| 23 February 2005 | Wednesday | 13 Muharram 1426 |
Natural calamities hit Chitral
'A costly & harmful project'
'Balochistani'
Share business via Internet
Need for construction firms
Reforming OIC
Smaller provinces
Manholes in Islamabad
Transport strikes
Perks for MPs
Post-match commentary
Question to PTCL
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This refers to the article "Package for garment exporters on the cards" (Feb 16). The most disappointing aspect about this whole scenario is the lack of urgency shown from the government's side. The article mentions that the minister will visit Karachi next month to try to formulate a relief package.
The case of our apparel industry is like that of a patient dying in the emergency room who is told that the doctor would visit after a month. Someone should inform the government departments concerned that the year 2005 has already begun and we are in a post-quota era.
Governments in other countries had already placed incentives before Jan 2005 to allow the garment trade to grow and continue, while in our country they are still thinking about a package while giving most of the attention to the (artificially created) automobile industry.
Admit it, Pakistan is only a textile country. Only the garment industry fetches more than $1 billion in foreign exchange, and supports numerous other industries directly and indirectly.
Garment industries are also very labour-intensive. Even the smallest garment unit employs over 100 people. It is estimated that around two million people work in garment factories alone.
According to the current situation, and going by the predictions of the World Bank and numerous other organizations, even if 20 per cent of the factories close down (and many already have), just imagine the crisis, social unrest, and the unbearable law and order situation; Karachi's law and order situation has already worsened.
The following are the solutions which need to be acted upon overnight: (1) The apparel exporters should somehow be taken out of the sales tax system, as it is not feasible to pay 15 per cent sales tax (stuck for one year) on a product which is giving only five per cent return nowadays, or sales tax should be reduced across the board to about five per cent; (2) Electricity cost in China is negligible. At least in Pakistan it should be reduced by 50 per cent for exporters to make their production competitive; (3) Rebates should be reintroduced on garment exports, at least 10 per cent of the FOB value to bring the cost further down (other countries in this region, and even China, are all giving double-digit rebates to their apparel exporters); and (4) A high-level delegation should be formed whose only goal should be to get duties removed from Pakistani apparel to the US and the EU, which will require extensive negotiations, a lot of hard work and lobbying.
Currently, China and India are 20 per cent cheaper than Pakistan in apparel and even at a 20 per cent lower export price their profit margins are more than 15 per cent, while Pakistan's is not more than five per cent. If the above steps - no matter how irrational our only options are - are not implemented overnight, Pakistan can kiss its garment industry goodbye.
ASIF JAFFAR
Karachi
Natural calamities hit Chitral
Pakistan has witnessed a heavy rainfall in many places since the beginning of February. The government has taken steps for the relief of affected people, but the people of Chitral, who have been surviving under more than five feet of snow, have not received any help so far.
Due to severe shortage of fuel and severance of communication with other places, the people of Chitral are the worst hit. And this is not the only time. Chitral has been ignored for the last 57 seven years.
The Lawari project was launched by President General Pervez Musharraf in the year 2000, and it was pledged to start from April 2001. Since then, the project is incessantly being delayed and this has been causing a great hindrance in the development of the region, while many lives are at risk because the people of Chitral still have to travel difficult routes through Afghanistan.
To top it all, the heaviest-ever-recorded snowfall in this region this year has brought a number of additional problems. It is time the government should start thinking seriously on this issue.
MUKHTAR ALI
Chitral
(II)
The NWFP government has declared eight districts in the province as calamity-hit. But, surprisingly, Chitral was excluded from the list despite the fact that a famine-like situation is prevailing in the district.
Cut-off from the rest of the country, the area this year received unprecedented rain, which has paralyzed life, and in many localities people are on the verge of starvation.
Chitral, the largest district in the province, fails to attract the MMA government. The people of Chitral are in a fix who to turn to for help, as the elected representatives from the area have all failed to protect their rights. If Abbottabad can be declared calamity-hit area then why not Chitral? Is it because there is no influential minister from Chitral in the provincial cabinet?
SABIR AMAN
Chitral
'A costly & harmful project'
As a citizen of Islamabad, I fully support the extremely well argued case made in Mr Roedad Khan's article: "A costly and harmful project" against the building of a tunnel through the Margalla hills in order to connect Haripur and Hazara with Islamabad (Feb 8).
I am very glad that Dawn also thought it fit to deal with the subject in an editorial and made very solid adverse comments on the proposal (Feb 15). One regrets that Islamabad no longer remains what it was once meant to be.
Its master plan has been frequently meddled with by the authorities in power to meet their conveniences and wishes, resulting in detrimental effects on the complexion of the city as a whole.
Even the Margalla hills, a gift of nature, stretching towards the horizon and providing a beautiful skyline to the city, have not been spared. The entire area was declared a national park by the federal government in 1980 and its preservation, as such, was made mandatory. However, the first major blow to it comes just four years later, in the form of a cement factory which was allowed to be established by a private sector investor. This obviously did major damage to the park's distinguishing features, besides creating pollution for the entire neighbourhood.
One could not imagine that a far more damaging blow to it would be contemplated in the form of building a tunnel. It is earnestly hoped that the proposal is abandoned.
You have concluded your editorial comments most suitably by saying: "The Margalla Hills National Park must be left alone for it to keep serving as the expanded capital's lungs." As it is, the expanded capital is already bursting at its seams.
DR AFTAB AHMED
Islamabad
'Balochistani'
Well done, Zobaida Jalal, federal minister for social welfare and special education, for claiming to speak as a "Balochistani" and not a 'Baloch' at her press conference, as reported in PTV news at 9pm on Jan 27.
A native of Sindh is Sindhi and of Punjab, a Punjabi. In the German language, one's origin is derived by adding "er" to the name of the place of origin. The most famous proclamation is that of the late US president Kennedy at the now-demolished Berlin Wall: "Ich bin ein Berliner".
For the remaining two provinces of Pakistan such an easy rule is not available. The principal of a well-known school in Quetta wanted to tell his audience in a children's TV programme that he was the first local to be principal of that school. He was a Pathan. He got over the difficulty by calling himself "Balochistani" and consequently becoming, to my knowledge, the first Balochistani.
The province of Balochistan was not created through a political process. Hence the lack of political understanding by its people and leaders. It was born as a result of a military decree, breaking up One Unit. It was then known as Baluchistan which Akbar Bugti changed to Balochistan. Its natives, however, remained without a clear identity.
Also, there is a longstanding demand for the change of the name of the NWFP. The most suitable names for the two provinces would be Bolan and Abasian, based on natural physical features.
H.A. HAJI
Karachi
Share business via Internet
The share business is gaining the attention of citizens. It started getting popular when a bank announced its shares for public purchase in the first quarter of 2004. Afterwards, a few oil companies announced their shares and public interest rose.
It is said to be a safe mode of investment (up to 500 shares/person) for small investors. But applying for shares by people offers an irritating problem. There is a long queue, which often results in disappointment as many return home unsuccessful owing to the limited banking hours.
I suggest that this procedure of applying for shares should also be web-based to avoid unnecessary wastage of time. In this case, the amount may be debited from the applicant's bank account or credit card.
Moreover, the national identity card number of the applicant may be confirmed through the Nadra database. Technology is now so advanced that it seems an easy task. Recently, the draft of electronic transfer was circulated by the State Bank for obtaining comments from the citizens.
RASHID ASHRAF
Karachi
Need for construction firms
One feels extremely distressed over the bitter truth that even after 57 years of our independence, we still are forced to look up to the international donor agencies for financial assistance for the realization of our economic goals.
Having sensed this weakness of ours, the international donor agencies have assumed the role of the East India Company. It is true that history hardly ever repeats itself in totality but then there is no denying the fact that it is not only capable of doing so, but also at times does it with a pinch of vengeance.
It is not difficult for anyone to visualize that today's world is shaped by forces of the market economy which was also the main driving force 200 years ago. It would be naive to believe that international donor agencies are sincerely concerned about our welfare.
In fact, they are money-lending agencies that make sure that they get in return the targeted benefits, and to ensure their interest they play the political chess from a safe distance.
These donor agencies do not see economic development from the same angle as any patriotic individual, who naturally would like to safeguard the independence of his motherland.
In a nutshell, today the curse of slavery is camouflaged under various faces but freedom has one, and only one, face that guarantees a nation's honourable existence. It is time we woke up to differentiate between the chains of slavery and the wings of freedom.
When we compare our economic growth with those countries in the region which won their independence from the foreign masters at almost the same time, or even later, the scenario that emerges is not very encouraging.
During all these past years we have not been able to establish even a single industrial giant in the real sense of the word in the public or private sector, which could cope with the challenges of the 21st century.
The fundamental weakness in the existing industrial set-up, in both public and private sectors, is the lack of modern infrastructure, tools, equipment and technology which the developed world had at their service decades ago.
At present, we do not have any construction company which could be independently entrusted with the task of infrastructure development such as roads, railways, ports and dams.
The government ought to offer VIP treatment to the construction companies and provide all necessary facilities to them so that they develop into organizations with modern equipment capable of executing large projects independent of any foreign technical help. But to the utter dismay of the nationalistic lot, no effective progress in this direction has been made by the organizations - the majority of them in the government - everyone has to look up for remedial action.
Until and unless we provide our construction companies and industrial organizations with the latest tools, plant and technology, we can never hope to provide the country with the infrastructure so essential for economic growth.
It is an urgent need of the day that giant construction companies and industrial units be established in the private sector and equipped with the latest technology and equipment so as to acquire the potential to execute the projects of utmost national importance on our own and also to provide the infrastructure required for the economic development of the country, independent of any dictation or conditions from the international financial organizations.
AFTAB ISLAM AGHA
Lahore
Reforming OIC
The secretary-general of the OIC recently spoke about the restructuring of the Islamic Conference. He has said that he supports Pakistan and other member-states on the question of reorganizing the OIC.
The need of the hour is to make the OIC proactive, dynamic and truly representative of the Muslims. This is a Herculean task. The Ummah is in a deep slumber and in no mood of awakening. Certain facts, therefore, should be kept in mind while reorganizing the OIC. Decisions made by the OIC have not been implemented so far. The organization betrays a passive laid-back approach.
This trend should be changed. There should be a mechanism for decision-making and implementation. To be effective, it is imperative that differences among member- countries and heads of state do not come in the way of efforts for the resolution of critical problems.
The secretary-general has said that he wants to make the OIC an enlightened and moderate organization. True enlightenment and moderation as envisaged by our religion should be aimed at. The OIC is an organization of 52 countries endowed with major resources but its reaction to any act of aggression is not in sync with the challenge before it.
M. AKRAM SAQIB
Sahiwal
Smaller provinces
This is with reference to the letter by Senator Farhatullah Babar (Feb 8). In this connection, we wish to clarify that no discrimination is being made in gas supply to the NWFP.
In accordance with our agreement with the industrial sector, supply is made to the industries in both the provinces of Punjab and the NWFP on nine- month-a-year basis and that too on an availability basis, to enable us to cater for the high priority of domestic additional load requirements, especially during the winter when the ambient temperature is much lower.
We also admit that delay in commissioning supply from Gurguri gasfield affected our gas supply schedule. However, with effect from Jan 29, 2005, evening the entire 34 MMCFD of gas inducted into this system is being supplied to the NWFP.
NAEEM A. KHAN
Chief officer (PR) Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd, Lahore
Manholes in Islamabad
My son fell in a manhole in the posh commercial locality of F-10, Islamabad, and almost lost his life. I lodged a complaint with the Capital Development Authority (CDA), but even after two months that manhole is still uncovered. Probably the CDA has other priorities.
The recent steps by the chairman, CDA, to beautify Islamabad are appreciable. But the basic necessities of this city should be taken care first. There are plenty of deficiencies like open manholes, broken roads and overflowing sewerage lines in this city.
It is to be noted that Islamabad does not have a main sewerage system and all the filth is dumped into nullahs which are plenty here. These nullahs were once streams of clean water that added to the natural beauty of this city, but now they are smelly drains.
The CDA chairman must also make provision of such basic facilities a priority.
MOHAMMAD YASIN
Islamabad
Transport strikes
Transporters have called for a two-day strike from Feb 24 to protest against the rising cost of fuel without adequate compensation in the fare. The authorities concerned and transport representatives should resolve the issue amicably. Strikes not only disrupt economic activities but also put a lot of people to unnecessary inconvenience.
One also wonders why such disruptive activities (the last strike was on Saturday, Jan 8) only take place in Karachi.
NAZIM F HAJI
Karachi
Perks for MPs
I was shocked to learn about the increase in the perks and privileges of our parliamentarians and ministers. These are the people who cry hoarse about their concern for the poor but feel no qualms in asking for more. Enabling them to maintain a certain standard of living is cited as the reason. This is indeed understandable considering their lifestyle.
The least these 'servants of the people' deserve are cars worth billions. But how else will the lowly Pakistanis learn to fear them? Why could we not get just two instead of 72 of these cars (for the president and the prime minister)? They are the ones who have been attacked and need special protection. What is the justification for the other 70 cars? This is outrageous.
MS RAFIA MIRZA
Lahore
Post-match commentary
Currently, a private TV channel in Pakistan is featuring comments on cricket matches, with Sikandar Bakht, ex-fast bowler, on the screen. His comments are healthy and unbiased and are being appreciated by cricket fans.
Some Indian channels each day telecast programmes like "Sunny By Night" to analyze a cricket match. But PTV has failed to satisfy the cricket-loving people of Pakistan by inviting the former test players which reflects their lack of planning and vision to promote this sport which is loved by the people. Cricket commentators must be invited to analyze each match on TV.
ARSHAD MAHMOOD BUTT
Jhelum
Question to PTCL
Before I left for a longish vacation abroad in April 2004, I had my ISD phone 5656722 blocked. When I returned in October, I found the phone dead. Inquiries showed that under some obscure PTCL rule a phone cannot stay blocked for more than three months and that I would have to apply for a new connection.
I complied and after the usual hassles that any exercise with PTCL entails, I got my present phone 5220299. But I continue to receive the bills for my old phone regularly. The latest one is for January 2005. The bill for October even got paid in confusion with other utility bills.
It seems pointless to expect a refund. However, my question to PTCL is: if my old telephone is alive and still in my name, why was I forced to seek a new connection?
ESS AYE
Karachi
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