIDS does not spread through casual contact, and it is not an air-borne infection. Hence, there is no need for isolating HIV-infected individuals. They can be treated in the same wards where ordinary patients are kept.
Isolation of HIV/AIDS patients will lead to discrimination against them. Denial of admission to HIV/AIDS patients in hospitals and reluctance of health professionals in providing care to such patients are against the principles of medical ethics.
The National AIDS Control Programme needs to properly highlight the national policy regarding admission of HIV/AIDS patients to hospitals and other rights of patients living with them.
DR SHARAF ALI SHAH
Programme Manager, Enhanced HIV/AIDS Control Programme, Government of Sindh, Karachi
PIA purchase of planes
Apropos of the letter "PIA purchase of planes" (June 29), I agree with the writer that the deal of the purchase of the 777 aircraft by PIA at an exorbitant price was not right.
PIA turned its back on a deal with Airbus due to US pressure. However, the 777 is one of the most advanced and efficient commercial airliners with a sound safety record. It was named winner of the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy by the US National Aeronautic Association. The aircraft malfunctions that reportedly occurred after inducting them into PIA's fleet could have been due to poor maintenance.
ALI MUJTABA
Islamabad
State Life lift system
State Life has been negligent for a long time in providing a proper lift facility to the occupants/ tenants of buildings located in the State Life Square. Besides very restrictive operating hours, the lifts are not available on Saturdays and even a short power failure leads to a full day's closure.
It will cost State Life not much if the lifts are properly operated daily without break till 6pm and standby generators are installed.
ABDUL HAMEED
Karachi
Naming roads and streets
The main road from Jauhar Mor to Darus Sehat in Karachi is said to have been named after Abul Asar Hafeez Jalandhari who gave us the national anthem. But few people know this because the road sign has disappeared and no attempt has been made so far to restore it. This shows our apathy towards national poets and heroes.
In front of a shop in Block 17, a clumsy attempt is now being made to raise a small sign for a lane leading to a housing project. The idea is most welcome but the site chosen for it is not. The road sign is being erected near an electricity pole and its parapet. It will not be easily seen and will disfigure the site. It will also dislodge a newspaper hawker from this place where he has been doing his business for many years.
The authorities concerned in the cantonment board, Sharea Faisal, in whose jurisdiction blocks 17 and 18 of Gulistan-i-Jauhar fall, are requested to review the decision of erecting a roadsign at the place.
CONCERNED RESIDENT
Karachi
Iron gates on service roads
I have read a report in the metropolitan edition of Dawn (June 30) that the installation of iron gates on service roads of LDA schemes has made the movement of traffic difficult. As pointed out in the report, the problem is that a motorcyclist or any other driver using the service road and finding it closed has to come back to the main road.
In any scheme of the LDA or any other authority, the main roads are provided for the public and the service roads are meant for local residents of those lanes. If all residents of a service road agree and install a gate for their security, an outsider should have no reason to object.
CH. BASHIR AHMED
Lahore
Bank holidays
Commercial banks have traditionally been observing a bank holiday on January 1 and July 1. I feel it was necessary when all work was done manually.
However, during the last decade a lot of automation and computerization of the banking record have taken place, thereby simplifying accounting and record maintenance. Is it still necessary for banks to have two days of holiday in their public operations every year? We should observe the practice in developed southeast Asian countries like Malaysia and South Korea where banks do not close in this manner.
FOUZIA IRSHAD
Karachi
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