| April, 1 2005 | Friday | 21 Safar 1426 |
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Misplaced notions of honour
Pressure on the new generation
Stock exchange crash
Library law
Snatching of mobile phones
MMA politics
Security guards
Pakistan Steel
Inzamam’s feat
Democracy and US
CSS exams
The housing finance industry, which has been on the verge of a take-off for the past three or so years, seems to be the biggest disappointment of the financial sector.
There were several complaints in the past of overcharging by various banks under one pretext or another from hapless customers who were eager to buy houses and cash in on the low-interest rate bonanza.
The SBP, which is supposed to play the role of supervisor and watchdog to the banking industry, has remained largely unmoved when complaints are made about the manner in which customers are charged exorbitant amounts under various heads by banks, particularly foreign banks.
I am sure it would be a good exercise to find out why the housing finance sector has not taken off while the car financing schemes are where most of the consumer credit in the sector is headed.
The SBP governor has talked on many occasions of the benefits of capital appreciation that comes with purchasing property against bank financing.
But even he is quick to point out that the housing finance sector remains dull as the expected take-off has not happened.
There are a number of reasons for this. First, the banks themselves are not that keen to finance housing loans because they are able to make much quicker returns on car finance.
Second, the housing finance scheme has suffered as a consequence of bad practices adopted by some banks. The manner in which they have overcharged clients has scared away many prospective borrowers.
Finally, the SBP has been unable to create consumer awareness about this sector. Details are scarce and hard to come by and there is little information from the SBP on this sort of financing.
The supreme irony is the appointment of a banking ombudsman by the SBP from among one of the foreign banks, which are are mainly responsible for charges and consumer complaints. The ombudsman-to-be has no legal background and has been appointed to a position that should have gone to someone with a keen insight into the legal aspects of banking.
AHMED HASSAN
Islamabad
There are appalling figures appearing in the press about the killing of women in the name of honour. But in no way can these be linked to Baloch or Pakhtun “tribal practices” as stated by Mr Muzhar Javed Malik in his letter (March 20). Likewise, the menace of honour killing is rampant not just in the rural areas, as claimed in your editorial “When justice is elusive” (same day).
Historically, there is no evidence of karo-kari practices in Sindh till the advent of the Kalhoro dynasty. If the practice had been prevalent, it would have been recorded in Shah-Jo-Risalo, which mentions all the ills in society.
A connection between honour and women could have its roots in the Middle East where the practice of burying alive the girl-child prevailed in the pre-Islamic era.
It was after the triumph of Islam and the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) over ignorance that women got their dignity and rights. Islam, however, defined a moral code under which adultery is punishable. It is this punishment which is being misinterpreted and misused for the killing of men and women on the pretext of karo-kari.
If we look at the figures of crimes against women, it seems we have gone back to the age of ignorance. On Nov 3, 2004, Dawn carried a news item about the bodies of 250 babies abandoned by their parents at Edhi centres in the country. Of the total, 100 cases were in Karachi. According to the report, of living neonates “98 per cent of the babies were female”.
Dawn on March 6 reported from Islamabad that about “1,567 cases of child sexual abuse occurred in 2004”. What was disturbing to note was that “of the total, 1,194 (i.e.,76 per cent) victims were girls”.
While writing about crime against women we forget that hundreds of cases of criminal assault, acid-throwing and stove burst are taking place in the urban areas on a daily basis.
MANZOOR CHANDIO
Karachi
“Finish your homework, eat dinner, and go to bed.” This was the day in the life of a teenager growing up a couple of decades ago. Life seemed so unbelievably simple. But lately the introduction of new technology has re-shaped the minds of our young generation, where computers, cellular phones and satellite dishes play a pivotal role in the advancement of their minds.
A 10-year-old today is a whole lot smarter than one, say, 20 years ago. He is more aware of the latest know-how, and works more independently in school. But because of the huge competition he faces in and out of school, he may find it harder to cope with day-to-day issues.
The fact remains that the highly competitive grading standards, extra study sessions and even peer pressure increase the anxiety level in our children. It seems like the child’s efforts are never good enough unless he or she achieve an ‘A’. This way instead of encouraging children to enhance their natural abilities, they are pushed hard to compete with their peers. And sometimes the pressure takes its toll and there is a price to pay. A recent study shows that more children between the ages of 10 and 18 are likely to experience severe depression in today’s stressful times. Parents have fallen into the trap. Over lunch or dinner with friends, their conversations somehow seem to gradually tilt towards either prospective admissions in reputed schools or inquiring about their children’s grades.
Competition is desirable where it does not compromise the child’s psychological well-being. I feel that even though, we, the parents, grew up in less demanding schools and did not have much exposure to technology in the “good old days”, we still turned out fine. Then why this enormous pressure on our children today? Besides making them smarter and technologically savvy, will it make them better human beings too? If the answer is yes, then maybe we are on the right track. But what if we are wrong? Are we then robbing them off their childhood and their innocence?
REEMA M. ISMAIL
Karachi
Our government’s economic and financial pundits’ tall claims about everything being well were fully exposed when an angry crowd of small investors resorted to violence and damaged the Karachi Stock Exchange building. A sum equivalent to Rs3 trillion is feared to have evaporated in thin air with the fall of nearly 2,000 points on the index.
Many had been crying hoarse that a stock market upsurge could not be called a reflection of a healthy economy or of the people reposing trust in the government’s economic policy. We all know this is a big speculators’ game to fleece the small investors. Nobody knows where the money is actually coming from. One fears that the boom in our stock market and real estate could have been exploited as a conduit for money laundering. All talk of documentation of the economy has been submerged in the war against terror.
This might temporarily suit the government which claims that Pakistan is marching on the road to progress without doing anything really revolutionary to revive the economy. Instead of this, let us develop a culture of fairplay in which the free flow of money is tapped and channelled to real development of the economy.
Our government should not harp too much on jugglery of figures, which can lead us into more difficult times, and it should introduce transparency to find out the sources of finance, then tap into these sources and use them productively to change the life of the common man.
ALI ASHRAF KHAN
Karachi
This has reference to Ms Zubeida Mustafa’s article “Where is the library law?” (Feb 9). The writer has rightly pointed out that a major weakness in our library system is that in over a half century no library law has been enforced in our country.
Without a library law, no country can have an organized, well-financed and properly planned library system. In order to promote and develop proper library services in the country, enactment of a library law is essential. Library legislation provides a clear-cut mandate for the establishment of an efficient library system at all levels. It gives libraries a legal status. Libraries, specially public libraries, cannot develop without the support and financial assistance of the government and other authorities.
Most countries have defined library responsibilities through library legislation. In India, the Madras (Tamil Nadu) Public Libraries Act 1948 was put on the statute book on Jan 29, 1949. Madras was the first state to provide the public libraries system through legislation.
The progress of library development in our country is very slow and sporadic. This is due to the lack of library legislation. All efforts made during the five decades in form of plans, policies, seminars, conferences, reports and drafts prepared and announced by library associations or by the government for the establishment of a public library system or the enactment of library legislation have remained fruitless.
The national body of librarians — the Pakistan Library Association — has a draft which can be implemented with some changes and modifications.
RAIS AHMED SAMDANI
Secretary, Pakistan Library Association
Karachi
I am a frequent visitor to Karachi’s Boating Basin area in Clifton where a majority of food shops are open till late night and where mobile police are normally seen on patrol.
One night recently, while we were waiting in the service lane near the KFC after placing our order, we heard firing somewhere very close. No police mobile was seen and within no time two youths on a motorcycle were holding my son at gunpoint. They deprived the two of us of our cell phones and wallets. The whole drama took at least 10 to 15 minutes as they first asked my son for his cell phone, allowed him to take out his SIM, then asked for his wallet and returned it with Rs100 and the driving licence. They then asked for my cell phone giving me ample time to take the SIM out again. All throughout the process the onlookers, shopkeepers, waiters and those sitting in their cars were silent spectators.
It did not end here, as these daredevils stood guard at the Boating Basin roundabout lest we proceeded to the police station. Along with two other accomplices they then tried to chase us on their motorcycles, as it must have dawned on them that they had forgotten to lighten the weight of my purse. Somehow we were able to drive home safely.
I fail to understand where the police were at that time, particularly when the deafening sound of firing could be heard for miles in the dead of the night. While the sound of the guns was enough to send shivers down one’s spine, the conscience of those who had probably bargained over a little share of the loot was not awakened.
MAIRAJ FATIMAH
Karachi
(II)
This is with reference to the Karachi datelined news item “Youth shot dead by mobile snatchers” (Dawn, March 29). Being then in the Korangi area, I was also one of the “victims”. On Monday (March 28) I was having a chat with my friend outside his house at 10pm when suddenly two people (their faces covered) on a motorcycle approached us. The person sitting behind the rider loaded his gun in front of us and asked us for our mobile phones. They were neither interested in our watches nor our wallets. It was coincidental that neither of us had our mobile phones with us at that time. Some amount of pleading, followed by reasoning why we did not have mobile phones, had partly persuaded them when the movement of armed persons inside the house made them suspicious and they departed hurriedly without hurting anyone.
Such miracles do not happen every day. I was never convinced with the new “phone-blocking” technique that the police and a few mobile companies came up with recently. Such snatchers are fully equipped and competent in unlocking any mobile phones. The government should implement a rule through which no used mobile can be sold without its complete accessories, especially its box which has the phone IMEA code number printed on it, so that no mobile snatcher can get hold of it.
Also, I implore the authorities concerned to provide citizens with better security.
ABDUL QADIR
Karachi
(III)
Besides a number of problems being faced by Karachi’s residents, an alarming rise in thefts of mobile phones, watches, jewellery and other valuables is adding to their misery. In fact, mobile snatchers have now become so fearless that they operate in broad daylight.
During the ongoing week in Karachi, at least a dozen or more phones have been reportedly snatched at gunpoint within the vicinity of PECHS blocks 2 and 6, in the service lanes of Sharea Faisal, which has been heavily guarded almost daily this week due to arrivals of “public representatives”. What an irony that these mobile snatchers have the guts to open fire on innocent people just on their refusal to part with their personal possessions or valuables. Is anyone going to take notice of this? Does the statement “law and order situation under control” make any sense? And whose responsibility is this, anyway?
DR AAMIR NISAR
Karachi
This refers to the letter by Mr K. Murad Bey, “MMA politics” (March 19). It needs to be clarified that peaceful agitation for the sake of people’s right is a legitimate right of the opposition parties. The blame goes to the government for increasing petroleum prices to make people’s lives miserable whilst there seems to be no change in the lifestyle of the elite class.
No doubt, the MMA should concentrate on rectifying its hard-line image in the NWFP, but the entire MMA politics cannot revolve around provincial politics, especially when Pakistan is a frontline ally against international terrorism. There are also paramount issues such as the uniformed presidentship, poverty alleviation, nuclear proliferation, CBMs and the so-called enlightened moderation in the regional context.
How can a government be reasonably honest when it ignites tribulations using military force and causing bloodshed and a law and order situation in Wana and Balochistan? And how can a government be held accountable if opposition parties do not become vocal, peacefully though, on the violation of human rights?
FARRUKH HAFIZ
Essex, UK
On March 17 the local press published a news item headlined: “Sindh police offer help to private security agencies”.
I am unable to understand how the Sindh police are going to offer assistance and training to the personnel of private security agencies to check the growing incidents of robberies and to improve their security measures.
Security agencies providing private security guards to banks and other financial institutions are charging around Rs7,000 per person whereas a consolidated amount of Rs2,400 to a maximum of Rs3,000 is paid to a security guard for performing duty for 12 hours in a day without meals. According to the policy, private security guards are not allowed any annual leave, medical treatment or even overtime.
If a private security guard does not become a robber then who else will? The salaries of ordinary policemen are also quite low, but they manage to make up in bribes. A private security guard who does not wear a police uniform has no such opportunity.
I request the authorities to study the problems of the private security guards and ask the owners of private security agencies to increase the salaries of their personnel so that they should not think of committing any crime or corruption.
SYED A. MATEEN
Karachi
The Pakistan Steel ‘‘turnaround’’ is being given publicity as a big achievement. However, the fact that steel prices have been increased from Rs16,000 per ton to over Rs43,000 per ton in the last three years is not mentioned. Nor anything about the payback of the initial investment of Rs25 billion, grants worth billions from time to time since 1984 and outstanding bank loans of about Rs18 billion. Average capacity utilization has been 73 per cent since 1984. Exorbitant prices charged for steel are shown as forex savings without deducting the import cost of iron ore, coal, chemicals, machinery parts, etc.
Our parliament should examine all these facts to ascertain the correct position.
ARSHAD MEHMOOD
Lahore
Inzamamul Haq has become the world’s fifth and Pakistan’s second batsman to score a century in his 100th Test match. Had the Pakistan cricket authorities not allowed him to play, he could neither have crossed the milestone of 10,000 runs nor score his 100th Test century.
What did authorities do to the original Little Master, Hanif Mohammad, who could play in only 55 Tests? What treatment was meted out to Javed Miandad who could not complete his 10,000 runs? How were Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis sidelined? Akram still has a lot of cricket in him. Younis is younger than Akram. He definitely has five to six years of cricket left.
Why can’t the cricket authorities treat its star cricketers like the hockey authorities have done? The penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas, who has broken the world record for the highest number of goals, has been requested to reconsider his decision to retire. He has accepted the request and is playing.
S. M. KAZIM NAQVI
Karachi
The US has taken upon itself to bring about democracy all over the globe. At present the emphasis is on Iran. Warnings and threats are being continuously issued to the country. Regardless of the doubtful nature of democracy in practice in the US the question arises as to who gave this right to the US to establish democratic regimes in the countries of the world.
One can ask the US to do some homework in the matter of its own fast deteriorating social structure and declining moral values. As one reads and hears, America has a large number of single-parent families, and murders, rapes, robberies, drug addiction, suicides, divorces are among the highest in the world in spite of so much material affluence.
The US must reform. It is giving a bad lead to other nations.
MUHAMMAD RAFI
Karachi
The Central Superior Services (CSS) examination is the only but the most important exam the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) has to hold once a year, but unfortunately the commission has to confuse us with the announcement of the dates on which these exams are to commence. The FPSC has just announced the month (August), but not the dates for the CSS exams 2005.
Is it necessary to create a sense of uncertainty among candidates by giving tentative dates every year? And is the month of August (sultry) suitable?
FAROOQ AHMAD
Lahore
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