| 18 January 2005 | Tuesday | 07 Zilhaj 1425 |
SME laws: some suggestions
Cricket team's performance
Changes in Police Order 2002
Japan: lessons for us
Two-nation theory
Low wages and high inflation
BBC and militants
Robberies in Defence
MMA's agenda
CDA's working
Reforming universities
Rawalpindi Express
Amrish Puri
To send a letter to the Editor
Click here
Pakistan became independent in 1947, which means that it will be 58 years old on August 14, 2005. But even after 57 years, various rulers have not been able to achieve their targets. Our priorities are based on ad hocism. Nobody knows which way we are heading.
Due to a lack of coordination among the political forces within the country, non-political forces have an edge and this is how our policies are formed. I am ashamed to note that instead of taking the nation in the right direction, political leaders have divided the nation into bits and pieces.
Some of them want to run Pakistan according to their own agenda and the rest of them want to drive Pakistan according to their own desires. The rulers of Pakistan, after assuming power, have deviated from the correct path shown to us by the Father of the Nation.
Unfortunately, no leader in our country has ever tried to play a role according to the wishes of Mr Jinnah. This is one of the reasons why the nation is divided and follows different political leaders. This is why the personal wishes of these leaders override the national interest.
If we look at our past, we will find that no political party has been able to give anything to the nation. Political and religious leaders make false promises, and at the end of the day, they have been unable to deliver.
Pakistan has to go through a long political process until our political leaders learn how to govern Pakistan democratically. Democracy does not mean the rule of a majority of the ruling party in parliament.
Democracy means the rule of a majority of voters, the people. The decisions taken from time to time by the federal or provincial cabinets do not reflect the feelings of the masses.
The people want employment, fair and speedy justice, education for their children, housing, better health facilities, clean drinking water, a drastic reduction in crime, a pollution- free environment, the eradication of corruption from law- enforcement agencies and government offices, playgrounds and the elimination of terrorism amongst other things.
But have the masses received any of these things? The answer is no. President Musharraf, while holding both offices, can play a significant role. His retirement is due in 2007 and then what next? Will he also leave the nation in the same condition as his predecessors? If President Musharraf wants to leave an impression on the nation, then he has to make drastic changes in the federal and provincial cabinets.
SYED A. MATEEN
Karachi
SME laws: some suggestions
The news item "Revision of SME laws suggested" (Dawn, Jan 9) tends to create the impression that some existing SME-related laws are about to be revised to meet the needs of the time.
However, the fact is that so far the SME has had no place in the statute. The news item, therefore, unveils a significant initiative on the part of the government to make it possible for the SME to play its due role towards industrialization.
More work needs to be done before finalizing the proposed definitions of the SME. It should be noted in this context that the need for promotion being greater in the case of small enterprises, the SME should be categorized as medium, small and small-scale. Three instead of two definitions should then be worked out.
Experience tells us that medium and small enterprises normally employ practical manpower to meet their objectives without having to encumber themselves with design and quality systems.
Knowledge-based small-scale enterprises provide services like designing, inspection and quality assurance, computer software, repair and calibration of equipment. These services greatly influence the productivity of industrial enterprises.
It is feared that the aforementioned resource enterprises will not able to derive the benefits from the proposed new scheme merely because of their small size.
These are likely to fall below the lower cut-off point in the employment scale if there is one in the offing in the proposed scheme. This is why a three-tier system for the definition of the SME will be more relevant to the business environment of our country.
Again, manufacturing and services have been given an undue equivalence in the scope of employment. This needs a review because a service enterprise employing 250 persons can hardly be deemed as a medium-sized enterprise, nor can a service enterprise with 50 employees be treated as a small enterprise.
Similarly, a trading enterprise with 50 employees is no longer a medium enterprise. Also, it has to be spelt out in the SME basic law as to what type of service enterprises will come under the purview of the SME law. It is suggested that only those service enterprises be eligible which relate to the work of production industries.
NASEEM AHMAD BHATTI
Lahore
Cricket team's performance
In defending a team that received the worst ever drubbing, Shaharyar Khan seems to be defending himself and not the team (Dawn, Jan 7). What "youngsters" is he talking about?
In the fierce competition in sport today, there are no youngsters. They are all men playing against men for honour, personal glory and money. They have all got to stand up and be counted.
The sports minister's and senators' anger reflects the disgust of the people over the performance of the team. The administration took the very same stand after India's tour last year, as the PCB chief made all those lame excuses before a traumatized nation.
The series were gifted away to the Indians on a silver platter (how else can one explain five dropped catches in Sehwag's innings on his way to a triple century?)
This is not the first time; it happened earlier too (remember Sharjah 2002?). Nor, I am afraid, is it the last. Instead of whining on remarks like 'spineless', Inzamam and his men must understand that there is no mercy in today's sport and those who fall by the wayside will never be missed, except that they will be mocked at.
Now they are face to face with an angry, disgusted nation which is not prepared to buy the 'youngster' stuff. Shaharyar Khan, Inzamam, Woolmer, etc all, cannot hide behind empty words.
They ought to try to understand what today's cut throat competition is all about, and respond accordingly. But it is already too late. Let us rebuild and get Bangladesh and Zimbabwe to give back our spine.
ARIF ALI ABBASI
Karachi
Changes in Police Order 2002
The recent amendments made in the Police Order of 2002 have rightly become a subject of public debate. As Sindh Police IG Syed Kamal Shah has pointed out, almost every citizen, man, woman or child, has some form or other of interaction with the police, be it safety on the roads, or of their house, homes or property.
In fact it is the only department of government which has daily contact with the public in one form or the other. The welfare and the manner of functioning of the police is therefore a matter of prime public importance.
Although opinion vary on the results flowing from the implementation of the Police Order, the principal idea behind it was to free the police from political interference and to give its officers powers commensurate with responsibility.
It is a basic principle of good governance that where any government: department or its functionary is charged with a particular responsibility, the power commensurate and unfettered. Accountability should proceed from and not precede that process.
Therefore any proposal to put the DPO at beck and call of the district nazim by giving the latter the right to initiate and annual confidential report of the DPO would become the surest way of putting the police under political control.
As is true in any society, improvement in the quality and efficiency of police working can only come about pari-passu and in tandem with a general improvement in the socio-economic standards of our country.
S. ASIF MAJEED
Karachi
Japan: lessons for us
Don't people wonder why Japan was the only Asian country that went through an industrial revolution in the 19th century while the rest of Asia was either colonized or a protectorate of western powers? This was all due to one incident, the visit of Commodore Mathew and his squadron of naval ships to Japan in 1854.
The purpose of the visit was to coerce Japan into signing an unfavourable trade agreement with the US. At that time Japan was ruled by a feudal aristocracy known as the 'Shoguns' and the ruling regime was the Tokugawa Shogunnate.
Other feudals or Shoguns had their own sphere of influence. After the visit and the signing of the unfair Treaty of Kanagawa, Japan became aware of its weakness and decided to strengthen itself and compete with the West on equal terms.
The first thing they did was to reform their governance, which meant getting rid of the feudal aristocracy. This event is known as the Meiji Restoration in which the feudals were rooted out and the emperor's status as the sovereign was restored. The events after this are history.
Within 30 years Japan was a major industrialized country and by 1941 was attacking and engaging the US in a war. There are lessons for us. If we want to strengthen and develop, we must get rid of the 'shogunnates' ruling the country.
Other reforms will follow automatically. As long as our local shoguns are in the seat of power, all reforms will continue to be either blocked or their implementation will be grossly undermined.
SYED RIZWAN KHALID
Swindon, UK
Two-nation theory
This refers to the letter "Two-nation theory" (Jan 11) by Mr Kunwar Khalid Yunus. Most of his assertions can be classified as lopsided and distorted. His reference to the Meo community migrating to Pakistan and being thrown back is not supported by facts.
A very large number of Meos reside in the Khushab, Mianwali, Kasur and Okara districts of Pakistan. Many settled in Sindh. As per terms of partition agreement, refugees from the agreed areas, i.e., Punjab and Bengal, were to be resettled in Punjab and Bengal on either side - East/West Punjab or East/West Bengal.
This was regardless of ethnicity since the Karnal, Ambala, Hissar, Gurgaon and Rohtak districts of East Punjab consisted of Ranghars, Meos and Jats classified as Hindustani Muslims speaking Urdu or various dialects halfway in between Rajasthani and Urdu.
Despite this fact many people from Delhi settled in Punjab. The prime minister from 1947 to 1951 was an Urdu-speaking gentleman from Karnal. Many leading families from UP were given lands in Punjab, particularly the family of Nawab Mumtaz Hassan Khan from Meerut and large chunks of land in Kamalia in Punjab.
Many Qaimkhanis, Ranghars and Meos are very large landholders in Punjab. Meos and Ranghars are in a majority in Kasur, 50 per cent in Okara, 65 per cent in Multan city, and between 35 to 45 per cent in at least nine districts of Punjab.
Pakistan was not a double disaster for Muslims. It saved them from a triple disaster. In united India, Muslims would have been on a far weaker wicket. Muslims who migrated to Pakistan from Muslim minority provinces of India did well in Pakistan whereas in India they could not compete with Hindus as Francis Robinson's well researched book proves.
In Pakistan they dominated the civil service, banking and even the armed forces. If there was a bias, Gen Musharraf would not have been army chief. A cursory glance at Pakistan of today proves that there is little bias.
One must however add that the unfortunate emergence of ethnic parties in the mid-1980s proved a negative factor. Their narrow ethos was counterproductive and has not helped the Muslims who came to Pakistan from Muslim minority provinces.
About Afghan refugees, one can say that very few of them got Pakistani passports while about those who came to Pakistan from India from 1947-80 a very large number, more than 80 per cent, did.
A.H. AMIN
Lahore Cantt
Low wages and high inflation
The prime minister presents a very rosy picture of economic stability in his public meetings. Speaking in Balochistan and Sindh, he declared that Pakistan had $12 billion in reserves which belonged to the people of Pakistan. To prove this assertion, he gave statistics to convince the audience that the economy had achieved great heights at the macro level.
This might be true. But when the general masses are struggling with high inflation and low wages, how can they be satisfied with mere words? If our economy grows only at the macro level without its benefits reaching the common man, the feeling of deprivation among the masses is bound to rise.
This would only strengthen and benefit those who are trying to destabilize the government, and thus obstruct the process of economic growth and hinder foreign investment.
It is high time the government came to a reconciliation with the opposition, removed their reservations and persuaded them to desist from agitational politics.
RAJA SHAFAAT ULLAH
Islamabad
BBC and militants
Many correspondents have commented on the BBC using the term "Islamic or Islamist militants". We should not be surprised at this simply because those who carry out acts of terrorism label themselves as "Islamic" and publicly declare that they are doing so for the sake of Islam.
The real cause of this media (mis)representation is that our youths have been indoctrinated with extremist ideas at religious training camps such as madressahs. Just churning out lists of atrocities committed by others does in no way justify these acts of terrorism.
So, if we do not put our house in order, others will comment on our behaviour. It is no wonder that Muslim states have no weight to influence world opinion on any matter affecting their citizens.
NASRULLAH KHAN MOGHAL
Manchester, UK
Robberies in Defence
It has been observed that dacoities are becoming frequent in Lahore's Defence Housing Authority (DHA). Recently, a dacoity took place in our neighbourhood where five dacoits broke the iron grille and held the terrified inmates at gunpoint at 3 am.
The dacoits conducted a search for 45 minutes and decamped with cash and valuables. They cut the telephone line and seized the mobile phones of the residents so that the police could not be informed.
The current spate of robberies in DHA suggests that security staff are lax and do not attend to their duties. How can dacoits roam freely on DHA roads after midnight without being questioned?
Security vehicles should patrol the roads to ensure security for the residents. The authorities ought to feel more concerned about the deteriorating situation of law and order in DHA.
DR M. YAQOOB BHATTI
Lahore
MMA's agenda
It is not surprising that the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal has included Hudood laws in its agenda against the president, besides the uniform issue. Have they failed to muster enough support on the uniform?
ALYA ALVI
Gujrat
CDA's working
According to an APP report, published in a section of the press (Jan 8), the member planning and designing, CDA, has issued notices to house owners who have illegally built walls, lawns, barbed-wire fences, approach roads, etc, on CDA land and annexed to their houses.
This is rather surprising in the sense that recently illegal houses and even colonies of poor people have been bulldozed to recover CDA land whereas influential people are just being served with notices for illegal occupation merely to complete the official formality.
In fact, the CDA should immediately recover its land and fence it on the side of the houses for permanent protection against illegal encroachment.
M. ASLAM SHAH
Islamabad
Reforming universities
This refers to the article by Professor Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy on reforming our universities (Jan 3-4), which is the true story of higher educational institutions in this country.
It is an eye opener. Hats off to him for taking this bold initiative and stirring a timely debate. Other articles by Dr Anis Alam ("The rush to produce PhD degrees", Jan 2) and by Ardeshir Cowasjee ("Brass hats and mortar boards", Jan 2) should be a red alert for the nation.
I would like to quote the views of Sir Bertrand Russell. According to him, a teacher who could not contribute a research article for publication in a reputed journal once every quarter did not qualify as a teacher.
There cannot be a better assessment of the qualification and abilities of a college/university level teacher. Where do we stand today vis-a-vis such a standard?
To achieve the vision of 'enlightened moderation', the president and prime minister could form a group of sincere scholars to prepare a plan for the promotion of higher education. Equally strong steps are required at the school level to convert schools into educational institutions.
ISMAT SHAH KHAN
Karachi
Rawalpindi Express
The Aussies achieved yet another victory against Pakistan in the ongoing tri-nation series. In what seemed to be a close match in the end, the Pakistanis performed a bit better.
But when it came to the Pakistani bowlers to defend a good total, Shoaib Akhtar did most of the damage to his team, and ended the hope of the long-awaited win against Australia.
Shoaib's performance was totally irresponsible. All he does is argue with the captain, coach and cricket board. We frequently hear about his poor physical fitness, but still see him included on the tour squad.
I blame the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for giving so much consideration to a stubborn player like him. Other fast bowlers should be included in the training camp and should be given a chance in the future. Depending on Shoaib is a big risk for the team's future.
UMER RAJA
Karachi
Amrish Puri
The article (Images, Jan 16) remembering Amrish Puri was nicely done, but some of the facts are not right. The famous tele-serial Ramayana does not have a character called Duryodhan.
Duryodhan is a character from another great epic - the Mahabharat. The tele-serial for Mahabharat featured Puneet Issar as Duryodhan. I do not recall seeing Amrish Puri in it. Perhaps the writer got it mixed up. Nevertheless, Mr Puri was a great actor and the world has lost a great man.
VISWANATH
Via email
You can also send letters to the Editor
Just send your message to the following address: letters@dawn.com
Make sure you include your full name, postal address, e-mail address, and in the case of Pakistan your day-time telephone number.