| 24 July 2004 | Saturday | 06 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425 |
Changes in Parties Act
Why register hostile militants?
Paralyzed rickshaw driver
The terror industry
Japan consulate building
Poor condition of Islamabad airport
Income-tax protest
Non-technical people
PTCL plans
Foreign investment
Military in national development
British right-wingers
Nadra's working
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This refers to a letter on public-private partnership in healthcare projects by Prof. Hasan Aziz (June 26). There are many modules of healthcare in public service projects. A majority of services are in the curative field. Yet there are others which also address the issue of training, research and public awareness.
One model is where philanthropists belonging to a certain community decide to set up a medical facility. A budget is provided and a plan within the allocated funding is drawn up (hospital, dispensary, laboratory etc.). They take all decisions, from concept and funding to policy decisions.
In Karachi there are many such good institutions, funded by various community groups. Then there are religious or regional organizations which fund such institutions. Both models provide services to people from outside their own community as well.
Then there are the foreign donors who provide funds but have their own agenda. Funding has to be applied for by submitting a proposal (a very technical job) and on approval a sizable amount is released. The donors keep a close check on the progress of the work and in the manner in which the funds are utilized.
Such NGOs tend to attract intelligent but disgruntled politically-minded activists and such work eventually ends up isolating them from the mainstream health-related needs of the community.
Then there is a model where a group of experts or specialists meet and begin a project purely through their own, though limited, resources. Philanthropists can also contribute to such a project and those with professional or technical knowledge volunteer their time and energy. The success of a project such as this depends to a great extent on the goodwill generated from civil society.
More recently it has been experienced that donors who donate a sizable amount begin to impose their opinion on the policy perception of those who run the project and attempt to gain control of the administration. This destroys the project.
A mechanism should be devised where donors are provided relevant information with transparency but not allowed to interfere with the administration of the project or with its policies. However, the philanthropist members of any institution's governing body should participate fully and take collective decisions.
Not included here are those which are purely business ventures but claim to provide a public service - like many medical colleges in the private sector and the so-called public-private partnership enterprises.
The public-private partnership slogan has been raised without outlining its philosophy. It is generally believed that wherever the government is a partner, bureaucratic control will automatically follow.
A protocol needs to be developed where the state should facilitate the establishment of such institutions and stand back and remain a watchdog. Under pressure from the market economy and globalization this aspect needs the immediate attention of our policymakers.
PROF S. HAROON AHMED
Karachi
Changes in Parties Act
The coverage of the changes initiated in the amendment to the Political Parties Act in some sections of the broadcast media seemed quite poor. When covering an act of the government, it is not the opposition's position that has to be questioned.
The seperation of political and government offices is usual and normal in democracies and it is also appropriate as the government leader is responsible to the people who brought him to power.
The prime ministers in Pakistan have sadly never been able to get along with even mild party advice as in the case of Zafarullah Jamali and Chaudhry Shujaat. This government in particular has shown interest only in the political aspects of governance and not in the real needs of the people. The LFO is important to them but not the needs of the people.
In two years, they have not resolved a single issue on a realistic basis. They do not think of reducing electricity rates, monthly bank account charges, inordinate advance taxation such as the 20% on mobile phones, on electricity and telephones and gas.
Where are the poor people to go to open bank accounts. Are eletricity bills the correct vehicle to collect TV charges...the political and economic attitudes of the present government are pathetic.
However, when it suits the leaders, they immediately inititate changes in rules. After Ahaukat Aziz becomes prime minister, he will have no problems in becoming the party head as well.
As the prime minister, the changes in rules is just not appropriate. Everyone already considers the PML choice of shaukat as ill advised as he is not a politician and has shown little or no interest in the people's problems.
Under his economic stewradship, nobody knows where the money goes. Last year, there was Rs160 billion for development, this year there is Rs202 billion, but where is the development?
If such huge resources are really spent, then everybody would notice.
KHAWAJA IKRAM UL HAQ
Rawalpindi
Why register hostile militants?
Pakistan is inching towards qualifying to become the only member of the UN where armed foreigners gatecrash into its territory and the host country pleads with them to get registered and become honourable citizens.
Taking arms against the country's armed forces is an act of treason. The only course left for the government in South Waziristan is to arrest these aliens, imprison them for violation of the country's immigration laws, and after the expiry of the prison term to deport them to the country of their origin.
Any arrangement that allows these aliens - whose hostility against Pakistan stands proven - to acquire Pakistani residency would indicate that the tribal areas do not come under Islamabad's writ. It would also make the tribal areas a virtual sanctuary and breeding ground for other foreign militants.
For a change, the MMA should look out for the interests of Pakistan rather than displaying a soft corner for Afghans, Uzbeks, Chechens, Moroccans, Chinese, etc. at the cost of the country's security.
SAYED G.B. SHAH
Peshawar
Paralyzed rickshaw driver
On a recent visit to Lahore, when I stepped out from the main gate of University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, I saw a rickshaw driver looking for a passenger. He had a walking stick with him besides his driver's seat.
I took up his offer and soon we were on our way. After 10 minutes, he stopped the rickshaw. I asked him if anything was wrong and he replied that he had become tired and was taking a break.
He must have been about 50 years old and told me that he had a strike and spent three years bed-ridden. Since there was no one else to earn for the family he had to take up driving a rickshaw.
He said the owner of the rickshaw did not allow him to drive for more than two days in a week. And the other problem was that people don't come to him when they saw that he suffewred from a disability.
He said he had applied for financial assistance to different government institutions like the zakat fund, the Baitul Maal, written for help to the prime minister and the president but, no one helped him.
After telling me all this, he asked: "Janab kya aap meri baatein sun kur pareshan ho gaye hain?" has my conversation made you feel worried. I had no answer. I was thinking who's responsible for his health? Who will take care of his family? Is there anyone answerable for this man's predicament?
NASIR JAVED
Islamabad
The terror industry
9/11 was the first opening of a new market, creating demand for protection from 'terror'. 'Islamic terror' was created on a world-wide scale and then capital resources were diverted to protect against it. On this enterprise rests the survival of American capitalism.
New contracts, new techniques, new relationships and alliances were promoted to legitimize this diversion of human and material resources. Israel, a pioneer in all such new ventures, is heavily involved in this too. It experiments its techniques in its own backyard (Palestine) and then sells the whole project on a retainer basis to the US.
The US authorities are releasing new warnings every now and then to keep the momentum going to give a periodic boost to the 'terror industry'. Even Osama and Saddam are kept alive to scare the world into contributing huge sums to fight 'Islamic terrorists'.
Intellectuals and journalists in universities and the media are churning out theories and books to reap the harvest. The US media has got a new lease of life and is fully cooperating with the Bush and Cheney business team.
Even if Bush and Cheney lose the elections, the industry that has been spawned will thrive and they will reap automatic dividends from their pioneering 'investments'. Fear obviously sells in this world.
GHULAM MUHAMMED
Mumbai
Japan consulate building
A colossal building is coming up in the centre of the city on Abdullah Haroon Road, with huge barricades and barriers. This is the Japan Consulate building which, when completed, will be a new headache for the people of the city.
It is understood that the government decided to waive a number of charges for this building to commence construction despite the fact that no such quid pro quo arrangement exists for Pakistani properties in Japan.
One wonders why the government allowed the new site to the Japan consulate when there is talk of moving all missions to a proposed diplomatic enclave? It is understood that once the US Consulate moves from its present site, the present security blanket will remain for Abdullah Haroon Road as Japan is one of the biggest aid givers to Pakistan.
NAEEM UR REHMAN
Karachi.
Poor condition of Islamabad airport
I was traveling from Islamabad to Dubai via Aero Asia Flight on 18th July. One could hardly ignore the dismal lack of facilities and poor condition of services available at our nation's capital airport.
The appalling experience starts at the departure gate where hundreds of people stand in the way, blocking all passages and making it impossible to move the luggage trolley in that area.
Most of the offenders are not travelers but the 'see-off' party. The lack of physical facilities here further compounds the problem. The immigration computer system is painfully slow and prone to repeated break-downs.
This is something I experienced two days before as well at Karachi airport where I stood at head of the counter for twenty minutes while the immigration official fumbled around because 'the system was down'.
Another pitiable sight is the attitude and lethargic mannerism of the immigration officials. At none of our airports, not even at the newly constructed Lahore terminal, are the immigration counters properly organized and with staff that exudes professionalism.
The international departure lounge presents an even more pathetic picture, to say the least. The toilets are filthy and stained and floors blackened. When I asked the janitor around, he expressed his helplessness as being the only one around for the lounge as well as the toilets.
What's more, there is a sign board which say if you have a complaint please write in the complaint register available at the desk. There was a problem, however. The complaint desk was neither manned nor a register was placed there. I was sorry to see that not even a single official was there who could be approached.
Airports are said to be the front face of a country; they give you the first impression about a country and its people on arrival and the last impression on departure. Is this the impression we want others to carry about our country. Needless to say, there is a dire need to improve the management and quality of services at the airports.
I am sure CAA officials do lot of sauntering around the world. Can they also do some bench-marking for improvement of the airport services. Or perhaps the nation should shed the dead wood and privatize at least the major airports.
GP CAPT (retd) ISHTIAQ AHMED
Dubai, UAE
Income-tax protest
I wonder why is there a protest on income-tax being asked by the government? Who and how many people pay income-tax in the country? A very, very small minority, mostly the salaried class. The landowners, farmers, waderas should be caught in this net for progress to be made in this country.
In fact, identity cards be used as a guide to assess each individual to see if they are paying tax according to their income. Accountability of this kind must be done to ensure a budget for the efficient working of the government agencies and accountability, in turn, to see the citizens get their privileges and provisions for daily life, ie water, electricity, education, medical and civic amenities, as is done around the world. That is if we want to live like human beings.
S. BABAR
Karachi
Non-technical people
This is to draw attention of the Sindh education minister to the fact that all the important positions in her department are being chaired by non-educationists. Technical positions are under the control of non-technical persons. For example, in the Sindh Board of Technical Education, Karachi, there is only one engineer.
Public sector institutes need strict monitoring to control the performance of teachers and students. The monitoring of all institutes in each township should be assigned to some private agency and all towns of a district be connected by networking for effective control.
the Association of Private Colleges of Sindh (APCOS) can handle this monitoring in the greater interest of the people of Sindh. We offer our services to the minister in this regard.
PROF (Dr) WASIUDDIN ZUBERI
Karachi
PTCL plans
At a time when the government is thinking of breaking up Pakistan Telecom into smaller entities in its bid to sell this utility, the Pakistan Telecom Authority is helping PTCL become a bigger elephant. The recent delay in the auction for WLL licences is a case in point.
The whole auction process seems faulted as it lacks transparency and is leaning too much in favour of PTCL. With two important members of PTA's management still coming from PTCL, this does not come as a surprise.
It is ironical that after the good work done by the chairman of the PTA in the auction of cellular licences in April, such a stance has been adopted for the WLL auction.
This gives very bad signals to private investors. It is rumoured that the WLL licence was delayed from July to August 2004 so that PTCL could have its system in place by then.
NASIM ANSAR
Islamabad
Foreign investment
I do not understand why our government is preferring foreign investment over domestic. Everything is going to foreign investors like mobile phone licenses, local phones, car manufacturing and even CDA is preferring foreign investors for tiny snacks shops in our capital.
These company invest a little and take hundred times more to their countries. PTA should prefer local investor when issuing a licence and not the one who can pay more in one time license fees.
EMRAN SYED
Islamabad
Military in national development
I read the letter of Dr Obaid Ullah (Dawn, July 14) in which he had criticized the presence of the military in almost all the civil departments and politics as well.
He suggested that the military be trained properly to handle running these departments like those that deal in road construction ,transport, sport, management ,banking ,insurance, power distribution, revenue collection , cereals and mineral water business, etc.
No doubt, the basic role of the military is to defend the boundaries of the motherland but if, along with its major role, the military is looking after certain departments to enhance their efficiency, we should be thankful to the military and the military men as well.
As a nation, we should try to analyze the things positively and instead of criticizing for the sake of criticism, have to gather the courage to admire some one. Can we realize that it's a national army? If it does something for the betterment of the national institutions we must appreciate this.
YOUSAF ALAMGIRIAN
Rawalpindi
British right-wingers
BBC-1 telecast a documentary on July 15 on the views of British National Party leaders against the Muslims. This was not only derogatory but also hurt the feelings of over one billion Muslims all over the world.
Do Mr Nick Griffin and Mr Steward of the National Party want to deprive the Muslims of the right of living? There are already two million British citizens in the UK who profess Muslim faith. Do they not have the same rights as Christian citizens in that country have?
Action is called for against Mr Griffin and his associates and against BBC Television for fanning hatred.
ALI ASHRAF KHAN
Karachi
Nadra's working
This is with reference to an advertisement printed in newspapers on July 19. According to the ad, Nadra claims that six persons had managed to apply for two CNICs each. No doubt, getting two CNICs issued is a crime. However, the cases also point to faults in the working of NADRA.
What is the good of having a computerized database when it is not able to detect such cases? Some days back, there was a report that several foreigners had been issued ID cards by Nadra and had also obtained local passports. And for this, the government spend such a huge amount of taxpayers' money on Nadra.
IFTIKHAR AJMAL
Islamabad
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