| May 23, 2005 | Monday | Rabi-us-Sani 14, 1426 |
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‘Islam’s true spirit’
Loadshedding & faulty meters
Professor’s murder
New passport
Clifton Cross
Waiting for NICOP
Housing for all
Rental income
Power to women
Clarification
Road condition
ENVIRONMENTAL science has been a subject of great importance from ancient times. However, not much concern was expressed about it until signs of deterioration began to be noticed as a result of human activities. Though we have always had people who cared for the environment, it is only in the last half a century that we have had an environmental movement.
Many environmentalists are stressing the need for education in issues of environmental concern. Internships and volunteer work in one or several environmental areas are important. Young people, especially children, can play a vital role in this regard. Under Section 6(p) of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency Act, the EPA is required to recommend environmental courses, topics, literature and books for incorporation in the curricula and syllabi of educational institutions. Unfortunately, the significance of this has been overlooked for decades. A time has now come to prepare a model syllabus for environmental education courses to be taught at different grades and introduce environment as a compulsory subject in all classes up to the higher secondary level.
Environmental science, atmospheric chemistry, pollution, air quality and information about the environmental law should be incorporated at the intermediate college and university level. The Higher Education Commission can play a vital role in preparing a syllabus by consulting experts or institutions regarding the perceptions in various dimensions of environmental education at different stages.
If you have a large bowl with one fish, it stays clean a long time. Put in more fish and you have to clean it more often. Our earth is a lot more crowded than it used to be, so it’s as if we have a lot of fish in our bowl now. That’s why it takes more work to preserve our environment. The government has established a green library and documentation centre in the premises of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency to provide technical support to its staff and general public. It is suggested that such libraries should be established in all major cities to provide technical material on air, water and soil pollution to create awareness in the general public.
RASHID ASHRAF
Karachi
MR S. G. Jilanee in his article “Islam’s true spirit” (May 13) has analyzed various challenges faced by Muslims in the world. He is correct in saying that what is going round under the rubric of Islam is not only a poor imitation, but sometimes even a disfigured copy of the original. I, however, disagree with his thesis that Islam is under a wild attack from various quarters and that it is time for Muslims to respond, arguing logically, persuasively and convincingly to demolish the charges being levelled against us.
Basically it is not Islam as a religion that is under attack, but the acts of some Muslims who under misconceived notions are carrying out various undesirable activities in the name of religion. Had Islam been under attack, it would not have been today’s fastest growing religion, especially in the West. Muslims who are settled in predominantly non-Muslim countries are not only enjoying good relations with their non-Muslim neighbours but are doing missionary work without fear of persecution.
I am nonetheless in agreement with Mr Jilanee that Islam, as a religion, generally speaking, is practised to the extent of rituals only and not in its true spirit, thereby making it a body without a soul. And this is why the virtues of tolerance, patience, trustworthiness, humility, moral uprightness, intellectual honestly, fairplay and justice are missing from our normal day-to-day conduct and behaviour.
As for demolishing the charges and convincing those who equate the conduct of an errant Muslim with the fundamental teachings of Islam, what is required of a Muslim is to emulate the example of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) for whom Almighty Allah has enjoined in Surah 33, Al-Ahzab Verse (21):
“Assuredly there has been an excellent pattern, for you in the messenger of Allah, for him who hopes in Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much”.
In his actions, dealings and his sayings, the Holy Prophet has set an example before us. His life is a living illustration and explanation of the Holy Quran and we can do no greater justice to this Holy Book than by following him who was the mouthpiece of its revelation. Thus a practising Muslim who by conviction is a missionary is more than enough to present the correct picture of Islam.
MANZOOR H. KURESHI
Karachi
THE KESC as ever is resorting to indiscriminate loadshedding in various parts of the city this summer. The worst affected are the residents of highrise apartments who cannot afford the luxury of UPSs or portable generators to keep their small two-bed or three-bed flats lit or cool.
Children as well as the old and the ailing cannot afford to rest well during the day or at night due to unannounced loadshedding. Water cannot be pumped up nor can the old use lifts in highrise buildings. Students taking examinations are disturbed, while housewives see meat, milk, vegetable and other edibles kept in refrigerators going stale due to prolonged loadshedding. Those staying indoors cannot watch drama serials or movies on the television, and domestic life is badly disturbed.
On the other hand, industrial units also cannot work to their full capacity due to untimely loadshedding and thus have to suffer huge financial losses. All this is being borne by honest tax-payers and those who pay their bills promptly, and not those using “kunda” right under the noses of the KESC and of course not without the connivance of some in the corporation.
M. SHAFIQUE AHMED
Karachi
THE KESC in its area-wise campaign launched in February-March 2005 in various parts of Karachi has replaced a number of meters in the UK Apartments, Block-14, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Karachi, on the presumption that they were not giving correct readings and were causing the KESC financial losses every month.
According to my old meter, I was getting a monthly bill for Rs500 for my three-roomed flat, with a limited number of electrical appliances. To my surprise, our April 2005 bill, after the new meter was installed, has jumped to Rs1,500, which clearly indicates that the new meters are running fast. Other residents have also received inordinately higher bills for April 2005.
The KESC is requested to get the new meters rechecked before they are installed in place of the old meters in the other residential complexes. There is a general feeling among users that the KESC has replaced the old meters with the fast-running meters in order to cover the losses suffered due to the “kunda” system prevalent in some localities over which they have no control.
MUHAMMAD HABIB SIDDIQUI
Karachi
THE NED Engineer’s Association (NEDEA) is an alumni association of the NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi, in Greater Chicago. All NEDEA members were shocked to learn about the murder of a prominent educator, Dr Mohammad Saleem Chaudhry, in Karachi on March 25.
We have written numerous letters to the authorities in Karachi urging them to take prompt action to apprehend the culprits and bring them to justice. To our chagrin, the authorities remain unmoved and have shown a callous indifference towards this investigation. There is no hint of any imminent arrests or for that matter any progress in the investigations that we know of.
In the May 7 issue of Dawn, the Sindh chief of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Zohra Yusuf, expressed concern over the lack of progress in the case and demanded that independent and competent officials be deputed to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and the culprits be arrested immediately.
For the sake of prestige and honour of Pakistan, fairness to its law-abiding citizens and to provide redemption and relief to the family of the deceased, we demand that the authorities take immediate action and leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice.
We also hope that the media, including your esteemed publication, will keep up the pressure on the local law-enforcement agencies to solve this crime expeditiously.
IMTIAZ A. REHMAN Chairman NEDEA
MOHAMMAD M. HUSSAIN Chicago, USA
I WAS shocked to read the letters of Mr Zafar Iqbal and
A. I. Khan (May 12) and really wondered about the thinking of the consultants who have advised the home department to adopt the new format of the passport. I saw a passport of a British national issued only a couple of months ago and there were three signatures on the same — one of the passport holder and the full names and addresses of two persons designated by the holder to be informed in case of emergencies. What good purpose would be served by eliminating the signatures and address of the passport holders?
Apart from that, other aspects which the correspondents have pointed out are also disturbing. Such passports were introduced in some developed countries but were discarded on account of giving access to unconcerned people to the personal details of the holder of the passport.
The government has already surrendered on the religion column issue, which is perhaps not found in the passports of other Muslim countries. We make ourselves a laughing stock by adopting ideas which have been discarded by the developed countries.
We also wonder when the home department will open new offices for issuing passports in Karachi in spite of continued protests by the public.
S.M.A. RIZVI
Karachi
EVERYONE is cross with the current design of the underpass at Clifton Cross. It is the first of its kind in Karachi and the excitement of the people can be gauged by the number of letters written on the subject.
The Karachi Port Trust has agreed to pick up the cost of the project and is also investing heavily in other infrastructural project at Hino Chowrangi flyover. Pakistan Steel and PIA are planning to spend money in this direction also. This is a positive change and must be encouraged.
No institution invested in Karachi in the last five decades, except for a couple of pedestrian steel bridges constructed by Pakistan Steel. If there is so much opposition to such development work which has no monetary return, these institutions may well decide not to do this any more and this is something Karachiites can ill afford. The inconveniences will be temporary as the commissioning of the Lyari Expressway and Northern Bypass will ease the traffic congestion caused by heavy vehicles in this area.
The design of the underpass is such that motorists coming from Clifton bridge will have to turn left towards Submarine Chowrangi and then take a U-turn back to go to Boating Basin. This is not acceptable to most of the people who have written letters on the subject, but there are lot more who are living with the pain of the construction work and are waiting for the project’s completion. Any design change at this stage will prolong the agony. Changes and additions can be made later after careful evaluation.
Let us look at some similar projects in Karachi — for example, the existing flyovers. Take the Shaheed-i-Millat flyover on Sharea Faisal. It has a traffic signal located on the top of the flyover. Traffic has to stop on the flyover slopes on all four sides. Cars coming to drop and pick up students from the City School, PAF chapter, have to travel up to the bridge, wait for the signal to turn green and then take a U-turn to come back towards the school. This school has thousands of students and most use cars. There is quite a scene at 8am and 1.30pm.
After the commissioning of the Finance and Trade Centre flyover on Sharea Faisal, traffic coming from the airport side wishing to go direct to Saddar cannot do so now. It has to turn left, drive about a kilometre towards the DHA, take a U-turn and then scale the flyover to go to Saddar.
The Liaquatabad flyover has traffic constables controlling traffic under the bridge at the Liaquatabad and Karimabad intersections, something that they were doing before the construction of this flyover. The traffic under the bridge is more than the traffic above it.
The Sharea Faisal flyover in front of the Drigh Road station starts from the middle of the road instead of starting from the left-hand side. This is going in one direction only, something quite unique for flyovers.
All the above designs have some negatives and we can debate them. We must also look at the positive in things that are happening around us, specially in Karachi. I am sure the relevant authorities have noted the concerns raised by so many intelligent and knowledgeable people and will take those into account when more underpasses are constructed in Karachi.
The first underpass in Karachi is something to cheer. Thousands of entertainment-starved people from far-flung areas of Karachi go to Clifton every Saturday, Sunday and on public holidays using this road. The underpass will be a welcome change for them. Let us give this design a chance.
S. NAYYAR IQBAL RAZA
Karachi
I APPLIED for a national identity card for overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) in December 2003. The application (form # ZR830733, receipt # 910354) was submitted to the Pakistan consulate in Toronto, Canada, and I have a confirmation receipt from them. Due to reasons not known to me the application was sent to the embassy in Ottawa before forwarding it to Nadra, causing a long delay in processing.
After an exchange of some emails with Nadra in Pakistan I was ultimately informed in October 2004 that my NIC was ready and had been despatched. The Nadra database shows that the card was despatched to Box 20623, Ottawa, on September 18, 2004 but I have not been able to get my card till date.
I have sent mails to Nadra and they have replied saying that the card was sent to Ottawa. I have contacted both the consulate in Toronto and the embassy in Ottawa several times on the phone as well as through emails and they say they have not received the card yet.
The last email that I received from Ottawa was on Jan 5, 2005 and since then I have contacted them several times without any response. I even sent an email to the chairman of Nadra but there was no response.
Identity theft is common these days and I am afraid someone else might be using my card. If it has been lost in transit, why can’t Nadra get my card reprinted and send it to me?
S. ASGHAR ALI BOKHARI
Toronto, Canada
THE armed forces took steps to provide housing to their retiring personnel. This was a good step, but was badly abused and is still being abused. Upon getting possession of the houses most of the personnel sold them to civilians and the spirit behind this noble cause was destroyed.
Now the prime minister is talking about providing houses to all government employees. A good step again. But it is time that certain rules were framed in this respect so that we do not find the facility being abused.
Houses should be given in an area where one wishes to settle after retirement. Houses should only be disposed of once both the husband and wife die, and not before that. After the death of the husband, the wife is entitled to the former’s pension. Thus the house should go to her and could be sold by the dependents only to defence personnel after their parents’ death.
A. A. SUHERWERDY
Via email
RISING inflation is severely hurting the limited income group. Particularly hard hit are senior citizens with limited incomes.
It has become extremely difficult for them to meet their day-to-day needs. There are several instances of people renting out a portion of their self-occupied house to generate some income. But even part of this goes to revenue tax (property tax) or to the tax inspector.
Senior citizens deserve some relief. It is, therefore, requested that the rented-out portion of self-occupied houses belonging to senior citizens be exempted from extra taxation on the rental income.
M. SAEED
Lahore
SINCE the start of civilization, men have been unleashing their wrath upon the weak and the dependant, primarily to establish their power or direct their frustrations over their own failures.
Women have specially been bearing the brunt of men’s emotional upheavals through the ages, and history is replete with instances of women being sold as slaves, burnt alive on charges of witchcraft in the medieval ages, becoming victims of murders, rapes in wars, being killed in the name of honour, aborted before birth as unwanted female offspring, left to die in starvation, made to bow before priests or dance naked in night clubs even today.
Education and progress have generally improved their condition, but in certain segments of society they still remain marginalized and continue to suffer oppression at the hands of men. All efforts at empowering women without improving the lot of men tend to create more frustrations and psychological problems as are being witnessed nowadays in the form of women and children being killed.
It is imperative for the government and society to improve the physical, mental, social and emotional well-being of everyone. The jobless have to be provided a decent source of living, monthly allowances should be given to the unemployed, and accommodation, quality education and healthcare should be provided to all.
We will have to work hard to allay the woes of men so as to achieve empowerment for women.
DR NAZMA ASAD
Karachi
I HAD in my article on the predicament of the Indian Muslim minority, published in your issue of May 21, reviewed the minority community’s serious deprivation in socio-economic, cultural, employment and other fields as well as the perennial threat to their life and property.
The review is based on facts, and I would like to make a clarification. While stating that the representation of the Muslim minority in the civil services was much less than warranted by numbers which are factual, the percentage for senior posts (two per cent) should not have been given as this may not be up to date.
MAHDI MASUD
Karachi
THE Kumb-Nawabshah Road is a busy route for public transport, connecting Sukkur to Nawabshah, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas and Karachi. The road is in a bad shape and is the scene of frequent accidents. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had some time back announced a package for upgrading the road, but it is still awaited.
PERVEZ AHMED SHAR
Khairpur
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