| 13 January 2005 | Thursday | 02 Zilhaj 1425 |
Lessons from the tsunami
PR revenue collection
BBC and militants
Demands on the NFC
What is the 'deal'?
University reforms
Water meters
Stamping out honour killing
The 'democracy brew'
A fresh burden
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President Pervez Musharraf has warned (Jan 12) "Baloch dissidents" to stop targeting gas facilities in the province, otherwise they would have to face dire consequences.
"Don't push us ... it is not the 1970s when you could hit and run to hide in the mountains, and this time you won't even know what has hit you," the general told a private television in an interview.
He was referring to the military operation in the 70s aimed at quelling a rebellion in the south west of Balochistan by a group seeking independence. Most of the group's supporters were either killed or captured during the crackdown.
His comments came after assailants had fired more than 200 rockets, targeting a natural gas facility in Sui, about 220 miles south east of Quetta. It seems, on the one hand, that a dialogue is in progress under the supervision of Senator Mushahid Hussain, chief of the parliamentary committee on Balochistan, and, on the other, rocket attacks and aggressive warnings mark the scene.
Balochistan is a strategic province and it promises future economic gains through the Gwadar port, rich untapped minerals and because of its geographical location. Neither Pakistan nor the backward people of Balochistan can afford to lose a progress-oriented opportunity bestowed by geography.
It is high time the issues were carefully addressed in view of the dynamics of the regional geopolitical environment. To find out the root cause of unrest or trouble in Balochistan, it should be admitted that most of the demands of the nationalists are genuine and have never been addressed seriously by the central authority.
Historically, the move for rights in Balochistan has been quelled with military force in 1948, 1956, 1970s. In order to have peace and stability in the province, the government should seriously address the genuine demands of the nationalists.
Unrest in Balochistan is about due share in the existing state power structure. The present NFC award or fiscal disbursement formula is unjust and unable to bring the backward provinces in the fold of progress and development.
Fiscal disbursement in Germany is carried out on the basis of development needs instead of population. The government should also consider development needs vis-a-vis population in the case of Balochistan.
The province-wise gas royalty formula contains biases. It needs to be re-worked and the biases in royalty need to be eradicated. Balochistan's Rs22 per 1,000 cubic feet (ptcf) vis-a-vis Sindh's Rs126 ptcf and Punjab's Rs180 ptcf need to be immediately revised and re-worked. This may improve Balochistan's poor fiscal position.
The Gwadar deep-sea port could result in a demographic imbalance. The rights of the locals in the wake of the construction of Gwadar can be addressed only by allowing the local people to have local certificates, NICs and their names on the voters' lists. A similar practice has been adopted in Dubai, the UAE, in order to address the demographic imbalances and rights of the locals.
As per the UNDP Pakistan National Human Development Report 2003, of Pakistan's top 20 most backward districts, 50 per cent are in Balochistan. Serious attention is the need of the hour.
Over centralization of decision-making is creating a sense of alienation and frustration in the province. Devolution of power from the centre to the province is necessary in the present circumstances.
To remove the people's fears and reservations about army cantonments, the government should address the worries with conciliatory gestures. Sui, Kohlu and Gwadar do not share borders with any enemy or neighbouring country.
Balochistan is the most poorly represented province in national services. For example, ex-servicemen from Balochistan for the period from 1995-2003 numbered 3,753 men only while the numbers for Punjab and the NWFP for the same period were 1,335,339 and 229,856, respectively.
Provinces are not even allowed to sign petroleum and gas exploration related contracts. It is not foreign investment and development schemes that can bring peace, but it is peace and stability that can bring foreign investment and development.
IMRAN UMAR BALOCH
Karachi
Lessons from the tsunami
In her article "Harness this universal empathy" (Dawn, Jan 3), Mary Riddell has shown great sensitivity not just to the widespread suffering caused by the tsunamis but also by man-made disasters such as the occupation of Iraq by the US-led coalition.
Besides articulating what must have been felt by many others, she has made out a strong case for harnessing the universal empathy created by the recent natural catastrophe towards the problems caused by climatic change, humanitarian crises and war, laying special emphasis on the well-being of children.
While acknowledging her own atheism, Ms Riddell has also touched upon a philosophical question, that "(the) believers'... god is supremely short of answers when worlds cave in and children rot to death in hospital corridors."
It must be emphasized that God does not make His creation suffer needlessly. If somebody is hurt on account of a Divine act (call it destiny, as in the case of the tsunami), he will surely be compensated manifold in the Hereafter, because the Almighty is just.
Normally, because of free will, human beings have the choice to do good or evil. If Messrs Bush and Blair have caused unnecessary suffering to the Iraqis, they, rather than God, must be held responsible.
The reasons for our suffering can be understood from the works of Sufi masters such as Al Ghazali. They say man was created in order that he might overcome that which the animals have not overcome, i.e., the ego (or baser self).
The ego is the real cause of all the disturbances of life, of all the unrest that we suffer. The great enemy is the ego, the selfishness, manifested in husband, wife, son, daughter, friend, neighbour, or servant, etc.
The greatest need is to understand that no one is better than anyone else, and that no one can rightly think or imagine he can be better than anyone else, or more helpful to children or family or surroundings until this one thing is achieved: the suppression of the ego.
When we remain preoccupied with our baser passions and disregard the welfare of others, God sometimes intervenes to nudge us in the right direction. A Japanese saying goes, "Advise and counsel him. If he does not listen, let adversity teach him."
KHALID CHAUDHRY
Karachi
PR revenue collection
It is encouraging to learn that the Pakistan Railways (PR) earned a net profit of Rs927 million during the first half of the fiscal year 2004-05 (Dawn, Jan 7). At a press briefing, the federal railways minister said that the RR was given a target of Rs8,604 million in revenue collection, and that it surpassed it by Rs477 million.
Further, the overall expenditure was curtailed by Rs27 million. The PR was also able to reduce its State Bank overdraft by Rs704 million, and the minister hoped that things would further improve by the end of the current fiscal year.
The report owes much to the increase in rail fares and parcel service charges through mail and express trains by 10 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively, with effect from Aug 25, 2003.
The recent five per cent increase in tariff is going to further improve its earnings. The reduction in expenditure by Rs27 million most likely owes to good governance, but extracting money from passengers by raising fares to jump the revenue collection target is regrettable.
The minister has disclosed that his predecessor had employed 8,500 surplus employees, which resulted in enormous economic pressure on the ministry. Over employment is not so grave a problem as growing corruption in the department.
Influential people can do anything from the black marketing of tickets to the selling of railway property. In 2000, a retired general reportedly sold out a portion of a disused railway track at Chakwal at a throwaway price.
From 2000 to June 2004, the PR continued to face loses in spite of an increase in all fares by more than 30 per cent. In Mr Ghaus Bux Maher's period, its losses amounted to Rs14.16 billion which were over and above the Rs16.1 billion subsidy given to it by the federal government.
The three-year tenure of Lt-Gen (retd) Javed Ashraf Qazi was more trumpeted but least productive - the PR suffered losses amounting to Rs16.2 billion, which were in addition to the Rs10.4 billion subsidy given by the federal government. Under the new leadership, if major sources of revenue leakages are plugged and valuable assets managed properly, the age-old deficit will even out.
LT-COL (RETD) SYED AHMED
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
BBC and militants
This refers to Mr Siddique Malik's letter from the US (Dawn, Dec 18). The question arises: why is a terrorist act of a person who happens to be a Muslim termed Islamic or Islamist terrorism by the western media? Would any sane person dub adultery or dacoity committed by a Muslim Islamic or Islamist adultery or dacoity? Does Islam allow adultery, dacoity or killing of innocent people?
Everybody should know that the Holy Quran ordains the sanctity of human life and lays down "that if anyone slew - a person - unless it be - for murder or for spreading mischief (fasad) in the land - it would be as if - he slew the whole people: And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved - the life of the whole people". (5.32) In another place the Holy Quran says, "Take not life, which God hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law". (6.151)
In addition, one should study the directions of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and his caliphs. Muslims were strictly forbidden to harm any innocent civilian or to destroy homes, crops, fields, trees and animals. They were to take special care of the old and infirm, the sick and women and children.
Mr Malik has rightly condemned the grave acts of terrorism like the attack on the twin towers, Beslan (Russia) and kidnapping and beheading of innocent people. But it is a one-sided and incomplete list.
He should have included the following most abominable acts of terrorism also in his list: (i) genocide of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians, including the sick, the old and the infirm, and children and women, in Bosnia, Kosovo, Palestine, Chechnya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Gujarat (India) and Jammu and Kashmir.
Why has the recent gruesome murder in Thailand of 90 fasting Muslims by suffocation in the containers they were dumped in escaped his notice? Were all these souls not human beings? Should we term these acts Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu or Christian terrorism?
KHWAJA MUHAMMAD BASHIR BUTT
Bahawalnagar
Demands on the NFC
This is with reference to Mr Asaf Ali Shah's letter (Jan 9) on Sindh's demands on the NFC. There should be no doubt as regards the need for a balanced formula for the sharing of resources between all federating units. However, all parties should make sacrifices in this regard.
It should be noted that small provinces are continuously neglected, their rights violated and their just demands ignored - only to protect the interests of a large province.
Every time Sindh objects to an injustice being done to it or to other small provinces, it is criticized for being 'unpatriotic' and asked to sacrifice for the so-called greater national interest. Why should Sindh always sacrifice? The national interest should be a prime priority for all the provinces.
While Punjab's demand to distribute resources on the basis of population is considered just and right, Sindh's concerns over the Kalabagh dam, Thal canal and NFC are termed against the vital national interest. Why such discrimination?
REHAN MASOOD BHATTI
Mirpurkhas
What is the 'deal'?
The media is rife with stories that a "deal" is being worked out between the military-controlled regime and the two major political parties in Pakistan. Although there is no word on Mr Javed Hashmi yet, Mr Zardari is out and abroad, PPP leader Raza Rabbani has been named opposition leader in the Senate, the party may also get the opposition leader's slot in the National Assembly and Mr Shahbaz Sharif could leave Saudi Arabia in a few days. Does that mean that a "deal" is in the offing?
Whatever the case, it must be emphasized that a rapprochement or a deal between the two sides should not be a repeat of past mistakes that have brought so much harm and misery to the people. The governing principles of any new arrangement should be:
- To strengthen the democratic process in the country and to safeguard the rights of the people. It should not be another attempt at propping up the unrepresentative regime or giving a new lease of life to its unpopular internal and external policies in an exchange for a few concessions.
- To bring a visible and positive change in governance. There should be an end to the present regime's divisive and anti-people policies.
- In any new arrangement, the PML-N, the other important political party, should also be taken on board.
- This should not look like another conspiracy that would remind one of the nightmarish GIK days.
- There should be an end to the One Unit form of government. Steps should be taken to accord maximum autonomy to the provinces and recognize their right to self-rule. That is a must for the future of democracy in Pakistan.
- There should be a firm agreement on reducing the defence budget and increasing the education budget by redefining priorities.
- There should come a just distribution of resources and doing away with the extremely unfair water policies of the present regime which have devastated the economy, the environment and all other aspects of life in the lower riparian Sindh province.
It should be clear to all and sundry that if these questions are not addressed, and if any "deal" between the Musharraf-led government and the opposition parties is not transparent, it will be just another opportunistic bargain serving selfish interests of some people, groups and parties and will bring no change in the lives of the people.
AZIZ NAREJO
Via email
University reforms
This is regarding the articles by Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy (Jan 3-4) on issues related to the state of higher education in Pakistan and the recent initiatives taken by the Higher Education Commission. I commend him for raising a voice of sanity in the wilderness of the Pakistani education sector.
As a system engineer I think we need to identify the boundaries of a system, the intent and scope of possible solutions, available resources, constraints, measurable performance/assessment criteria and mechanisms for assessments.
The state of affairs at our universities is obvious to at least those of us who have (or have had) the (mis)fortune of experiencing them first hand. I fully agree with Dr Hoodbhoy's characterization of the problems and the suggested remedies.
My experience of Pakistani universities tells me that some, or perhaps all, of these causes are well-entrenched in these institutions, an outcome of the infamous last three decades or so of Pakistani history.
We already have the process in place for worthless graduates being cranked out, of course, with some exceptions and for allowing them to "train even less competent students".
The questions are: how do we handle this reality for any future reform? How do we prevent this group from blocking any suggested improvement that clashes with their interests? I fear that a mere change of policies at the HEC level or an implementation of some suggested solution can never produce the desired results unless the change of system is accompanied by a wide-scale change of personnel at every level of academia.
ABBAS ZAIDI
Fairfax, Virginia, USA
Water meters
This refers to the letter of Mr Hassan Adil Malik on the above subject (Dec 20). The KWSB is supplying water to Rufi Lake Drive (RLD) on alternate days from 7am to 10am, which hardly meets the need of 760 flats, each having two or more than two families. On some days, even this is not supplied. The Rufi Lake Drive Residents Welfare Association (RLDRWA) has to buy water at additional cost.
Short supply of water and non-fixation of water meters are the main issues to be redressed by the water board. When the KESC and Sui gas can provide meters in flats and houses and the PTCL in telephone exchanges, why is the KWSB reluctant to extend this facility to its consumers? Meters should be fixed to justify their billing system.
Realization of water tax or arrears is the responsibility of the KWSB and it should make efforts to do this on its own. Disconnection of water lines is not a good solution.
M. SHAFIQUE AHMED
Karachi
Stamping out honour killing
I applaud your editorial on honour killing (Jan 10) and agree when it says that "unless a two-pronged approach is adopted, efforts to stamp out honour killing will be in vain and the practice will continue despite the laws that are being put in place to curb it".
However, you have not made it clear what attitudes must change. A primary attitude change calls for the acceptance of the right to marry a partner of one's own choice.
Once this proposition is fully accepted by all segments of society, I am sure the number of killings in the name of honour will go down by at least between 50 and 80 per cent. The menace will be completely eliminated when and if Pakistan becomes a modern society and accepts the individual right to choose one's own partner.
OMAR MIRZA
New York, USA
The 'democracy brew'
A draft is under consideration to give the incumbent president some of the powers of the speaker of the National Assembly to control rowdy members. Already enjoying the full powers of two posts, those of president and COAS, plus some powers of the prime minister, this new addition may make the democracy brew too thick to be swallowed.
MIR TABASSUM MAIRAJ
Islamabad
A fresh burden
I was shocked to read the news that salaries of ministers and advisers have been increased by 15 per cent. I think all of them are rich and as such not entitled to an increase. Isn't the decision of an increase (with arrears) a fresh burden on the economy?
Government pensioners are still seeking relief while their pay committee is sleeping, but the ministers' pay body is active.
ZAFAR AMAR
Lahore
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