| March, 14 2005 | Monday | 03 Safar 1426 |
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Foreign experts
Haj arrangements
A thought on federal courts
Textile sector
Encroachment of land
Managing CPSP affairs
Futile exercise
Winning laurels
Proud Pakistani
Processing fee
Neglect of Chitral
Matching hospitality
THIS is with reference to the article “Messing with the car market” (March 7) by Mr Ibrahim Lakhiar. I would like to share certain facts.
The writer starts by asserting that the “families of the effected middle class... are being entrapped by the lustre of the leasing lure”. In the last five years, our economy has shown tremendous growth resulting in a considerable increase in per capita income leading to higher disposal incomes and an increase in the purchasing power of the middle class. As such, the question of “middle class” being entrapped by the “lustre of leasing” does not arise.
I do, however, agree that there are a lot of “logjams” because of the larger number of automobiles on road. But what needs to be done is to improve the infrastructure and build new overhead bridges along with expanding our roads so that the traffic load can be handled, instead of curbing auto lease.
As far as the payment of differentials on price revision is concerned, if after the booking of a car a newer model with enhanced specifications is introduced, obviously these specifications would cost extra. Since these vehicles are not custom-made, the upgrading of specifications is uniform to all vehicles on the assembly line.
Should they prefer not to buy the upgraded vehicle, buyers are open to withdraw the amount paid at the time of booking. Also, in the interest of the customers, buyers of cars booked prior to the price revision are only charged 50 per cent of the extra amount. The delay in delivery is due to the artificial demand created by unauthorized dealers, investors and resellers who intentionally hoard vehicles to enjoy premiums and their share on cancellations. But there are customers willing to pay extra (premium) for quick delivery since the retail car prices of manufacturers are very competitive and affordable.
This demands a check on investors and unauthorized dealers who are creating an artificial demand. Most importantly, the government needs to formulate legislation to stop non-genuine customers from booking cars. Many suggestions have been put forward by the auto industry in this regard.
One solution is to make it mandatory to register the car in the name of the customer it was originally booked with the car manufacturer and prohibit its transfer for at least one year after its first registration. Another could be to increase production of all car manufacturers, which requires an increase in capacity.
Capacity expansion requires heavy investment, and the government needs to formulate long-term and stable auto policies encouraging investment in the auto sector, especially since other countries in the region are witnessing unprecedented growth in auto demand and have less country risk with better law and order, better infrastructure, better operating conditions, better engineering and vendor industry, etc.
Although the writer is concerned about “logjams” due to increase in number of cars on the roads, he concludes by strongly advocating unchecked import and sales of imported cars, both new and used. The question is: Wouldn’t this further choke our congested streets and pollute the environment?
I don’t think that the local manufacture and sale of smaller vehicles affordable for the middle class are promoting a VIP culture, as leasing is more focused on a social class that could not afford cars earlier.
ANUSHKA SYED
Karachi
MUCH has been written in reply to a letter appearing in this newspaper that berated Pakistani expats over their constant criticism of the home country. In this, one can feel the bitterness of the expats who have defended a number of points raised.
However, there are some charges that cannot be left unanswered. For one, many American-Pakistanis say that since they were treated as second-class citizens at home, they don’t mind the same treatment in the US. Well, then why leave home?
Others insist that they have not been mistreated in the US, only in Pakistan. To them I say, then leave us to our fate. Don’t meddle in our affairs.
Others say that only illegal immigrants to the US face harassment by authorities. But there are several documented cases that show how hundreds of people with legal standing were picked up and abused on trumped-up charges.
To Pakistani-Americans, one can safely say: please wake up and instead of harping about abuse only in Pakistan, also talk about abuse in the US.
Many consider Pakistan unsafe and complain of crime. When was the last time they took a walk in Washington DC in the evening? Crime, like all other things, is a relative term.
The message that one can give to Pakistani expats is that unlike those who are living abroad and will eventually come back to Pakistan, you have now changed home and hearth.
In many instances, you have also lost touch with the realities of Pakistan. Don’t comment on issues on which you have half-baked knowledge picked up from scattered reading of the media or through some sermon at your local mosque.
Pakistani-Americans also need to emulate Indian-Americans by playing a more constructive role in American society, as well as coming up with more well meaning projects at home that actually help the community.
Not like the Pakistani doctors’ body that is obsessed with self-projection, with its last head doing so well that he ended up becoming a minister of state here.
UBAID UR REHMAN Lahore
FINE arrangements were made for lighting, cleanliness, telephone, road traffic and ablutions during this year’s Haj. Eatables were pure and fresh and available at nominal rates. Above all, the distribution of copies of the Holy Quran and Islamic books among the Hajis was praiseworthy.
However, there are still some problems. In Makkah, during the Tawaf-i-Ka’aba, some pilgrims cross-walk, causing trouble for the others. Similarly, some try to offer ‘nawafil’ near the Muqam-i-Ibrahim, though there is enough space behind for this. This practice also hinders ‘tawaf’.
Wheel-chairs rented out to aged pilgrims for performing ‘tawaf’ have dirty cushions. The shoes of pilgrims placed near the entrance of the Harem Sharif, as well as in the Masjid-i-Nabavi, are taken away while cleaning the floor, which creates a great problem for them.
Beggars are seen on all the roads leading to the Haram Sharif and Madina, which does not befit the dignity of sacred cities.
Some pilgrims, particularly women, are seen washing their coffin cloth with Zam Zam water. It is just waste of sacred water. It is also seen that pilgrims often suffer from respiratory disorders due to dust and lack of greenery.
It is hoped that the Saudi government would do the needful in the interests of the pilgrims.
MUHAMMAD RASHID
Lahore
THIS has reference to a recent proclamation by the government that it will establish a federal court to lessen the burden on superior courts.
The government has to
bear in mind the following points while establishing the court:
a. Appointments must be made from among members of the Bar and from the judiciary, having experience in a particular field.
b. Judges of these courts should be paid handsome salaries so that they should not fall prey to any temptation.
c. The federal court must have its benches in provincial headquarters to allow the poor and needy litigants to approach it easily.
d. Cases in these courts
be decided on merit rather than on technical points.
For this the authorities concerned should seek help from the judges of the superior courts, jurists and prominent lawyers.
e. These courts must be separated from the executive to ensure full justice.
f. The federal court and its branches should not act parallel to the superior courts; rather they should be bound to follow the verdicts of the Supreme Court and high courts under articles 189 and 201 of the Constitution.
A. NASIR KAMAL YOUSAFZAI
Advocate, Mardan
EVEN though quotas have ended, Pakistan is troubled by high operating costs in the textile sector. Oil prices are rising, resulting in an increase in electricity, transportation, etc. But the main area of concern is the duty charged by developed countries.
In Canada the duty on textiles is more that 16 per cent on Pakistani goods. In the EU, it is 12 per cent plus 13.1 per cent anti-dumping. In the USA the duty is more that eight per cent.
How can a country like Pakistan compete with countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka that are either zero-rated or where the duty is close to 0 per cent, making Pakistani goods uncompetitive?
Our textile minister, commerce minister, the president and the prime minister must approach the higher-ups of these countries and convince them about the need to lower the duty for greater market access. Besides, our labour is not as productive as that in China, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It should be borne in mind that our goods compete with the goods of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka rather than India and China which deal in value-added products.
REHMAT ALI RAUF
Karachi
THE residents of Madni Colony, Karachi, are disillusioned by the total silence and lack of action by the authorities concerned against the encroachers of the road leading to their houses in TL28 Grax Hawkesbay. The encroachers have established their own rules and are already occupying enough land, including the road adjacent to the playground.
This playground is the only hope for the children of the area. It is requested that the authorities should demolish the illegal gate and walls meant to block the road, to properly fence the playground and to ask the police to keep encroachers at bay.
F. SHAH
Karachi
THIS refers to letters by Dr Nadeem Ahmed (March 5) and Mr Ather Husain (March 8), “Managing CPSP affairs”.
I agree with Dr Nadeem Ahmed on the point that the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) is overrunning its own rules. The status of FCPS-1 was decided in the 96th meeting of the CPSP council in September 2001 and hence cancellation of FCPS-1 of so many candidates is against that decision.
It is a matter of serious concern that the CPSP is not following its own rules. Without any prior intimation, many doctors have been sent notices by the CPSP that their FCPS-1 stands cancelled. Not only this, some doctors have even completed their FCPS-II training and are fully geared to appear in the examinations. They have now received notices from the CPSP that their FCPS-1 has been cancelled. It has created much unrest among young doctors who have already crossed a long list of hurdles for their specialization.
After their house job, many doctors opt to prepare for FCPS-1 though only a few pass. After that they have to apply in a CPSP-recognized hospital to be trained for FCPS-II. It is again very difficult to find a seat for this training in a reputable tertiary-care hospital in the country. Candidates have to get registered in the research and training monitoring cell (RTMC) of the CPSP against a huge fee. Then they are trained under the supervision of a registered consultant of the CPSP. Only after successful training of four to five years in the concerned discipline do they become eligible to appear for the FCPS-II examination. In such an exhausting atmosphere no candidate should be denied his/her FCPS-1.
Adding to the above problems is the fact that after passing the FCPS-1, many doctors get jobs of medical officers in civilian or military hospitals where the heads of the hospitals do not allow them to start their FCPS-II training for three to five years. Subsequently, during this period the validity of FCPS-1 stands null and void. This whole scenario has caused an environment of confusion for doctors.
The senior executive officer of the CPSP, in his letter, has said that the status of FCPS-1 was decided in the CPSP meeting in 2001 in the presence of many senior officials and eminent specialists from abroad. My question is that when senior officials and experts from abroad were invited, why weren’t the doctors, whose fate was being decided, called?
We do not have examination centres of overseas colleges, like the Royal College, London, to do MRCP or MRCS. The CPSP remains the only centre of excellence for specialization in medicine in Pakistan. It is, therefore, of importance that the CPSP should not indulge merely in issues of raising fees and making the examination patterns more difficult but adopt a more flexible approach towards the doctors of the country. The authorities should review their policies and amend them according to the current situation.
The president and prime minister of Pakistan and the president of the CPSP are requested to take personal interest in this matter and lessen the frustration among young doctors.
DR A. HAMEED JAMALI
Medical Officer, PAEC Hospital
Islamabad
THIS has reference to an advertisement by the National Accountability Bureau in newspapers (March 8). The advertisement, with the headline “Shaffaf Pakistan”, is a warning to those wishing to go abroad for employment, asking them not to attempt to go “abroad on fake travel documents”.
The National Accountability Bureau has been spending heavy amounts on such advertising campaigns for quite some time now, but so far we have not been able to see any tangible change in our society’s mindset towards the menace of corruption that is weakening the fabric of society.
I wonder why such an issue, that should have been raised either by the ministry of interior, or the ministry of overseas Pakistanis, or the immigration and passport department or the bureau of emigration and overseas employment, is being projected by the National Accountability Bureau and that too in shape of advertisements by spending hefty amounts.
I see no point in wasting public money in an exercise which will not bear any fruit. Corruption cannot be eradicated through advertisements; neither will the corrupt pay any heed to such warnings nor will they help to create meaningful awareness regarding the negative effects of corruption on society.
ZEESHAN UL RUB JAFFRI
Karachi
IN the recently concluded Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group 1 tie Pakistan emerged worthy winners against a formidable opposition. It was heartening to see Pakistani players putting in their full effort to bring laurels to the country.
I would request the ministry of sports to acknowledge the efforts of the Pakistani boys and encourage young talent in Pakistan, particularly in tennis, to consolidate our position in the world of sports.
YASAR LODI
Karachi
DISEMBARKING from a flight from Kuala Lumpur, I saw a Pakistani lighting up a cigarette in the arrivals lounge of Jinnah Airport, Karachi, despite repeated announcements not to smoke on the premises.
Summoning up courage, I asked this otherwise pleasant-looking man why he was doing this since he had abstained from smoking at the lounge in Kuala Lumpur. His reply was startling: “But now I am in Pakistan. I can do as I please,” he said.
ARSHAD LONE Karachi
RECENTLY thousands of people deposited their application forms for the purchase of shares, valued Rs15,000 for 500 shares, on the offer made by the Kot Adu Power Company through the media.
Most banks authorized by the company collected these forms from Feb 21 to Feb 24 without any extra charge. However, the Gari Khata, Hyderabad, branch of Habib Bank charged an extra Rs10 as processing fee.
We look forward to the bank management to clarify the rationale behind charging this extra amount.
NARENDER PIRYANI
Hyderabad
CHITRAL has been suffering from natural disasters since last October. Due
to heavy snowfall, all fruit trees and crops have been badly affected and communication and the transport system badly damaged. People were assured that they would be provided aid by the government, but so far that day has not come.
It had snowed heavily for about one whole week at the beginning of this year. This had caused great destruction — many houses and walls collapsed, some people lost their lives and the wheat crop was ruined.
Now the people are helpless. They want to re-cultivate
their fields but they do
not have seeds, nor do they have any money to buy seeds. They expect the government to help them by providing them loans.
MOHAMMAD KHAN
Via email
THIS refers to Mr Rajiv Shorty’s letter “Matching hospitality” (March 6). It is gratifying to read in the papers of the warmth and hospitality that has greeted Pakistan cricket fans in Mohali.
If both sides could show the same feelings in matters other than cricket and people-
to-people contacts are developed between the two estranged countries, it is bound to foster better relations than the slowgoing and deceptive political dialogue for normalization of relations between the two.
It is, therefore, in the fitness of things if the embargo on exchange of books, journals, scientists, students for study, print media, TV and film artistes, cultural troupes and educationists is lifted. This can be more rewarding than what the politicians have so far done.
M. SHAFIQUE AHMED
Karachi
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