| 17 February 2005 | Thursday | 07 Muharram 1426 |
Changing political scenario
PMDC's accountability
Mangroves and tsunami
Pasni Dam
Funding of customs' schools
KWSB response
Health for all 2000
US consulate
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This is in response to Mr Masood Haider's letter, "Democracy in the Middle East" (Feb13). Mr Haider has completely missed out the point I was trying to make. In no way I was trying to suggest that we as Muslims should try to defend our autocratic regimes against "the onslaught of enlightenment" from the West. Effective change can never be imposed from outside our borders. The Muslim world has had its share of despotic and autocratic regimes.
The caliphate in Baghdad at the time of the Mongol invasion in the 13th century can be described as autocratic and moribund. That cannot possibly mean that we should view its downfall as a good thing.
In fact, that invasion over 700 years ago, and the invasion of Iraq we are living through currently, have a lot in common. Both saw the overthrow of incompetent regimes. Both resulted in the destruction of vast archives of Islamic history and libraries of knowledge.
The invasion saw the intensification of conservatism that eventually led to "the closing of the gates of Ijtehad". The current invasion will have similar ill-effects. The later Mughals in India were an incompetent, autocratic and at times horribly despotic lot, but that doesn't mean that we should view their departure as a happy event.
In fact, the few attempts at indigenous democratic reform that have taken place in the Middle East in the past century have always been effectively stifled by our "friends" in the West.
The CIA's successful attempt at removing Mossadegh in Iran is only one example. We need to recognize that the true intentions behind the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq were not to replace undemocratic regimes with democratic ones, but to allow for greater imperial hegemony in those regions. History will, I am confident, view these misadventures as just that.
Another point to note is that the edifices of imperialism have always been buttressed by the tacit approval of the "native elite". We don't have to ascribe to Bush's simpleton philosophy of "you are either with us or against us".
It is absolutely possible to be against the imperialist designs of the US and at the same time abhor the fundamentalist elements that oppose them, and are at the same time fed by them. Bush might as well be hanging up posters of Osama and seeking more recruits for Al Qaeda.
What we need to condemn en masse is this precedent that the US has set. No matter what the reasons given, they do not have the right to invade our countries and replace our governments.
Especially if it can be very easily argued that they fattened up the very same regimes they now depose and expect our appreciation for. The Taliban and Saddam Hussein's government were such regimes.
The advent of democracy is always a good thing, but I refuse to recognize the events in Afghanistan and Iraq as democratic. The repercussions of these misadventures will be dire, unless the educated, westernized intelligentsia in our countries come out to condemn these acts in unison, and not give the imperialists credit for saving us from ourselves.
HASAN SHAKOOR
Via email
Changing political scenario
This refers to your editorial (Feb 12) on the changing political scenario. One only wished that it were packed with a more powerful punch. Generals have realized their folly of synthesizing and then aligning with the MMA that is running aimlessly in all possible directions.
A regime that uses agencies to keep all its coons up one tree is certainly not functional. The Feb10 meeting between Benazir and Nawaz Sharif in Jeddah is a good sign. However, the PPP would not go with the ARD to agitate against the general as Asif Zardari has understandably just been released on certain terms.
According to confirmed reports in the press, the chief of an intelligence agency and National Security Council (NSC) Secretary Tariq Aziz have already offered the olive twig to Benazir, Asif and Shahbaz Sharif at a dinner at Benazir's residence in Dubai.
(1) Dawn of Jan 21 reported that Shahbaz Sharif did not meet Benazir and Asif. Information Minister Sheikh Rashid has already said that Benazir should have no qualms working under Gen Musharraf as she had once agreed to do so under Gen Zia. The late Meraj Khalid in an interview in 2002 had also stated the same, though it did not pan out that way.
(2) Only one political leader so far has wrested power from the generals, Mujib in 1971. Bhutto had the support of Gen Gul Hassan and Air Marshal M. Rahim Khan, and historically it was a soft take-over. How the two fell is another story altogether.
Junejo, Benazir and Nawaz Sharif accepted power as a dole and lost it as easily; the last two were twice put in office, not in power. Generals have no respect for people's mandate; they dithered for 13 days after the elections in 1988 and refused to hand over power to the majority party leader.
"On the 14th day, (US) Ambassador Robert Oakley called on the president (Ghulam Ishaq Khan) and made it clear that the United States believed that Benazir should be sworn in." (Mary Anne Weaver, "Pakistan in the shadows of Jihad and Afghanistan" - Viking Penguin Book Ltd 2002 India.)
(3) Even a man like Z. A. Bhutto said that to get power from the generals, they had to be first defeated in a war. Since war is no more an option, political leaders either must wait for them to run their system into ground or work the street.
There is no other sensible way to put generals permanently in the barracks or on the borders. We have to turn from a 'power-centric' to a 'people-centric' state. The time for niceties is gone as the federation is already put under strain by the man in uniform.
Else, under the guise of transfer of power, political leaders will continue to be hamstrung as in their previous tenures and people will remain deprived of their right to rule themselves.
ASLAM MINHAS
Karachi
PMDC's accountability
With reference to Prof Nirmal Das's letter "PMDC's accountability" (Feb 8), I would like to clarify that:
a. In the ordinance there is no distinction between private medical colleges and government medical colleges.
b. Irregularities exist in government medical colleges also, specially in basic sciences where the faculty is non-existent in certain subjects. A majority of the teachers in government medical colleges have taken long leave and work in private medical colleges.
c. The council does not inspect government medical colleges regularly. Certain government medical colleges have not been inspected in the last 20 years and those inspected have been grossly deficient in certain areas.
d. Government medical colleges have been over admitting students but the council has not taken any action against these colleges.
I would also like to point out that the council needs to be strengthened by private sector representation as per law. Dr Das should not be scared of private sector input. Overprotection and maladministration of government educational institutions has lead to deterioration in educational standards as witnessed in other fields also.
Medical education will meet the same fate as government schools. Thus, medical education is not safe in the hands of the present governmental council. The federal ministry of health is cognizant of the situation and has also asked the council to be more accommodative towards the private sector and advised it to constitute the council according to law.
The Vohra Medical College example does not justify across-the-board condemnation of the private sector. What this college did was because of the sheer apathy of the council and the university itself. So, they have to take the blame also.
This goes to prove my point that institutions need to be strengthened, made more representative, responsive, transparent and efficient so as to uplift medical education in both government and private sectors to an acceptable international level. Those who do not fulfil the prescribed criteria need to be closed down without discrimination in line with laid-down procedures.
DR ASIM HUSSAIN
President, Pakistan Association of Private Medical & Dental Institutions Karachi
Mangroves and tsunami
This refers to Mr Devinder Sharma's article "Tsunami, mangroves and market economy" (Dawn, Jan 15) and a letter in the same context by Mr Altamash Manzoor (Jan 29).
I would like to add a few more things. It is a fact that mangroves can mitigate the devastation caused by tsunamis, and one of the emerging lessons of the earthquake-tsunami disaster is that mangroves and coral reefs are vital barriers that can prevent or at least lessen the damage caused by these high tidal waves. A mangrove is a woody plant community which lives between the sea and the land in areas which are inundated by tides.
Pakistan has over 230,000 hectares of mangrove area. It is estimated that one hectare of mangroves, if properly managed, could produce an annual yield of 25kg shrimp, 100kg fish, 15kg crab meat, 200kg mollusc and 40kg sea cucumbers.
According to a study conducted by the National Institute of Oceanography, Karachi, the current exploitation of mangrove wood is at a rate of 1.286 mt/month and mangrove fodder 6,000 mt/year, most of which is being used in cooking fuel in household by poor people living along the coast. Migratory fish, such as the palla and the barramundi, are now rare in the market.
A storm surge of two metres would inundate vast coastal areas of the Indus delta. A cyclone passing from a distance of 50km from the coast of Pakistan would produce a surge of 0.5 metre that would flood low-lying areas.
To save mangroves in Pakistan, there is a need to preserve the balance between nature and human needs - e.g., switching from agriculture to aqua-culture to achieve a healthy and clean environment along with sustainable development of coast source usage.
The government has to prevent, reduce and control marine pollution and work towards sustainable management of coastal and marine resources. Moreover, approaches are required to promote participation of local communities in the sustainable development of coastal resources.
Cutting of mangroves has to be stopped immediately by strengthening coastal economics to deal effectively with poverty and for this the government has to recognize the rights and interests of indigenous people.
RASHID ASHRAF
Karachi
Pasni Dam
I could not agree more with Dr Mubashir Hasan (Dawn, Feb 13) that the builders of the Pasni dam must be held responsible for the loss of lives and property caused by its breach.
Unfortunately, in our country only a small percentage of the actual allocated amount is spent on public projects while the lion's share is divided among people at the helm of affairs.
It is suggested that on every completed project, essential particulars of the builders and/or contractors, like their names (personal as well as the firm's) and complete official address; total time taken and year completed; total cost estimated/incurred; expected/guaranteed life of the project; job awarded by (name of the agency and its head), etc. are engraved prominently for information of the public at large, and for the record.
ASGHAR BIN SHAHID JAFRI
Lahore
Funding of customs' schools
In 2004, the collector of customs, Lahore, 'requested' his counterpart in Karachi for a loan facility of Rs2 million for purchasing land for the Customs Public School, Lahore.
The senior officer who requested the loan facility promised that as soon as the school would become profitable, the loan would be repaid. However, no mark up on the loan amount was agreed upon, and nor was a date for its repayment.
The section in Karachi that deals with finances objected to the loan, on the plea that the department in Karachi was already under financial constraints, so much that even medical facilities for its employees had been withdrawn.
It also expressed its concern about the weak financial position of Lahore's two collectorates and doubts that, in view of their past record, they could be able to pay back the loan.
It was also maintained that such a transaction would hinder development and welfare activities in the Karachi collectorate and there was no precedence of one collectorate extending loan facilities to another.
The department concerned, however, made the point that even if the loan was being considered, a special meeting of the members of the board of trustees should be convened.
Fearing outright rejection by the trustees, the Karachi collectorate (appraisement) forthwith went ahead and extended the loan facility to their Lahore counterpart, on the basis that 'it was being given to a sister organization for a good cause'.
The collectorate of customs, Lahore, expressed their gratitude to the Karachi collectorate (appraisement) for sending them a cheque for Rs2 million, informing the latter that land for Customs Public School, Lahore, had been duly purchased through the loaned amount.
While going through the Karachi collectorate's audit report, one finds mentioned in its year-2004 balance sheet a substantial amount due towards the Rawalpindi collectorate.
Though it does not indicate the type of liability, in the book for year-2000 there is indication of a loan written off (including that of the Lahore collectorate) off Rs3.6 million.
Does it also indicate another future write-off of Rs2million towards the Lahore collectorate? Another big question is why was a further loan granted to a collectorate when it is already known to be a defaulter?
Karachi, according to my information, has the largest number of customs/appraisement employees in Pakistan, as compared to the other provinces, more than thrice of Lahore's. These employees must have school-going children. Has the Karachi collectorate ever planned any educational institution for its employees' children?
What is stopping the Karachi collectorate from starting such a facility on its own territorial domain, like purchasing a plot instead of running a school on premises already under litigation? Will the office of the auditor-general of Pakistan take notice of such gross irregularities - unauthorized loans and easy write-offs?
KUNWAR KHALID YUNUS
Karachi
KWSB response
KWSB clarifications to many questions raised by Karachiites on its "faulty system of water supply and tax collection" are still awaited in these columns. It is astonishing that the KWSB has so far failed to come up with any new plans for improved water and sewerage services for general public information.
Complete silence on the part of the KWSB shows its acceptance of the existing system faults, highlighted by many tax-payers. It also indicates the KWSB's intention to carry on with the same defective policies, causing inconvenience to millions of consumers.
Installation of water meters in supply-lines to various houses and flats/ complexes has not yet started anywhere in Karachi, and consumers paying regular taxes to the KWSB are going to receive yet another water bill for the next fiscal year 2005-06 without provisions for meter readings in disregard of the actual supply of water by the KWSB and its actual consumption at the receiving end. Therefore, short supply of water is likely to continue.
Sewerage conditions also remain unchanged. The KWSB must bring an end to such gross mismanagement and ensure due water supply.
JUNAID IQBAL
Karachi
(II)
Endorsing the views of Mr M. Shafique Ahmed on privatization of the KESC (Feb 13), I suggest considering privatizing the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board as well because of its mismanagement resulting in inconveniences to the public on account of short water supply and unjustified billing over a long time.
The KWSB has not yet provided water meters in its supply lines and is overcharging the consumers. While unjustified system of supply and billing is not being remedied, the short supply of water for two to three hours on alternate days of a week continues.
ABU ALI AHMED
Karachi
Health for all 2000
This has reference to Mr Zafar Omer's letter "Health for all 2000" (Feb 10). I think Mr Omer has misunderstood the declaration of Alma Ata on "Health for all 2000". It was not the intention of the WHO to promote quackery in the name of healing.
WHO's intention was to promote primary health-care system worldwide by training additional health-care workers, such as in midwifery, so that they could assist and team up with trained medical doctors in providing primary healthcare.
Medical specialties like family medicine and primary health-care practices are the eventual outcome of the Alma Ata vision. We should not compromise our standards in the name of service. We should promote the modern medicine concepts in Pakistan and restrict quackery.
DR ASHRAF KHAN
Hackensack, NJ USA
US consulate
If the US consulate is built at the proffered Clifton site, it will sit adjacent to Runnymede in close proximity to the Italians, Germans, and a few others, allowing for more effective common security.
This will permit G. W. Bush to correct his otherwise famous gaffe: "We have a commitment to Nato: we are part of Nato. We have a commitment to Europe: we are part of Europe!"
DR MERVYN HOSEIN
Karachi
(II)
The US consulate is being moved from its current location to another part of Karachi. This sounds reasonable until the exact location is considered. The reported move is to an amenity plot in the Boating Basin area and, much to the dismay of parents, the new site is adjacent to the Karachi Grammar School kindergarten and junior section buildings.
We all know that the US consulate has encountered numerous bomb threats and terrorist attacks in the past. And because of this, the entire road facing Jinnah Park and Sindh Club is always either blocked or frequently closed.
The news of moving the consulate away from the city centre was received with great relief by the public. But the idea of bringing it within such close proximity of a school has created quite a stir amongst concerned parents.
From the consulate's point of view too, if there is to be a move, shouldn't it be to a more secure and less crowded area where the chances of intrusion are minimized?
How does moving right next to a school really benefit security when the consulate will be exposed to a thousand school cars passing by everyday? It jeopardizes the security on both ends.
We all know that at this initial stage, the issue can be tackled amicably. Hundreds of parents have been a part of peaceful demonstrations in Karachi. The authorities to look into this matter and relocate the consulate office to another feasible location.
R.M. ISMAIL
Karachi
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