| May 26, 2005 | Thursday | Rabi-us-Sani 17, 1426 |
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Iraq’s predicament
Lahore chaos
Law and order
‘A poor payoff by the US’
Board exams
Marks-sheets
Tax evasion
‘An education programme’
Self-praise
THIS is with reference to your editorial “A worrying picture” (May 21) which says that 14,000 schools in Sindh do not have any building (i.e., 31 per cent are shelterless), 80 per cent have no electricity, 60 per cent have no boundary walls and 57 per cent are without toilets. This indicates the sorry state of affairs of education in Sindh. Also, 58 per cent of the schools have no drinking water, 78 per cent are not in a satisfactory condition, 98 per cent have no libraries or laboratories, and 12 per cent are closed… (Dawn, May 12). And this is besides the fact that illiteracy in this country is more than 50 per cent. In this connection you have advised the EDOs (executive district officers) to improve their performance and also the local governments to look into this matter. The problems are too severe to be solved by normal means. Extraordinary measures are needed.
In areas of education or literacy, the time-factor is most vital. There is only one opportunity to start a person’s education at a certain age. “There is no second chance in education,” as one NGO’s slogan goes. A road or a housing project can be postponed, but not education. If education is not provided to people at the opportune time the problem of illiteracy is compounded and piles up with each passing moment, and the impact on the economy is disastrous.
The situation is like a moving conveyor belt of ‘time’. One has to stand on the belt to reach the goal of education. If a person is not on the belt, the belt moves on and one is left behind.
Also, logistics is the most important factor for education and literacy activities since the target population is spread far and wide, far from centres of resource. For instance, the Sindh government’s survey report clearly indicates how the education system is failing due to lack of infrastructure and security requirements.
To overcome these problems, it was proposed that the help of army may be sought (Dawn, May 18).It is a good proposal since the army has the resources and organization to do this. It could help in two ways: provide infrastructure and security needs to the existing educational system and widen the present educational system to achieve 100 per cent literacy by 2015. With this help, at least the immediate need will be met, i.e., the satisfactory running of the existing schools, with no student dropouts and more enrolments, possibly by two-shift working.
For achieving higher literacy, “literacy control centres” (LCC) could be established and manned by the army to cater to the literacy needs of, say, a 100-mile radius of each centre. The LCC should establish several “school stations”, which should cover the schooling needs of a 10-mile radius around the station. At each station there should be placed two mobile 40-foot standard shipping containers fully equipped with schooling and teaching material. One container for holding classes with audio-visual equipment (PC-Internet, TV, DVD) and the other container having solar panels, standby electric power generator, water filtration/tank, toilet, internet telecom services, teacher’s accommodation, kitchen, etc. A school bus should be provided to go around the territory to pick and drop students (for one or two hours, two-shift literacy classes only). The LCC should provide maintenance and operation services for each school station by road and by helicopter, if needed. If the school needs expansion, another 40-foot container, fully equipped, could be added. The schools should be mobile in order to either move them for better schooling, wider coverage, stopping unauthorized use (say by a feudal), or for winding up.
ENGR A. RAHIM
Michigan, USA
THIS refers to Mr Ghayoor Ahmed’s article, “Iraq: prospects of democracy” (Dawn, May 24). According to Mr Ahmed, Americans are behind the sectarian violence in Iraq.
In the first place, the violence so far is not sectarian in the strictest sense, as it is mostly Shias as well as Sunni Kurds who are counting their dead. Then again, Sunnis in general also get targeted for as long as they are on the side of the new government. In fact, the head of Iraq’s large Islamist (Sunni) party had to withdraw from elections because he was constantly receiving death threats from the insurgents. Further, Sunnis were again warned against joining the government which some anti-Saddam Sunnis did despite the threats they received. In Baquba, many Sunnis voted after seeking an exemption from a fatwa against participation in the Jan 30 elections.
What was common amongst the Shias and Sunni Kurds was the enthusiasm with which they wished to take charge after Saddam. Many Sunni Arabs wanted to join too, but many shied away owing to the specific threats they received. However, many Sunni Arabs are in, and with, the government. So, killings are not so much on sectarian lines as they are for political reasons by those who have lost out, that is, the Baathists and the Saddam loyalists. Not all Baathists are Sunnis. Many of them are Shias who expressed their displeasure differently but were reined in by the Shia community itself.
It is, therefore, premature to paint the strife in Iraq as sectarian even though this is what the insurgents would like it to become. On the firing line are the ones who wish to dribble out of the current situation and take charge of a free Iraq. These include Shias, Sunni Kurds, and Sunni Arabs too. Since Shias are in a majority, their probability of getting targeted is higher and they are unfortunately having to pay a price in proportion to their larger share in the population.
One hopes that wisdom prevails and innocent blood will not be shed on the soil of Iraq.
DR MAHNAZ FATIMA
Karachi
THERE has been no organized and scientific action plan to handle Lahore’s congested traffic system. The major thoroughfares near the old city, where congestion is acute, have been totally ignored. What Lahore needs is a master plan that caters to the increased traffic forecast for the next 20 years. An already alarming situation has been further aggravated by the powerful plot/land mafia, which has partners amongst the high and mighty of this unfortunate country.
There are no plans to construct flyovers where they are desperately required. Traffic engineering is a specialized branch of civil engineering, where major crossings and roads are designed not as beauty spots but as safe thoroughfares that ensure the minimum of accidents and blockages. Unfortunately this has been left to the discretion of police officers and city government executives of this city.
Lahore has just witnessed a tragic accident when an irregular gas filling station in a residential building exploded, causing widespread damage to life and property. No city government official felt the need to resign. After all, somebody has to be held responsible. Merely paying compensation for loss of life without any remedial follow-up action makes a mockery of human life and its worth. The situation in the Lahore cantonment is no better.
The layout of the road infrastructure in Lahore’s Defence Housing Authority was designed for no more than three phases in the original master plan. The greed of a few who stand to mint billions prevailed to wreck the peace and traffic flow by a mad rush to expand this society. The first crossing in the DHA, when one enters from Walton Road, is a huge roundabout without any provision for traffic lights and no traffic police to supervize the massive congestion that is a routine at all times of the day. The space left for roads is not enough to cater to the traffic load. One shudders to imagine the mess that would be created when construction takes place on all the vacant plots in DHA’s phases IV and V.
It is time that sanity prevailed. The citizens of Lahore must stand up and speak for the sake of their children. Lahore needs a chain of roads, overhead bridges, sewerage system, etc., which must precede any permission for sale of plots in new housing societies. This restriction must also be applicable to the cantonment area, where the expansion of residential areas is greater than in other parts of the city.
TAHIR UL MULK Lahore
A FEW days back, my wife along with a friend went for shopping in Lahore’s Ichhra. When she was leaving the parking area, two motorcyclists emerged, stopped her car in main bazaar in broad daylight, whipped out their pistols, asked my wife’s friend to remove and hand over her gold bangles, and disappeared. This was the third time my wife had to face the ordeal. On one of the previous occasions a few years back, she was shot at close and the bullet riddled her right arm. She was hospitalized for more than two years; the injury ended her teaching career.
Do taxpayers pay taxes through their noses only to protect the VVIPs? At our expense, leaders live in ultimate luxury with huge salaries and perks. Fleets of expensive cars, some of them bulletproof to boot, are at their disposal besides police escorts to keep the taxpayers at bay. Should not these VIPs consider providing some sense of security to ordinary mortals as well?
Throughout my service in the army I kept the interest of my fellow citizens supreme. I risked my life for the safety of the people of this country during wars with India. Sometimes I question myself as to why one should bother to put one’s life on the line to protect leaders who care little for providing basic security to people of their country. Is this country only meant for VIPs while the hoi polloi are left at the mercy of bandits and land grabbers? Can we hope that someone would honestly protect the citizens of this country?
MAJ (retd) ANWAR PASHA
Lahore
MR Eric Margolis has written a good article on Pakistan, ‘‘A poor payoff by the US (May 12). He has a lot of sympathy for Pakistan. He is critical of US policies. But in he uses expressions and language which belittle Pakistan and also present a false picture. Pakistan did not “sell” its former friends or allies. These were refugees who had outgrown their size. All efforts to make them realize the folly of their policies were met with scorn. Afghanistan was a nation hijacked by Osama bin Laden with his money and his Salafi ideology. Most Pakistanis do not subscribe to their extreme views.
The Afghans were not abandoned by Pakistan. They had outgrown their role and had become a nuisance for Pakistan by harbouring criminals from Pakistan and giving them training in militancy. They have their supporters in Pakistan who keep harping on the same story as Mr Margolis, i.e., betrayal by Pakistan. Such people are in a minority. One hopes commentators like Mr Margolis will be more careful when they write about such intricate issues. The least we expect is that no effort should be made to denigrate Pakistan. At the same time we are thankful to Mr Margolis for his brilliant exposition of the duplicity of US policies.
With regard to India, yes, we do have a problem: “Pakistan is outgunned and outnumbered”. This is nothing new. The people of Pakistan have learnt to live with this equation from the very inception of their country. So far we have managed to survive. This is our achievement. We will survive in the future as well. Thank you, Mr Margolis. But please be sensitive to our feelings — of the average Pakistani people.
BADAR UL HASSAN
Karachi
THIS is in response to the article by Mr Eric S. Margolis, one has to agree that it is indeed a poor payoff, not to mention a particularly greedy attempt by the “big businesses” of the US (its government and lawmakers) to suck aid money back into their pockets. It is a truth that “big businesses” get really perturbed whenever their government grants aid to any country, and they start negotiating with the country right away, offering wares and services and demanding exorbitant prices so that the money in question can come back and rest in their coffers. Look at what is happening in Iraq.
I also agree that if they were indeed so concerned about Pakistan getting some decent weapons, they should have offered the new F-18s instead of the F-16s. I further agree that the US is “hungrily eyeing India’s booming weapon market” and that they would like nothing better than to be able to supply India with expensive weapons and ongoing support that comes with it. The US is not the only country though, as Russia, France and Israel are all trying to lure Indian money at this point.
However, I take exception to insinuations such as “even more worrying for Pakistan, Israel is deep in talks with New Delhi about supplying its new Arrow anti-missile system, a deal that requires US approval. The Arrow is said to be highly effective against the short- and medium-range ballistic missiles that make up Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent forces. Pakistan has no anti-missile systems. Arrow’s introduction would thus gravely jeopardize Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent and even tempt India to use its growing arsenal of nuclear-armed tactical missiles in any major conflict”. Further down it is said that “India’s growing navy can easily blockade Karachi and Gwadar, cutting off most of Pakistan’s imports of oil and raw materials”. The author is trying to create an ominous picture here: one that presents an India somehow overpowering Pakistan. Why is that a likelihood and based on what precedent?
When did India attack or start an aggression in the last 50 or so years? India did not do so in 1947, in 1965, in 1971 and it did not do so in 1999. It did not do so when anti-Pakistan feelings were running extremely high and no one seemed to want peace in the region, and did not do so when provoked in small ways. So why would it do so now when the two countries are talking of peace and looking forward to some really mutually beneficial deals?
Both our countries are taking baby steps towards peace, and mutual trust is still shaky at best. I sincerely hope that we as people will continue to build peace in the region and not a weapons race.
NEERJA TRIPATHI
Gaithersburg, USA
BOARD examinations have always been an entertainer all my student life. I’ve had my worst credits when expecting the best and scores of A+ when I knew that I would be taking the supplementary examination. A lot of my colleagues also share the same experience, but what a friend of mine went through this time takes the cake.
A student of CA sat this year’s BCom part II new course examinations. Due to her preoccupation with CA studies, she wasn’t able to appear for more than two papers. But when she received her marks-sheet (enrolment #GCEC-18624/2002), it appeared that she actually took three papers. She cleared the-never-attempted economics of Pakistan with an excellent 45 marks. More regrettable is the fact that as a student of CA she was sure to have done much better than this as she has scores above 75 per cent in both the exams she took and also in BCom part I.
This situation has caused more agony to her after realizing that there is not much support for revoking such errors. She wants to nullify the unwanted “complimentary” marks but there is not much support from the administration.
Keeping the fact in mind that only less than 20 per cent of students were able to clear all BCom this year, the question of who really passed the examinations remains unanswered. This whole incident is very distressful considering the ministry of education’s claims of producing 5,000 PhDs in the next five years. Will our country ever improve its examinations system in first place? Our base needs to be strong before we can think of building an empire of intellectuals.
NIDA NASEER
Karachi
As standard practice, all institutions conducting public examinations send marks-sheets within a fortnight after the announcement of results. But in the case of BBA, marks-sheets of the second semester of the current session have not yet been received by the students despite the results having long been declared.
The examination department of the University of Karachi is requested to see that marks-sheets are made available to the students without further delay to enable them to assess their progress in the examination and prepare for the next examination which is due early next month.
A GUARDIAN
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the various news reports about tax evasion and actions taken by the Central Board of revenue (CBR). If the government starts taking these issues seriously and initiates strict action against tax evaders, it will support our economy and we will also get rid of illegal and fake products in the market.
Pakistan has always been a haven for tax evaders, but the sad fact is that the government never took solid steps to eliminate this problem.
According to news reports, the CBR is now planning to undertake measures to stop tax evasion in the sugar and tobacco industries. This is good. Tax evasion in the sugar industry is destroying our economy. Also, Pakistan is losing more than Rs7 billion annually due to tax evasion alone in the tobacco sector.
Two major cigarette manufacturing companies are paying more than Rs26 billion in the form of taxes to the government of Pakistan whereas small companies are paying only Rs20 million for their more than 118 brands.
This is a big question for the CBR chairman. I hope he uses his powers and abilities to eliminate this problem.
DR FAAIZ AKBAR
Islamabad
PROF Anwar Syed’s nostalgic rendition of the Fulbright programme, “A rare education programme” (Dawn, May 22), was an excellent depiction of its purpose, achievements and its moving spirit — Senator J. William Fulbright.
Though comprehensive in many respects, the article fails to mention his legendary performance as chairman of the foreign relations committee of the US senate where he vociferously opposed American involvement in the Vietnam War and also asked the US administration to adopt an even-handed Arab-Israel policy. The American Zionist lobby ganged up against him and he was defeated in the subsequent senate elections by one of his students.
He was a man of resolute conviction who never bartered principles over expediency — a rare breed in politics. As a beneficiary if his programme (1965-68) I am joined by several in their undying gratitude to him for his vital contribution to higher learning at a global scale. We got an opportunity and success on pure merit — a rare phenomenon in our own land of “sifarish” and nepotism.
ABU SAEED A. ISLAHI
(Former president, NBP)
Lahore
A spate of large self-congratulatory advertisements have been printed recently, extolling the development work undertaken by the government.
According to one advertisement, published last week, the government intends to put up large hoardings/billboards at prominent places in the cities recounting its achievements.
All this self-praise is a sheer waste of the taxpayers’ money which can be better utilized for improving the infrastructure (water, electricity, roads, etc), alleviation of poverty and upgrading of health and educational facilities.
The statistics issued by international NGOs are more credible indicators of development and do not cost the taxpayer a single penny.
ASIF JAH
Karachi
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