| 9 April 2005 | Saturday | 29 Safar 1426 |
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Upper Galiyat needs
Kyoto and the US citizen
‘Had Yahya heeded sane advice’
Peace diplomacy
Strategy to improve varsity education
America’s hyphenated policy
Oil prices
Taj Mahal entry
Quota-free era
BJP’s claim
Prosperity and poverty
THIS has reference to Mr Hasan Adil Malik’s letter (25 March) about the Federal Board of Education, Islamabad. Mr Malik has criticized FBISE on three grounds, i.e., curriculum and syllabi, chances for failing students, and results. The letter shows that the writer is not fully acquainted with the working and functions of the boards.
If we look at the history of education and examinations, before partition till 1950 the universities used to conduct examinations and devise their own curriculum and syllabi at various levels starting from the middle standard to the master’s level. In 1950, the boards of secondary education were allowed to develop curriculum and syllabi and conduct examinations at the middle and secondary levels.
In 1960, university education was divided into higher secondary (intermediate), graduation and master’s level in the light of the decisions of the commission on national education (known as the Sharif Commission), and the subject of higher secondary education was also shifted to the boards of education.
The boards continued devising their own curriculum and syllabi till the publication and decisions of the Hamoodur Rehman Commission Report, which discussed various reasons for the fall of Dhaka. In the light of this report, educational reforms were introduced and the national curriculum wing was established and all the boards of education were bound to follow the scheme of studies and examination pattern as devised and decided by the national curriculum wing.
Thus, the federal board or any other board has no power to change or devise its own curriculum and syllabi. If there are shortfalls in the curriculum, the board cannot be blamed for it.
As far as the chances for failing candidates are concerned, every board follows its own set of rules and regulations.
Although continuous efforts are being made at the level of IBCC to bring uniformity among the boards as far as rules/procedures are concerned, certain minor differences do prevail. It may be mentioned that like all other boards two additional chances are also allowed by the FBISE to clear the papers in which a candidate failed.
The federal board is maintaining its credibility through a transparent system of examinations, taking advantage of modern techniques and producing the best result percentages as compared to all other boards. Its results for the SSC and HSSC annual examinations 2004 was 71.35 per cent and 78.01 per cent, respectively.
It is a matter of great concern for every Pakistani as to how falling standards of education can be improved. There is a great need for the national curriculum wing to perform its role effectively and provide to the coming generations a single and standard curriculum and syllabi reflecting our religion, culture, heritage, history, social and moral values side by side with modern, scientific and technical education. This is something that has been awaited since the establishment of the national curriculum wing.
ALI AHMAD
Islamabad
RECENTLY a scholar of Islamic studies, Dr Amina Wadud, led the Friday prayers in the US. This event has been viewed by some as a positive gesture emphasizing the fact that women can perform the same activities as men, and that this is a huge step ahead for women. On the other hand, people took to the streets protesting against it as an act of blasphemy.
I am not an extremist, and I don’t agree with either viewpoint. Women can perform the same duties as men, but there are some activities that have no precedent. Even in the times of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) one finds no instance where a woman was asked to lead any kind of prayers. Was it because the people then were less Muslim? No, the only reason was that some duties have been set aside for men and others for women. There are some rules one must obey, otherwise there would be confusion and chaos. If a precedent was required to be set, it would have been done.
On the other hand, I don’t agree with the people who decry the act as tantamount to blasphemy. I believe it is merely a misguided act that the lady has performed, being influenced by the West’s ideology of female equality. Such acts should not be met with such harsh reactions that propagate a violent and negative picture of Islam. Instead, there should be open dialogue between both parties. If one has opinions they should be discussed in an open forum so more people gain an understanding of the issues involved.
I believe this incident has done more to cause a rift between Muslims than to promote gender equality. How the rest of the world reacts to it, only time will tell. Till then we must try to understand and promote the true Islam that is a religion of peace, not violence.
FAISAL GHANI QURESHI
Lahore
IT is heartening to know that awareness regarding the Kyoto protocol and its harmful impact in case of non- compliance has increased among US citizens. Recently, Long-time New York area activists Ted Glick, Connie Hogarth and Paul Mayer put together the Climate Crises Coalition (CCC), an umbrella group that includes environmentalists, religious leaders, camps organizers, peace groups and activists working on several issues focusing on environmental justice. It is a nationwide signature-gathering drive for a people’s ratification of the Kyoto protocol.
The CCC states: “When faced with a grave threat to a viable future for ourselves, our children and future generations, it is our duty as Americans to respond.
In contrast to Kyoto, the US, which generates almost 25 per cent of the world’s polluting carbon emissions, refuses to join in this worldwide effort to keep this planet hospitable to civilization; we recognize the Kyoto protocol is the only existing diplomatic framework through which the entire global community can address this unprecedented challenge; we further recognize that the constitution of the United States grants us the ultimate authority of government; therefore, as citizens of the United States we hereby ratify the Kyoto protocol and demand that our elected representatives follow suit.”
In a democratic society like America where citizens have freedom of speech, this determined effort is deemed to have brought about some change in the impassive policy of the Bush administration over the Kyoto protocol.
RASHID ASHRAF
Karachi
THIS has reference to Raja Tridiv Roy’s article “Had Yahya heeded sane advice” (March 31). Mr Roy could indict Yahya for any crime — done or not done — as the latter is not here to defend himself. It can rightly be lamented that it was his galling fate to preside over the break-up of Pakistan.
Mr Roy correctly says that the former USSR and India had a common objective at that time in December 1971: the break-up of Pakistan. The time was ripe; the people of its eastern wing had risen against it; Pakistan was friendless — both the US and China whom Yahya was bringing together looked on helplessly; it was not India alone though its forces were at the front but the USSR and its veto power against a politically weak Pakistan that the country bisected.
Mr Roy says that “the Nixon administration had a soft corner for Pakistan and Yahya...” It was not so much a soft corner for Pakistan or Yahya as it was Nixon’s dislike of Indira Gandhi and Indians that appeared like a tilt toward Pakistan. During those days, Mr Nixon observed in his papers: “As a result of Indo-Pakistan crisis, my respect for Mrs Indira Gandhi diminished”.
I quote another extract from Nixon’s memoirs, an entry in his diary: “ ... I realized how hypocritical the present Indian leaders are, with Indira Gandhi talking about India’s victory wings being clipped when Shastri went to Tashkent (in January 1966) and her duplicitous attitude toward us when she actually had made up her mind to attack Pakistan at the time she saw me in Washington and assured me she would not.”
Yahya is being accused of breaking up Pakistan. Why wasn’t he court-martialled or tried in a civil court openly or in camera? The separation had to happen, advice or no advice.
S. M. KAZIM NAQVI
Karachi
THE then president Iskander Mirza had invited Indian premier Jawaharlal Nehru to watch with him the Pakistani musical movie “Intezar” on the sidelines of a Commonwealth conference in London in 1957. Mr Mirza was reported to have later quoted Mr Nehru as saying that never had a voice as sweet as Noor Jehan’s in “Intezar” filled his ears.
We also learnt that Mr Mirza had presented a copy of “Intezar” to the Shah of Iran and the president of Turkey. But it was the culturally similar South Asia where this peace diplomacy had an immediate impact. My late father went to India to meet his old pre-partition friends and brought with him a copy of the newspaper “Riyasat”. There was a full page advertisement of “Intezar” saying: “Woh geet jo aaj tak aap ne nahin suney, woh naghme jo Noor Jehan ne aaj tak nahin gaey”.
Noor Jehan in “Intezar” through her voice did a service to peace in South Asia that no politician or military general can dream of.
ANWAR MAHMOOD
Alberta, Canada
THIS refers to Mr A. H. Nayyar’s letter “Strategy to improve varsity education” (March 30). I wish to correct the misinformation being propagated by some quarters for reasons best known to them.
While criticizing Prof (Dr) Attaur Rehman, chairman of the Higher Education Commission, the correspondent has dragged in the name of the National University of Modern Languages. He has asserted in his letter that NUML could not have awarded the PhD degree in four years without first getting its candidates registered with the Quaid-i-Azam University. This is a distortion of facts. As an academic stationed in the capital, he should have known that NUML has been functioning as a university for nearly five years now and, therefore, the award of a PhD degree in three to four years is quite in order.
The second point in his letter is regarding the PhD degree of the vice-chancellor of the Quaid-i-Azam University, who, according to him, was awarded the degree while he was chairman of the University Grants Commission. The VC regularly and punctually attended the course work which he completed in 2001 and was awarded the degree in 2003 according to the rules and regulations of the university.
As far as checking of NUML records is concerned, the HEC has already carried out a snap academic audit of the university twice and found that no irregularity had been committed.
The HEC is alive to the requirements of higher education and the people there need to be supported in their efforts to improve the quality and spread of higher education rather than being unduly criticized.
S. J. AHMAD
Registrar, National University
of Modern Languages Islamabad
MR Karamatullah K. Ghori in his article “American offer: hyphenated policy continues” (April 2) has very appropriately traced the background of George Bush’s recent announcement to allow the sale of F-16s to Pakistan as a reward for siding in the “war against terror”. But while dilating on the question of selling similar armaments to India, the writer has committed an emotional error. Like most of our countrymen he has failed to realize that President Bush is only
following a policy based on
the principle that “nations have no permanent friends or permanent enemies but have only permanent national interests”.
Basically it is we who have always failed to uphold our national interests and have often blindly toed the American’s line under the mistaken belief that probably they are our best friends. The foreign policies of the US are always based on the principle of national interests and followed by the Americans very faithfully. Instead of feeling betrayed on occasions, we must keep our own national interest supreme while deciding to join the American camp.
DR ALI AKBAR M. DHAKAN
Karachi
THE rapid increase in oil prices during the last one year in the international market has resulted in a price increase in the local market too. Statistics indicate an increase of 54 per cent in oil prices in the international market as compared to an increase of 17-23 per cent in the local market during the same period (May 2004–March 2005).
The government had frozen oil prices for seven-and-a-half months from May 1, 2004 and it caused a budgetary hit of Rs40 billion. The government has not passed the whole burden on to the consumers, which is a good move but there are also other issues related to oil prices.
An increase in oil price results in an increase in prices of essential commodities. The government should get involved and must monitor how oil prices affect a product and how much increase in the price of that product is essential. For example, there is a direct impact of oil prices in the public transport sector. Transporters have increased fares. But this increase must be balanced with respect to oil prices and must be the same for all local and intercity routes whereas everyone has increased fares according to their own wishes. The authorities concerned are silent in this regard. This is the case with other sectors too. All this is affecting the common citizen.
SULMAN MAHMOOD
Lahore
INSTEAD of charging from Pakistanis Rs1,050 for entry into the Taj Mahal at Agra, the Indian government should charge only Rs20, which is what the Indians pay for entry into the famed tomb.
MIAN M. AKHTAR SHAFI
Peshawar
A LOT is being said in the media about a “quota-free era”. A quota is the total amount of purchase by the US in a year which it allocates to developing countries. The government will then sell the quota to exporters. On the other hand, in a quota-free system buyers get their products from any country or exporter. In this system, importers are predominant and price-conscious.
All issues related to human rights, employee’s benefits, child labour and environment are enforced (used) as a tool by importers against exporters (Third World countries).
The effects of the quota-free era are mixed, with the negative aspects dominating.. Our exporters will face tough competition from countries like China, India and Bangladesh. These countries are more cost-effective, mainly due to cheap power and labour. One might wonder how do we manage now.
How are we competing (cost effective) now? We ignore our social commitment, i.e., we do not care for health, insurance, pay, working environment of workers, etc. These issues give us an edge (lower) to compete with other countries.
Other countries are more aware of these issues and implement social compliance. We might be experiencing a closing down of small export businesses.
As we are an ally in the fight against terrorism, we might be spared for a year or so, but then what?
NADEEM-UL-GHANI
Karachi
THE letter by Mr Amjad K. Maruf from Mumbai (April 5) shows that BJP extremists are once again after the Taj Mahal. On the one hand, India and Pakistan are inching towards resolving their longstanding issues to normalize relations and, on the other, the BJP extremists are trying to drive a wedge between Hindus and Muslims by their quixotic acts. Their claim that the Taj Mahal has been built on the land of a Hindu temple is preposterous, to say the least.
The Taj Mahal is not only an immortal monument, it is regarded as one of the wonders of the world. It is also a big source of earning foreign exchange from tourists, millions of whom visit it every year.
They are spellbound by its grandeur and are amazed at the craftsmanship that existed in the region in the 16th century. India should be proud of owning such a marvellous heritage.
The ruling junta must monitor the extremists and protect all other historic monuments of the Mughal era.
M. SHAFIQUE AHMED
Karachi
PRESIDENT Gen Pervez Musharraf was so right when he said, while addressing the recent international conference on “Gender mainstreaming and millennium development goals”, that one can’t have islands of prosperity amongst oceans of poverty.
I wish Gen Musharraf would say the same after viewing the situation at home.
NAZIM F. HAJI
Karachi
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