| 23 September 2004 | Thursday | 07 Shaban 1425 |
Nadra distribution centres
'Violation of the city'
Improving public schools
IDEAS-2004 show
Reviving the KSEW
'Progressive' writers
Self-invited occupiers
Power woes
Traffic police
'Oil carries a curse'
Graffiti on mosque
Sindh CM
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This refers to the article by Mr Salim Lone, entitled "The dangers of making UN subservient to US" (Sept 5). The first Gulf war of 1991 was as much a false dawn for the post-Cold War United Nations as Korea had been at the start of the Cold War.
But more than ever, the world community's utility to the United States in the post-Cold War world requires that its core principle of state sovereignty be scrapped.
For that principle suggests that states are free to organize their domestic political economies as they wish, whereas the profit streams of American business depend crucially on internal arrangements in other states that provide unfettered freedom to external financial operators, unfettered rights for foreign companies to buy out domestic concerns and unfettered protection of monopoly rents on intellectual property. It was in this backdrop that if a state failed to meet appropriate international standards, its blockade or invasion was deemed warranted.
The UN Charter guarantees none of this: theoretically, indeed, it works against it. For many years, the only vetoes cast in the Security Council have been American.
Even after the most brazen of all American wars in violation of the UN Charter, every hand in the Security Council - some eagerly, others sullenly - has gone up to endorse the puppet authority installed by the conquerors, ratifying their conquest.
The international forum is being exploited by the US on the pretext of 'the doctrines of humanitarian intervention, pre- emption and regime change'. While Bush's 'unilateralism' represents the revival of friend-enemy relations, with a new set of security alliances and greatly expanded basing arrangements to match, a new global cleavage against 'terrorism' offers a much more flexible basis for wide-ranging interventionism than any legal formula the UN secretariat, however willing, could provide.
Sadly, through the UN, Washington is expanding its military imperialism in the name of 'military humanism'. As for the Bush administration, there is no chance of any other forces being able to use the 'international forum' (the UN) as an effective check on the predatory instincts of the US and its British side-kick.
Nevertheless, the Anglo-American occupation of Iraq has damaged the image of the international community to the extent that the Iraqi protesters have been capable of hitting not only US and UK occupiers, but their UN collaborators, too.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has even been moved to tell the world that 'one has to be careful not to confuse the UN with the US' as if such an error could ever have occurred under his stewardship.
Furthermore, exempting American troops from the International Criminal Court (ICC), the nefarious Washington practice of vetoing in favour of Israel, the US-drafted UN resolution against Sudan and its currently-tabled resolution against Syria, all seem to reflect nothing but a display of American dominance over the UN - an evil dispensation for the future of the world community. Yet saving the United Nations from the clutches of unipolarism would probably require - as Danilo Zolo, professor of politics at the Florence University of Italy, its most acute critic, has intimated - the withdrawal from the organization of one or several big Third World countries to force a change in the status and composition of the Security Council, and an unambiguous shift of power to the General Assembly. Only this kind of shock can break the armour-plated settlement created in 1945.
S. Q. AFZAL RIZVI
Karachi
Nadra distribution centres
This is with reference to the news item "Nadra's distribution centres fail to deliver" (Dawn, Sept 8). Nadra's decision to decentralize its cards distribution system was well in line with its plans to provide maximum convenience to citizens in receiving their CNICs. This should not have been termed a failure on the part of Nadra.
The control and monitoring of the whole system encompassing all distribution centres in the country, however, remains centralized. This was done to enable the authority to keep a constant and effective check on distribution centres and receive, as well as resolve, applicants' complaints on different issues against these centres.
It is appropriate here to quote the latest call complaints data released by Nadra. According to the data, only three per cent of the applicants who made telephone calls at Nadra call centres pertaining different issues registered complaints while 97 per cent of them were satisfied.
Out of 308,340 calls at all call centres, registered complaints were only 9,712. Resolution of complaints promptly under this centralized control has significantly minimized citizens' complaints.
As regards people not being aware of two additional distribution centres and a call centre in the city, our various press releases and advertisements have conveyed this message through the national media, and also the fact that every applicant is informed at the time of data submission of his/her distribution centre and all receipts given to applicants carry call centre numbers.
To substantiate this, it is submitted that the Nadra call centre in Karachi only receives about 3,500 calls daily while all the three distribution centres are visited by 4,000 people daily.
Moreover, all computerized cards are issued after a verification process which does not put any burden on the applicant unlike in the past when cumbersome verifications were the citizens' responsibility. We strive to provide all possible facilities in CNIC acquisition.
LT-COL (RETD) MUHAMMAD AZAM
Acting director-general, Nadra, Karachi
'Violation of the city'
This is with reference to Mr Ardeshir Cowasjee's column "Violation of the city" (Sept 12). I fully endorse his view that the Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) has violated the rights of citizens by allowing multi-storeyed apartment blocks and commercial buildings on plots which were originally planned as residential.
These residential plots measuring from 1,000 sq yds to 2,000 sq yds were meant for residential bungalows with ground-plus-one option. But now the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) is allowing commercialization of such plots in certain areas, with ground- plus-three to seven storeys.
One such approval has been recently given by the CDGK master plan group for the commercialization of a 2,000-sq yd plot in Haidery, North Nazimabad Town, Block C (UC-3).
This plot comes under the jurisdiction of the Saify Cooperative Housing Society, and in spite of written objections from the housing society and people living in houses adjacent to the plot, the UC-3 nazim has allowed the owner of the plot to go ahead with a ground- plus-three-storey commercial building. This building will have shops and offices.
I wonder how the CDGK will provide utilities such as electricity, water and sewerage to the building. But one thing is clear: this commercialization will create lots of problems such as traffic congestion and lack of parking lots in the residential area.
It seems that the CDGK is interested only in the hefty commercialization fee that it will get from the builder. It seems to have no consideration for the rights of the residents.
HATIM B. SAIFEE
Member, managing committee, Saify Cooperative Housing Society, North Nazimabad, Karachi
Improving public schools
The letter by Professor Anita Ghulam Ali (Sept 19) highlights the plight of government schools. In her opinion, the reasons for the decline in the educational standards in public schools are the no-ownership phenomenon and the security provided by government jobs, which makes teachers complacent.
I differ with the respected professor. The decline in public school education standards began with the marketization of primary education in Pakistan. The introduction and then spread of the market virus in primary education have led to a gradual deterioration of standards in government schools.
As proponents of marketing primary education, in connivance with corrupt government officials, embarked on an overwhelming commericalization of primary education, no government authority ever stopped them.
The result speaks for itself: the government primary education system, a system which was once based on ethics and respect for teachers, has more or less fallen apart.
Those who should have spoken up at the beginning never raised their voice. Most of those who were marketable preferred to become marketable educationalists. Those who did not jump on the bandwagon became silent spectators.
Though only time will show the full consequences of commercializing primary education, viewing from a lateral binocular, it is unfair at this stage to lay blame on hapless government school teachers.
MEHMOOD AZIZ NAVIWALA
Karachi
IDEAS-2004 show
The third International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (Ideas-2004), one of Asia's largest defence shows, was held at the Expo Centre, Karachi, from Sept 14 to 17. More than 160 exhibitors from over 24 countries took part in it.
To ensure security, different roads around and leading to the venue were closed to public. This caused great hardship to people. Many people missed their flights and trains while ambulances also faced difficulties in carrying patients to hospitals. Commuters remained stuck in traffic jams in the humid weather.
Wouldn't it be better if the exhibition was held somewhere on the outskirts of the city?
MALIK AJMAL
Karachi
(2)
The IDEAS-2004 exhibition for arms was successfully organized in Karachi, but it added to the miseries of the people. Traffic jams were witnessed on all major roads, especially on Sharea Faisal and University Road, and routine life was affected in the city due to security measures.
The demonstration of weapons and military skills also distressed people who live near the site. The question is: can't this commercial event be held somewhere outside the city where there are fewer security problems and no traffic congestion?
KHALIL ZAFAR
Karachi
Reviving the KSEW
The Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works is our first heavy engineering complex that rendered valuable services and contributed, besides shipbuilding and ship repair, to all projects of national importance such as Warsak dam, Tarbela dam, Wapda, Multan fertilizer, power house, refineries, Pakistan Steel, defence, sugar and cement industries.
The remark about a "white elephant" by parliamentary secretary for defence is not new. The late Nawab of Kalabagh had said the same thing as PIDC chairman in the early 60s.
It is on record the KSEW initiated and pioneered many products and projects such as transmission towers, sugar mills, ocean-going vessels, and also secured export orders from Iran, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, China, etc.
In all fairness, the parliamentary secretary should have studied the institution before making his comment. It is regrettable that the nation could not maintain the KSEW.
It should be revived at all costs, starting with its commercial orientation, and put under a board of governors composed of professional people in the public sector unit.
The KSEW was basically a PIDC project which on June 30, 1970, changed hands from PIDC to defence - a clear deviation from the PIDC aims and objects. The KSEW then was put under the communications ministry in 1973/74.
Civilian professionals were brought in and the biggest shipbuilding order from Iran (19 naval auxiliary vessels) was so well executed that the KSEW wiped out all the accumulated losses and earned enough for balancing, modernization and replacement to be undertaken. During the period its employees numbered 7,600, whereas now the number is below 2,000.
That was its golden period. A number of orders were completed along with the Iranian order. They were for Abu Dhabi, China, Saudi Arabia, KPT, PQA, PN vessels, Gwadar and fisheries, etc. The biggest vessel built for China (20,000 TDW) was delivered in 1992.
I submit the centre should take it out of the present situation and revive it. The following measures can be proposed:
1. Look for a foreign shipyard and industrial group as a managing agency, giving full control with a few checks ad balances, ensuring the foreign firm an economical justification for its investment. This was tried in the past but was sabotaged.
2. A local banks' consortium should be persuaded to invest for revival and survival on its conditions.
3. Proper result-oriented efforts should be made to make the KSEW either an OIC or an ECO set up.
4. A KSEW board of governors should be formed, comprising secretaries of defence, communications and finance with two professionals, one being MD.
5. Make it a trust.
Z. H. NAQVI
Karachi
'Progressive' writers
This refers to Mr Mushir Anwar's literary roundup last week on the ghazal controversy in which he presented an interesting debate (from Hameed Akhtar's Rudad-i-Anjuman) that took place at a meeting of progressive writers in Mumbai a few months before partition.
The writer has mentioned this only in passing, but it is really surprising to note that the progressive writers were least bothered about Pakistan and made no mention of the new country at their meeting.
In fact, they were planning an all-India meeting of writers in October 1947, ignoring the impending division of the subcontinent. It appears they thought the creation of Pakistan would make no difference and they would continue to pursue their normal activities.
One is also utterly dismayed by the fact that the progressive writers had no sense of the times and could discuss the merits and demerits of the ghazal when the tragedy of communal killings had by then become imminent.
I am also surprised that the so-called progressive writers had such a gender bias. They had no qualms in believing and asserting that women were silly and with whom one could only carry on small talk. I think that present-day writers are more progressive than those giants of yore.
SALMA SHAHEEN
Islamabad
Self-invited occupiers
The US-led forces in Iraq are present at the 'invitation' of the handpicked Iraqi interim government. These self-invited occupiers are killing innocent civilians through air strikes.
Saner nations of the world should take a positive stance at the United Nations to stop the occupying forces' killing spree. The US and its allies should agree to cooperate with a UN peace-keeping force. Hopefully, this measure will ensure an honourable exit for the foreign armies from Iraq.
The US has explicitly mentioned several times its 'right' to act pre-emptively anywhere in the world. The Russian president has also decided to use the doctrine of pre-emptive strikes in Chechnya while in the Middle East Israel has expressed its intention to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities.
If the world keeps watching silently as more war zones are created, another world war may break out.
RAFI ADAMJEE
Karachi
Power woes
This refers to the news report "Aziz calls for steps to boost power output" (Sept 10). Every evening many parts of Karachi plunge into darkness for hours. This situation reminds one of Mir's following couplet:
Woh aae bazm mein itna tau sab ne dekha Mir
Phir us ke baad chiraghon mein roshni na rahi
YUSUF ALI
Karachi
Traffic police
I would like to bring to the attention of the authorities concerned the behaviour of the traffic police in Karachi. Policemen are seen harassing motorists and taking bribes at every corner, but they are conspicuous by their absence at traffic signals, especially those where the lights are off because of a power breakdown or a mechanical fault.
My job demands that I be on the road most of the time. I am a victim of this harassment, though I violate no traffic rules. Will the authorities ensure that policemen perform their duties honestly?
BHAOZAIN BABAR
Karachi
'Oil carries a curse'
This refers to the article "Oil carries a curse of its own" (Aug 24) by Syed Rashid Husain and the reply from Mr Filomeno Conceicao (Sept 3). After the Dutch withdrew from Indonesia in 1948, Soekarno only claimed that land which was under the Dutch.
He did not claim East Timor because it was not a Dutch colony. It was Portuguese territory. In 1975 or thereabouts, the Portuguese left East Timor. Was Indonesia justified in claiming it?
Why it did so is another question. East Timor is a small part of the island called Timor. West Timor was a Dutch possession and rightly claimed by Soekarno. But Indonesia was neither entitled to nor justified in occupying East Timor.
The East Timorians waged a war of liberation for 25 years against Indonesia. Out of a tiny population of less than a million, they lost 25 per cent of their men and women. You may call oil a curse, but love for country comes before anything else.
East Timor is a remarkable little country. Nearly 95 per cent or more of its people are Roman Catholics, but their prime minister is a Muslim representing less than two per cent of their population.
Is there a lesson for Pakistan? I think there is. To give life to win freedom is a struggle that has no religion; it is totally secular. And to maintain harmony, it is essential to remain secular.
R.H. USMANI
Karachi
Graffiti on mosque
On September 18 I visited the Lahore Fort and the Badshahi Mosque with my family. We were shocked to see a man writing something on one of the mosque's inside walls. He didn't stop when told to do so. The guards and policeman at the mosque were reluctant to take any action against him.
It was really disappointing to see this attitude. Even if people are not cultured enough to value our historical treasures, the least they can do is to respect the sanctity of a mosque.
It is the government's responsibility to increase awareness on this issue. Moreover, strict enforcement of fines will quickly stop people from spoiling our historical structures.
HARIS AZIZ
Lahore
Sindh CM
Reference is made to the Regulation of Plots Sindh Government Ordinance 2000. The Sindh government expected to make a sum of between Rs12 billion and Rs15 billion when the provincial cabinet allowed regularization of 1,450 cancelled allotments on October 14 last year (Dawn report, Oct 15, 2003).
Since the then chief minister has resigned, will the new CM let us know as to how much of that amount has been collected so far?
PRO BONO PUBLICO
Karachi
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