| 30 December 2004 | Thursday | 17 Ziqa'ad 1425 |
A question of priority
'Stolen drugs being sold openly'
Tax deduction forms
The Melbourne surrender
Petroleum and diesel prices
'Builders on both sides'
Opposition's stand
DHA park
Cell phones
Infant deaths
VIP movement
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On Dec 19 Turkey's Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said: "The European Union's decision to extend membership talks with Turkey contributes to the Muslim country's stability and gives it a new position in Europe and the Islamic world."
The move was also welcomed by Mr Tony Blair who said: "We are stating a fundamental principle that the fact Turkey is a Muslim country does not mean it should be barred from Europe. On the contrary, if it fulfils the same principles of human rights, then Muslims and Christians can work together."
The US holds a similar view and regards Turkey as an ideal model of Muslim democracy. However, earlier Valery Giscard d'Estaing, the former French president, said that the entry of Turkey as an Islamic and mostly Asian power would spell "the end of Europe". The majority of EU members share Giscard's concerns and are wary of 70 million Muslims joining Europe.
The disagreements between EU states over Turkey's membership talks have overshadowed the entrance criteria stipulated by the EU for Turkey's eventual admission into Europe's premier club.
The European Union's insistence on Turkey undergoing extensive political and economic reforms, plus Turkey's recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, will not determine the course of Turkey's relationship with the EU. Instead, future relations between the two will be chiefly decided by two factors.
The first is the "clash of civilizations" and it is pretty obvious to politicians as well as the peoples of both Europe and Turkey that this clash is inevitable and ongoing.
Giscard's remarks are not only echoed by fellow politicians but also widely shared by people in Britain, France, Germany and several other countries. There is a deep sense of Islamaphobia which has swept the region and rekindled past memories of the Ottoman Caliphate dominating the affairs of Europe.
Equally, Turkish Muslims are opposed to joining the EU. They fear that they will be deprived of their Islamic identity and forced to adopt western values. For example, the EU's chastisement of Turkey's plan to outlaw adultery led to a reversal by Turkey.
This angered many Turks and only heightened their anxiety that Europe was intentionally targeting Islamic values. The second factor is that Europe has failed miserably to accommodate its own Muslim populations.
Take the example of Britain. Muslims are the most socially deprived ethnic group. In October 2004 The Guardian reported: "Muslims had the highest rate of unemployment, the poorest health, the most disability and fewest educational qualifications.
In most respects Muslim women fared worse than Muslim men." Muslims in France and Germany fare much worse. The banning of the hijab, the random interrogation of young Muslims and the withholding of citizenship spearhead the discriminatory acts perpetrated by these states against Muslims.
Add to this, the reluctance of the European powers to intervene and protect Muslims of Bosnia and Kosovo speaks volumes for Europe's attitude towards Muslims living within its shores.
In European minds, the above examples only reinforce the idea that Muslims and Islam are incompatible with secularism. So how can Europe accommodate the 70 million Muslims of Turkey?
ABID MUSTAFA
Slough, UK
A question of priority
There is a singularly noticeable and unusual feature this year about the recommendations for appointment to the dozen or so central superior services announced by the Federal Public Service Commission (Dawn, Nov 26) on the basis of the Central Superior Services Combined Competitive Examination 2003.
Two hundred and eight candidates have been selected from amongst a very large number of candidates who had sat for the CSS examination for appointment to the DMG, the foreign service, the police service, the commerce and trade group, the information group, audit and accounts, customs and excise, income tax, the railways (EXT) group and the postal group.
In the initial years of Pakistan, candidates securing higher positions were usually taken into the CSP and the foreign service, followed by the police, audit and accounts and then other services.
The candidate's own preference was considered, provided it accorded with the candidate's order of merit and perceived suitability. The application of provincial quotas unavoidably distorted the basis of merit.
What is particularly noticeable and unusual this year is the fact that as many as 10 or half of the top 20 candidates in order of merit have been allocated to one service alone, i.e, the police service.
By comparison, other important services and groups have suffered. For example, the top qualifying candidate earmarked for the commerce and trade group (an essential service in the context of economic development) is placed at 107 on the merit list while the last of the candidates allocated to the commerce and trade group is placed as low as 351.
The foreign service which once used to draw from the topmost candidates has been allocated a candidate with 223 as the merit position. At a time when image building is a priority task, externally and internally, the information group's allocations range from 88 (top candidate for the information group) to as low as 401 on the merit list.
While the adjustment necessitated by provincial quotas does restrict the discretion of the allocating authority, the fact that in selecting 13 candidates for the police service, as many as 10 of the top 20 have been included, contrasts sharply with the allocation of successful candidates for other important services.
Perhaps this reflects a policy decision to select the best for the task of confronting crime and terrorism. The enhanced authority of the police in the wake of administrative devolution and its effect on a candidate's preference may also be a relevant factor.
MAHDI MASUD
Karachi
'Stolen drugs being sold openly'
I invite your attention to the report on the above subject which appeared in Dawn on Dec 15 which revolves around the alleged pilferage of drugs. Though reference has been made to the Hayat Abad Medical Complex, Peshawar, the report does not have any relevance to this institution because of the computerized drug delivery system.
In Hayat Abad Medical Complex, the conventional drug distribution system as described in the report has been abolished and replaced by a new scientific drug delivery system through the establishment of satellite pharmacies working 24 hours a day, which deliver drugs through a carbonized patients treatment chart directly to the patient on a daily basis.
The counterfoil of the slips in the patient's treatment chart carrying the serial number, patient's name, bed number, admission number, ward name, name of drug, dosage, starting/stopping date, signature of the staff concerned and the date of issuance, is retained in the respective satellite pharmacy and the entry of the issued drugs is duly made in the computer of the satellite pharmacy which is connected with the main server lying in the office of the in-charge pharmacist.
The carbon copy carrying complete descriptions of the issues made on the chart remain with the patient treatment chart in the ward as a counter check. To eradicate the minutest possibility of leakage, the outer packings of drugs are removed and burnt in the hospital incinerator before these are issued. This reduces the saleability of the drugs.
We welcome healthy criticisms and believe that had there been a counter-check of what was narrated in the above report, which quoted a chemist, a wholesaler in Namak Mandi bazaar and an Afghan doctor, the report would have been more in tune with the facts.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Hayat Abad Medical Complex, Peshawar
Tax deduction forms
I would like to draw the attention of the State Bank governor and the Central Board of Revenue chairman to what has become a constant irritant for the general public visiting the offices of the State Bank for lodging claims for prize winning bonds.
The prize claiming counter of the Prize Bond Section at the State Bank, Rawalpindi, requires that a prize claimant should attach an I.T.31 (Rev) challan form to the prize claiming form for submitting a claim.
This was told to me by the official at the counter of the bank. The official further told me that the IT challan form had to be procured from either the income tax office or from a vendor roaming around the cycle stand of the bank.
I searched for the vendor but in vain and had to revisit the bank the next day to submit the challan form. Irritated as I was upon my helplessness, I argued with the official as to why this form was not available at the bank for recording treasury receipts. His reply was that since the form was sold by the income tax authorities, how could the SBP procure it for providing to the public at its counter?
It is incomprehensible as to why a bank responsible for the collection of tax receipts of the entire government is not provided with these forms for the deduction of 10 per cent withholding tax on all prize money payments, and instead the people are made to run around for them.
Furthermore, the plea of the SBP officials that the challan form is priced doesn't seem correct as the form doesn't have any price printed on it. In view of the above, it is hoped that the SBP and CBR will take note of the plight of the public and ensure the availability of forms at the SBP counters.
ZUBAIR AHMED
Rawalpindi
The Melbourne surrender
We saw another below standard display of batting by the Pakistan cricket team in the second Test at Melbourne, and yet another comprehensive victory by the Australians who clinched the series as well.
Some crucial late-order partnerships from the Australian batting line-up turned their first innings' lead to advantage and ensured victory for them. It was Australia's eighth consecutive win over Pakistan.
A slight improvement was shown in the first innings when caretaker captain Yousaf Youhana played a wonderful innings and Pakistan scored a respectable total. But again in the second innings when a solid stand was needed, nobody could stand up - right from the opening pair to the tail order.
The efforts made in the first innings were wasted in the second innings, and the 'homework' never bore any fruit. The overall outcome was however not as pathetic as that in Perth, as in this match at least Pakistan put up a formidable fight and looked better as a fighting combination.
The need to correct their mistakes and improve their planning before and during a match is essential, they should work on this before they go into the third and last Test and then in the ODIs.
ANAS A. KHAN
Edmonton, AB., Canada
Petroleum and diesel prices
Instead of addressing questions of manipulation and corruption in the fortnightly fixation of oil prices, the secretary-general of the Oil Companies' Advisory Committee (Ocac) has claimed that petroleum prices are determined "through a formula agreed upon by the ECC" (Dawn, Dec 23). No doubt the formula has been agreed upon by the ECC, but the question arises: how is the formula being implemented?
According to the formula, the ex-depot sale price is the sum of several variables such as ex-refinery price, customs duty, petroleum development levy, the distribution company's margin of profit, the dealer's commission, GST and inland freight charges.
There are about 30 oil depots in the country which feed petrol pumps. The inland freight charges from one to the other depot are paid back to oil marketing companies by Ocac which in turn recovers it from consumers.
Neither the government nor the consumer is benefited in any way from any change in the freight charges, which benefits only oil companies and transporters.
In May the ex-depot sale price of oil was fixed at Rs36.92 per litre. This was based on inland freight charges of Rs1.64 per litre and the petroleum development levy at Rs9.50 per litre.
Last week the ex-depot sale price was fixed at Rs39.50 per litre and was based on inland freight charges of Rs9.70 per litre (a 700 per cent increase over May) and the development levy of Rs0.92 (a 1,000 per cent reduction over May).
The windfall gain for oil marketing companies due to the increase in the freight charges has been over Rs154 million. Since Ocac comprises members drawn from oil marketing companies, these companies' claims for inland freight are approved by their own employees sitting in Ocac as its members. What else is it if not conflict of interest?
Secondly, the inland freight cost right up to petrol pumps in Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas is borne by the government. There have been complaints of an oil marketing company actually taking oil quantities from the Machike (Shekhupura) depot and dumping them in nearby Lahore and not taking it either to Kashmir or the Northern Areas. Yet it recovered freight charges from Ocac.
There is already a statutory body called the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) in place to regulate petroleum prices. Why then entrust oil price fixing to Ocac, a non-statutory body? Ogra lays down: No person shall be appointed by the federal government as a member if he has any direct or indirect financial interest in, or has any connection which might reasonably be viewed as giving rise to a conflict of interest with any person involved in any regulated activity."
It further says that "no member shall take part in any decision, if such member is in any way, whether directly or indirectly concerned or interested in the decision". But the Ocac members take decisions about oil prices which directly benefit the companies to which they belong.
SENATOR FARHATULLAH BABAR
Islamabad
'Builders on both sides'
I congratulate Mr Ardeshir Cowasjee ("Builders on both sides", Dec 26) for raising an important issue regrading the construction industry, especially when the government is encouraging this sector.
It is disturbing that the construction industry is planning to build concrete jungles in and around cities, leaving aside environmental considerations. I wonder if our builders have ever thought of making their projects environment friendly.
It is mandatory for builders to seek approval for their projects from the environmental protection agencies concerned. The law is there and rules are notified yet builders are ignoring this aspect and as a consequence suffer.
I request all EPAs and the other responsible authorities to play their due role in this regard. At the same time people have the responsibility to inquire of builders if they have NOCs to launch their projects.
They should ask about the availability of water, disposal of sewerage, solid waste management, adequate green areas, parking lots, etc. Instead of building concrete monsters, our construction projects should be close to nature. There is need to open up, look around the region and be environment friendly.
ZIA UL ISLAM
Islamabad
Opposition's stand
For quite some time we have been reading in newspapers about the tremendous commotion made by political parties on the issue of the president's military uniform.
I wonder why these parties don't agitate over the issues of karo-kari killings, corruption, unmanaged traffic, an incoherent education policy, non-availability of drinking water, fundamentalism and extremism.
S. JAMEEL HUSSAIN
Karachi
DHA park
Despite collecting one of the highest charges in terms of housing levies, Karachi's DHA continues to deliver services selectively. Take for example the DHA football park in Phase VI.
Last year it was announced that contracts had been awarded for the up gradation of the park, but nothing significant happened and its condition has now badly deteriorated, so much so that the fence has become a hazard for children and the walking track has become nearly impassable.
Despite many appeals to the relevant authorities to expedite development work, nothing has been done to improve the park that earns revenue for the DHA as it is leased out to private parties for football.
SYED RIZWAN HUSSAIN
Karachi
Cell phones
According to Karachi police officials, more than 3,000 cell phones are snatched from people in the city every month. In some mugging incidents, precious lives have also been lost.
Officials have reportedly cited a number of reasons for the increase in mobile-snatching incidents. The first is the lack of checks on the sale and resale of cell phones.
The non-cooperative attitude of some mobile phone operators is said to be the second main obstacle. Some companies have a complete database of their subscribers and the technology to block their sets and SIMs, but they do not do so.
SAIMA MOUSIDDIN
Karachi
Infant deaths
I refer to Dr Gideon Polya's letter "0.9 billion infant deaths" (Dec 13). It is shocking to learn that nearly a billion infants have died in the world in just half a century. As a mother I am grieved beyond words.
What adds pain to grief is that among high mortality rate countries Pakistan ranks fourth, with 18.3 per cent, and that South Asia's aggregate, India and Pakistan included, is 20 per cent.
Dr Polya says that each year on Christmas the world gives special reverence to mothers. Is that how you revere mothers that a 157-million strong nation has allowed almost 20 per cent of babies to die in 50 years? We could not save them. The Pakistani nation has to answer that.
Furthermore, the world has to answer for under-five years infant deaths of 283,000 babies in Afghanistan (which suffered the war of 1979 at the hands of the Soviet Union and the 2002 war by the US), 108,000 in Iraq (which was devastated by the 1991 war and UN sanctions, and is now being destroyed by the ongoing war - both started by the US) and 1,000 deaths in Australia (also a partner and accomplice in collateral and consequential infant mass mortality).
The good doctor is appealing to save the children. My hands are raised in prayer - as also in appeal to save the nature's greatest gift to mankind - the child.
REHANA NAQVI
Karachi
VIP movement
This refers to the letter "VIP movement" published in your esteemed daily on Dec 29. It is clarified that the federal information minister was in Islamabad on the day mentioned in the letter.
It may be added that the minister is conscious of public feelings and whenever on a visit to Karachi, or any other part of the country, he has never favoured the idea of creating inconvenience for the public.
DANYAL SALEEM GILANI
PSO to Federal Information Minister, Islamabad
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