| 10 August 2004 | Tuesday | 23 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425 |
Art education in schools
It's called democracy
Charity begins at home
Musharraf's interview
Nadra centres
Kashmir settlement
Problems with PIA
Reporting on sensitive issues
Proposals to CBR chief
Mobile phone thefts
Online bank
Pakistan in Asia Cup
Uniform taxi fares
Oath taking
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The people of this country are being told in this era of 'enlightened moderation' that for the future needs of water, either chose the Kalabagh dam, whose feasibility is ready, or the Bhasha dam, for which a feasibility study has to be carried out. If any of the two dams is not constructed, it is feared that the country may face famine because of a shortage of water.
First, the question of any famine due to non- construction of dams in this country does not arise as the population density, according to the previous census, is only 106 people per sq.km. There are no famines in the Ganges river basin and the Yangtze river basin, with an average of 200 and 400 people per sq. kilometer.
If any famine is provoked in Punjab and Sindh, the backbone of this country's agro-based economy, it would be due to water diversion by India as all major rivers, excluding the Kabul river, are sourced from that country. And if any famine occurs in Sindh, it would be due to the behaviour of leaders like the Punjab chief minister who wants more dams and water diversion for his province regardless of its repercussions.
If we look at the causes of famines in modern times we cannot find a single example where a famine came because no dam was constructed. In fact there are no large dams in some of the world's richest countries like Ireland, Switzerland, Singapore, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Canada, Denmark, Austria and the United Kingdom. Singapore has no land to cultivate.
Famines can also be provoked by civil wars. At present, there is a passive resistance to controversial water projects. The people in Sindh have taken to the streets and the assemblies of Sindh, the NWFP and Balochistan have passed resolutions against disputed water projects.
This passive resistance can translate into active resistance and it can cause problems. Lack of democracy can also cause famines as in North Korea, Cambodia and Sudan. Large dams which are very capital-intensive themselves can trigger famines because they swallow money that can be used on alternate development. The WWF says lining and strengthening of canals and watercourses could avoid the construction of two dams with the capacity of Tarbela, Pakistan's largest dam.
It also being argued that investment in large-scale projects will contribute to development through the 'trickle down' effect. However, economists and world financial bodies differ from this theory. That was why the World Bank in its recent report questioned the economic viability of the greater Thal canal project, the Katchhi and Rainee canals and other projects.
It points out that proposed irrigation projects are not viable either due to unavailability of water or "trickle down" benefits. The fact is that poverty and debt increased in post-dam Pakistan. Successive governments have spent billions of rupees on poverty alleviation and debt retirement programmes.
MANZOOR CHANDIO
Karachi
Art education in schools
Many people feel that creative art in school is a waste simply because it is not "work". Despite this attitude, through the years, creative art (music, dance, theatre) has become a valuable part of education. However, the "work" part of education is emphasized while the creative side is ignored.
Creative art does not mean appreciating art but the actual participation in art activities by children. Such art provides the means for children to realize their full potential and grow into complete human beings.
It contributes to the development of the child by making the child aware, by stimulating the imagination, by sharpening the senses and providing forms of expression for ideas and emotions.
This art can play a vital role in boosting morale, lifting spirits and keeping the school atmosphere at a higher level than that found outside. Creative art is an important tool for developing a sense of national pride and unity, even a cultural awakening. The traditional form of arts can be taught to school children as a part of normal education.
When it comes to implementation, however, art comes squarely behind more academic and vocational subjects which are considered more important and useful. For economic reasons, the government tends to give priority to formal education rather than to cultural activities. But a good, well rounded general education is seen to be better than science in this fast changing world.
KHALIL ZAFAR
Karachi
It's called democracy
This has reference to Los Angeles Times write-up (Dawn, July 5). The opening paragraph of this editorial comments says that gives the government the right to arrest you and imprison you indefinitely without offering a reason or opportunity to appeal? The answer, in the United States, is: Nothing gives the government that right.
The ruling delivered by the International Court of Justice ICJ was - reported on front page of Dawn of 10th July 2004. This report contains USA rejection stating that the United States dismissed the court's intervention and an American judge on the 15 member panel did not back the ruling. Should this USA reaction be termed as the other side of the democracy?
Other land mark observation in the ruling is that the wall cannot be justified by military exigencies or by the requirements of national security or public order. That the constructions constitute breaches by Israel of its obligations under applicable international humanitarian law.
International humanitarian law should also be equally applicable to Kashmir dispute between the two countries. CMBS parleys notwithstanding, 1000 kilometres fence is being built by India in Kashmir as per the news release in Dawn of 10th July 2004 word in focus.
The report further states that anguished Muslims villagers protest that it is taking their land and cutting them off from their loved ones. Should India be not called upon to honour the verdict of ICJ on international humanitarian law?
GHEEWALA A.G.M.
Karachi
Charity begins at home
A visit to Karachi's civic centre makes one remember the saying "Charity begins at home." While the city nazim makes tall claims about beautifying Karachi and making it clean and modern, one visit to the Civic Centre, where the nazim has his offices, shows how hollow this claim is.
The Civic Centre, which was inaugurated some two decades back, has now been reduced to one of the shabbiest government offices in the city. There is no concept of maintenance, with people spitting paan and easing themselves in all possible places.
Many of the corridors of the civic centre stink urine. There are no usable toilets for people visiting this facility despite the fact that thousands go there daily.
The much talked about pond that surrounded the building is no more. It is empty with people using it to throw rubbish and rubble. Most stairways of the centre and the railings are broken.
Much of the perimeter wall is broken and there is rubble strewn over large parts of the courtyard. Cars are not allowed to be parked within the compound and the adjoining streets.
Most worrisome is that security is lax. People can visit the offices without having their belongings.
INAM YUNIS
Karachi
Musharraf's interview
Reading President Musharraf's interview (Dawn, August 5) gives an insight into the "Alice-in-wonderland" quality of our set up.
After two assassination attempts on his life, one on his prime minister-designate, one on the corps commander in Karachi and scores of bombings and killings in a span of a few months, General Musharraf says: "We are certainly winning (the war on terrorism), that's my assessment'.
Asked what gave the right to the army to decide about the future of Pakistan, he answered in abstract terms He said: "The issue is the country itself. We base it on the country.
Civilians are also Pakistanis, the army is also Pakistani, politicians are Pakistanis, so are you and so are we". He may have been trying to say that in this particular country, it is more appropriate for the army to run the affairs of the country.
And after the disastrous eras of Ayub, Yahya, and Zia, he says of the army's intervention in politics: "There had been no checks and balances because of which the army ... has been coming to correct it'.
MUBASHIR KHAN
Via email
Nadra centres
Call it mismanagement, lack of consideration or whatever, the policies and procedures of Nadra are anything but people friendly. Having fulfilled all the requirements, i.e. production of original matriculation certificate and requisite verification, etc.
I submitted my wife's computerized ID card to the Swift Centre at Saddar Road, Peshawar, for rectifying a mistake in the date of birth (there was a difference of seven months) in mid-June.
After four visits to the centre, I was finally told on July 22 by the centre incharge that the NADRA chairman has decided that from July 1 onwards, a court decree would be required for modifying the date of birth.
What I want to know is - what about the matriculation certificate, the birth certificate and verification by a class I official or a nazim which were given with the application? Is all such evidence spurious and all these people unreliable and untrustworthy?
ALI GOHAR
Peshawar
Kashmir settlement
This refers to your report of August 3 captioned "Mutual trust termed key to Kashmir settlement". It has become a fashion with some of our former diplomats turned 'daanishvars' to lecture Pakistan on what to do. Had they been as full of 'daanish' during their service, Pakistan would have fared better.
It is clear to the lay person that India is dilly-dallying and wants to place the issue on the backburner. I would request the intellectuals to avoid lecturing us in Pakistan and keep some of their wisdom and advice for across the border also.
It is in the interest of peace and economic development of both countries that the core issue is tackled first and resolved. Though this might take some time, if this is done, resolution of other issues will follow automatically.
K.A. SHAMSHAD
Karachi
Problems with PIA
Much has been written about the problems facing our national airline and what needs to be done to make it profitable once again. In my opinion, PIA has always made the mistake of taking its ethnic Pakistani travelling public for granted and instead tried to woo foreign passengers. While this strategy may have been practicable a decade back, in the post-September 11 scenario, it is not at all true.
PIA's bread and butter is its Middle East operations as well as its Pakistan-origin travellers who use the airline when visiting Pakistan on their yearly trips. In this area, PIA can offer a number of advantages which it has not been doing for so long.
Isn't it surprising that the toilets on board other airlines remain clean while on PIA they remain dirty and the PIA staff blames the passenger as, although the same kind of passengers trael on the other airlines.
The problem lies not with the trvelling public but with the PIA staff, and more importantly, the PIA management, which ignores the unbecoming behaviour of important passengers, which encourages other traellers to take advantage or the airline.
Why doesn't PIA offer hotels for people travelling onwards from Karachi or Islamabad? Othr airlines do. Why can PIA offer more competitive fares and also more baggage allowance, when their rivals can? How come other airlines offer on-board assistance as well as ground help for needy and unaccompanied passengers to the quality to which other airlines do?
PIA isn't a bad airline. Its staff is very good and professional. It is the management that had no idea of where it is taking the airline. PIA needs to attract ethnic Pakistani traffic by offering better incentives and service to all those who travel with the airline.
KHALID HUSSAIN
Lahore
Reporting on sensitive issues
I was very dismayed to read a part of the report titled, "Troops for Iraq: government to respect people's sentiments", (August 1). Among other things, it says:
"Under a strategy (about informing the outside world of the government's policy on troops for Iraq), the opposition has been encouraged to keep up the pressure on the authorities and a number of opposition leaders have started a regular campaign against the idea of sending troops to Iraq."
To please the US, the government did not come out with a clear refusal on this issue, something that could have saved the lives of two Pakistanis who were taken hostage and eventually murdered a few weeks ago.
There is obviously a tremendous amount of pressure on Pakistan from the US, which is more concerned about its own interests than ours. However, this whole issue of sending troops to Iraq is a matter that the media must handle very sensitively.
A READER
Karachi
Proposals to CBR chief
The decision of the CBR chairman to eliminate customs check posts and mobile squads on inter-provincial highways is a great relief to the people. Encouraged by this decision, I request the chairman to examine the following suggestions that will not only provide relief to taxpayers but also help broaden the tax base and increase revenue collection.
The income tax return forms for individuals should be simplified so that a lay person can fill it out without having to rely on tax experts. Also, the Protection of Economic Reforms Act of 1992 should be restored to its original form to allow return of foreign exchange transferred abroad after foreign exchange accounts were frozen by the Nawaz Sharif government.
The law was amended in 1999 and needs to be restored to its original form to allow legal protection of foreign currency bank deposits in Pakistan.
SHAKEEL AKHTAR
Rawalpindi
Mobile phone thefts
May I draw the attention of the relevant authorities to increasing incidents of mobile phone thefts? I know of a colleague of mine whose brother was attacked by robbers in broad daylight in a crowded market.
He sustained head injuries trying to resist the robbers who managed to steal his mobile phone. All this happened in full view of the public and a group of policemen patrolling a nearby street, but no one came to his aid.
MUHAMMAD IQBAL ABID
Karachi
Online bank
I would like to draw the attention of the UBL high-ups to their inconsistent and ailing system of online cash transfer facility.
I was unable to transfer money in my account at UBL MT and Overhaul Branch in Karachi due to a persistent problems on August 3. Finally the traditional and expensive way of making a payment through a draft was used.
Even after arriving in Karachi three days after this incident, when I wanted to make an online transaction again the system was still unserviceable. The bank management blamed it on a PTCL problem and were clueless about serviceability in the future.
AHSAN NASEER
Karachi
Pakistan in Asia Cup
This is with reference to S.H.Khalid's letter "Pakistan's performance in Asia Cup" (Dawn, 4th August). He suggested a playing eleven for Pakistan and heaped harsh criticism on Rana Naveed. He also said that Shahid Afridi was a better player than Rana.
It is really amazing to see the support that Shahid Afridi has got in general. A player with over 170 ODI to his credit and still with a really mediocre record continues to be regarded as one who can change the fortunes of the Pakistan cricket team.
With a batting average of 23 for an opener, he has always been a bonus for other teams. Pakistan needs specialist openers who can give consistently good starts. Being a match winner in one game and almost nothing is the next five has not helped Pakistan at all.
Just take the example of Shoaib Akhtar. Even he has realized this by cutting down his run up and now he is contributing more in each game for Pakistan. Afridi has had more opportunities than any cricketer in Pakistan to prove himself, but he has failed. On the other hand, Rana is a good cricketer who has just played 10 ODIs for Pakistan.
AHSAN ZAWAR
Karachi
Uniform taxi fares
At the time yellow cabs were introduced their fare was pretty much the same as that of the black taxis. Then it was raised, but that seemed okay because they had airconditioning and electronic meters.
However, now yellow cabs neither have airconditioning nor do their drivers go according to the meter. A lot of them also use CNG which should mean lower operating costs but the fact is that the fare has only increased over the years. The black taxis are even worse. Most have no proper seats or door handles and their windows don't go up or down properly.
There should be a difference in fare between a taxi that runs on petrol and one that runs on CNG. In addition, the fare for a taxi that is in a bad condition should lower than the one in good condition. There is no point in uniform rates, especially when the black taxis are so much worse.
ABDULLAH SHAMI
Karachi
Oath taking
We keep reading news about our presidents, governors, chief ministers and ministers taking the oath of office. But most of us do not know what the oath contains.
I would like to believe that the salient points of any such oath would be that the person taking it would pledge to safeguard our national interests, abide by the laws of the land to the best of one's abilities and so on. If the media were to publicize the contents of the oath our elected officials take, it would be easier for us to judge them.
Z.A. KAZMI
Karachi
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